Page 41 of A Scot to Wed

Probably said at least once by every woman since Eve.

Katie rose from the sofa and wandered to the window, refusing to look at the mattress lying on the floor, beckoning her to throw caution to the winds. “It looks like the rain is easing up. Perhaps we can still make it back.” Just then, a bolt of lightning hit the tree outside the cottage, and the clap of thunder accompanying it made her jump back so far, she slammed into Evan, who had followed her.

He wrapped his arms around her. “Easy, lass.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, and she leaned back, into his warmth. “Come, sit on the sofa. If it pleases ye, I can sleep there, and ye take the mattress. I’ve slept in much worse conditions. I just dinnae want ye to go racing through the door into the storm. I will not touch ye inappropriately.”

“Nay?” She didn’t ken whether she was happy or insulted. Didn’t he feel the same stirrings as she did?

“Not unless ye want me to,” he added with a straight face. But his eyes said something very different.

Back to that again. Dinnae the man ken she wanted to experience what she thought would follow his lovely kisses, but giving her consent made her feel wicked? Not that she wished to be forced, and she kenned in her heart Evan was not the sort of man to force a woman.

Evan lit the two candles they’d found, which gave the room a soft glow. They continued to study the rain pouring down. Evan rested his arm across the back of the sofa and began to fiddle with her hair. He was slouched on the sofa, his legs stretched out before him, very much the image of a man at rest. Except she felt the tension in his body.

It matched her own.

“One kiss?”

She jumped at his words, being so caught up in her own worries. Although the words were whispered, she felt as though he had shouted it loud enough for those in the castle to hear. She licked her dry lips. “What?”

Evan leaned forward, staring directly at her lips. “One kiss?”

Nay!her brain cried. But before she could think on the matter, her lips parted and she breathed out the word, “Aye.”

Slowly and gently, he cupped her face and lowered his mouth. She stared at his lips until she couldn’t see them anymore, then closed her eyes. And told herself she would not be affected by this kiss. She would not lose her head. She would not enjoy it, even. She would let him kiss her, and then she would sit back and return to the fascinating pastime of watching the rain fall.

Her heart sped up, and her breathing increased. Goodness, his lips were warm. Full and soft. She began to count to keep her mind focused, since her body was already humming. After she reached thirteen, she forgot what came next when he nudged her lips and swept into her mouth with his wicked tongue.

Someone moaned. It might have been her. She felt his smile against her mouth as he pulled her closer. Should she allow that? Their bodies met when he crushed her breasts against his hard chest.

Another moan, and another smile. Where was she in her counting? Oh yes. Thirteen. Or was it twenty-three?

“Relax, lass.” Evan pulled away from her mouth and began to kiss her cheeks, jawline, and the very soft and sensitive skin under her ear. Her hands moved up to grip his shoulders, and she was quite certain she was pulling him toward her. Since they were already plastered against each other, there was nowhere for him to go. Except inside her.

Oh, goodness! Where did that thought come from?Quickly. She must push that idea to the back of her mind. Along with the mattress on the floor and how warm she’d grown from that wee fire in the grate.

“Stop thinking. I can hear yer brain talking,” Evan mumbled against her lips.

Thinking? She still couldn’t remember what number she was at to keep her mind focused. It seemed her brain had walked off and returned to the castle, which was where she should be right now. Away from this man and his temptation and behind the securely locked door of her bedchamber. With, perhaps, a chair pushed in front of it. Dressed in several layers of clothing.

It amazed her with how loud the storm had seemed such a short time ago that now all she could hear was her heart thumping and the rapid breaths coming from both her and Evan.

“Ye need to remove yer coat, lass. ’Tis quite warm in here.”

“Aye. It has grown quite warm.” She repeated his words because she had forgotten most of her own vocabulary.

He helped her out of her coat. In a daze she watched him toss it on the arm of the sofa. Then he removed his tartan, which joined her coat. Next he removed his cravat to reveal the skin at his neck. Darker than hers. Her eyes moved down to the curly hair that rose from his linen shirt.

He grinned as he watched her watching him. “Aye. Ye like what ye see, lass?”

Her eyes flew up to his, but before she could offer a retort, he pulled her against him, his fingers linking at the base of her spine. “I hope ye like what ye see.” He smoothed the hair back from her forehead. “At least as much as I like what I see.” His head dipped and his mouth covered hers hungrily, his lips hard and searching.

His mouth left hers to nibble at her earlobe. “I love the taste of ye. The softness of yer skin.”

She soon found herself sprawled on top of him.When did he lie down?

Her hands roamed his shoulders, his sinewy muscles rippling under her touch. Even through his linen shirt, she could feel the warmth from his body. He returned once more to her mouth, and she quivered at the soft tenderness of his kiss. Unlike the others.

The room was growing warmer every minute, but all she could think about was this man, his lips, and how wonderful he made her feel. She hadn’t noticed his nimble fingers unfastening her frock until he pushed the bodice down, and he stared at her breasts through the almost invisible chemise, his lips curled in a slight smile. “Beautiful.”