Page 9 of Sighs of the Highland Wind
Maxwell thought he might be dreaming. He had landed on his feet in a cozy room with a beautiful woman, and even though he was not going to bed her, it was far more pleasant to sleep beside a warm woman than a warm horse!
“I understand,” he replied, nodding.
He lay down on the floor and turned his back, then listened to the rustling of Kenna’s dress as she took it off. It took every ounce of willpower Maxwell had to restrain himself from looking around because, from what he had seen so far, his rescuer was a very desirable woman.
His traitorous body had already begun to respond to her in the most primitive way possible, and the thought of her being half-naked and within reach of her was almost too much to bear. He rolled over on his blanket and pressed his face into the floor, his manhood stiffening painfully until he heard the sound of the bed creaking as she climbed into it.
“Goodnight,” she said softly.
“Goodnight, and sleep well,” he replied, then turned over to look at Kenna as she closed her eyes.
She had turned off the lantern, and the room was illuminated by only a single candle and the light of the dying fire, but he could still see her hair as it flowed over the edge of the pillow like a waterfall.
He sorely wanted to reach up and touch it, but he did not want to disturb her again, so he had to be content with watching her. He could see that she was having a pleasant dream by the way her eyes moved back and forth, and presently she let out a little giggle, which made him want to laugh too. He sighed.
Maxwell was truly exhausted, but he did not wish to stop looking at her, and when she stirred in her sleep and moved her arm so that it hung over the side of the bed, he was unable to resist. He touched her hand with his fingertips and was surprised when her hand closed around his, gripping it tightly.Kenna murmured something unintelligible, then sighed happily. Maxwell grinned. It looked like a very pleasant dream indeed!
Kenna was dreaming about meeting a handsome man—a very handsome man indeed. He was standing on one of the walkways around the battlements looking out over Invercree Glen, apparently deep in thought, but as he heard her approaching him, he turned to her and smiled.
Good God,she thought.He is the most beautiful man I have ever seen.
The stranger was tall, muscular, and had shining light brown hair. He had a thick beard too, which could have made him look very ugly and fierce, but it was neatly trimmed and suited his striking face perfectly making it look even longer.
Above the beard was a slightly aquiline nose and high, sloping cheekbones, above which his deep-set eyes were shadowed by thick brown brows. His lips were full and firm and made Kenna think of kissing for the first time in a long while.
She had not had much experience in that particular pastime. Those she had experienced had only been fumbling attempts by stable hands and farm laborers, none of which had given her much pleasure. However, somehow she knew that this man would be much more experienced than they had been, and she longed to find out if she was right.
Presently he extended his hand, and she took it trustingly, loving the feeling of his warm, strong fingers closing over his own. She sighed and smiled; then, when he pulled her closer, shewent willingly. She was not quite sure what she wanted, but she wanted it more than anything else she had ever desired in her life.
“Kenna, come to me,” he said in a voice that was deep and gravelly.
It had a strange effect on her, making her want to step into his arms and press herself against him. Her heartbeat speeded up and she felt a warm, wet feeling between her thighs, as well as a sweet pulse. It was all very new and completely delightful. She could see as she drew closer to him that his eyes were such a light grey they were almost silver, but strangely he did not smell too good.
His scent was that of an unwashed body that had lain on wet ground and slept among horses, and when he tried to kiss her, she pushed him away, revolted. He stepped backward, startled, and she turned away.
“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice confused. “Kenna! Please stay with me. I need you.”
Kenna turned to answer him, but to her surprise and disgust, he had turned into someone else, someone she would not have dreamt of kissing in a thousand years.
This man was filthy. His hair was dirty and matted, and his beard looked as if someone had pulled tufts of it out with some force. His face, too, was covered in mud and bore scratches and bruises as though he had been in a fight. Muddy, torn, and ragged clothing completed the look of poverty and dissipation, and Kenna wondered why she had ever found him attractive.
“What is wrong?” the man asked, walking toward her again. He looked confused and uncertain.
Kenna shrank back, raising her hands to ward him off, and watched as his shoulders slumped and a defeated look crept over his face.
“I don’t want you to touch me,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly. “Please go away.”
The man stood stock-still for a moment, staring at her with tears in his eyes. Then, as she watched, he slowly dissolved into nothingness.
Kenna stood staring at the place where he had been standing for a moment. She was not surprised that he had disappeared. In fact, she felt nothing. She drifted back into a dreamless sleep and did not open her eyes again until morning.
At this time of the year, the beginning of winter, dawn came very late, so it was still half-dark when Kenna woke, and she opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling for a moment, thinking about the dream she had had the night before.
She remembered the feeling of utter revulsion that had assailed her; it was still with her, even though she was wide awake. She shuddered at the thought that she had even contemplated kissing those filthy lips but consoled herself with the thought that it had been only a dream.
It is time to get up, Kenna,she told herself as she tried to put off the evil moment when she would have to climb out of bed and put her feet on the cold floor. She took in a deep breath, then let out a long sigh, tossed aside the covers, and began to climb out of bed. She had one foot on the floor when she squealed in fright. There, lying on the floor, was the man from her dream.
For a moment, Kenna did not believe what she was seeing.
