Highlander’s Evil Side by Shona Thompson
Chapter Twenty-Six
Beitris
Beitris sighed as the warm water soaked through her chilled skin. She wiped the bar of soap over herself. Candles surrounded her room, dimly lighting the darkness surrounding her. The window was closed, yet she kept glancing at it, feeling something eerie prickle the back of her neck. Lately, she had been feeling more and more on edge, wondering when Fraser’s double would make himself known. It had been too long. It had been too quiet. Although she knew she should be happy about it, she couldn’t help but think something terrible was about to happen.
She shook her head and turned away from the window, using the soap to scrub harder at her skin. The shadows from the flickering wick played over the walls, making Beitris’s insides clench with worry and her gaze move over her shoulder. Her bed stared back at her, empty with its crimson blankets and furs calling to her. No one stood there. No one was watching her.
Beitris released a sigh and leaned back against the tub. She stared up at the ceiling, wondering what Fraser had done this day, whom he spoke to, if he discovered anything more about his double.
“Yer body is not yer own, Beitris. Ye must obey Fraser if ye wish to have a happy marriage. Whether it is in the marital bed or out.”
Beitris grimaced as Helga’s words washed over her. It was exactly what Beitris feared when her father told her she was to be married—that her body was never hers to begin with, that she was to obey her husband, have no opinion differing from her husband’s. She did not think she could stand a marriage like the one Helga described, but she knew her Fraser, knew him to be a man of honor and a man who enjoyed her wit.
A creak sounded from her side, and Beitris flinched, jerking towards the sound. The water splashed around her, spilling over the edge of the tub. However, she was hardly aware of the mess when her eyes widened on the door, slightly ajar. The shadows beyond stared back at her, making her heart pound in her throat. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself as she reached for the towel lying near her on the chair.
“‘Tis just the wind,” she whispered while wrapping the cloth around her. She swallowed while stepping towards the door, knowing that couldn’t possibly be it. Tears prickled her eyes as she pulled the door further ajar, looking for a servant lingering nearby, yet there was none.
“Odd,” she breathed, her hand tightening on the cloth. The servant had said she would be nearby if Beitris needed anything.
"So where could the maid be now?” Beitris asked the darkness.
“I sent her away,” came a deep voice from behind.
Beitris gasped as she whipped around, finding Fraser standing behind her with a smirk on his lips. She wanted to scream, call for help, but the terror silenced her voice, swallowing up all the words she tried to release. Her hands shook as he stepped forward, his head tilting to the side, his gaze dipping to her white-knuckled grasp on her towel.
“Beitris, do not be afraid,” he whispers while reaching for her. “Tis me—”
Beitris slapped him. She slapped him so hard her palm stung with the pain. Her eyes widened as this Fraser before her grimaced, his cheek still facing her. His skin appeared red in the dim candlelight, even redder from her slap.
“Thank ye,” he whispered while slowly closing his eyes.
Beitris sighed in relief, her legs wobbling underneath her. She felt she might faint at any moment. Her body teetered, and Fraser turned towards her, grabbing her hand gently and pulling her into his arms.
“It’s me, Beitris,” he whispered in her damp hair. “I apologize for scaring ye.”
“I fear it was not all ye,” said Beitris, her body becoming limp in his arms. “I have been on edge these past few days.”
“Aye, so have I.”
Beitris allowed him to guide her to the bed, and they sat together on the edge, with her head on his shoulder while he stroked her hair. “Where were ye this morn? I saw ye in the courtyard, but ye were nowhere to be found before.”
Fraser chuckled, his arm pulling her closer to him. “Worried for me, were ye?”
Beitris nodded. “Of course.”
“To think not so long ago ye couldn’t stand me.”
Beitris perked up, and she scowled at him while poking her finger into his shoulder. “Please, ye thought much the same.”
“Nae,” said Fraser while grabbing her finger and leaning close. Beitris blinked at him, her breath coming faster as she waited for his lips to press against hers. Her heart fluttered when his gaze dipped to her mouth before meeting her stare once more. “I have always enjoyed yer company, Beitris. Rather,” he paused, a chuckle escaping him, “ye have always kept me on my feet.”
Beitris jutted out her chin. “It’s good ye think so. Most men I come to meet can hardly keep up.”
Fraser nuzzled her nose, breathing her in. Her heart faltered once more, and her eyes dropped to his lips, wanting them on hers once more. It had been too long since they were last alone together like this. Days, really, but she wished and longed for more of him, feeling as if at any point he would disappear and never return.
“We need to cancel the wedding,” said Fraser, drawing away from her. His hand slid away from hers while his gaze remained on the floor.
Beitris frowned, straightening while repositioning the towel around her. “What do ye mean? Word has been sent. Preparations have been made. My father—”
“When yer father arrives, ye should go with him,” Fraser rushed out, his gaze still on the floor.
“I do not understand,” Beitris said, her tone stern and her frown deepening. “Do ye not wish to marry me now that ye’ve had me?”
Fraser turned sharply towards her. His brows tented, and his gaze glimmered in the light, displaying his worry and his love. “Nae, Beitris, that is not it. I cannot stand by and allow ye to put yerself in harm’s way. Ye do not know what we may be fighting, and he may take ye. He may use this opportunity to take ye.”
Beitris moved to her knees and grabbed his hand, grasping it tightly. “I will remain by yer side, Fraser.”
Fraser shook his head. “Something could happen. I could be called away, or someone could—”
“I won’t leave yer side,” Beitris said harshly. “Ye must have faith in me, Fraser.”
