Page 33 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

He turned over her wrist and trailed kisses over the tender white skin, starting to get seriously excited. He wondered how far he could go before she snatched her hand away and hit him with it.

“I wish it wasnae a fantasy, Tadhg, because ye ken how much I loved ye before. I wish we had been married all those years ago. But ye broke me heart intae pieces when ye left. And now, I’m too scared tae let ye in, however much I might want tae, in case ye break it again. It nearly killed me the first time. I’d just die if it happened again.”

“Are ye sayin’ ye dae want tae then? Because if ye are, then I can promise ye I’ll never leave ye again.” Filled with hope, he pressed his lips fervently to her wrist. “I can never tell ye too many times how sorry I am fer hurtin’ ye, Alana. Ye deserved much better from me, and I ken I let ye down.

“But if ye’ll just give me a chance tae show ye how much I truly love ye and need ye, then I’ll stay by yer side forever, and I’ll dae everythin’ in me power tae make ye happy, I promise.”

“I want tae believe ye so much it hurts. I just dinnae ken if I can,” she said in a whisper, and she looked so sad for a moment, he longed to fold her into his arms and hold her, to give her comfort and reassure her that he was being truthful.

“D’ye think ye’ll ever be able tae forgive me?” he asked, silently praying she would say yes.

“I’m nae sure. I’m thinkin’ about it.”

His heart skipped in his chest, and he kissed her wrist tenderly once more and then enclosed her hand with both of his. “Thank ye, Alana, that’s all I’m askin’ fer, a chance tae show me love.”

There was a short pause, and then she said, her voice low and breathy.

“Ye havenae finished tellin’ me yer fantasy. I want tae ken what else would happen if we were truly man and wife.”

A chuckle bubbled up from inside him as hope infused his bones. “Well now, let me see. Where did I get tae?”

“There was a lot of cuddlin’ and kissin’, I seem tae recall,” she supplied, her eyes dark pools he would willingly have hurled himself into.

“Aye, as I said, we’d be cuddlin’ and kissin’ all day long… and at night, we’d cuddle up in our cozy bed⁠—”

“Ach, how did I guess that bed would feature in yer fantasy?”

“And we’d make love, tenderly, passionately, fer hours on end…”

He let his voice trail off because there was no doubt now that she was slowly inclining her body towards his, and her eyes were drifting from his eyes to his mouth.

She wants me tae kiss her. I’m gonnae kiss her. By God, I’m gonnae kiss her…

He leaned forward and closed his eyes, preparing to reenter the heaven he had been denied for so long. Or so he thought. For just as their lips were about to meet, the sound of someone loudly clearing their throat interrupted them, and they sprang apart.

“I beg pardon fer interruptin’ this lovers’ tryst, but can a man get in here tae get a book, fer the Wee Man’s sake?” asked Knox from the threshold. “I need somethin’ tae help me sleep.”

“Me God, Knox, ye scared the livin’ daylights out of me!” Tadhg exclaimed, sitting up straight and meeting his friend’s laughing eyes. He glanced at Alana and saw she had gone bright red and was paying a lot of unwarranted attention to smoothing her skirts. “Did ye have tae burst in on us like that? What are ye doin’ here? I thought ye’d gone tae bed.”

Knox came in and closed the door. “Aye, I thought so too, but after I’d laid there awhile with all me thoughts runnin’ around in me head, I thought the only way tae get mesel’ off tae sleep would be either tae find a willin’ wench tae bed down with me or come down here and find somethin’ borin’ tae read. I couldnae find a willin’ wench, so here I am.”

“Well, ye certainly choose yer moments,” Tadhg said, trying to sound as if he did not mind missing out on the kiss he had fought so long to win.

Alana suddenly stood up, her cheeks still pink. “If ye’ll excuse me, I’m goin’ up tae bed. I’ll see ye shortly, Tadgh.” She smiled at Knox as she sailed past him. “Good night, Laird Stewart.”

“Good night, lass. Sleep well,” he called after her in his usual good-natured tone. But once she had vanished from sight, he turned back to Tadgh. “I’m glad I caught ye. I was wonderin’, since I cannae seem tae sleep, if ye’d like tae come and have an ale or two with me,” he said with hopeful expression.

Tadhg considered the request and quickly decided that after what had just passed between him and Alana it was going to be more than difficult to sleep on the floor again. Being closeted in their chamber without being able to touch her was going to be murder. “Aye, I’ll gladly come and have a wee drink with ye,” he said, joining Knox by the door. “Funnily enough, I’m nae feelin’ much like sleepin’ mesel’.”

They went to the great hall and joined the few folks who were still partaking of alcoholic refreshment at that late hour. They made themselves comfortable at a secluded corner table and ordered a tankard of ale each.

A few minutes after they sat down, Knox leaned his elbows on the tale and said in a low voice, “Tadhg, I heard ye and Alana talkin’ in the library.”

Tadhg’s heart began to race. “Did ye now? And what did ye hear?”

“I heard what I already suspected. That pair of ye are nae wed,” the laird replied bluntly. When Tadhg opened his mouth to contradict him, Knox butted in. “’Tis alright. Ye can count me as a friend, and I ken how tae keep a secret. I swear nae tae tell a soul.”

“I have yer word on that?” Tadhg asked, searching the man’s eyes for any sign of duplicity. He could see none in Knox’s forthright gaze. His heart began to calm, and he took a long draught of ale to soothe his frazzled nerves.