Eilidh touched his arm. The gesture sending a jolt of electricity through his body. “I am sorry. I cannae begin to fathom a world without my parents.”
“Thank ye. As I said, ’twas long ago. Our Uncle took us in. When he passed, our cousin, Seamus, became laird in his place.”
“Ye’re cousin to Laird MacGregor?” she asked, surprise lacing her voice.
“I am.”
“Do ye live with him?”
He chuckled. “Nay. I am much like yer brother, Rory, I believe ye said his name was. I like my solitude. I can practice and play my lute whene’er I want and no’ fash aboot who I am keeping awake or bothering.”
“I can understand that. Ofttimes I have to leave Hartsmoor so I can practice in peace.”
“And that happens oft?”
“Aye. ’Tis what I am doing now.” Her cheeks flushed. “Or at least that is what my family believes.” She smiled slyly.
He stepped closer, unable to tear his eyes away from hers. “Have I told ye how happy I am that ye found me?” Boldly, he took her hands in his and pulled her closer. He wanted to kiss her.Neededto kiss her. He began to lower his head to hers. “Tell me to stop,” he said softly, pausing to give her time to reject him, all the while hoping that she would not.
She opened her mouth.
He waited for her to speak. But she did not. Instead, she lifted her face to his in invitation. One he gladly accepted. He closed thedistance, tentatively capturing her lips, savoring the taste of her. The kiss was soft, slow. An exploration of what could be.
He had never experienced such a kiss. Of course, he had not kissed many lasses afore Eilidh, so he didn’t have a vast knowledge of what made a kiss great. But the way his body roared to life, especially when she leaned into him, told him that this was a kiss to remember.
Eilidh broke the kiss, pulling back. Her chest heaved, and she looked unsure of herself. He searched her face for a clue as to what she was feeling. He waited, just as unsure as she was.
But then, she tangled her hands in his hair and pulled his head down to hers, their lips crashing together. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, until she was flush against his front. And still it wasn’t close enough.
His tongue teased the seam of her lips, wanting entry, that she thankfully granted him, and he plundered her mouth. Their tongues performing a forbidden dance to a wicked tune only they could hear. The heat from their bodies intensified, searing each other with every touch. Every stroke.
It was madness.
They both broke the kiss at the same time, panting heavily. Guilt suddenly consumed him.
“I am sorry, Eilidh. I shouldnae have taken such liberties. I respect ye more—”
“This is madness,” she cut him off, placing her palm against her forehead. It was as if their thoughts had collided as well.
He nodded. “I ken,” he replied solemnly.
She rushed to him, taking his face in her hands, her dark-blue eyes boring into his. “I dinnae mean it in such a way. ’Tis madness how quickly my feelings have grown for ye. ’Tis no’ right. No’ natural.”
He darted his tongue out and wet his lips. “I ken. But I wouldnae change a thing.” He waited for her response. Her reaction. To see if she would turn him away. His stomach was in knots at the verythought.
She answered him by pressing her lips to his once more, sighing into him as he deepened the kiss. Spinning her around, so her back was against the tree, he kissed her as if she were his salvation. The only one with the ability to save him from himself.
This time, when he broke the kiss so they could catch their breaths, he rested his forehead upon hers. “This is indeed madness.”
“We shouldnae do that again,” she whispered breathlessly.
“I ken,” he agreed. Could he not think of another answer? He sounded like a dolt to his own ears.
“But I want to,” she admitted, capturing his lips once again. He let her explore his mouth with a groan as he gave in to her. Hell, she could ask him to take his dagger and stab himself straight in his heart with it and he would. He was mesmerized.
She stepped back, her cheeks flushed, her hair mussed where he had pushed his fingers through her braid. Looking to the sky, she said, “I must go. Afore it gets too late and my da sends out a search party.”
Torquil kenned she was right. But he did not want to let her out of his sight.