“I do, Beitris.” Beitris’s heart cracked as she heard the pain in his voice, the worry laced with his words. “But I cannot lose ye.”
Beitris shook her head. Tears stung her eyes, and she wiped them away quickly. She couldn’t believe he was going to send her away when she could help him. She could do something. “And what if sending me away is exactly what this imposter wants?” She inhaled deeply, trying to calm the breaking of her heart and the sobs threatening to surface. “What if, by sending me away, yer playing into his hand? He could attack while we’re on the path.”
Fraser’s jaw clenched, and she knew, by his silence alone, that she had him there. Whether in Fraser’s presence or not, this other man could steal her whenever he wanted. “It’s safer if I remain with ye, Fraser,” she insisted. “Ye must see the reason behind it. Or, are ye sending me away because there has been gossip of our night together? Ye wish to save my honor? Or, perhaps, ye didn’t enjoy yerself?”
“Beitris,” Fraser breathed, his eyes widening in shock and alarm. “Why are ye asking this now? Ye know that is not the reason.”
“Do I?” Beitris released her towel, allowing the cloth to fall away from her body.
Fraser’s sharp inhale flushed her cheeks and warmed her insides. She watched as he struggled to keep his attention on her face, but she could see the desire lurking behind his eye. His lips parted, and his nose flared. He clenched his jaw once more before, finally, he gave in, and his gaze dipped to her breasts, her waist, and below.
“Beitris,” he breathed. He swallowed before lifting his gaze to her. “Ye must know how much I care for ye. I’m not sending ye away because of the night we shared. I’m sending ye away because—”
“Then why don’t ye touch me?” Beitris asked while leaning closer. She shuddered as her breast touched his arm. Fraser gasped, his eyes becoming hooded. She was done having this discussion. There was no way he was sending her with her father. She belonged here, with Fraser.
And Fraser belonged with her. Beitris needed to ensure his safety. Fraser was constantly thinking of her, but he hardly thought of himself. True, the imposter wanted her, but she also suspected he wanted to do away with Fraser, possibly kill him.
Beitris didn’t know how, but she would do everything within her power to prevent that from happening. Even if it meant finding several large rocks to throw or placing herself in the middle, Fraser would live.
“I-I told ye I wouldn’t,” Fraser breathed while pressing his hands against her shoulders. “Not until we’re married.”
“Why?” Beitris whispered. She wrapped her arms around his neck and moved closer to him. Lifting one leg, she moved to straddle him, enjoying the soft moan escaping his lips as he gazed up at her.
“Beitris, we mustn’t.”
However, Fraser’s hands stroked her back. The towel lay forgotten on the bed. She could feel his desire pushing against her core, making pleasurable shivers run up and down her spine. She ground herself against him, and Fraser gasped, his hands tightening around her.
“I can’t control myself when I’m around ye.”
Beitris ran her hands through Fraser’s hair. He tilted his head up, his eyes hooded. His tongue stroked his bottom lip as he stared up at her. Her hands slipped from his hair to the front of his leine. She stroked his chest while his hands slipped down her back to her hips.
“I want ye, Fraser,” Beitris gasped, feeling his member pushing against her. “Don’t send me away.”
“Beitris—”
Beitris seized his lips, silencing whatever excuses he had to offer. Fraser moaned, his body tumbling backward onto the bed. She pulled at his leine, pushing it up and over his head. Fraser tossed the garment onto the floor before his hands slipped to his tights, shoving them downwards and releasing his hard and pulsing shaft.
“Don’t leave me,” Beitris whispered while cupping his face.
Fraser’s legs kicked, shoving his garments downwards until they slipped from his feet. “Never,” he rushed out before capturing her mouth.
Beitris stroked his tongue with her own. Her legs moved to straddle him on either side. She felt desperate; she felt as if she needed his body inside her to feel him and never let him go. Fraser thrust, and she gasped as he entered her. She tossed back her head, her body adjusting to his length at this angle. Her hands pressed against his chest as she stabilized herself above him.
Fraser stroked her hips, her arms, her waist. His hands cupped her breasts before moving to stroke her back. “I love ye, Beitris,” he said while moving slowly inside her.
Beitris moaned, her eyes shutting for a moment as she felt the sensations brimming within her. His hand moved to stroke her core, and she gasped, bucking against him.
“Now and forever, Beitris.”
She shuddered, moving in time with him. “Don’t leave me, Fraser,” she whispered.
Fraser grabbed her and rolled them over. Beitris’s eyes snapped open, and she stared up a Fraser in alarm. His hands braced on either side of her, keeping most of his weight off her while he moved deeper, harder into her.
“Never.”
He kissed her, moaning as he moved. Her legs tightened around him. Her hands buried themselves in his hair, keeping him to her. She never wanted to let him go, knowing the moment this ended, she would be back to worrying, back to fretting over the imposter and when he would make his appearance.
But she pushed that away. She concentrated on the feel of Fraser’s locks against her fingers, his body moving in and out of her, his moans against her lips. She moved with him, her body taking over and pushing her dark thoughts away. She felt as if she was soaring higher and higher like she would never be able to meet the ground, and as she fell over the edge, screaming her release, she held onto Fraser. His hands grabbed hers, his fingers lacing with hers as he moaned and stilled above her. He stroked her hair as he pulled away from her, staring down at her with a mixture of love and adoration.
“I will never let any harm come to ye, Beitris,” he whispered. “And I will never leave ye.”
Beitris smiled up at him, tilting her head while she stroked the side of his face. She wanted to believe him, but her body ached, and her heart stung. Something terrible was going to happen. She could feel it in her bones.
