Chapter Twenty-Two
HE FELT CHLOE’S heartacheas though it were his own when she pulled her hand away and closed her eyes to grief.
“What just happened, lass?” He crouched in front of her and took her hands, not wanting her to suffer alone. “What did you just remember?”
“That it wasn’t allowed,” she whispered. Tears brimmed in her eyes when she opened them. “I was never supposed to engage with you, let alone fall in love with you.”
He knew she referred to their past life. The one where they finally gave in to their emotions.
As she remembered, so did he.
The deep love they had felt. The huge risk they took.
“I took that risk too.” He cupped her cheek, understanding more by the moment as he looked into her sparkling eyes. “I knew you would lose your immortality. And I knew that life would be the last we had together.”
“There was more, though,” she whispered. “Consequences for us both. Mine was my immortality and you, a final death...” She narrowed her eyes and shivered, trying to follow the knowledge as it revealed itself. Trying to understand more. “But I sense you evaded it somehow...yet you still have to pay up.” Her worried eyes met his. “Just like Tiernan did on his adventure.”
“Yet he is still here with us,” he reminded, wiping away her tears. “He is alive and well, lass.” He squeezed her hand in reassurance. “Just as I will be at the end of all this.”
“You better be,” she murmured. The sparkling receded from her worried gaze. She searched his eyes. “Because I don’t think I can stand to lose you again.”
“And you willnae.” He meant every word. “Because I refuse to lose you now that I have found you.” He shook his head. “I willnae let it happen.”
Over the course of the day, his feelings had become clearer, and at last, the undying devotion he’d felt for Maeve had waned if not vanished. Rather than guilt, he felt a sense of peace and, again, closure. As if in letting her go, he might have lent her peace in the afterlife.
Now, looking into Chloe’s eyes, he understood that, however true the love he felt for Maeve, it wasn’t this. It wasn’t what he felt when he was near Chloe. When they talked and laughed together. When they shared their lives and anticipated remembering previous ones.
In retrospect, he wondered at the feelings he had shared with Maeve. Had he been as smitten as he thought the first time he saw her? Did he have trouble looking away from her like he did Chloe? Had she made his heart race with anticipation every time she glanced his way?
He recalled none of that but more of a close friendship. It was as if the more he got to know Chloe, the more clearly he could see what he and Maeve had shared. How off it had been in a way he couldn’t quite figure out. Almost as though their feelings had not been real. Likely it had to do with Maeve being cast under a spell or perhaps even a side-effect of the Claddagh ring...of the love he was finding with Chloe.
And itwaslove.
The truest he had ever felt.
Once Chloe had gathered herself, and he knew she was going to be all right, he set to bathing as well. All the while, as they had when she bathed, they watched each other out of the corner of their eye. Though she had a slender stomach and legs, her arse and breasts were well-rounded, making constant arousal inevitable.
He had turned many a lass away since Maeve died without much trouble, but he knew had Chloe been here sooner, it would have been impossible. She had curves that seemed designed to fit his hands and skin so damn soft he wanted to taste every inch of it.
Every inch of her.
Honestly, it was a wonder he managed to dress without pulling her into his arms again. Without tasting her sweet lips and plunging deep inside her. But he felt she deserved more time. A wooing period so to speak. He was glad they had lain together last night but didn’t want to rush her into another encounter until she was ready.
As history foretold, they had nine more days until Regent Donald met his end, so there was time. Or so he hoped. Some might argue sleeping together would help them spark the power of the Claddagh ring faster, but they seemed to be progressing just fine as things were. He wanted to cherish this time.
To fall in love the way they both deserved.
They continued chatting as they readied themselves, laughing often, which did both their hearts good. By the time they were set to head downstairs, Chloe seemed much peppier. Back to herself. Which, naturally, made him happy, not to mention flirtatious. While he fully intended to take his time with her, that didn’t stop him from brushing his lips across hers before they left. Though tempted to kiss her longer, he feared he might not be able to stop.
“Remember to stick close to me at all times,” he warned. In truth, he had no intention of letting her out of his sight. Nonetheless, good intentions aside, she had a way of following her curiosity, and this was no place to do that. “You truly dinnae want to wander off alone here, lass.”
“No worries.” In typical Chloe fashion, she didn't sound as convincing as he would like. “I learned my lesson last time.”
Though tempted to tell her she’d by no means suffered the trouble that gown might have brought her at Edinburgh Castle, he kept quiet. Because again, he wouldnotbe letting her out of his sight.
By the time they joined the others, Cray had returned, and black clouds swallowed the setting sun. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the wind had picked up.
“Does it ever stop raining here?” Chloe commented. Her lovely eyes were round as saucers as they headed for wee King David’s holding.
