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Chapter 11
Jonet could not think straight. There was a pounding in her ears and yet it felt as if her heart had stopped altogether. She did not breathe or dare to move as Matthew pressed his lips closer to hers.
Every inch of Jonet’s body felt as if it was on fire. After a few sec
onds, he moved closer to her, sliding his hand around the back of her neck. Jonet still had not overcome her shock, but her eyes closed and she relaxed. She eased into the kiss, not wanting to think any more. Only wanting to give in to the primal need simmering deep within her, needing to taste him.
She had not realized she had been longing for his moment until it was finally here. Now, she did not want it to ever end. She too slid her hand around his neck, and he opened his mouth to her, allowing her to slip her tongue in.
It was a slow kiss, a gentle one. One that was tentative and new, exploring and exciting. When they finally pulled away, Jonet could not help the smile that came over her face.
Yet Matthew was not smiling, and he refused to let go of her. Keeping her face close to his, he gazed deeply into her eyes. “Ye arenae alone anymore, Jonet,” he told her. “I am here. Ye daenae have to worry about me getting’ hurt because all that nonsense about ye havin’ a curse is just that, nonsense.”
His words broke her a little and out came the ugly truth.
“How can I ken?” she asked. “They were all perfectly fine before they’d met me. And then they’d died. So suddenly, so oddly. How can I nae believe that I truly am cursed?”
“Because someone as beautiful as yerself cannae be cursed.”
Jonet sighed, rolling her eyes. “This is hardly the time for any attempts to sweet-talk me, Matthew.”
“While that is me favorite thing to do,” he said with a quick smile, “I’m nae tryin’ to sweet-talk ye. Ye are beautiful. Inside and out. I havenae kent ye for long and yet I ken that ye are kind and caring and ye have a wonderful heart. A lass like ye cannae possibly be evil.”
Her heart warmed at his words and she did not try to hold back her happy smile. “Ye think so?”
“It breaks me heart that ye daenae ken this. Believe me, Jonet. It is all a coincidence.”
She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe them all. All the people who had told her she should not worry about being cursed. She wanted to shed this ugly insecurity of hers so she could open herself up to good things again.
Yet it was hard. She was not sure how to say it, even though she really wanted to.
Matthew pulled away, as if he had just read her mind. “I hope ye believe me soon,” he nodded. “I ken ye daenae now, but over time, I hope ye understand that none of what happened was yer fault.”
She blinked at him, shocked. “Can ye read me mind or somethin’?”
Matthew glanced at her in surprise and chuckled. “My, ye’re a superstitious one. Nay, Jonet, I'm nae able to read ye mind. Ye have very readable expressions, is all.”
“Oh.” When she caught him laughing, she slapped him on the arm. “Daenae laugh at me, ye bampot. I’m tryin’ to be serious.”
“All right, I’ll stop.” His dying chuckles chased away a bit of the cobwebs that had settled around her heart. “Ye are quite adorable when ye are upset.”
Jonet’s cheeks went hot. She splashed her feet in the water a little harder, half hoping droplets would land on her face and cool her down. His words made saying what she had planned to say much more difficult.
“Perhaps ye should stay with us in the Castle,” she offered eventually.
“Excuse me?”
She could not look at him as she spoke, nervous all of a sudden. “All the men I have been betrothed to reside in the Castle once we have begun courting. We may nae be betrothed but… I’m nae entirely opposed to us having a courtship.”
Matthew was silent for a few seconds. Jonet glanced up at him. “Do ye nae plan on sayin’ anythin’?”
“Aye,” he sounded a little dazed. “I was crossed between tellin’ ye I love ye and kissin’ ye again.”
Jonet chuckled, her heart thumping painfully even though she knew it was a joke. “A mere thank ye will suffice.”
“Well, then thank ye, Jonet. For giving’ me that chance.”
“Ye’re welcome.” Desperate, she said, “Let’s change the subject.”
