“I need to take a piss.”
He disappeared into the woods. When he came out a short time later, he stretched, scratching at his belly. Turning a smile on her, he moved toward her with up stretched arms.
“I’ve been remiss. Ye need to stretch as well.”
She’d prefer they keep going. “No. I am fine.”
He did not lower his arms at her refusal and his fingers beckoned to her. “Come.”
Astrid could practically hear her mother’s voice in her head:Do not insult the man!She leaned into his arms and allowed him to help her dismount. Then she brushed down her gown, bending her shoulders, which ached from being up against him. He was not as comfortable as she’d thought he would be. Overall, the entire ride was a disappointment.
“Share with me yer thoughts,” he said.
“I have none to share.”
Pádraig tipped his head, a telling smirk on his face. “I know ye well enough to know that is a lie, Astrid.”
“A lie? How so?”
“Ye are always thinking. Thinking about this. Thinking about that.” He came up alongside her, standing far too close. “Making yer plans.”
Histhoughts were the ones to be concerned about. Chill bumps spread across her arms and she glanced around at the secluded clearing.
“Ye know me not at all. Who told ye such a thing as that?”
“Yer mother.”
Astrid’s chest tightened at the betrayal. “I do not know what she was talking about. Ye know how mothers are.”
“I do.” He crossed his arms about his chest. And waited.
He had a stern expression and she felt the weight of his judgment. “What is it ye wish to know?”
“Have ye changed yer feelings toward me?”
She glanced around, wary about sharing what she was actually thinking. “Ye have been a bit more forward than I expected ye to be.”
“Have I?” He moved in closer, his eyes rounded with concern. “Forgiveness, please.”
His expression did not waver as he slid a finger along the curve of her face, his eyes holding her gaze. “I did not mean to offend.”
“No offense—”
He placed a finger to her lips, silencing her.
“Never offend.” The tip of his finger traced her lips, and he dropped his gaze to follow the movement. “Never offend. Not luscious Astrid.”
Luscious? Not an endearment she would have chosen for herself. A shiver shook her when he licked his lips. She would have spoken, but he again held a single finger to her lips.
Pádraig moved in to kiss her, and she closed her eyes, her breath trapped in her chest. She was petrified of what he was about to do. Surely whatever Marcán had seen her do to indicate her willingness earlier, she had not done it again. She couldn’t have. She had only sat upon a horse, her hands on her lap, facing front, while he rubbed himself against her and she pretended not to notice.
Near panicked, she tried to turn her head away, but his mouth kept following her.
“Please.” Her voice reflected her fear.
“Yes.” He murmured against her lips.
“Umm.”
