He stepped around the chair and knelt in front of her. Still holding her gaze, he lifted his fingers to the hem of her skirts. He had to touch her somehow.
It seemed his bride had stopped breathing. He smirked.
She’s yer wife; what’s the harm in a little teasin’?
How he longed to do more to her. To touch her. To taste her. To have her sprawled before him begging for release while he feasted on her like a man starved.
Stop this, Caden. Now.
Warmth bloomed between Ava’s legs. She felt her face flush, but she was sure it was because of the giant blanket wrapped around her. It had to be. It definitely had nothing to do with the fact that a Highlander was kneeling at her feet, that his strong hands were framing her head, that his muscular arms were covered in flowing fabric, and that it was painfully obvious that he wished to kiss her almost as much as she did. Nothing to do with that at all.
His mask and hair seemed to glow in the firelight. He took the glass from her hand and set it on the table.
“So, tell me.” He rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, showing off his veined forearms. Ava’s mouth went dry. “What do ye think about inviting yer sister Thalia to stay with us?”
“What?” Ava blinked in surprise.
What did he just say?
She could not focus on what he said for a moment; his arms were too distracting.
“Would ye like me to invite yer sister to stay with us? She’d be safe from yer uncle’s machinations here,” Caden tried again.
Ava shook her head to clear it. “Aye, please, thank ye.”
She looked deep into his eyes, taken aback by the sudden kindness. It was not an apology, but it was more than generous.
“Say the word, and I’ll send for her,” Caden whispered. He leaned forward until their foreheads touched.
Ava nodded, at a loss for words.
“Good, I’ll send word for her first thing in the morning then.” Caden’s presence enveloped everything so all she could focus on was him.
She could feel their breaths tangling, and she longed for their lips to do the same. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.
“Ava,” he breathed, leaning in. For a moment, she did too.
He made Nathan shrink into himself and still hasnae apologized properly.
The words echoed in her head.
She froze for a moment, before she bolted upright, tossed the blanket off her, and ran out of the room.
CHAPTER 14
“There weremen watching the castle, Braither,” Finlay said urgently as he burst into the room.
Caden’s head snapped up. “What?”
He could not understand what had just happened. One moment, he was breathing the same air as Ava, about to kiss her; the next, she was gone.
“Braither, are ye listening?” Finlay shook his shoulder lightly.
Caden was still kneeling in front of Ava’s chair. He could feel the warmth lingering in the cushions, and he longed for her to be back. He longed to kiss her little smirk when she challenged him. He took pride in his self-control, but he never really knew what it meant until they sat together like they had moments ago and he did not tear her bloody gown apart.
“Why… are ye kneeling in front of a chair, Caden?” Finlay’s brow creased with confusion.
Caden shook his head and stood. “It’s nothing.” He cleared his throat. “Ye were saying something about men?”
