Page 84 of Her Accidental Highlander Husband

Mari already had the bath prepared for Cam’s arrival. She expected him to want to sit and relax in the tub while he told her of his trip, but he didn’t. Instead he washed quickly and came to her naked, without so much as drying off.

“If you don’t want your gown drenched, you should remove it.”

She laughed and clutched at the laces as he reached around her, making her clothes wet as he helped. Once she was naked, he kissed her and led her to the bed, where he laid her back and covered her with his body.

The way he touched her scared her. It was as if he knew it was the last time they’d lie together, or he was worried it would be. When they finished making love, he drew her against him, holding her tightly.

“What’s happened?” she asked, her hand continuing to trail up his chest. She felt his breath catch before he uttered the lie.

“Nothing.”

She wanted to push him to tell her, but doing so might force the truth from her own lips.

“Let’s agree to take each day as it comes,” he finally suggested. “We’ll not think about what may or may not happen in the future. Just today. And then the next.”

“For how long?”

“For as long as we can.”

She nodded in agreement. “Very well. We won’t speak of what might happen.”

“We won’t.”

It seemed a foolish thing not to prepare for the inevitable, but she latched onto his offer with both hands. She’d said her piece to Lachlan. The laird would either give her the chance to save Cam and the clan, or he’d launch them into a battle they couldn’t win.

The decision was out of her hands for now.

She and Cam spent every night in each other’s arms, making love with that same conviction. Live for today. Don’t look too far ahead.

For a month, their plan worked. They lived their lives without the worry of tomorrow.

But as tomorrows tended to do, the one day she’d dreaded for so long finally arrived.

Chapter Thirty-One

Mari woke to the sound of Scottish grumbling. She smiled and stretched, remembering the night before. Remembering all the nights before. All the ways Cam had loved her and she’d loved him back.

“Come back to bed,” she pleaded, missing his warmth in their chilly chamber.

It was still dark. There was only so much practice he and his men could subject themselves to.

“I canna. I’m sorry I woke you.” He leaned down and kissed her. “But I’m not sorry you’re awake now.”

She laughed and sat up, grabbing her wrapper and pulling it on.

He slipped his cold hands inside, causing her to jump and shiver. Autumn was giving way to winter. Each day the sun came closer and closer to losing the battle.

“I’d love nothing more than to crawl back into bed where it’s warm and take you again, but Lach has ordered me to take a message to the McCurdy. I’m not sure when I became a messenger, but he worries there could be trouble. So I must go.”

It took a moment for her sleep-muddled mind to catch up with his words…and the meaning beneath them.

“How long will you be gone?”

“Should only take about five days, a week and a half at the most.”

Lachlan was sending Cam away on an errand. It was possible he truly wanted Cam to speak to the McCurdy laird, but it was more likely this was the distraction she had requested so Cam wouldn’t be here when the English came for her.

Oh, God.