Saints!Couldn't he have asked anything but that? Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She forced herself to take a deep breath.Remain calm."He's very sweet and bright."
"How old is he?"
"Six. He's studying with a tutor and learning to read."
"'Tisimpressive."
Calla nodded, wondering what Rebbie would think of Jamie. If things were different, if 'twas another life, Rebbie would surely be proud of Jamie. "I wish I could keep him with me, but with my employment, 'tis impossible."
He nodded. "Do you visit him often?"
"I saw him about three weeks ago for a short time, just before we traveled toDraughon. I miss him."
"I'm certain he misses you, too."
She nodded, knowing 'twas true for, though Jamie tried to be a wee man, he had cried when she was leaving the last time. The tears gleaming in his dark eyes had broken her heart. She turned away so Rebbie wouldn't see the mist of tears that burned her own eyes. She had to think of something else or she'd bawl like abairn, just as she had last night. How mortifying. She had to stop being so emotional and she had to get off the subject of her son, especially with Rebbie.
She glanced up into the short fruit trees. "These plums are ripe," she blurted.
"Aye." He came forward, plucked a deep red one and handed it to her. "Taste it."
She wiped the beautiful fruit on her bodice and took a bite. The sweet juice near overran her mouth. "Mmm, delicious," she mumbled, then chewed.
Rebbie watched her with dark interest, especially focusing on her mouth. It must be smeared with plum juice, she decided, wiping her hand across it.
She swallowed the bite. "Are you not going to try one?"
"I believe I will." He moved closer, slipped his hand around her neck into her hair and captured her lips with his own. When she gasped, he pursued a deeper kiss, flicking his tongue against hers. Nay, she should not let this happen, but he was wicked temptation itself. Never had anyone kissed her the way he did—caressing her soul, setting a bonfire to her body.
"Mmm, you're right. Delicious," he murmured between kisses.
The plum slipped from her hand and she wove her sticky fingers into his silky dark hair to better hold his head. His mouth was far better than any plum.
To her utter shock and disbelief, he slid his hands from her waist down to her derriere, tucking her tightly against him, and took the kiss to new carnal depths. His sporran had slid aside and she easily detected the hardness of his arousal. His mouth ate at hers as if he were famished.
If only he could be hers, all would be perfect, but it could never be.'Twasall her fault. But she'd done the best she could… what she had to in order to survive.
The more his hard body rubbed against hers, the more she wanted him… the more she loved him.
Nay, I do not.She tore herself away from him and stumbled from the orchard toward the back entrance to the castle.
Once inside, she found the housekeeper watching her curiously. "Are you well, m'lady?"
"Aye." Calla hastened up the narrow spiral stairway. How was she going to avoid Rebbie for the rest of her stay here? And more importantly, how was she going to avoid falling in love with him… again?
***
"Hell," Rebbie muttered in the quietness of the garden and shoved a hand through his hair. How he ached for her. He couldn't remember ever wanting another woman as much.
He knew he shouldn't touch her, given that he was betrothed to her cousin, but the betrothal was a sham.'Twasnaught but a piece of paper he hadn't signed. How his father expected him to marry a spoiled brat, he couldn't fathom. Nay, he needed a wife like… Calla.
A frisson of something icy spiraled through him, near making him dizzy. He caught against a tree trunk. Had he gone bloody raving mad? He didn't want a wife.
He didn't even like that word.
He muttered several ear-singeing curses, glad Calla was out of hearing. Insanity had taken hold of him. He didn't want to marry, he merely wanted Calla as he'd had her before. No woman had ever been like her. In bed that night years ago, she'd given all of herself and wholly embraced the carnal pleasures between them. So damned sweet and passionate. She'd made it clear she wanted him as badly as he'd wanted her.
A movement in the corner of the garden beyond the orchard caught his attention, someone slipping around the corner of the castle. He recognized the plaid. MacFadden.
