She was such an unusual woman. The way she spoke, the way she behaved. He’d never met anyone quite like her. But he found he wanted to know more. He wanted to know everything.
“Well, I hope my ‘rustic’ castle isnae bringing ye out in hives.”
She smiled, her teeth flashing white in the darkness. “Not yet, but I’ll let you know if it does.” She cocked his head at him. “The guards on the gate didn’t seem surprised to see you. Does the lord of the castle make a habit of wandering around in the middle of the night?”
He grimaced. “Aye. I dinna sleep as well as I might.” That was an understatement. Reid doubted he’d gotten a full night’s sleep in years, not since what had happened at Dun Calas and he’d become an outcast. Walking the night had become his solace, a way to escape the demons that haunted him whenever he closed his eyes.
There was a scrabble of claws behind them and Whitefoot came trotting along the pier. He deposited a muddy stick right in Abigail’s lap.
“Ew!” she cried with a laugh. “Thank you, just what I always wanted!” She threw the stick into the river. Whitefoot launched himself after it whilst Bo ran up and down the riverbank, whining. She never had liked water.
Abigail shook her head, a bemused smile on her face. “To think I was terrified of those two. They’re just a couple of overgrown puppies.”
“They are a pair of trained war hounds, I’ll have ye know,” Reid said in an offended voice. “And I’d thank ye to stop ruining them.”
Abigail laughed. “They scared me witless the first time I met them.” She met his eyes. “Just like you did.”
“And now?” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “Do I still scare ye?”
She studied him and he hung on her answer. He was used to people being frightened of him. His men. The local villagers. Hell, even the women he’d bedded back when he was a lord at Dun Calas had only come to his bed because of his position. That hadn’t bothered him then, he’d seen it as his due. Lord help him, what an ass he’d been.
But he didn’t want Abigail to be afraid of him. He wanted her to feel what he felt, even though he couldn’t quite put a name to what that was. He knew he had no right to want that, not after what he’d put her through, but he’d always been a selfish bastard.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m still making up my mind. You’re not what I thought you were, Reid Campbell. What you really are, I still can’t decide.”
“Well, that’s progress then. What was it you called me a few days ago? A creep?”
“To be fair, you had just set your dogs on me.”
“Aye. Fair point.”
Almost without realizing it, he found himself scooting closer. She didn’t move away, didn’t pull back as he raised his hand and cupped her chin. Her eyes seemed huge pools of moonlight that he could drown in.
Stop!A voice called in warning in the back of his head.This is a bad idea.
But he didn’t listen.
––––––––
“ABIGAIL,” HE MURMUREDand the sound of her name was like a caress across his skin. He leaned closer, tilted her chin up, and pressed his lips against hers.
It was only the barest touch, like a breath of air, but it set him alight. Just like this morning when he’d kissed her so unexpectedly, his body reacted with a shocking intensity.
And then she was leaning into him, her arms going around his neck as the kiss deepened into something full of passion and need. Their lips met in a frenzy, their bodies pressing together, their—
Freezing water cascaded over them and Abigail sprang back with a gasp. Reid spun, hand going to the hilt of his dagger, but it was only Whitefoot who’d climbed out of the river and proceeded to shake himself all over them. Pleased with himself, he dropped the stick on the boards by Abigail’s side.
Reid was sure the beast had done it on purpose—the way his tongue was lolling out the side of his mouth made it look like he was laughing. Right. If that’s the way the hound wanted to play it, he wouldnotbe sleeping on the bed tonight.
Reid ran a hand through his hair, pulling a deep breath through his nostrils. His blood was still on fire and his groin still ached painfully. That kiss! He’d never felt anything like it. He glanced at Abigail but she wasn’t looking at him. She focussed her attention on the damned dog, petting him and making baby noises. But she still looked flushed. There was a crimson blush to her cheeks and her hair was disheveled. Reid was sure he’d not misread the way she responded when he kissed her. For that moment at least, she had wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her.
He wanted to take her in his arms again, kiss her again, and then lay her down and make love to her until she moaned his name. Lord above, he wanted that so badly it was almost painful.
But the moment had passed. As the ardor began to cool, it was replaced by guilt.
“I’m...I’m sorry,” he said roughly. “I...um...shouldnae have done that.”
She glanced at him and he could see that he’d been right. Desire still burned in her gaze. But that didn’t mean he should take advantage of it. Aye, he was a bastard but even a bastard had some morals. Taking advantage of a woman he’d sworn to protect was beneath even his low standards.
