Astrid saw the opportunity for what it was. Surely she would be successful this time, at the very least in expressing her interest in the man. If he rejected her? Well, she would deal with that if it happened. Straightening herléine, she headed out the door.
The lively music called to her, but the path she traveled was very empty. The groups that had been scattered about earlier were gone. She hobbled faster, holding the wool tight around her. Marcán’s warning about all the men being after her was making her more nervous. Although she would never admit it, the way he’d mentioned Pádraig being the first betwixt her legs had sent a slight thrill to her innards.
Astrid stopped in her tracks, realizing something that shocked her. When Marcán had said those words, she’d imaginedhisface over her—not Pádraig’s. She licked her lips, more moved by the image than she would like to admit.
“Are ye still looking for trouble?”
Astrid turned, half expecting to see Marcán, but it was Pádraig who stood behind her. The redhead was nowhere in sight. Astrid beamed, pulling her shoulders back like her mother always advised her to. “I did not mean to cause trouble.”
Pádraig’s expression had lost some of its earlier cheerfulness.
“Sorry I am that we were interrupted,” Astrid said, feeling more nervous now that she was finally alone with him.
He crossed his arms, staring at her with a stern expression. His long fur was once again draped over his shoulders. “Are ye?”
The depth of his anger at the situation brought a lump to her throat. “Pádraig, I am—”
He held his hand up. “I am certain we should not be standing here. In the dark. Alone. Talking.”
She understood his sarcastic tone and nodded.
“Or has yer guard finally gone off to bed?” he asked.
His expression shifted ever so slightly, and she was filled with intense relief. He was still interested in her. She shrugged. “I do not know for certain where he is, only that he is not here.”
Pádraig came closer, pushing her hair behind her ear.
“Good.” His voice was low. Enticing. Astrid wetted her lips. “Because I’ve been wanting to do this all night.”
His lips were soft against hers, his tongue flicking across her tightly sealed mouth just before he pulled away.
Struggling to suppress her sigh, Astrid merely smiled, unable to look any higher than his lips. “Ye have?”
With a finger to her chin, he pulled her lips to his again, his mouth firmer this time, more insistent. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace, giving her a lot of things to pay attention to. His prodding tongue slid against her closed mouth again, and when she thought to protest, it darted inside. Her breath caught in her throat. And yet… it was a surprisingly pleasant sensation. She relaxed her lips and he groaned, kissing her more deeply.
The hands around her waist glided up along the curve of her hips, over her lower back, and all the way up to her arms before moving back down again—caressing her in an ever-widening arc. Each time his hands moved up, they were closer to her breasts, and they kept dipping lower until he was grabbing her arse. Alarm bells were going off in her head. Her tongue stopped trying to spar with his, but he didn’t seem to notice.
He made strange little sounds in his throat, as if he was quite enjoying the feel of her. Even though that pleased her, she knew she had to stop him, especially when he cupped her buttocks in his hands to hold her still, then rubbed his stiff prick against her.
“Umm, Pádraig?” She spoke against his insistent lips.
Pádraig broke the kiss, turned his head, dropped his arms, and stepped away with a disgusted sigh. When he looked back, his eyebrows arched over his wide eyes. “I’m listening.”
Astrid wasn’t sure how to respond. She had wanted him to kiss her but not to feel his… his need. “I wanted us to talk.”
The man stood perfectly still, as if his thoughts were requiring all of his concentration. He placed his hands on his hips and lowered his head.
With a sideways glance, he said, “And what would ye like us to talk of?”
Despite his tone, which was pleasant enough, she sensed he was not happy with her. She turned away slightly, nibbling on her bottom lip. “I had an idea for us.”
“Oh?” He reached toward her and moved in closer, his voice low. “As do I. D’ye believe it could be the same idea?”
His lips against her ear sent an unexpected shiver of repulsion through her. She backed away from him. “Please do not.”
His expression screamed ye-cannot-be-saying-no-to-me. Astrid gave him her back, frowning in confusion. She had not expected this from him. In her mind, he had listened to her suggestion and considered the merit of her words.
This was a side of him she was not sure she liked.
