Page 25 of Highland Yule
Chapter Eight
While Colmac was certainlyfrustrated with his brother’s deception, his angst fled at the feeling of finally kissing Rona. He had dreamt of this moment again and again and found the reality of it even better. Understanding this was her first real kiss, he took his time, gentle and coaxing at first, until he could not help but relish her sweet taste and deepen the exchange.
Far more receptive than he anticipated, she groaned and melted against him when their tongues met. While beyond aroused and hungry for her, desperate to take her, right here, right now, against the wall if he had to, he would not disrespect her like that.
When it happened, and itwouldhappen, he would make her feel things beyond her wildest imagination. He would spread her soft thighs and taste her sweet heat. Then he would spread her legs wider still, sink into her tight sheath and make her his at last.
The longer he kissed her, the more eager he became so he reluctantly ended it before he did something she was not ready for. Not quite yet, anyway. He pulled his lips away, only to find her eyes shut, and her lips rosy from his kisses. He could stare at her forever this way, lost in his arms, within his touch.
Her eyes slowly opened and met his, dewy and sensual, her voice hoarse. “Why did ye do that?”
“Ye know full well why.” His voice was just as husky. “Because I have wanted to do it since that verra eve. To kiss ye as ye should be kissed...to love ye as ye should be loved.”
“But ye didnae,” she whispered. “Ye let me go.” She searched his eyes. “Would ye have done so, had ye known Bróccín knew ye loved me? Would that have made a difference?”
“I wish I could tell ye what ye want to hear, but I dinnae know, lass,” he said. “The man standing in front of ye now wants to reach back in time, take ye and never let go. The lad back then?” He shook his head. “He loved ye something fierce, but he loved his brother too. He saw the hardships he went through with sickness and how he never quite measured up to the other lads. How he always struggled.”
He kept his gaze with hers, praying she understood. “There is little I wouldnae have done to give Bróccín genuine happiness...even if it meant forfeiting the love I felt for ye.”
Rona's misty eyes remained on him for several more moments, her internal struggle obvious. Eventually, she pulled away and sank onto a bench, her gaze lost while she came to terms with his revelation. He sat beside her and waited, hoping she would be able to separate the actions of a lad from a man. Or at least understand the depths of his soft heart, especially when it came to Bróccín.
“Though I have this great anger...” She gripped the edge of the seat and hung her head. “I cannae fault ye for loving yer brother so deeply. For having such compassion for a soul who didnae have it easy...who suffered.” Her eyes drifted to his. “So much compassion that ye would forfeit yer own happiness for it.”
He put his hand over hers, never more grateful to hear those words. To have what was, in a sense, her forgiveness. Because had he allowed his heart to have its way back then and only thought of himself, they might already be wed. Mayhap even have a wee bairn or two.
Rona rested her head against his shoulder and remained silent for a time until she sat upright and stared at the small tapestry hanging across from them. “’Tis still there.”
“Aye.” He looked at the image of MacLomain Castle. “It should be in the great hall to honor our most trusted ally, but ma has always liked it here. She thinks the light coming through the window flatters it and that those who sit here to collect their thoughts will find peace in it.”
“Bróccín agreed.” She stood and eyed it. “He also said the night we kissed that he felt MacLomain Castle suited a lass like me...that it was a place I should always return to one way or another...”
She glanced from him to the tapestry. “Ye dinnae think...”
“I dinnae see how he could fit something back there.” He went to the tapestry. “Though there is some space between the material and the wall...” He trailed off when he peeked behind it. “Bloody hell, Brother!”
A piece of material had been sewn into the back, and a scroll was tucked inside.
