Chapter 19
Kai sat in the overstuffedchair in his room, staring at the report he held in front of him. It was late. Darkness had fallen outside and he’d lit several candles. He read the words for a third time and sighed in frustration. The scouts reported no sign of Snarlsson’s fleet. He didn’t understand it. Where were they?
Kai tried to think, to figure it out, but his thoughts kept wandering back to what had happened at the beach that afternoon. The feel of Caitlin’s skin beneath his fingertips, the smell of her hair... He rubbed a hand over his face. This was no good. He was as distracted as an excited youth after his first kiss.
There was a knock at his door.
“Go away!” he shouted. “I dinna need anything.”
He heard the door creak open. “Are ye sure about that?” said a voice. “I suspect I know exactly what ye need.”
Kai looked up in surprise.
Lorna stood in the doorway.
She was wearing a flowing green gown that accentuated her hips and breasts and she wore her hair down like she used to when they first met, back when she was a free-spirited girl and he was a warrior in training.
How many years had it been? Four? Five? They suddenly felt like only minutes.
He cleared his throat, mastered himself with an effort, then climbed to his feet and gave her a bow.
“My lady. What can I do for ye?”
She raised an eyebrow. “So formal, Kai? Surely that’s not needed between us?”
“Of course it is. So much has changed.”
Lorna sauntered over, hips swaying in sure steps. She stopped inches from Kai, her eyes locked on his. “Has it really, Kai? Has it truly changed?”
Despite himself, Kai felt his heart race as he looked into her eyes. They were the same deep pools he remembered, sparkling with mischief, daring him to take a risk.
“What brings ye here, Lorna? Surely, it’s not just for a social call?”
Lorna smirked. “Oh, Kai. Ye always were one for getting straight to the point. I do have a proposition for ye, if ye are interested.”
“And what would that be?”
Lorna stepped closer, so that they were almost touching. “Oh, I think ye know,” she whispered, her breath hot on his neck.
Kai knew exactly what Lorna was hinting at and his body reacted involuntarily, the hairs along his arms prickling. He had always found it difficult to resist Lorna’s charms, and now was no different. Buthewas different. He stepped back, putting some distance between them.
Lorna just followed him, closing the gap. “I’ve missed ye, Kai. Missed ye more than ye could imagine. Missed yer hands on me, missed yer lips on me, missed...everything. Dinna ye remember how good we were together?”
What was she doing?
“I remember,” Kai replied. “But that was a long time ago.”
“It was,” she agreed with a nod. “But some things never change. Like the way I feel about ye.”
Kai opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. He wanted to tell her that it didn’t matter how she felt about him, that whatever they once had was now gone, but he couldn’t seem to find the words.
