Liam approached Elene’s boulder as she stepped around it. She finger-combed her hair while she eased her foot into her slippers. Without forethought, Liam reached out and peeled away a lock of hair plastered to her neck. His knuckles brushed her throat and collarbone. They both froze.
“I’m sorry. I had no right to do that.” Liam pulled his hand away.
“Thank you.” Elene didn’t want Liam to regret touching her. She wanted him to do it again. “I appreciate you guarding me.” She didn’t understand why Liam blushed. She assumed her thanks embarrassed him. Liam knew he blushed because he hadn’t guarded her at all. He’d forgotten entirely.
“Earlier, you made it sound like you come out here often.” Liam looked around. Since the island had very few trees, it exposed the loch on all sides. Anyone could watch Elene, but she would likely see them as easily as they did her. But the village was still half a mile away, and most men would easily outrun her and catch her if she tried to get away. They began walking back.
“No man is coming near me, Liam. The men in the village know Gunter has claimed me. He hasn’t made it a secret that I’m his, one way or another. The other Norse traders won’t come near me for the same reason. Who is going to stop the Norse king’s spoiled brother? Gunter won’t touch me because he can’t sell me if I’m not a maiden. And he doesn’t trust me not to kill him and escape while we’re still here. He’ll wait until I’m truly his prisoner.”
“You’re placing your safety on the assumption that no man believes he could force you beneath him, then force you to keep the secret. There are too many men in the world who believe they can do just that. Mayhap not the men you grew up with. I don’t know. But traders from other islands and Norway come here all the time.” Liam stopped them as they walked toward the village. He turned toward Elene. “I can’t stop you. I won’t stop you. If you wish to come back while I’m here, I will escort you. I think this place is your haven, your only respite. I don’t want to take that from you. But I also can’t ignore how fearful it makes me after what I learned today, after what you just said. I will always give you your privacy. I will bathe at another time.”
“Why?”
Liam frowned. “I have a younger sister, Ainsley, and I have nearly ten female cousins on my mother’s side. I’m also close with my mother’s cousins’ children. There are half-a-dozen more girls among them. I would never consider letting a single one of them come here alone, dressed or undressed. If they found themselves alone, I would hope someone honorable would help them.”
“You assume I can’t protect myself.”
“No. I get the feeling you can protect yourself quite well—dressed and with a weapon, or at least not slippery. Your smaller size and being naked will put you at a disadvantage few people—man or woman—could easily overcome. I wouldn’t let any of my boy cousins who don’t yet train come somewhere like this alone, either.”
“So you’re not overbearing. You’re just overprotective.” The corner of Elene’s mouth twitched.
“I think I’m just the right amount protective. I’m serious though. I won’t stand in your way or invade your privacy. That was an accident tonight. But I will stand guard.”
They stopped as they came to the edge of the village, just beyond the wooden wall. Nothing stirred, but both knew that didn’t mean they couldn’t be spied upon if they continued together. Elene stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to Liam’s stubble. She surprised herself with her boldness as much as she did Liam. He turned his head in shock, and their lips grazed together. They froze, their noses a hair’s-breadth apart. Elene’s lips parted as her sapphire eyes locked with Liam’s emerald ones. His hand brushed hers before it traveled up her forearm, then rested at her waist.
“I have never wanted to kiss a woman as much as I do you,” Liam murmured, his warm breath caressing Elene’s lips. She lifted her chin, bringing her mouth to his.
“Please,” she breathed.
Their mouths fused together as Liam’s hand slid to the small of her back and pressed her against him. Elene’s hands grasped his powerful biceps, which flexed under her hold. She glided them up to his shoulders, then along his neck, until she cupped his jaw. Liam’s free hand mirrored her movements as his other arm tightened around her.
The kiss was gentle, despite the simmering passion threatening to boil over. It was clear to both that it wasn’t a first kiss for either of them. But it was their first kiss together. Neither wanted to hurry. Neither wanted to think that it might be their only kiss together. Their tongues tangled as they canted their heads as they pressed their bodies against one another. It was the soft cooing noise from a dunter, an Eider duck, which waddled from a patch of heather that finally broke them apart. They leaned away, but neither let go.
Elene glimpsed a longing in Liam’s gaze that she suspected her eyes mirrored. When silence engulfed them once more, the need for another kiss subsumed them. The passion threatened to pour forth, but they both moved slowly, fearful any hurried movements might spoil the moment. Liam’s tongue slid past Elene’s teeth and caressed the inside of her cheek before it swept along hers. Just before he could retreat, she sucked lightly.
“Do that again, and it will be me who carries you off to my ship,” Liam whispered with a groan. Elene repeated the arousing kiss, adding more force. His hand dropped from her jaw, his palm resting on her nape. The broad palm held her in place, and it was his turn to devour her. He kissed along her jaw until he came to her ear, where he nipped her lobe. “We should stop. We should go our separate ways. But all I want is you.”
“Don’t let go. Don’t leave. I’ll only embarrass myself and follow you like a lost kitten.” Elene nuzzled his throat before licking and grazing her teeth over the heated skin. Their kiss erupted with the suppressed passion of only moments ago. She fisted the front of his leine, making certain he understood she didn’t want him to go, as though neither her kiss nor her words proved it.
The sound of someone moving within the village broke them apart, both taking two steps back and looking in the sound’s direction. It was a night sentry on the other side of the wooden wall. Without a word, they hurried through the gate. Elene glanced back as she moved away from Liam’s side. She found him watching her when she reached her croft. She stood at her door until he turned toward the chieftain’s home, knowing he was a guest there. Neither slept well that night.
CHAPTER3
Liam stepped onto his ship’s deck after sorting sacks of grain seeds and barrels of whisky. He and his men spent the early morning separating the items into stacks and groups for each village at which they would stop. As he looked toward the shore, a tall woman with blonde hair caught his eye. He was too far to see her face, but her graceful walk and proud bearing told him it was Elene. He watched as she stooped to dig in the sand beside Katryne. The younger sister pulled something from the ground and held it up. Liam watched Elene nod before Katryne dropped her catch in a basket.
Liam stepped onto the dock and made his way to where the sisters continued to work. “Good morning,” he greeted.
Elene looked up and shaded her eyes. “Good morning.”
“We’re hunting for scoot again,” Katryne announced. “Elene brought her big knife, but I found all these myself.” Katryne's cheeky grin showed her pride that she’d accomplished more than her much-older sister.
Liam peered into the basket and nodded. “You’ve done very well for such an early start.”
“Take these back to the croft and clean them. Tell Johan that he must milk Bess for me.” Elene stood and handed the basket to Katryne, who ran back toward the village. “Is everything all right aboard yourlonga?”
“Yes. We were just sorting through the goods and making sure we know what goes to which village.”
“When will you visit the other homesteads?”
