Page 81 of Kilted Abduction
He narrowed his eyes. “Nae all of us have the luxury of runnin’ away.”
She recoiled like he’d slapped her and glared at him. “’Tis nae fair.”
“Maybe nae. But it’s true all the same.”
Ciara lashed out once again, catching him across the face with a sharp slap. Magnus didn’t flinch. His emotions were churning so wildly inside of him, he barely even felt it. He stepped forward though, forcing her to take a step back. Ciara squeaked when she bumped up against the wall and was trapped between him and the stone. His cold, blue eyes were fixed on hers and he leaned forward, the tip of his nose mere inches from hers. Ciara drew in a sharp breath and tried to slow her suddenly racing heart.
“What are ye tryin’ tae dae? Kiss me and read me mind again?” she asked.
“Dae ye think this is easy fer me? Dae ye think any of this is easy fer me?” he growled. “Dae ye think I’d really put me family—me entire clan—at risk, just tae get intae yer head?”
“What are ye talkin’ about?”
“I’ve been tryin’ tae protect ye. From Fairfax and from me,” he said. “Dae ye think I’d put all me people at risk just tae hear yer thoughts?”
“I dinnae ken what ye’re bleedin’ talkin’ about.”
Magnus swallowed hard, his head spinning, and the voice in the back of his mind telling him to shut up and walk away. But his heart told him something different. His heart sparked a courage inside of him Magnus never knew he possessed.
“I’ve been tryin’ tae keep ye safe because I’m fallin’ fer ye, Ciara,” he admitted slowly and softly. “I’ve been tryin’ tae protect ye because… because… I love ye.”
Her eyes grew wide and her mouth fell open as she stared back at him looking equal parts shocked and terrified. She seemed to be struggling to find the words to form a response. Magnus wasn’t exactly looking for one in the moment though. It was enough for him to have gotten it out. She knew how he felt and what she chose to do with that was now up to her.
Magnus eyes drifted to her full lips, slightly parted, and had to fight the urge to lean forward and press his mouth to hers. Thedesire was so strong, he felt himself being pulled toward her. He had to physically stop himself and with a final look into her emerald-green gaze, Magnus turned and walked away.
CHAPTER 42
Ciara hesitated and leaned against the wall, trying to quell her trembling body and fluttering heart. The incident earlier with Magnus had left her shaken. The last thing she had ever expected was for him to confess his feelings for her, to tell her that he loved her. It had hit her hard and had been so unexpected that she hadn’t been able to do anything but stare at him silently and stupidly.
She knew he had been trying to make things right with her since the fight in the hall a few days before. She also knew he’d been giving her space to let her come to terms with everything that happened. And after having plenty of talks with Enya and Katherine, Ciara thought she was really starting to understand Magnus better and in ways she hadn’t before. She was learning the weight of his duty and the toll it had taken on him.
He never complained about the burden he carried, never whined about it being too much for him. He simply did his duty and did everything he could to protect his family and his clan. Of course he could have been honest with her about his gift and what heneeded from her, but she was beginning to understand why he hadn’t. It didn’t completely diminish the sting of broken trust, but it made it less painful.
A pair of guards passed her in the corridor, and she looked away, her cheeks flushing when one of them turned back with a knowing gleam in his eye. It was late and most of the castle was asleep already. But unable to sleep as memories of the afternoon kept replaying through her mind, Ciara stood outside the door to Magnus’ bedchamber. She turned to the door then hesitated and turned away again.
“Get it taegether,” she muttered.
If she didn’t say what she’d come to say, Ciara wasn’t sure she’d be able to again. Gritting her teeth, she opened the door and stepped in, her heart skipping a beat as she belatedly remembered that Magnus liked to sleep naked. Thankfully though, he was still awake, clothed, and sitting at a table in the corner reading through pages of parchment by candlelight. Magnus raised his head, a startled expression on his face.
“Ciara,” he said. “What are ye doin’ here?”
“I just… I wanted tae talk tae ye about earlier.”
He put the parchment down and turned to her. “All right.”
“Ye said… ye said ye loved me. Dae ye mean it?”
Magnus paused and looked down at his hands for a moment before nodding. “Aye. I dae.”
Ciara felt herself flush as her heart stuttered in her chest. A lump formed in her throat she had to swallow hard to force down. Magnus stood up and walked to her, stopping before her. She tilted her head up to look at him, her heart swelling as tears formed in her eyes. He reached out and brushed them away with his thumb as they spilled down her cheek. She leaned into his hand, relishing the feel of his hand on her skin.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
She looked up again and put her hand to his cheek, her eyes locked onto his. The moment between them crackled with anticipation. Standing on her tiptoes, Ciara pulled him down to her, meeting him halfway as their mouths crashed together. He slipped his tongue between her teeth, his kiss so passionate, it stole Ciara’s breath away. As he slid his hands down to her waist, she melted into him, the feel of his body pressed to hers igniting the fire between her thighs that sent sparks of desire flitting through her veins.
Without breaking their kiss, Ciara took Magnus’ hand and pulled him back toward the bed. She fumbled with her gown, but he was able to slip it off her shoulders then let it fall into a pool around her feet. He pulled back and admired her body, sending waves of heat through her cheeks.
“Ye’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice soft.
