“I’ve never wanted to fall in love, so it didnae matter to me.” He shrugged.
“Why?” she probed.
“It’s me turn, lass.” His voice rumbled in his chest. “Were those stories about ye and yer sisters true?”
“Every word. Except I left out how mean we all were to each other at some point. I figured a little boy didnae need to ken that part.” She took a swig of her whiskey.
Caden felt his chest clench knowing that she had thought of the boy’s well-being first.
“Why didnae ye plan on falling in love, me Laird?” she asked, eyeing him narrowly.
“It makes ye do foolish things.” He looked her straight in the eye, unblinking. His heart skipped a beat.
Ava did not look away, and he felt the urge to get up and kiss her.
He shifted his gaze to the smoldering fire before continuing, “But that’s a story for another time.”
He saw her shiver out of the corner of his eye.
“Are ye cold?” he asked.
She merely nodded and wrapped her arms around herself.
Caden stood and grabbed a fur blanket from the ancient wooden chest near the fireplace. “I caught this bear in the southern forests four years ago,” he said as he wrapped the large blanket around her shoulders.
“Thank ye.” She looked up into his face, and his heart sped up.
A lump formed in his throat, but he swallowed past it. His breathing grew shallow.
“Are ye going to stare at me forever, me Laird?” She smirked.
“I’m just letting me eyes feast on ye,” he declared, resting his arms on the back of her chair. His fingers itched to play with her hair.
“Oh?” Her lips twitched into a playful smile.
Heat coiled low in his lower belly and between his legs. He leaned down till his face was mere inches from hers.
“Aye, lass. It’s a delightful sight.” He smirked.
“So, tell me, do ye often go huntin’ for bears?” She arched an eyebrow.
“Nay. I killed this one with me bare hands. It attacked our camp as we were scouting out another clan,” he said proudly, his eyes fixed on her full lower lip.
“I see,” she said breathlessly.
“Do ye, lass? And what else do ye see?”
“What else do ye want me to see, me Laird?”
“For the last time, it’s Caden, wife.”
He could not put his finger on what drew her to him so. All he knew was that he needed to kiss her lips.
Damn her rules. I’ll kiss her when I please.
He bent to kiss her, but she turned her head away.
“Ah.” His heart protested the rejection, but he held back. “I remember yer rules.”
