Chapter 21
Afterdinner,asthefamily drifted off to explore the castle or retire to their rooms, Sienna walked the corridor toward the Rose Room with Liam beside her.The castle was peaceful, the warm glow of electric sconces casting soft, dancing shadows on the ancient stone walls.
“Thank you for tonight,” she said when they reached her door.“My parents look happier than they have in months.”
“They deserve it,” Liam said, though his attention lingered on her mouth, not her words.
She fumbled with the door handle, nerves flaring at the thought of sharing a room.“Are you sure you want to stay here?Mrs.Fraser said there are other rooms.”
“I’m sure.”His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.“We need to talk.”
The door swung open to reveal the elegant Rose Room, its four-poster bed framed by a view of the moonlit loch.Sienna stepped inside, hyperaware of Liam following and the door closing in his wake.
They were truly alone.No campers nearby, no family within earshot, no urgent travel plans.Just the two of them, one bed, and far too many unspoken words.
“Talk about what?”she asked, her pulse skittering as her thoughts scrambled ahead of her.
“Us.About what I want.”He stepped closer, and she caught the familiar scent of pine and feline.
Her legs wobbled, and she lurched toward the bed, craving space between them.
“What do you want?”The question barely made it past her lips.
His blue-green eyes gleamed, and something in his gaze made her breath catch.
“Right now?I want a kiss.”
She blinked once.Then again.“Why?”
“Because I’ve been thinking about kissing you for days,” he said, taking another step forward.“But with no privacy, all the traveling, the camping, me being sick… There wasn’t time.Wasn’t space.I want more than that.”
Panic fluttered in her chest.“I—I thought we were talking first.”
“We are, but right now, I have other things on my mind.”His gaze dipped to her mouth, and she didn’t need to ask what those things were.
“Liam.”She backed toward the window, putting the width of the room between them.“You wanted to go home.I didn’t think we had a future.So much has happened…and we didn’t start normally.”
“We didn’t.”He padded after her, careful and quiet, every step measured, ears alert to her slightest movement.“But that doesn’t change how I feel.”
“How…you feel?”Her voice wavered, soft and uncertain, like a whisker twitch before a pounce.
“Despite the rocky start, Sienna Teague, I like you.A lot.”He paused, focus locked on her.“We’ve kissed before, and I enjoyed every moment.I want to see where this could go.”
The room seemed to spin around her.This couldn’t be real.Men didn’t say things like this to her.Not when they knew about her family.
“You’re playing games,” she said, her shoulders hunching defensively.“I realize I deserve this, but no one wants a do-over more than me.I wish I could turn back time and put this entire sorry mess behind me.”
Liam’s expression shifted, hurt flickering across his features.“I don’t play games, Sienna.I’m telling you how I feel.”
“B-but you’re going home.”The stutter was back, embarrassing her further.“I don’t even have a passport, and besides, I can’t leave them.”She gestured vaguely toward the door, meaning her family.
“Which is why I want you to consider moving to New Zealand.All of you.”
“We’re not mates.”The words burst out of her, final and desperate.
Liam tilted his head, studying her with those too-perceptive gaze.“Are you sure?”
That question hung between them, loaded with possibility she didn’t dare examine.When he lifted his hand and brushed a lock of hair from her cheek, the gentleness of the action made her tremble.
