Page 33 of Heather and the Highlander
“Niall, Niall, Niall,” she said, half-singing his name. “Things are quite confusing, Niall.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” He helped her to the edge of the bed, encouraging her to sit.
She leaned her head on his chest. “We know the truth, but they don’t know the truth, but they think they know the truth, and the truth is…I don’t know what I was saying.”
“You need to rest, Heather,” he told her. “I think you didn’t quite know how strong that mead was.”
“Maeve said it was no worse than wine. She gave me a bottle before dinner, see?” Heather gestured wildly, but when Niall looked around, he did see an empty bottle and a glass on a small table. “A whole bottle?” It was on its side now, clearly empty. No wonder Heather was tipsy.
“The room is spinning,” she told him.
“Lay back. You’ll feel less dizzy soon.”
He helped lower her down, grabbing a pillow for her.
“That’s better.” Heather closed her eyes and sighed.
She was still wearing her shoes, so he picked up one foot to unlace the shoe and tug it off, then did the same to the other. Heather’s feet felt small in his hands. He started to rub them without thinking too much about it.
Then Heather let out ammmming sound that was so raw and sensual that he nearly dropped her foot. He hadn’t meant to arouse her…or himself. And yet, here he was, on her bed with her body in his hands, craving more.
“That feels so nice,” Heather murmured.
“I should let you sleep,” he said, somehow not moving away at all. God, but she looked tempting, her hair spread across the bed and her gown in disarray. He could take it off for her…
No.They were only pretending at the marriage. And the longer he stayed in this room, the more likely it was that he would make a terrible mistake.
Niall gently put her foot back onto the bed, and moved to stand up. “Good night, Heather.”
“No goodnight kiss?” she asked, her eyes still closed but her lips curved into a smile. Then she opened her eyes, pinning him with her gaze. “Or do you only kiss me when people are watching?”
“That was the general idea,” he managed to say. His body, however, loved the idea of kissing her now, when no one was watching.
“I might start to think you don’t really like me,” she said, with a little pout. The mead was definitely bringing out a new side of her personality, one that was far too interesting for his peace of mind.
“I like you,” he assured her. “Rather too much.”
“Then kiss me,” she implored, holding her arms out.
Niall stepped closer, even as he said, “You’re not feeling like yourself, Heather. You’ve had more to drink than you ought to…”
He never finished, because all the time he’d been talking, he’d also been staring at her mouth in fascination, and then he’d leaned over to kiss her.
Heather kissed him back with an attention and focus that had him reeling. When she sucked on his lower lip, he had to push her away or risk violating every promise he’d made.
She lay back, her breathing quick and her eyes shining. “Now was that so bad?”
Not bad at all. And that was the problem.
“You need to sleep, sweetheart,” he told her. Clenching his jaw, he worked the gown’s ties and buttons loose, allowing Heather to breathe freely. She smiled at him, looking so sweet and happy that it almost broke his heart.
“I wish you’d stay,” she said.
“Heather, I have to leave. You understand that, don’t you? If you want to be free for the rest of your life, it means I can’t stay here with you tonight. Or ever,” he added hastily.
He walked to the connecting door, but the knob only rattled. That’s right, earlier he’d locked it out of a sense of chivalry. Now he’d have to go back out into the hallway. Well, hopefully no one would be there.
But the moment he stepped out, two men who worked as retainers walked past. One gave him a knowing nod. Niall groaned inwardly. Now all the servants would know within the hour that he’d walked his wife to her room and emerged later, alone and with his clothes disheveled.
