Elene nodded, debating what to say. “I wish you well.” The words sounded flat to her ear. She smothered her grimace, feeling tongue-tied and obtuse in front of the most desirable man she’d ever met.
“Thank you. I wish you the same.” Liam and Elene watched one another until they accepted there was nothing more to say. Elene forced her feet to carry her home, even though she still loathed returning to the croft. Liam trudged to the dock. He looked back just as Elene turned toward him when she reached her door. Liam fought the unexpected urge to cross the village and kiss Elene. They went their separate ways, even tried to ignore one another at the evening meal, but thoughts of one another plagued them the entire evening.
Elene eased the door closed behind her before lifting her skirts and hurrying away from her croft. She’d laid out her soap, drying linen, fresh chemise, and shawl while she made supper for her mother. Inburgh hadn’t attended the evening meal, opting for a jug of wine instead. Feeling guilty that their argument likely spurred Inburgh’s latest intoxication, Elene prepared a meal she doubted her mother would touch, then went to the gathering hall for her own food. But she felt compelled to tend to her mother, despite how she loathed doing so. Guilt and duty drove her most days, exhausting her more than the physical labor of running their farm.
While she longed to escape her life, she settled for escaping her home and running to the freshwater loch just beyond the village. As she approached the water, she looked toward Snusgar, recalling Liam saying he’d feasted there the last time he’d been to her part of the island. She wondered if they’d ever met as children. She scoffed, reminding herself that she wouldn’t easily forget the striking combination of jet-black hair and emerald-green eyes. Even if Liam hadn’t been so attractive five years ago, which she doubted—she doubted he’d ever been unattractive—she would have still remembered a Scottish boy who had such unusual features.
As she approached the loch’s shore, she slipped behind a boulder that she always used to shield her as she undressed. Water lapped at its base on one side, making it possible for her to slip into the loch without being noticeable. She folded her soiled clothes, intending to launder them once she finished bathing. She couldn’t bring herself to put on clean clothes while her body was still filthy, not wanting two sets to wash since it would leave her nothing to change into. With her only clothes folded and out of the water’s reach, she snatched her lump of soap and waded into the brisk water. Even in summer, the loch’s water never warmed because of its depth. She swam out to where she could no longer stand and allowed herself to drop beneath the surface as she worked her fingers through her braid. Kicking her legs, Elene surfaced and tilted her head back, her hair floating out around her.
“If I hadn’t met you today, I would think you were a selkie.”
Elene splashed and dipped below the surface, unprepared for the male voice. Her head popped back out as she twisted to find its source. She breathed a sigh that she hadn’t been floating on her back with her breasts in the air like she often did—like she would have done if Liam didn’t startle her.
“What’re you doing here?” Elene recognized the question as an accusation, but she resented anyone being in her nightly sanctuary, even if it was Liam. She told herself that her nipples tightened further from the cold, not from knowing Liam tread water, naked, only a few yards from her.
“The same as you. The water isn’t warm, but it’s clean and nowhere near as freezing as the Atlantic.” Liam grinned but grew serious when Elene didn’t return the amusement. He looked around, wondering if she’d come alone. “I’ll leave if you are expecting—privacy.”
Elene’s mouth dropped open, understanding Liam’s implication. “I’m not married. The only privacy I expected was to be alone.”
Liam drifted closer, unaware of what he was doing, until he stopped himself with just enough distance that the moonlight didn’t illuminate their naked bodies to one another. “You come here alone? In the dark?”
“You’re here alone.”
“And I’ve been wielding a sword since I was five.”
Elene cocked an eyebrow, finally amused.
“You and Androw both,” Liam grumbled. “That wasn’t what I meant. My sword may be on the shore, but I have three dirks on me right now. Are you carrying any knives?”
Elene glanced down without thinking. She couldn’t see beneath the water’s surface to where Liam tread. She caught herself and looked up, his grin back in place. Feeling testy once more, she snapped, “No.”
“Then only one of us is prepared if someone attacked. And only one of us is a likely target.”
