“I should not have touched you or kissed you in such a manner,” he said as he touched her again, his hand on her face, tracing her jaw and temple.
Rose closed her eyes and swallowed hard, her muscles rigid as she willed herself not to turn into the caress. “Then why are you doing it now?”
“I know not.” His voice was low, rumbling over her like thunder from a building storm. “Where you are concerned, I know not what I do anymore.”
Rose was nearly shaking with fury and desire and despair, all twisted together in her heart. “Get out,” she ground out between clenched teeth.
He took her face in both his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Listen to me. I should have told you that I could hurt as well as heal. I should have told you the moment I saw MacPherson in your locket. But I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because of the way you looked at me and talked to me.”
She brought her hands up and shoved him. It was nothing to him, not moving him an inch. She wrenched her face from his grip, but when she tried to twist away from him, he caught her shoulders, pinning her to the wall.
“Let me go! You’re no different than the others—than the MacLeans!”
His face was near her ear. “I am not like them. I would never intentionally hurt you.”
Rose closed her burning eyes, hating herself for enjoying the feel of his arms around her, for wanting to give in to his soothing voice.
Her voice quavered when she spoke. “Then why are you here now?”
“I know not. I don’t want to hurt you, and yet here I am. The logic seemed sound when I came here, but I see now it wasn’t.”
His breath was hot against her ear. She could feel his body against hers, erect, ready for her. Her body answered with a deep, throbbing ache. And then she felt his mouth, hot and wet beneath her ear.
“I pray you,” she said, her voice catching. “Leave me now.”
“I promised, and I’ll not leave until your father is healed.” He took her ear between his teeth, and her knees turned to water. She’d have sagged to the ground if not for his arms and the wall.
“…and I’m ruined?” she whispered.
He stopped his wonderful kisses and stepped back from her, staring down at her, so dark and beautiful and frustrated.
His hands tightened on her arms, and he swore beneath his breath, his jaw bulging. “Dammit, Rose. You are not making this easy.”
“Why should I?” she bit out. “It isn’t easy for me, why should it be for you?”
He released her and paced away, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “You’re right. I just wanted you to understand why. That’s all. I shouldn’t have come.”
He went to the door and unlatched it. Rose did not move, pressing against the wall still, her body trying to hold onto the warm imprint of him thrust against her. He peered out the door for a moment, then closed it, tilting his head to gaze at her again.
They stared at each other for a long moment. She fought to keep her gaze hard, implacable. He started to open the door again, to leave this time. She said, “There will be no dawn meeting.”
“I see.” His mouth flattened grimly. “You mind if I verify that?”
“As you wish.”
When he made to leave again, she blurted out, “Tira’s baby has not turned. You will still help with the birthing?”
“You don’t need me, Rose.”
“I do.” She didn’t want to need him. She wanted to forget about him so she could get on with her life, but she doubted that would ever happen.In time, perhaps.
His mouth twisted wryly. “Of course. I said I would, didn’t I?”
She could think of nothing further to detain him, and he finally left. The room seemed empty without him. She cursed herself for being a fool, but fool or not, now that he’d gone, she was lonely for his company and his kisses.
