Page 9 of A Scottish Lord for Christmas
Crack!The harsh clap of thunder was incredibly loud…
Scrambling into the shelter of the old crumbling stairwell in the castle, Rowena waited, soaked to the bone and shaking.
A figure emerged out of the heavy gloom. She sucked in a breath.
“There you are, lass!” Quinn barked in a harsh tone. “Come on, we’ve got to run to the car!” He joined her beneath the stairwell, sheltering himself from the storm.
“We can’t go down; the lightning is too close. We’re within striking distance. It’s too dangerous.” She gripped Quinn’s right arm and jerked him down deeper into the safety of the stones.
Boom!Thunder, like cannons, temporarily deafened her ears. When the echoing rumble faded, she realized she was still clutching Quinn’s arm.
“Very well, we ride out of the stormtogether.” He settled in beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. The instant warmth of his body lessened the shivers that had been building since it had started to rain.
Rowena buried her face in his chest, relishing the almost magical way he could make her feel warm and safe. A woman could get used to feeling like this with a man. She knew she was not like her sister; she was not strong or independent. She wished now more than anything that she had Milly’s strength.
“I’m sorry, Quinn.” She mumbled the words against his coat but he still heard her.
“Hush, lass. No one can tell how fast a storm will rise. We’ve all been caught unaware a time or two. At least you had the sense to take shelter here.” As he spoke, his arm tightened about her body and she crawled even closer to him.
Rain fell hard all around them but the craggy stones were strong against the flowing rivers that made thick puddles amidst the ruins. The thought of all that cold water made her tremble harder.
“You’re shaking hard enough to rattle even my bones, lass. Come here.” Quinn chuckled, and without warning, he scooped her up and settled her over his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing at the delicious heat of his body despite the chill of their wet clothes.
“Perhaps we could distract each other,” she suggested as her teeth began to chatter from the chill. “Would you tell me about Forres? I’ve never been to Scotland.” Rowena raised her head, meeting his gaze. Those gray eyes of his were like the thundering clouds above, churning, tempestuous, but it was all trapped inside him. Did he miss home? Did he miss his wife? Rowena couldn’t fathom how hard such a loss must be. And now he was seeking a new woman, one who could ease his heartache, one who could raise his daughter with love. Rowena stared at his lips again, noticing how full and soft they looked. Everything else about the man was hard. But those lips promised soft, sweet, sensual things. A woman would do almost anything for that mouth to kiss hers.
“Forres is lovely in the summer,” he replied, his tone husky, low, like a murmur of a lover in bed. “Heather covers the hills, and deep in the glens you catch a glimpse of red deer bucks wrestling for mates.” Quinn lowered his head until an inch separated their mouths. Every part of Rowena’s body tingled and sparked to life.
Please let him kiss me.
“Winter is beautiful.” He was whispering now. “All the hot fires in the hearths.” His brogue thickened and Rowena curled her fingers more tightly around his neck.
“Hot?” she echoed breathlessly.
“Burning…scorching…” That lightning heat was in his eyes as his lids lowered and his mouth covered hers.
Rowena shut her own eyes as his kiss exploded through her entire body. Her abdomen clenched and a queer throbbing started between her thighs as he parted her lips with a gentle, questing tongue. Rowena shyly responded by touching her own tongue to his. Was this how a kiss should be? So intimate? So sinful?
I don’t care…it’s wonderful.She melted into him, her fingers threading through his dark brown hair, tugging on the thick, silky strands as she sought to get closer.
A soft growl came from his throat as his kiss roughened and he angled her body back, allowing him to lean over her. The dominating hold he had over her sent fiery ripples through her. His mouth moved from her lips along her jaw down to her throat. Warm breath heated her skin and she moaned in helpless excitement.
“God’s teeth, woman,” he whispered in her ear before he bit the lobe.
Rowena jolted at the burst of pleasure deep inside her from the little love bite.
“Don’t stop,” she begged him as he feathered kisses over her cheeks, her eyelashes, then her mouth. It was strange, but she had the sense he was saying goodbye and that made her cling to him more fiercely.
“The rain is stopping, lass. We have to go for the car.” He pressed one more kiss to her lips and then he set her back onto the ground beside him.
Shaking, but not from the chill in the air, Rowena watched Quinn get to his feet and peer out from the rocky stairwell to examine the skies. He was right. The storm was already passing.
And the brief heated passion they’d shared was fading as quickly as the mists around them.
With an outstretched hand, Quinn waited for her to stand. As they walked away from the ruins, she spotted her favorite cloak, which was now muddy and soaked. She ran over to it and picked it up, shaking some of the water out. Her ankle still stung a bit, but she ignored it. It was nothing compared to the emptiness in her chest when she glanced back at Quinn. There was a cool distance in his eyes that confused her. After what they’d just shared, she thought he would surely be warmer to her, or at least act more like a man interested in a woman.
Perhaps he isn’t interested in me…but then why kiss me?As a distraction from the storm and nothing more?The emptiness in her transformed into a burning ache.
In the distance, the motorcar was humming and Ivy waved to them. “Hurry! We should get back to the house and warm up.”
