“Lass, do ye think me daft? Yer Father keeps watch on everything ye do. We have to hide ye away so ye might practice magic. When in yer life would ye have had the opportunity to sneak away to kiss men in the village? And I know already that ye rarely have visitors here. Yer suitors are the first in a verra long time. Ye’ve had no opportunity to kiss anyone. And now, the first chance ye’ve had in all yer life to do so, ye waste it on that ignorant arse.”
“I dinna waste it. ’Twas a lovely kiss.”
Jerry’s jaw clenched again, and I repressed a smile as I thought of how attractive I found him when angry. It was different than Father’s anger. Jerry kept it controlled, and he wasn’t angry for the sake of being angry. He was angry because he actually felt things deeply.
“Lying doesna suit ye, Morna. Ye hated every minute Seumas’ hands were on ye.”
Enjoying myself more than was truly proper or kind, I continued to deny his claims.
“’Tis no lie. ’Tis possible I’ll end up marrying Seumas.”
Jerry now stood inches away. His voice shook as he spoke. His eyes were locked with my lips.
“Is that so, lass? Ye think ye will marry him?”
My breathing escalated as I watched Jerry’s expression. There was a need in it that I’d never seen before. Unlike Seumas’ gaze, having Jerry want me warmed me through.
“Aye.” My own voice came out on a breath, so soft that he wouldn’t have been able to hear me if not for his nearness. “Mayhap, I will.”
His hands lifted to my face, and I gasped at the touch of his palms against my skin. Brushing against the apples of my cheeks with his thumbs, Jerry leaned in until our noses touched.
“If ’tis true lass, I’ll be damned if I let ye marry another man without ever experiencing a proper kiss.”
His lips were warm and soft, and he kissed me with a gentleness that caused every sense within me to stir. I wasn’t a passive partner in this kiss. We gave and took in equal measure. With each breath, our familiarity with one another grew.
He smiled against me, and slowly his tongue grazed my lips as I trembled beneath him. One hand at the small of my back pulled me closer. As my front pressed against him, his hands moved to my hair.
Jerry kissed me until every thought in my mind was of him. Every time he tried to pull away, I held him close. I’d never felt anything so intensely in my life.
“Lass.” The touch of his lips against my neck caused me to moan. “Lass, I must go. ’Tis
a blessing I had ye retie yer laces. I wouldna be able to leave had ye undressed. Please doona ever let that man kiss ye again. I doona think I can bear it.”
He turned without another word, leaving me shaking and wanting in a way entirely new and unfamiliar to me.
Everything seemed different now. I was finally truly awake for the first time in my life.
Chapter 18
Jerry
* * *
I cursed myself every step of the way back toward my new home in the castle’s outer cottage. I would feel her lips against mine every day until I died, but I couldn’t allow my own selfishness to ruin the sweet lassie’s life, and it very well could if I wasn’t careful.
While I tried to cling to my desire to return home to my own time, it lessened every day. And what did that mean for me? What did it mean for her? If I stayed here, what life could I give her? Nothing like the life she deserved. Nothing like the life to which she was accustomed. If her desire for me half matched my own, there was only one thing I could do to correct what had passed between us.
I would have to break her heart and keep my distance until I could return to the time from which I came.
* * *
Morna
* * *
I didn’t sleep at all after Jerry left. I spent the night lying blissfully awake, and when morning came, I felt rested and well. All I wanted to do was see him again.
I took extra time and care readying myself for the day. When I left my room mid-morning, I nearly retreated back inside as I saw Seumas standing at the end of the hall. But he saw me before I could escape so I was forced to approach him.
