He considered the declaration he’d prepared all night, but to suddenly blurt it out seemed awkward, and the right words remained elusive. What if she didn’t feel the same? What if his loving words weren’t something she wanted from him? He didn’t know what he would do if she turned him down.
She asked, “Are ye not worried about the news yer friends have? Ye’ve left them waiting.”
“No. I need to say something...” Lachlann hesitated and started again. “I wanted ye…to tell ye—God, ye are beautiful.”
She reddened, making her eyes seem even brighter while she struggled to right her clothes.
“How will I ever get enough of ye?” he asked.
Her answer was to kiss him again, her tongue sparring with his.
He was getting lost in his desire for her. “Ethne. Please. I will be gentle.”
When he would have pulled her closer, Niall calling from overhead broke them apart.
“Lachlann!”
She smiled, a knowing expression. “I told ye they wanted to talk.”
Niall’s obvious fear of interrupting them made him sound ridiculously loud. Lachlann said, “We’re here, Niall, not deaf.”
Ethne was at the ladder before he could get to his feet.
“Wait! I wanted us to talk.”
She grinned. “I will take my turn. They can have their say first.”
“They can damn well wait!”
But she ignored his outburst and started up the ladder. Steadying her with his hand on her bottom made him want to yank her back down for another bout of lovemaking. But Niall offering her his hand doused that idea.
Lachlann squinted at the bright light. Easier to close his eyes. The outside air was so fresh and clean, it demanded his attention. Heaven could not feel as wonderful as this. He opened his eyes and, opening his arms, tipped his face toward the warmth of the sun. It felt so wonderful, he laughed out loud. His life, at this moment, seemed perfect.
“We’ve some food prepared in the cave. We’ll talk there.” Niall’s stern tone jolted him out of his revelry.
Ethne striding across the glen ahead of them, rather than at his side, brought a sinking feeling to his stomach. He’d not settled things with her, and he didn’t want to make it awkward for her. He was not about to deny his love for her. Not now. Trotting up, he was a step behind her as they entered the cave.
Aldred, who’d been waiting for them within, jerked forward and looked like he’d dozed off unexpectedly. Come to think of it, he looked as if he hadn’t slept a wink when the three of them entered, but Lachlann had a hard time feeling sorry for the man.
“What are ye…? Is ought amiss?” Aldred asked.
“No.” Ethne smiled, a tight smile, and averted her gaze. “Ye needed to talk to him. Here he is.”
Niall and Lachlann exchanged glances. There was something more there than disappointment in Aldred’s falling asleep. When Niall glanced toward Ethne, Lachlann’s chest tightened. It seemed his disappointment was for the lack of interest Ethne was showing in Lachlann. Niall knew what he and Ethne were about when he and Aldred had left them alone.
Lachlann paused in the entrance to watch Ethne’s movements as she went about her chores. Seeing to the fire that needed no attention. Seeing to the water that had, no doubt, just been filled. Seeing to the mending in preparation for the wash.
Finally glancing toward their silent faces, she raised her brows. “If ye wish to leave, I am fine here. Alone.”
Leave? Lachlann took a step closer then stopped.
“I dinna think we need leave anon,” Aldred said, his gaze moving between Niall and Lachlann.
That man must be very familiar with the awkwardness of having taken a virgin and then leaving her behind. The comparison sliced like a knife to Lachlann’s heart. There was no comparison. He had no intention of leaving her behind.
“We do need to talk,” Niall said. “Should we take a walk? Or can we remain here?”
Ethne’s attempt at dismissing them did not sit well with Lachlann. Was she intending to show she had no need of him? No expectation? A moot point since he knew he had every need for her. He should have spoken to her, told her how he felt, instead of worrying about finding just the right words. Damn! Any words would have eased the angst her sudden coldness was unleashing in him.
