Free Branded by a Warrior by Andrea Thorne

Pulling back the blankets he slipped in beside her like he had each night since he rescued her. His soul couldn’t bear to see her cry; locked in a nightmare he scooped her in to his arms and kept her warm, attempting to talk her out of her nightmare prison.
    In her nightmare, blood and smoke were surrounding her. The screams of innocent children and women called out to her, shadowy faces haunted her, as she stood alone in the ruins of her home.
    In the far distance she heard his voice, she sensed his presence, his nearness made her demons vanish . She could hear his velvet voice whisper to her I’ll never let anyone hurt you again Elisabeth, come back to me lass , I need you.
    Awaking to the feeling of his strong arms wrapped around her she tried to stop her tears from falling. Her back was flush with his chest, his muscular arms wrapped around her chest holding her tight as tears fell down her face.
    She couldn’t explain it, she didn’t understand it, but every part of her soul trusted this man. She was so alone, her family was dead and this pain in her heart was paralyzing. She had never let another man this close to her ever before, yet she needed his comfort. Giving in that fate had designed this man to be her protector, she let her tears fall for her slain family members, her faithful servants and village people. She was not worried to appear weak or womanly; her grief was real and raw.
    Broderick knew she was awake when he felt her small hands reach up and squeeze his arms as she continued to cry ; her small body shook as she silently grieved her loss.
    Squeezing the bonny lass in his arms gently enough not to hurt her shoulde r, he leaned close and whispered into her ear, “Grief never ends, but it changes. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor lack of faith Elisabeth; it is the price of love . ”
    He understood. She knew he understood with those simple words. He too had lost his parents at a young age; treachery and deceit had taken his parents as well. She knew his tale well, all of the highlanders did. She knew he spoke from experience.
    With her back to him, she lay wrapped in his arms and cried herself back to sleep.
    Broderick held her throughout the night, and eventually feel asleep with the injured warrior angel in his strong arms.
    The next morning Broderick woke on his back, in the crook of his arm he held the still sleeping Elisabeth, her injured arm lay across his bare chest , her bare leg s entangled with his. Her long silky red hair fanned out across his bed behind her. With the sun on the horizon, he watched her sleep . The dark circles under her eyes were slowly fading away. Her eyes swollen and red from crying last night, he had thought long and hard about what to do with the lass this past week. He still didn’t know. Lying with her snuggled against his chest, he fel t that familiar pull he’d been pushing away all week.
    He knew the lass needed to marry, but he also knew if she hadn’t gotten married by now there was a good reason. Last night she had repeated his answer, marriage was not for her. He couldn’t force her to marry, especially if her own father and brother hadn’t done so. The thought of her marrying anyone upset him; he had grown very possessive of the lass since they rescued her. His possessiveness of her irritated him. He himself had sworn off marriage after one failed betrothal and the heartbreak that Fiona had caused years ago.
    He did know that the longer he slept next to her, the harder it would be to keep his hands off her. He knew he couldn’t marry her, yet he wanted her. He was sworn to protect her, but who would protect her from him ? H e wasn’t sure if he could resist the temptation. She was siren; her hair and eyes were captivating, h er voice was soft and arousing. Her skin was perfection, and her battle scars made her all that more attractive to him. Talking to her last night made him even more intrigued by her; she had intelligence to match her beautiful