Her face overheating, Camille curtsied. "Mylaird."
"Come." Lachlan lifted Angelique into hisarms. "I'm taking you back upstairs."
"Non, not yet."
"Aye, you need bed-rest, my sweet."
They disappeared out the door and Dugaldclosed it behind them.
Turning, he could not believe the visionstanding before him. Camille was even lovelier than he remembered.Her blue eyes sparkled with a captivating light. And the expressionin them… as if she could not take her eyes off him. Her blond hairwas perfectly styled in coiled braids… which he wanted to unravel,running his fingers through the silken strands, as he had thatnight at the MacVays'.
He'd come here to make certain she'd arrivedhome safely… and to prove to himself his obsession with her was allin his imagination. He had hoped that once he saw her, he wouldfeel nothing. But 'twas not the case. Nay, he wished to lift herinto his arms and kiss her senseless.
Hell. Now what was he going to do?
"I'm glad you've come to see me." Camilleoffered a tentative, nervous smile.
Her purring French accent stroked somethingwithin him to life, as if she were running her smooth fingers overthe bare skin under his plaid. Excitement charged through him. Hisheart pounded harder.
Observing him, she frowned. "Are you angrywith me?"
"Nay, of course not." He sucked in a deepbreath, trying to dispel some of the tension within him. "I butwondered… how you were. Whether you had arrived home safely."
"Oui. Very safe. Did you get Mason outof the tolbooth?"
"Aye."
"And did you find the dagger?"
"Nay. The bastard of a shop owner claimed hedidn't know the man's name he'd sold it to. I didn't believe a wordhe said."
"I see." She watched him curiously.
"Camille, I… 'slud." He paced before thefireplace, rubbing the back of his neck. What the devil was hesupposed to say to her? How had she gotten beneath his skin? Hiswhole body ached for her.
She moved closer. "What is it, Dugald?"
Saints! The way she said his name positivelyseduced him.
"I missed you," he blurted.
A wee smile lifted her lips. "I missed you,too."
Damnation, but she was bewitching. He had tokiss her now or suffocate in his own need. He stepped forward,pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. So soft andsweet. Loving the sensation of her fingers delving into his hair tohold him close, he flicked his tongue against her luscious upperlip. She sighed and opened her mouth slightly. Moaning, he slippedhis tongue inside, tasting her. Arousal pounded in his blood alongwith something else. Aye, he'd felt lust thousands of times withinhis life, but this was different. She riveted his soul. He wasnever so alive as when he was holding her.
The loneliness slid away and elation surgedthrough him. Grinning, he lifted her into the air.
"Dugald?" she gasped. "What are you about?"With a bemused expression, she beamed down at him.
He set her to her feet lest she think him amadman. Well, mayhap he was, for he was willing to give upeverything to have a certain lass by his side forever. He was aboutto do the most brash and impulsive thing he'd ever done in hislife. The clan would not approve, nor would his father, if he werehere, but that was of little importance. To Dugald, what matteredmost was that Camille brought him to life as no one else ever had.She sparked excitement and joy in his veins. 'Twas as if he were ayouthful lad again discovering the world for the first time.
He had always relied on gut reaction, andwhat it told him now was to never allow Camille out of his sightagain. To draw her to him, hold her close and safe, and to cherishher forever. It had naught to do with deliberation, alliances, landor money. Da would think him mad indeed, but he now knew his fatherwould've never understood him. They were too different. Dugald didnot need months to decide what he wanted his life to be like.
He stroked the soft skin of her face."Camille…."
"Oui?"
Realizing he wasn't doing this properly, hesaid, "Here, you must sit." He propelled her toward the settle nearthe fire, then dropped to one knee before her.
