Page 24 of When a Highlander Vows
She swallowed when she felt his mouth by her ear again, and she wrapped her arms about herself to keep the tremble of hidden desire from being obvious to him. It surged inside her, warming her belly despite the cool breeze.
“The Castle sits on its own plot of land, but on McDougall lands, there are ten villages all with farms. The boundaries last formiles and miles in all directions, but we keep the sea to our backs. Our ancestors thought it wise militarily.”
“And me village? Where does it stand? Is it large or small?”
“Your village, Taobh Cnuic, is about in the middle. It’s one of the best places to find grain, however. The Castle takes much of its grain from your village. Your brother did well selling it as a merchant, but then he gathered other things from other lands, and as ye ken, his business expanded rapidly. He was an intelligent lad.”
“Aye,” Caitlin said, nodding against him, and she could feel the start of a beard on his chin which brushed against her ear.
She kept silent then, listening to him speak as he pointed things out to her along the way. He gave her the names of glens and forests and rivers, and then, he slowed, moving closer to the edge of the sea until the horse’s steps sounded wetter and thicker.
“Come. Ye said ye’ve never been to the sea, right?” he asked.
“Aye. Never.”
“Then, ye will come and see it now. Ye will nae be able to come on yer own, so I will show ye now. I daenae ken when there will be another chance” He jumped down, his boots squelching a little in the soft ground, and he reached up for her.
Caitlin looked down at him. The angry lines she’d seen on his face that morning had smoothed, as if the brightness of the day and being out in the cool breeze had done something to ease his spirits. His strong hands were reaching up for her, and she reached for him too, suddenly wishing that she was jumping into the arms of the man she loved, wishing that she had someone.
The ache for that was sudden and swift, but as she lowered herself into Lucas’ arms, it was soothed somewhat. His hands held her waist, and as he dropped her down, he didn’t move away. Instead, his body was pressed to hers, and her heart reacted swiftly, pattering away with nerves and that hidden desire she’d tried so hard to keep locked deep down inside her.
Surely it is nae just because he is a handsome man? Am I so in need of affection that I would choose anyone?
She looked into his dark eyes for another moment before she stepped back and faced the sea. She did not think her draw to him was because of that because she didn’t want that to be so. She would not wish to be wanted as a mere ornament either.
Facing the sea, her troubles washed away quickly, however, for now, as she stepped closer, she could see it clearer and clearer. Her lips parted, amazed by the sight in front of her troubled eyes.
“Lucas,” was all she could say, and then she felt him standing next to her.
Stones were under her feet as she continued to walk forward, faced with the beauty of gray and blue twisting together to make a color all its own. The crash of waves filled her ears, and the gentle salt spray of the ocean, dripped and dropped across her cheeks with each roll of the water.
She could feel him looking at her. “Why do ye stare at me so?” she asked, unable to take her own eyes from the natural amazement in front of her.
Mountains of stone and green lay on each side, and she could see the blurred outlines of the edge of Scotland, the edge of her homeland. Beyond, was God knew what. Well, her brother had seen those things at least. A surge of grief washed over her and then was let out to sea. Being close to the water reminded her of Seamus, made his life’s work more real to her. The sea was where he’d met his end.
Somewhere below in that gray-blue water, me brother lies, gone from this world.
It was like standing at the foot of his grave, and even though the sea looked to her to be a terrible, fearsome thing, that thought gave her peace. Living at the castle, she would be far closer to Seamus than living in the village.
When Lucas spoke again, his voice was gravelly, as if he was struggling to get out the words. She’d forgotten for a moment that she’d asked him a question.
“I stare at ye because I find I cannae look anywhere else, Lass, when ye are nearby.”
When she realized the import of his words, she faced him, her lips pursed together as she turned the words over in her mind. His tone had been almost tender.
“I—” she started to say, but her voice fell away when she saw the look in his eyes.
Those eyes, like little pieces of darkness put into a man, were shining. They were not fierce or angry or even cold. He was looking at her just as he said. As if he couldn’t look anywhere else.
She swallowed and brushed a hair away as it blew across her face, trailing over her lips. Lips that begged to be kissed.
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he stepped closer. His hand reached out and grasped her waist. She gasped at the feel of his strength holding her. Keeping her blissfully captive. There was such latent power in that body, and she could imagine there being many people who were frightened of him. It was exactly the kind of a thing a laird would wish.
But even though his grip was firm, it was not painful nor was it rough. Nothing like fear was emanating from her. Instead, it was pure heat as their bodies came together, his eyes searching hers before moving to her mouth.
Kiss me,she pleaded.
Like the last time they’d been this close, his other hand lifted to her cheek where his thumb brushed against her chin and her bottom lip.
