He felt her fingers brush lightly across his cheek, the touch soft yet commanding. Caiden felt a jolt of desire that startled him.
Her voice, low and confident, carried a reassurance he did not deserve. "The paintin' will be found, Caiden," she whispered, her eyes locking onto his.
His breath quickened fearing the storm that her nearness stirred within him.
"Be careful, Maisie," he said, his voice low, almost a growl.
Her brow furrowed. "Why?" she asked, tilting her head, innocence and curiosity wrapped in one.
Caiden swallowed hard, fighting the urge to pull her closer, to let his hands roam freely, though he knew the line he must not cross.
"If ye continue… touchin' me," he warned, his voice rough, "ye should be ready for the consequences."
Her cheeks flushed crimson, and the heat of her embarrassment only inflamed the fire in him. He could feel the pull of her presence, the soft scent of her hair, the way her warmth seeped into him. Every rational thought battled with desire; he told himself she must leave, that tomorrow would come and he would let her go, yet his body betrayed him.
Caiden's gaze lingered on her lips, her eyes, the subtle curve of her jaw, and he felt himself losing the quiet control he prided himself on. He wanted to resist, to remind himself that restraint was a laird's duty, yet every part of him ached to claim her. In theprivacy of the stairwell, he pressed her gently against the wall, feeling her small frame yield beneath his strength. His hands found her waist, pulling her closer, and his mouth descended to hers.
The kiss began soft, exploratory, but the tension that had simmered for days, for nights, ignited between them. He trailed kisses down her neck, feeling the shiver that ran through her body at his touch. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, desperate and timid all at once, and he felt the heat of her desire match his own. Every restraint he had maintained shattered; he could no longer hold back, nor did he wish to.
Caiden's lips pressed again to hers, hungering, tasting, memorizing. His hands moved possessively over her waist, pulling her impossibly closer, each inch of contact sending fire through his veins. He knew she would be gone tomorrow, that this closeness would soon be ripped away, yet that thought only made his need for her sharper. The world narrowed to her, to the feel of her, to the sweet, forbidden pleasure of having her in his arms.
"Caiden…" Maisie murmured, breathless, trembling against him.
Her voice was both plea and surrender, and it drove him further into the storm of his own making. He pressed her against the wall again, letting his hands explore the curve of her hips, the dip of her waist. He could not stop, would not stop; every restraint was abandoned, every caution forgotten, as the heat of desire and the longing of months claimed him utterly.
"Lass, I cannae resist ye," he said.
Her warmth, her softness, her very presence overwhelmed him, yet amidst the frenzy, a small, sober thought flickered: he must remember that tomorrow she would be gone.
He pushed the thought aside, banishing caution as his lips trailed down her neck again. Maisie gasped softly, her fingers tangling in his hair, anchoring him as much as he anchored her. The fire between them blazed unchecked, and Caiden realized, with both dread and longing, that he would never be able to hold back again.
The world outside the walls ceased to exist, and all that remained was the press of her body, the taste of her lips, the desperate, heady connection that neither could deny.
Tomorrow could wait, and all responsibilities could be ignored in this stolen, consuming moment.
He buried his face against her neck, inhaling her scent, letting his hands roam without restraint. And even as reason whispered warnings, Caiden knew he had surrendered fully, willingly, to the temptation that Maisie embodied, letting desire reign supreme for this one night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
"Caiden, when ye kiss me so…" Maisie said between kisses.
"Maisie…" he murmured, low and rough.
She tilted her face up, catching his gaze, and felt a shiver run through her at the intensity in his dark eyes.
"Ye make it difficult to keep me hands to meself," he added, voice thick with desire.
Her pulse raced, heart hammering in her chest, as if every beat was synchronized with the desire that pulsed between them.
He leaned closer, brushing his lips lightly against her temple, then tracing down to her jaw, making her shiver involuntarily.
"Caiden… I…" she began, but the words faltered as his mouth found hers.
Their lips met with a searing urgency, slow at first, tasting, exploring, and building in heat with every heartbeat. Her hands trembled as they sought his chest, feeling the strength beneath his tunic, the broad muscles flexing under her touch, and her own body responded in kind.
"Ye are… drivin' me mad, lass," he groaned against her lips, his hands moving to cup her face, tilting it, claiming her mouth again.
Maisie knew she should stop. That even though not many came to this part of the castle, they could be seen at any moment. The privacy of the spiral staircase helped a little, but it was risky. This thought filled her with fear but also excitement.
