Page 98 of The Rogue’s Redemption

They watched her disappear around a corner. Then Reid turned to her.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, his voice low and deep.

Allie made another decision.

He was to be her husband. And she, his wife. She smiled, thinking of how surprised he would be when she went to his chamber this eve in the chemise Juliette had given her for their wedding night.

She desired him, and they were to be married. Was she not the same woman the day before who had knocked a longsword out of the hands of a man Reid said was quite skilled with the longsword? Time to be bold.

“I’ve missed you too,” she answered, no longer able to contain her smile.

She had waited long enough for the things she wanted.

No more.

* * *

Reid drank deeply from the ale he’d brought back to his chamber. Placing it on the table, he loosened the ties at the top of his shirt and sat. Stretching his legs out in front of him, he leaned back and resumed drinking.

It was late.

With no word yet from Douglas, the clan was once again split on their path forward. No new attacks had been reported, but they all knew more were coming. Caxton’s plan to force the border clans into a rebellion had failed thus far, but it was only a matter of time. As long as that man was the English warden, peace was no longer an option.

Whatever happened next, Reid would do as he was told. He would accept his place in the clan and focus on his soon-to-be wife. Follow his brother and chief, silently disagree with the elders, and thank the saints he had been lucky enough to earn Allie’s love.

The very thought of finally being wed to her made him hard. He attempted to shift his thoughts. They would be wed soon enough, and he’d not dishonor her more so than he’d done already.

Bloody hell. Neither his mind nor his body would comply.

He thought he’d imagined the knock, at first. But when it became more insistent, he took a deep breath, waited a moment, and stood.

When he opened the door, he was hit with a jolt of lust so powerful his cock instantly hardened once again. It was as if thinking about her had made his betrothed appear before him.

A skill he would no doubt find useful.

34

“What are you doing here, Allie?”

He hadn’t intended for the question to come out so harshly, but Reid wasn’t sure how long he could resist her in his current state.

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she entered his chamber . . . a poor idea if ever there was one . . . and lifted her chin in defiance. Did she think he truly wished for her to leave?

“I ask not because I would prefer for you to be anywhere but my bedchamber.”

He took a step toward her, blood pounding through his veins.

“In fact, I sat here thinking of you, cursing my own honor and the fact that Father Simon has insisted we follow custom in this.”

“You were thinking of me?”

She was as lovely as ever, her hair down, the way he liked it, and her smile sweet, but there was something different about her. He could not quite place it.

“Aye, lass. I was.”

If he reached out, he could touch her. God forbid he do such a thing and attempt to keep her virginity intact for the wedding. It simply would not happen.