Page 58 of When a Highlander Vows
This time she wasn’t able to finish for Lucas’ hand had slid around her waist, and his mouth came down to meet hers.
29
Lucas’ mouth was soft, despite his firm grasp on her, and with a traitorous moan, she fell into him, opening her mouth to his insistent tongue. Her blood sang when his tongue touched hers, and she gripped his neck tightly as the kiss increased in passion. But her senses quickly came to, and she pulled away, but he did not let her go. He merely rested his forehead against hers.
“What are ye doin’?” she asked, her voice soft and almost slurred, drunk with the way his kiss always made her feel.
“What dae ye think, Sunshine?” he asked, smirking, and she trailed a finger softly across his beard.
Both of his arms were wrapped around her, and she enjoyed the tight feel of his embrace. But then she remembered what he’d done after the ball, pleasuring her and then running away as he seemed to every time.
With a grim look she said, “Ye cannae tell me who to befriend, ye ken, especially when ye have made it quite clear that ye daenae want me.”
With an angry growl, born of both fury and need, Lucas lifted her a bit with one arm, dragging her back against the stone wall. His other hand leaned against the wall to the side of her head, and he kissed her again.
This time, the kiss was even more heated. She gave into it, even though she knew she should not have, pressing against the insistent grounding of his hips. It was subtle, but she could feel his movement, and even if she did not know what it was to be with a man, her body seemed to know, and her hips surged forward to meet his. Roughly, he pulled away, kissing down her neck, still holding onto her as tightly as she held onto him.
When he nibbled at her ear, he whispered, “When will ye get it into yer head, Lass, that I want ye like nay other?” His free hand moved to grasp a breast, and she gasped at the sudden pleasure, even though he was impeded by her stays and bodice. “The only problem is, it is all it can be, for I will hurt ye.”
He was looking deep into her eyes, and their breath matched as she fell into his heated gaze.
“I daenae care about that, if ye would stop runnin’ away,” she said, pulling on his face until their lips met again, and this time, she controlled the kiss.
A responding groan from Lucas’ throat made her tingle with pleasure. She liked the thought that she could make a man want with as much desire as she felt herself, a desire which threatened to tear her in two.
“But I care,” he eventually said in a throaty voice, kissing her softly, sucking a little on her bottom lip, making a wet gush appear between her thighs. “I never want to hurt ye, Lass,” he said.
She was atremble with desire, heat, and pure, liquid need. Any attraction to Bram was now forgotten. It was only this man within her arms who was in her mind, and who was very much in danger of crawling his way into her heart as well.
But she swallowed, trying to regain her courage, and she pushed on his chest, making him step back a bit. A line of confusion furrowed his brow as tears welled in her eyes.
“But can ye nae see, Lucas? Dae ye nae understand? This hurts me too.” She pointed between them, and the blood drained from his face.
He spun around, and stepped away, his hands on his head. When he turned again, he was looking at her with sorrowful eyes. When he spoke, his voice was tender.
“I dinnae realize, Lass. I am so sorry.” He came to her, and hesitating, he grabbed her hand and kissed it, rubbing a thumb over the back of her hand. “I will go. Ye daenae have to worryabout anythin’ from me, Lass. I will go, and I willnae touch ye ever again. I swear it.”
Caitlin tried to reach out to stop him, but he ran out, hurrying to the library door and leaving her on her own. Caitlin sank down to the floor and burst into the tears she’d held back in front of him. Why did he affect her so? They had only just met, and yet she felt tied to him. Even if she wanted to leave the castle now, it would not be easy.
Something inside her told her she was in the right place, and yet why did he pull away every time they touched? Why did he say he would hurt her? He had only been tender with her since her arrival. He had been the one to give her a home and a place to live with others after the loss of her brother.
She rested her head in her hands and let the tears fall. As she cried, she didn’t notice the door to the library opening, but then she heard Rachel’s soothing voice, and she looked up.
“Rachel,” she said, “I have made a terrible mistake.”
“What is it, Miss?” Rachel said, reaching out to help Caitlin to her feet. “Let us help ye. Lottie told us where we could find ye.”
Caitlin fell into the embrace of her companions Mary and Rachel, and she let them lead her out of the library into the passage. Quickly, Caitlin wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and she took their arms.
“I wish to see Sarah and Paige. Ye will take me? They will be in Sarah’s chamber.”
“Aye, of course,” Mary said, patting her on the arm. “But will ye tell us what ails ye? It seems ye have nae been right since the ball. Is that headache from the wine still hurtin’ ye?”
Rachel chuckled, and Caitlin smiled to herself, even though she felt like a complete fool, allowing herself to be drawn into Lucas’ kisses once again.
“Aye, I will tell ye.”
When they found Sarah’s chamber, they slipped inside, and Paige turned to see them at the door. Sarah lay in bed, and Paige was standing next to her.
