His answer made Isadora’s heart swell with joy, but there wasn’t the warmth behind it that she usually sensed coming from him. Since their conversation when he asked of her clan, something in his eyes had darkened.
Hardened.
Reaching out, she grasped him by the hand. “Then tell me what is troubling ye,” she whispered. “I know I did something terrible tonight, but had I not done it, it would be me lying dead in the trees and not that man. Is that what bothers ye?”
Usually, he squeezed her hands, but at the moment, he wasn’t responding to her. “Of course not. Ye did what ye had tae do.”
“Then what?” she pleaded. “Is it because ye know where I’m from? Because I finally told ye that I come from a little village inthe hills? I told ye once I dinna want tae tell ye and ye told me it dinna matter. Did ye lie tae me, then?”
The focus was on Cam now and he looked away, unable to look her in the eye. What could he tell her? That he was sworn to destroy her clan, the very people she held dear? If he told her any of that, their fragile young love would be at an end. As much as he hated the Keith, he didn’t hate them enough to lose Isadora.
He would lose her soon enough when he killed those responsible for his grandfather’s death.
He had no doubt.
Until then, he wasn’t strong enough to end what had grown between them, for his own sake. He would continue to love her until the moment he had his vengeance. After that…
He couldn’t think about after that.
He could only think of the now.
“Nay,” he said, turning to look at her distressed face. “I dinna lie tae ye. But I dunna want tae speak of it now, do ye hear? Not now, not ever. Dunna ever ask me again, Isadora. Please.”
He was begging her. He must have had distress written all over his face because she instinctively moved in to comfort him. The next Cam realized, Isadora’s lips were slanting over his.
Instinctively, he responded to her. He put his arms around her, pulling her body against his, loving the woman more than words could express. But it wasn’t more than the vengeance in his heart.
For the moment, that was stronger than the both of them.
“All ye ever need know is how much I love ye,” Isadora whispered, her mouth against his. “I’ll love ye until the stars fall from the heavens. Let me show ye how much.”
Her declaration broke down his resistance. Without a second thought, Cam picked Isadora up and laid her upon the bed, his big body covering hers as the firelight reflected off their features.His mouth drifted away from hers, to her neck, to her delicate shoulders.
She was his; he knew she was his. Everything about this moment screamed of the feelings they felt for one another, the attraction that had built into something powerful and unbreakable in spite of the obstacles between them. His attentions were gentle and delicate as Isadora lay there, eyes open, watching him. He sensed her attention because he lifted his head from the swell of her bosom, his gaze melding with hers.
It was a moment full of silent words of love, perhaps even of gratitude, for this moment of adoration and discovery. There was no question about what they were doing or what was to come. They both wanted it, badly. Cam tugged at her tunic, lifting it over her head as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He kissed her nose, her cheek, as he laid the tunic on the ground, kissing the flesh that had become exposed.
Isadora was clad only in a thin shift and hose now, bathed in the warm glow of the fire, and he managed to pull all of that off of her as well, hearing her hose jingle with the silver coins he’d given her. Flipping the coverlet onto her to cover her nakedness, he stood up and pulled his tunic over his head.
She made no move to stop him.
Cam’s gaze never left her face as his tunic came off, revealing his muscular chest, thick neck, and broad shoulders. There was a fine matting of blond hair over his chest and Isadora watched with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation as he removed his boots and breeches as well. Completely nude, and nearly fully aroused, Cam faced her for a moment, allowing her to become acquainted with his naked form, before climbing onto the tiny bed beside her.
Hot flesh against hot flesh came together in a mighty clash as Cam’s lips latched on to her mouth again. She was so soft andwarm, and to feel her against him with such intimacy was more than he could bear. He’d never loved a woman before and the sensation of it overwhelmed him to the point of madness.
Cam’s mouth moved away from hers, down her neck, seeking a heated nipple. Beneath him, Isadora gasped at the newness of the sensation but Cam held her slender body fast, hardly allowing her any movement at all. He didn’t want her to squirm away from him as he greedily suckled her breasts, using his body weight to keep her from moving too much as his right hand stroked her thighs. They were so very supple.
God, it was like heaven.
Carefully, he wedged his big body in between her legs. He could smell her feminine musk and it was intoxicating, filling his nostrils until he could hardly stand it. He lifted himself up, his manhood pressing against her virginal core, and put a hand between their bodies to help ease way inside her.
“I can stop if ye wish,” he murmured against her cheek. “Tell me tae stop and I will.”
Isadora looked up at him without fear. “Nay,” she whispered. “Dunna ever stop, Cam. Swear this tae me.”
“I swear.”
“Tell me ye love me.”
