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“Too cold?” Sarah asked, an apologetic expression upon her face, as she lifted her head to look at him.
“Aye, lass, much too cold,” Keir murmured, then instantly reclaimed her lips, determined to see her warmed. His hands drifted over her body, teasing, exploring, and he felt her tremble, the breath hitching in her throat.
Pulling back, Sarah looked up at him, tears misting her eyes as she smiled. “This is how it began,” she murmured, touching his face, the tips of her fingers tracing his brows, down his temple and along the line of his jaw, the touch tantalizing and utterly intoxicating. “Do you remember? That night in the cabin when you found me shivering?”Every moment of it.
“How could I forget?” Keir chuckled against her lips, then kissed her again, rolling her onto her back and bracing himself above her. Her eyes were two dark pools as he looked down at her, and he suddenly felt an icy chill trail down his spine. “I was afraid for ye today.”
Sarah bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I never meant…” Again, she reached out and touched his face, her gaze trailing the movement before returning to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, and her teeth sank into her lower lip once more, a smile tugging upon her lips. “Will you kiss me again?”
Keir smiled at her, sinking down onto his lower arms, feeling the soft touch of her body beneath his. “Is that what ye want?”
Sarah nodded; her voice breathless as she spoke. “It is.” Yet the moment his mouth reclaimed hers, she melted into his embrace, her hands eager as they explored his shoulders and the planes of his chest.
Keir trailed kisses down her throat, nipping her skin gently, overwhelmed by the feel of her in his arms. There had been moments like this before; only now he wanted more. Every kiss, every touch, sent heat sizzling across his skin, and he struggled to contain his desire. After all—
“Why did you stop?” Sarah asked, her brows drawn into a quizzical expression as she looked up at him, her hands still locked at the back of his neck.
Keir chuckled. “We are to be wed tomorrow. There’s no need to rush, lass.” Yet deep down, every fiber of his being disagreed.
Again, Sarah’s teeth sank into her lower lip as she regarded him. Then, the right corner of her mouth twitched. “We are to be wed tomorrow,” she echoed his words. “There’s no need to stop.”
Thinking his hearing impaired, Keir stared down at her.
Sarah chuckled, the blush upon her cheeks deepening, her skin now warm to the touch. “I’ve already broken every rule at least twice. What is one more?”
Keir grinned, loving that she could still catch him off guard. “Are ye certain?”
Sarah nodded, and her hands pulled him back down to her. “Aye, I am,” she whispered, claiming a kiss that stole the breath from Keir’s lungs.
Today was definitely ending far better than he had expected.
Chapter Fifty-Three
THE ECHO OF LOSS
Waking the next morning, Sarah stretched out leisurely, a wide smile upon her face she could not seem to subdue. Every inch of her tingled, warm and languid from the previous night. Never had she felt so at ease, so much like herself, free and almost dauntless. Far from the way her mother had prophesied! Indeed, every whispered word, every touch had been perfect, making her wish the night would never have to end. Yet waking in Keir’s chamber—in their chamber come today!—felt like a most wonderful promise of many more such nights to come, spent in each other’s arms.
In some way, Sarah had always felt alone in the world. Yes, there had been people who had cared for her—the Whickertons—and yet they had not been her family, endowed with the right to protect her, to care for her. More often than not, they, too, had been forced to stand by and allow her parents to jeopardize her future, her happiness. Now, here at MacKinnear Castle, Sarah felt truly safe, no longer alone and only able to depend upon herself, for the first time in her life.
It was an exhilarating feeling.
Still, when Sarah finally cracked open her eyes, blinking them against the bright sunlight announcing a new day, she found herself alone in Keir’s chamber. For a moment, she wondered if she had simply imagined the previous night. Yet every fiber of her being instantly argued against it, reminding her of everything that had happened the day before.And it did, did it not?
As though to answer her question, the door flew open in that moment, and Keir strode in, a wide grin coming to his face as he saw her awake.
Instantly, Sarah felt heat shoot into her cheeks, unable to prevent it. After all, as wonderful as she felt after what had happened between them, it was still utterly new, and she would need some time to truly feel at ease with it.
“Ye’re blushing,” Keir remarked with a chuckle as she had known he would. “It suits ye.” He held her gaze as Sarah sat up, pulling the blanket all the way to her chin. “Dunna ever stop.”
Sarah frowned. “Stop blushing?” She laughed. “I don’t think I could. It has never been my choice after all, remember?”
Keir seated himself on the bed beside her and handed her a pile of clothing. “I am glad to hear it.”
Sarah returned his smile, then reminded of the boldness she had felt the night before, leaned in and kissed him. “We are to be married today,” she murmured against his lips before sitting back and dropping her gaze to the clothes in her lap.
Keir nodded. “Aye, we are.” He stilled, his blue eyes searching hers. “Any regrets?”
Grinning from ear to ear, Sarah shook her head as she felt the blush upon her cheeks darken. “None,” she told him boldly. “I am more certain than ever.”
