“Aye. After that pamphlet came out about...us...they thought ye were bringing too much attention to my door.”
“And now?”
He cocked his head. “Now I dinna give two figs what they think.”
“Thank you,” Charlie said softly.
“For what?”
“Everything. For not leaving me stranded in Edinburgh, for giving me a place to stay, for not sending me away with Antonio.” She looked at him. “For trusting me with the truth.”
His eyes softened, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Ye are welcome, lass.”
She found herself unable to look away, captured by the intensity of his gaze.
“Charlotte,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
“Yes?” she replied, equally softly.
Wordlessly, he leaned in, closing the distance between them. It was agonizingly slow, each inch closer seeming to take an age. And then their lips met and the world exploded in a riot of sensations.
His kiss was soft and sweet at first, a mere brush of lips that sent shivers down her spine. But as she responded, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer, it quickly deepened.
His hand cupped her cheek, his fingers threading through her hair to hold her close as he explored her mouth with a slow, deliberate passion that set every nerve in her body alight. His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. She could feel the heat of his body against hers, the hard muscles under his shirt making her head spin.
Niall tasted of the earth and sky, of whisky and the cool Scottish breeze. His touch was insistent yet gentle, so very different from the man he portrayed himself to be in public. This was the real Niall Campbell—passionate, intense, an undeniable force of nature.
She lost herself in the sensation of his body pressed against hers, the taste of him on her lips and the sound of his heartbeat in her ears. She hadn’t realized how much she’d wanted this until now. How much she’d wanted him.
There was a sudden knock on the door.
“Niall?” came Flora’s voice. “My laird?”
Niall released her and stepped quickly away. Charlie tried to gather herself and smooth down her dress just as the door opened and Flora came into the room carrying a tray.
She stopped dead when she saw Charlie. Niall had retreated to the fireplace and was leaning against it nonchalantly, as if theyhadn’talmost been caught going at it.
From the way Flora’s eyes narrowed slightly, Charlie wasn’t sure the housekeeper was fooled. If they wanted to dampen the rumors caused by that pamphlet, this wasnotthe way to do it. Her gaze slid to Niall.
I wouldnae mind if the rumors were true.
His face was slightly flushed and the heat that had blazed in Charlie’s stomach at their kiss hadn’t gone away. She found herself wishing the housekeeper would leave so she and Niall could pick up where they’d left off.
“My apologies,” Flora said. “I didnae realize ye were busy. I’ve bought ye some tea. And a message from Joseph to say that a new message has arrived from...” Her eyes flicked to Charlie. “Well, from the usual place.”
The usual place? Did Flora mean Niall’s employers? He gave Charlie a look full of heat and longing. Then he sighed.
“Fine. I’m coming.”
Giving Charlie one last, lingering look, he followed the housekeeper from the room.
