“What? Are you mad?” Annoyance gored Keegan. “I would never do that. Do you take me for a coward?”
“Nay! I’m trying to protect you.”
“Well, I intend to protect you. And I can’t do that if I’m here and you’re traveling across the country with Haldane on your heels.” His words were low but firm. The last thing on earth he’d do was stay here, safe, while she faced danger. Though her idea irritated him, he understood why she’d suggested it. She worried about his safety because… mayhap she cared about him a great deal. He hoped.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes again. “I should’ve never…”
“What?”
“I didn’t mean to lead you on… and lead you into danger. I should’ve never allowed you to… kiss me.”
“Saints, Seona.” Could she not see that he cared for her? ’Twas not as if he merely wanted beneath her skirts. She had stolen his heart.
She stared at the floor, her blush evident in the candlelight. “I ken I acted very… wantonly. That was wrong of me.”
He ground his teeth. Aye, he knew he shouldn’t have touchedher in the most intimate of places but… he ached. Not only his groin, but his chest and his whole body ached for her. He sucked in a deep breath, trying to dispel his need but naught helped.
“I should not have teased and tempted you,” she said.
“You didn’t. I am the one to blame for leading you astray. You’re an innocent and I shouldn’t have touched you.” He forced himself to say the words, to be a gentleman. ’Twas true heshouldn’thave touched her, but he did not regret it. Nay, he wanted to touch her again, more than anything, but he would keep his hands to himself if that was what she wished.
She watched him, her blue eyes darkening in a most tempting manner. Was she thinking of how he’d touched her? He could think of little else, himself. Her skin was so soft and silken his fingers itched to trail over her again. When he tried to sleep at night, he had burning, erotic dreams about stroking, kissing and licking her… everywhere. Imagining being naked with her in bed made him yearn so intensely he could scarce breathe.
“I shouldn’t have… given you pleasure,” he said, remembering how she’d shattered in his arms. He loved how passionate she was.
Her skin turning bright pink, she licked her lips. How he craved another taste of them. He moved closer to her, thankful to see she didn’t move back.
“I was wrong to… slide my hand up your thigh beneath your skirts,” he whispered, feeling like the most debauched rogue, but unable to stop himself. Aye, he wanted to tempt her as much as she tempted him. He wanted her to remember the pleasure he’d given her.
Her breathing altered but her stare never wavered from his. She swallowed hard.
“I should not have touched you and felt how wet you were… how aroused,” he whispered in an intense tone. “Because now I cannot forget it. ’Tis all I can think about.”
Her eyelids were growing heavy and her gaze more heated by the moment.
“You have no inkling how you make me ache,” he went on. Indeed, at the moment he was so hard he was almost dizzy with arousal. “I want you, Seona. Always.” Knowing it was time for him to be completely honest with her, he drew in a deep breath. “I love you.”
“Keegan. Nay,” she breathed, shaking her head and squeezing her eyes shut. More glistening tears leaked out.
Though her reaction was like a punch to the gut, he shoved the chair out of his way and drew her into his arms. “Don’t cry, lass. I’d hoped… you might like to know how I feel.”
“Aye.” She looked up into his eyes. “I love you, too, but— ”
“That’s all that matters.” Bittersweet joy latched onto him. Aye, if she loved him, he would do anything to have her. He’d move heaven and earth to make her happy, to keep her safe, to keep her by his side always.
She shook her head. Grasping the plaid across his upper body, she buried her face against his chest and sobbed.
God, she ripped his heart out. He pressed his face against the thick softness of her unbound hair. He relished the sleek feel of it. Her hands tugging at his plaid made him want to rip the material from his body and revel in the warmth of her smooth skin against his. Her stomach pressed against his hard shaft. He forced himself not to respond, not to grind into her as his instincts urged.
He kissed her temple. “Please, I beg of you, stop crying and tell me why you’re so upset.”
She sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief. “You.”
“Why?”
“You overwhelm me. You make me feel… things I never thought possible.”
“I feel the same way.” Just as overwhelmed in her presence, especially if he touched her, or held her as he was now. He never wanted to let her go. ’Twas almost as if she was a part of him. And to be away from her felt as if a piece of him was missing.
