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The click of the door behind him as he closed her off did not give him the strength he expected. Conner hoped once he had barred himself from her, she’d be out of his mind. He never suspected the fantasies would wreak havoc on him so soon.
Rushing down the hallway, he bolted to his room and closed himself off from her and everyone else in the castle. Running his fingers through his hair, he tried not to think of the way she looked, the way she felt against him in the hallway. If it weren’t for her scent lingering on the tips of his fingers, he could have put all thoughts of her aside. But the scent was far too alluring.
Slowly, he drew his fingers to his lips and brushed his fingertips over his mouth. Licking his lips, he found himself shocked to taste her on him. Closing his eyes he slid to the floor and let his mind play tricks on him.
I cannae be so foolish. Aye, Olivia is a bonnie lass and she is my wife. But, what will it dae to me if I should lose her too? Would the fates be so cruel as to take her from me as well?
Conner dropped his head as he tried to push aside all his desires for Olivia. Over and over again he explained why he couldn’t let her into his heart. Even if she was so easy to love, to be with, he could never allow it.
The wall around his heart thickened as he opened his eyes. The empty room felt so isolated and cold despite the fire popping and flickering in the fireplace. Rising to his feet, he made his way to the sitting chair facing the flames and plopped down into the plush cushion. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he tried to recount all the reasons not to be with her. Yet, for each one he came up with, it was quickly shot down by a more powerful reason for him to care.
* * *
Olivia paced the floor of her room gnawing on the tips of her fingers. With every sound that lingered by her door, her heart fluttered with hope. It was only after some time did reality strike her.
He’s nae comin’ back.
How dare he leave me in such a way? Am I nae his wife? Am I nae worthy of his love?
Nay, he’ll nae be breakin’ my heart tonight. I’ll nae live in a loveless marriage. Nor will I be teased and sent away to pine for him.
Mustering all the courage she could, Olivia stormed to the door and threw it open. Her nerves rattled as she marched down the hallway. She knew Conner wouldn’t like her boldness, but she didn’t care. He hurt her and she wasn’t about to let him get away with such things.
Staring at his bedroom door, she contemplated knocking. As the wooden grains seared into her mind, she pulled in a long deep breath. With a trembling hand, she reached for the knob and pushed open the door.
“Listen here, Conner,” she barked as she entered the room. “Ye have nay right to treat me like some common maiden. I’m yer wife.”
“Olivia,” Conner moaned, his head shifting to the doorway. His eyes widened as he stared at her.
“Ye cannae dae that to me, Conner,” she said. Her resolve to give him a piece of her mind seemed to drift out of her like smoke caught on a strong breeze. She stopped and looked at him. The puffiness in his eyes was fresh, as was the redness in his cheeks. The mere sight of him so distraught caused her to step back.
“Ye shouldnae be in here,” he mumbled as he stood.
“I need to ken right now what it is ye expect of me and this union. Dae ye want a loveless marriage? Dae ye want to pretend ye and I are nae together, but mere residents in the same home?”
“I…” Conner said as he moved closer to her.
“What?” she snapped, feeling the ire boiling in her. Before she could bombard him with more questions she knew he’d never answer, Conner was standing before her. His lips twitched as his eyes bore into hers stealing the very breath from her.
“Speak,” she said. Conner’s hands were around her face so fast she didn’t have time to step back. Before she uttered a single word, he crushed his lips to hers, silencing her. Olivia melted into him as their mouths molded together.
“I want ye,” he confessed. The words were all too familiar, but there was an undertone that Olivia only now picked up on. He wasn’t stating he wanted just her body. Conner wanted everything about her.
“Ye have me,” she said. “I’m here. Right now. Ye see me for all I am. And I see ye as well. The question is, will ye give yerself to me?”
“I want to,” he answered as his eyes drifted to her bare breasts and scanned her milky white flesh.
“What is stoppin’ ye?”
Conner dropped his head into his hands. “I cannae lose ye too.”
Olivia moved to him. With a delicate touch, she pushed aside his hands from his face forcing him to look at her.
“Ye won’t.”
“How can ye be so certain?”
“Because I have faith,” she said as she lured his hand to her chest. Conner’s eyes closed as his grip tightened. He moved his thumb over her hardened nipple, teasing her. Olivia inched closer until she pressed her body against his.