“Yes. You. Only one of us is unwelcome here.” Elene blinked several times, shocked at the snideness in her tone.
Liam’s arms stopped moving, but he remained above the surface. “Be that as it may, you said yourself that a Norseman wishes to sell you. A beautiful, naked woman is an easy target for any man, especially one who already wishes you harm. He might kill me for taking his trade, but he’d do a far sight worse to you. You’d wish you were dead.”
“I already do most days,” Elene whispered. Liam swam closer, hearing her confession.
“Elene.” It was Liam’s turn to keep his voice low. “I already finished bathing. I’ll swim back to my clothes and leave you alone. But I’m not leaving here. Take as long as you want. I’ll stand guard, then walk you back.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the best I can do.”
Tears filled Elene’s eyes, unprepared for the rush of emotion. No one had offered to protect her since her father was alive. She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. Liam turned away, dipping below the surface, and swimming underwater. When he surfaced, he was much farther than Elene expected. She watched him wade out of the water, his muscular form moving with ease. The water shimmered on him beneath the moonlight, but he was too far for her to make out any sculpted details—or to see the part that made her most curious. As she ran the soap over her body, she wondered what it would feel like to have Liam’s hands roaming over her. When she washed between her legs, she lingered, circling her finger over the tiny bundle of nerves she’d discovered by accident at thirteen.
The first time she’d brought herself to release had been the product of an accident and curiosity. Now it was purposeful as she looked in Liam’s direction. He’d ducked behind a boulder of his own. She wondered if he had a drying cloth with him, something that she could have been running over his chiseled body. She’d watched in awe as his shoulder muscles bunched and relaxed while he was in front of her. She bit her lip and moaned as pleasure surged through her. Wishing she could linger and pleasure herself a few more times, she knew she needed to be considerate of Liam’s time. She hurried to scrub her hair, then dashed back to her clothes. She rushed to launder her filthy ones then donned her clean ones.
Liam pressed his back against the boulder, hiding himself from Elene’s view. He turned his head and glanced around the edge of the enormous rock. He could see she faced him, but he was certain she could no longer see him. Knowing she was naked in the water had immediately brought his cock to life. It had twitched with annoyance when he swam closer but stopped before they could touch. He’d spied her watching him leave the water, and the ache in his bollocks grew unbearable. Now he peeked at her as he wrapped his hand around his rod and stroked.
He heeded his father’s warning about having too colorful a past before marrying. Tristan’s past had hurt Mairghread several times over the years, even endangering her while they were still courting. Tristan warned Liam and his brothers, Alec and Hamish, that there were few things more dangerous in life than a scorned woman. Taking his warning to heart, all three men had gained enough experience to know what they would do when they took wives, but none were the rakes their uncles Callum and Tavish had been. The two Sinclair brothers had echoed Tristan’s warnings to their own sons, having caused their own share of pain to their wives.
As Liam eased his overwhelming desire for a woman he’d met only hours ago, he wondered if he should find a barmaid in the mead hall to further assuage his need. It was a rarity for him to indulge in women or alcohol. But he suddenly felt like he needed one or the other to fill the unexpected longing he had for the unusual blonde for whom he now lusted. He groaned as Elene tilted her head back to wash the soap from her hair. He suspected she didn’t realize how much of her breasts he could see. He wondered if she even suspected he watched her. Then he asked himself whether she was doing it on purpose to tempt him. Before he was able to formulate an answer, another groan tore from his throat as his seed spilled forth. With a sigh, he rested his head against the rock.
When he noticed Elene leaving the water, he hurried to dress. Only barely sated and annoyed at himself that he hadn’t been guarding her like he promised, he gathered his sword and made his way toward Elene’s private spot.
Someone could have attacked us both while I had ma hand wrapped around ma bluidy cock. I wasna supposed to be fisting maself. I was supposed to be protecting her. And from whom? The vera sort of mon I am. Och, I wouldnae force her. But I was certainly lusting after her. I still am. Bluidy hell.
