She licked her lips nervously, then smoothed a hand over her hair to make sure her strands covered her forehead well.I dinnae ken this man, so it is best he doesnae see it.
“Perhaps I like seeing yer pretty face flushed with embarrassment,” he said to her now as his lips formed a small smile.“Ye are indeed bonnie, me lady.”
The walls seemed to close in on her, echoing back her rapid heartbeat after his words.Ailith’s knees wobbled and a sweet, heated sensation slide through to her core.
“Stop jesting,” Ailith blurted out, her mind racing before she redirected the conversation back to what he just told her of Hamish.“So, what if yer cousin’s a bampot?I am to wed him anyway and I dinnae have much say in the matter.”
The man’s response was a soft sigh, his expression somber.“Nay,” he interrupted, and she glanced up to find his jaw tightening a little.“Of course ye have a say in the matter.Ye dinnae need to wed Hamish if ye dinnae want to.”
Ailith looked at him,reallylooked at him, her brow furrowed.“I dinnae ken if I can get out of our engagement and?—”
The sound of footsteps interrupted her next sentence and her breath hitched in her throat as tension slipped into the air between them.
The man’s eyes flicked towards the door, a silent alarm that sent a shiver down Ailith’s spine.Without a word, he motioned towards a large curtain in the corner of the room.Ailith followed, slipping behind the heavy fabric just as the door creaked open.
CHAPTERTHREE
Tucked away in the shadowy enclave, the fabric of the curtain enveloping them, Ailith was acutely aware of the man’s proximity.His body was a mere breath away from hers, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him, smell the faint scent of pine and leather that clung to his clothes.Her breath caught in her throat as she realized how compromising their position could be, hidden together in such close quarters.
He was so close now that she could feel his warm breath on her skin, his muscled arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his chest.
The air between them was charged with heat that made her heart thump erratically.She could feel the rise and fall of his chest.Every sense was heightened, every sound amplified—their shared breaths, the rustling of the curtain, the sudden loudness of her heartbeat.
Then the intruders entered the room.It was Hamish, his voice low and tinged with impatience.He was not alone.The lass from earlier was with him, her laughter grating on Ailith’s nerves.
Ailith strained to see through the slight gap in the curtains, her eyes catching glimpses of Hamish attempting to loosen the laces of the lass’s bodice.The woman’s voice rose, half-hearted objections falling from her lips, blending with playful swats at his hands.
“Come now, dinnae be a tease,” Hamish persisted.
The lass was not yielding as easily tonight.With a sudden burst of energy, she pushed Hamish away, her voice sharpening.“Nae now, Hamish.Nae now!”Her voice rose with every word.
Hamish’s response was a frustrated grunt as he took her lips in a sloppy kiss, an attempt to coax her back into his arms.The woman broke away from him and darted out of the room.Hamish cursed under his breath and followed in hot pursuit, his footsteps heavy and hurried.
The room fell silent once more, save for the lingering echo of their departure.Ailith and the man remained hidden, their bodies still pressed together.The sudden departure of Hamish and his companion left a vacuum that the earlier tension swiftly reclaimed.
Her heart was still racing, even after they were alone in the room.
Even worse, she could still feel the warmth of the man’s body against hers, so warm that it made her skin tingle.
His lips curled into a playful smile.“Do ye like me company so much that ye wish to stay here hidden with me?”His voice was low, tinged with humor and something darker.Something Ailith couldn’t explain.
Flustered, she quickly stepped out from behind the curtain, putting some space between them.She faced him, finding that infuriating smirk still etched on his mouth.
“Really,” she began, her voice a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.“Yer jest is ill-timed and ill-received.This is hardly the time.Who kens what would happen if Hamish saw us…”
His smile didn’t waver, but his eyes held a glint of genuine interest.“I mean nay harm,” he replied, his tone still light, “but me jest is the least of yer worries.”
Ailith’s eyebrows knitted together.“Yer teasing feels more akin to mockery.”
The man’s smile vanished, and his expression turned into a scowl.“Ye think me like Hamish?”he asked, his voice carrying a sharp edge it hadn’t before.
Ailith met his eyes, trying to decipher the shadows that passed behind them.He didn’t flinch, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his feelings.
“Aye,” she said, jutting her chin.“If ye can so lightly make fun of me at a time like this, are ye truly any better?Ye feel as entitled to play games and hurt feelings.”
He took a step forward, towering over her.“I take great offense to that,” he growled.
The candlelight illuminated the sides of his face, highlighting the angles of his jaw.Ailith took a shallow breath, but not a word came out.
