Page 37 of The Rogue’s Redemption

“When Alex moved to Dunmure, I thought surely—”

“I want it,” he spat out, anger and resentment oozing from the words. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d never said those words aloud. First he’d opened his heart to Allie, and now he was unburdening himself to Aidan de Sowlis, a man that had been his enemy once. Or, more precisely, a man whose father had been an enemy to his own. Reid had never taken issue with either de Sowlis brother. He would have dropped the feud long ago, but his brother had remained stubborn, unnecessarily dragging out their clans’ enmity.

It took a moment for Aidan to recover, and the look of surprise on his face was keen enough for Reid to regret his words. “Then take it.”

He shook his head. “You don’t understand.”

“You’re wrong,” Aidan said. “I understand more than most. Do you forget I am the younger brother of Graeme de Sowlis?”

Reid frowned. “Alex was—”

“Toren’s second. And you should replace him now,” Aidan said, his voice firm.

I could never replace Alex. His brother always makes the right decision and never questions himself.

He could not discuss this now. “Let it go, Aidan.”

As they watched, the clan leaders who had ventured outside began to make their way back into the keep.

“It appears another round of shouting and fist pounding is about to commence,” he said, not looking forward to the remainder of the afternoon.

“And some hoped this would be over in a matter of days.”

Reid glanced back toward the kitchen. “I hope Highgate is prepared for us.”

The cost of hosting so many guests for an extended period would be substantial.

“We are prepared,” Aidan said as they walked toward the keep. “But, more importantly, are you prepared for Lady Gillian?”

Reid would have said yes once, but he’d begun to doubt everything he thought he knew about himself.

“I am,” he lied. “And will do whatever it takes to win her to my side.” That was the truth. For Allie, he would do anything.

* * *

“I refuse.”

Allie wanted him to show her more advanced maneuvers, but she simply wasn’t ready.

“Do you know how long I’ve practiced this? Most take years to get this—”

“You are still holding back.”

They faced each other, swords drawn, repeating the same movements over and over. Reid understood her frustration, but he would not allow her impatience to get her injured.

“Besides”—he drew back and tossed his sword to the side—“your grip is slipping. If you don’t get that right, you cannot advance.”

He moved to stand behind her. Though he could just as easily explain what she needed to do, he’d not touched her once this session. Reaching around her waist, he moved her hand lower on the weapon.

“As you swing, your hand continues to slide away from the end of the hilt. Keep it here, like this.”

Her hair, always braided during their training, tickled his nose as he leaned closer. He took a deep breath, allowing himself the distraction. “I would wake up every day to this smell.”

Allie lowered her sword as he moved his hands to her waist and pulled her to him. When he placed a soft kiss on her neck, she sighed breathily, then said, “Is this part of the training?”

“Hmmm.” Reid allowed his hands to move upward, and though he knew how quickly he could lose control, how easily he seemed to do so whenever she was near, he couldn’t help himself.

Days had passed since their secret betrothal, and other than their training sessions, he had to make do with quick kisses and exchanged glances. Given the opportunity to touch her at will, Reid was simply not strong enough to resist.