Page 58 of A Forbidden Night with a Scot
Alicia looked down at her clothes. She had forgotten that she had brought the shirt with her, pulling it over her dress to keep the chill of the night away. Her cheeks heated in embarrassment, but there was no point in lying. Samuel already knew the truth.
“It is,” she admitted. “I took it when ye left the room one day. Dae ye mind?”
Laughing, Samuel shook his head. “I dinnae,” he promised. “It’s quite endearin’.”
“Is it?” Alicia asked, surprised to hear this. “Ye think so?”
“I dae,” Samuel assured her. “It’s sweet.”
“I suppose a part o’ me was tryin’ tae claim ye afore I even kent what I was feelin’ fer ye,” Alicia said with a soft laugh, shaking her head at her own antics. It had been her way of feeling closer to Samuel, the only thing she could do to have him with her.
Now that she was so close to finally having what she had wanted for so long, it felt as though it would slip right through her fingers. She had never felt as close to, and yet as far from, Samuel before.
For a while, the two of them sat there in silence, gazing at the horizon. Alicia traced the tops of the trees, their shadowyfigures, as they were outlined by the moonlight. Every time she visited, they were a little different.
“Earlier, when I came intae the healer’s chambers,” she said then, breaking the silence. “Forgive me… I shouldnae have done that. I didnae ken Faither was there, but I could have ruined it all. I could have ruined yer friendship with me faither."
She had surely jeopardized their friendship by being so forward, forgetting all discretion. Her concern was not an excuse for acting like she did, allowing her fear to take over before she could think twice about it. She had just been so relieved to see that he was alive and well after hearing that he had been shot with an arrow, and so she hadn’t hesitated before she fell into his arms, searching for some comfort.
“It’s alright, lass,” Samuel assured her, but Alicia didn’t feel any better about it.
Given the fact that Samuel had not yet spoken to her father, she couldn’t help but wonder if Samuel had changed his mind. Not so long ago, she would have asked him relentlessly about it and would have sulked for days if he hadn’t given her an answer she liked, but now she thought better of it. There was no point in interrogating him, nor would it help her case.
“Yer Faither only thinks it’s an infatuation,” Samuel added with a small shrug. “He doesnae suspect anythin’ more than that.”
“I see,” said Alicia quietly. “I suppose that is a good thing.”
For a few moments, Samuel simply stared at her and Alicia couldn’t help but feel as though he was peering straight into her soul. There was something scrutinizing about his gaze, something that made her feel as though he could see right through her.
Perhaps he could, she thought. Perhaps she was much more obvious than she thought.
“I understand if this is too much fer ye,” she said, breaking the silence. “It isnae an easy decision an’ ye already have difficulty speakin’ tae me Faither. If this is somethin’ ye dinnae wish tae dae?—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Samuel pressed a finger against her lips, shushing her. Then, he reached for the necklace he always wore around his neck, curling his fingers around it for a moment before he slipped it off and placed it around her neck instead. Alicia looked at it with wide eyes, picking it up in her hand to examine the intricate design.
“I was told as a young man tae give this tae the lass I love when the day comes,” Samuel said quietly, as though it was a secret shared between only the two of them. “It has taken me all this time but now I wish tae give it tae ye. I want ye tae have it, Alicia. Ye’re the only one I have ever loved like this. Ye’re the only one who has captured me heart. I will dae anythin’ in me power tae be with ye, I promise ye this, even though I haven’t done anything yet. I ken it’s taken me a long time… too long, in fact, but I will speak tae yer faither.”
Alicia was stunned speechless for a long time and could do nothing but stare at the necklace, shocked that Samuel had given her such a precious thing. He hadn’t even given it to his wife, she knew, as he had always worn that necklace around his neck. She was the first woman to have it. She was theonlywoman to have it.
Not knowing what else to do, she fell into his arms and kissed him, pouring everything she felt for him into that kiss. For the first time, she was certain that no matter what happened, no matter how many forces tried to tear them apart, Samuel would fight for her; for them.
Wrapping his arms around Alicia’s waist, Samuel pulled her close, deepening the kiss, but Alicia was mindful of the injury on his shoulder, which had yet to heal and would surely still take a long time. Placing a hand on his good shoulder, she pulled back a little even as Samuel chased the kiss, trying to capture her lips once more.
“Samuel, yer shoulder,” she said, but Samuel only made a vague sound of protest and kissed her again, much to her amusement. It wasn’t long before the kiss became more heated, Samuel’s hands roaming down her body to rest over her rear and then squeeze the ample flesh, drawing a soft moan from her.
At that moan, Samuel’s need only seemed to increase as he licked into her mouth, pushing her back towards the window. Once there, he spun her around so that she was facing out and pressed himself against her back, his lips instantly finding her neck to kiss and nip at the sensitive skin.
“I like ye in me shirt,” he said, whispering in her ear. “I wish tae see ye only with that on.”
Alicia couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her at the thought. The mere suggestion was so salacious that warmth flooded her cheeks, but she couldn’t deny the appeal of it as she imagined it. Samuel’s arms closed around her once again, holding her tenderly in his embrace as he scattered kisses on her neck and the edge of her jaw, and Alicia tilted her head to the side to give him more space, enjoying his unwavering attention.
Samuel’s lips left a hot trail on her skin, drawing a shiver out of Alicia. He seemed ravenous for her, and his blatant desire only served to heighten her own, urging her to lean into his touch and reach for him, twining their fingers as she tilted her head to kiss him. So eager was he that Alicia could feel his hardening manhood against her, pressing into her thigh like a promise of what was to come.
“I love ye,” Samuel said, mumbling against her lips as his hands slid down her body once again, touching every inch of her he could reach. “Never doubt that, Alicia. I love ye more than anythin’.”
Alicia would never doubt it again, she promised herself—and if she ever did, all she had to do was remind herself that she was the one wearing Samuel’s necklace, the tangible proof of his love for her.
“I love ye,” Alicia said, craning her neck to look in Samuel’s eyes. “An’ I want ye, Samuel. Please.”
