Page 34 of In Love With the Wrong Highland Sister
His tongue stroked hers, and a moment later, Eloisa felt bold enough to imitate the movement and was rewarded by a low growl of satisfaction that came from deep in his throat.
Gavin had kissed many women, although not as many as his brother had, but none of them had ever made him feel so tender or protective as Eloisa. His heart felt as though it was bursting with love, and his body throbbed with desire for the soft, pliant woman in his arms.
When they drew apart, he whispered: “I love you, my dear Ellie. Can we go and tell everyone now?”
“That we are betrothed?” She grinned. “Let us go up to the top turret and shout it out, my love!”
“Let me do this first.” He picked her up and whirled her around until they were both dizzy, breathless, and laughing. When he set her down, he gave her the next piece of earth-shattering news. “Now, you are quite sure you want to be my wife?”
“Quite sure.” She nodded and smiled widely.
Gavin took a deep breath before giving her the news. “You are now about to become the new Lady Elliott.”
She frowned. “But is Jamie not going to be the next laird?” she asked, confused.
“James is not at all interested in being the next laird. Let me explain,” he began. “It is rather complicated.”
When he had finished a short while later, Eloisa was stunned. “So I am going to be the mistress of the castle?”
Gavin nodded. “Are you happy about it? You look a little doubtful.”
“This is too much to take in all at once. I need to see Laria!” Eloisa breathed, then she looked up into Gavin’s bright blue eyes. “I cannot wait to see her face!”
“You have no doubts, then?” he asked cautiously, still unable to believe that this lovely woman was his.
“None at all,” Eloisa replied, hugging him. “You must learn to believe in yourself more, as I believe in you. You are a handsome, loving, desirable man.” Then she ran away to look for her sister, and his gaze followed her. He could not quite take in what had just happened to him.
* * *
Eloisa found her sister in her favorite spot in the castle. She had gone straight to her old battered punch bag in the yard, where the guards practiced their drill every morning. She was busy with it now, a fierce glower on her face as though she was punishing a hated enemy.
“Laria!” Eloisa ran up to her, and Laria immediately stopped what she was doing and turned to her sister. She was flushed, and the old tunic she was wearing over her equally old skirt was stained with sweat marks.
She frowned irritably as she said: “What do you want, Ellie? Can you not see I am busy?”
“I am going to be married to Gavin!” Eloisa cried excitedly. “Laria, he asked me completely out of the blue as we walked out after breakfast. He was talking about something else, and then he just came out with it. I said yes straight away, of course, and he kissed me! It was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me, Laria. It was blissful, and can you guess what he told me next? He is inheriting the lairdship! I am going to be Lady Elliott of Kirkmuir!”
Laria was confused. She held her hand up to stop her sister’s words in mid-flow. “But James is older. I thought he was going to be the next laird.”
“He is giving away the position of laird to Gavin because he does not want it,” she explained. “I think he wants you, Laria, but they need an heir, and you cannot give them one. I am sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Ellie,” Laria said grimly as she took off her gloves.
“Where are you going?” Eloisa asked, following her sister as she walked away.
“To see James!” her sister replied as she speeded up her pace.
* * *
She found him in one of the stables, where he was holding a rather spirited chestnut gelding while a stablehand worked on one of the horse’s hooves. He was stripped to the waist, and while she waited, she had a chance to observe his magnificently muscled torso. He was standing beside the big animal, whispering in his ear to calm him down, but it looked as though he had been doing some heavier work too since sweat was running down his body in rivulets.
Laria watched his powerful arms as he held the horse’s head, the way his stomach muscles rippled as he bent down and straightened up. His shoulders were broad, but his waist and hips were narrow, and underneath the loose hose he was wearing, she could see the suggestion of powerful thighs.
A dart of desire shot straight to her core as she watched him working; he was a prime example of a pure male animal. A few minutes later, after the horse’s hoof had been attended to, he stood up and flexed his shoulders, giving her a full view of the front part of his body. He was truly magnificent.
She swallowed, and then, as he looked up at her, she rushed forward and threw herself into his arms, feeling herself immediately gripped in his powerful embrace.
“Laria, what is the matter, lovie?” he asked anxiously as he held her close to him. “Has someone said or done something to upset you?”
