Page 17 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
The salve she had was a mettle salve that stung, but if it hurt him, he gave no sign. She coated the cut generously with it, then began to wrap the bandage around his arm. It looked strange, the soft lilac-colored fabric against his tanned skin.
“Ye’re a dab hand with that. Did ye train with a healer?”
She shook her head. “Nay. But me friend Leona—I told ye earlier, she’s interested in all matters of knowledge. The last time she chose the book we were reading, she picked a herbal with healing techniques in it. We were curious about how well they worked, so we practiced. Leona loved it.”
“Ye learned well.”
She tried to smile at the compliment, but patching the wound had only reminded her how he’d acquired it. “I’m only sorry that I gave ye a reason to need a demonstration of me abilities.”
“Dinnae fret.” One large hand gripped her chin and tilted her head up. “’Twas dangerous, runnin’ off and nae heedin’ me warnin’. But I’ll never fault ye for bein’ concerned about a child ye thought was lost. ‘Tis a good trait to have, and one I’m well pleased to discover in ye.”
That puzzled her, given what he’d said about not wanting an heir. “Why would that be a matter ye’d find pleasin’?”
“Doesnae matter. ‘Tis a fact.”
His frank gaze made her blush for a reason that had nothing to do with the heat of his body so close to hers.
She blushed a deeper shade of red and looked away as she stepped back, using the pretense of putting away her medicine to put some distance between them.
“’Tis a natural response, with the way I grew up. Me maither passed away when I was fairly young, and me faither had nay idea what to do with three young daughters. He did his best, but when all is said and done, I was the one who did most of the raisin’.”
She made a face at him, attempting to lighten the mood. “’Tis part of why I so foolishly followed the sound. After all these years lookin’ after them, ‘tis me instinct to run toward the sound of a bairn in distress. It makes me naive, I suppose, but…”
“Nae naive. A little incautious, mayhap. But I wouldnae call ye naive, only carin’.”
Ailis smiled at him. “Well, if ye’re nae goin’ to try and teach me better, then I suppose I’ll continue runnin’ into trouble for the sake of possible babes in danger.” She smirked. “At least ye’re scary enough to keep the evils of the world at bay.”
“Is that so?”
The sudden heat and intensity of his voice startled her, as did the way his eyes darkened with something that looked more like hunger than anger or irritation.
He stepped closer, and she found herself backing away, feeling suddenly like a deer caught in the gaze of a hungry wolf. Perhaps it was the slow, steady way he prowled toward her, or the heat of his gaze, which never wavered as it focused on her face.
Step by step he advanced, and she backed away until there was no more room to back away. She felt her back press against a tree trunk, and he was too close to step around or sidestep.
Duncan caged her in, a hungry, sharp, little smile on his face as he leaned in, close enough for her to feel the heat of him and be enveloped in the scent of leather and sweat and masculinity.
His breath was hot as he whispered in her ear, “And do ye find me scary as well, little Ailis?”
She wasn’t sure what she felt, right at that moment. But she was sure enough of him to raise her eyes and meet his gaze, in spite of how her face heated with a blush of nerves and excitement.
“Nay.”
* * *
She was so brave, the little Highland flower he’d claimed for his own, for the sake of alliances and amusement. He could see Ailis was uncomfortable, and still, she met his gaze with her own.
If she’d said she was afraid, he would have backed away, even if the statement was false. But she shook her head, and her eyes held as much desire as they did apprehension. “I’m nae afraid of ye.”
“Good. That’s pleasin’ to hear.”
He bent closer, intending to tease her a little. But his blood was simmering still, and her soft lips called to him, a siren song matched by the emotions that swirled within her sparkling green eyes.
One moment he was staring at her, the next he was lowering his head, capturing her lips with his, one hand on her jaw as he kissed her long and hard.
She gasped as he claimed her lips, the softness and sweetness of her mouth opening beneath his. He slid his tongue across her lips and deepened the kiss, demanding more.
She might have never done more than read about kissing, but she was a generous lass, and she yielded readily to him, her mouth opening to welcome his exploration. Her kiss was like coming inside from the cold, and the heat of her ignited a fire that was far deeper and more pleasurable than the battle fever.
