"Och, aye,"Sophie continued, emboldened by the slight uptick at the corner of his mouth. "So stern and serious. One might think ye were teachin' warfare instead of archery."
"This is serious business,"Kenneth replied, though Sophie detected a warmth in his tone that hadn't been there before.
"Then why doI see that smile ye're trying to hide?" she teased, tilting her head to look up at him.
"I'm nae smilin',"Kenneth protested, even as his lips twitched upward.
"Nay?Then what do ye call that?" Sophie gestured to his face with her free hand.
"Focus on yer lesson,ye wee hellion," Kenneth growled, but there was no heat in it. He positioned himself behind her again, helping her nock an arrow. "Now, draw the string back to yer cheek."
Sophie complied,very aware of Kenneth's chest pressed against her back as he guided her through the motion. His breath stirred the hair near her ear, making her skin tingle.
"Keep both eyes open,"he instructed. "Sight down the arrow to yer target."
"Like this?"Sophie asked, turning her head slightly. Their faces were so close now, she could see the flecks of gold in his amber eyes.
"Aye,"Kenneth murmured, his voice rougher than before. He cleared his throat and stepped back slightly. "Now, release."
The arrow flew wide,missing the bottles completely. Sophie let out a frustrated huff. "Well, that was terrible."
"It was yer first shot,"Kenneth said. "Try again."
They continuedlike this for some time, Kenneth adjusting her form with gentle touches that grew increasingly lingering. Sophie found herself missing his warmth each time he stepped away, and perhaps deliberately made small mistakes just to feel his hands guiding her again.
"Ye're doingthat wrong on purpose," Kenneth accused after her fifth consecutive wild shot.
"Me?"Sophie affected an innocent expression. "Would I do such a thing?"
"Aye, ye would,"Kenneth said, but his eyes crinkled at the corners. "Ye're trouble, Sophie MacAdams."
The soundof her married name on his lips made her heart skip. "But ye like trouble," she said boldly. "I can tell."
"Can ye now?"
"Mhm."Sophie nocked another arrow. "Just like I can tell ye're fighting nae to smile again."
"I am doin'nay such thing," Kenneth protested, but this time a full smile broke through, transforming his entire face.
Sophie's breath caught.He was beautiful when he smiled, the stern mask falling away to reveal something warm and bright beneath. She found herself staring, the bow forgotten in her hands.
"What?"Kenneth asked, self-consciousness creeping into his expression.
"Ye should smile more often,"Sophie said softly. "It suits ye."
A flush creptup Kenneth's neck, but he didn't look away. Something charged filled the air between them, making Sophie's skin prickle with awareness.
"Here,"Kenneth said finally, his voice husky. "Let me show ye again."
He movedbehind her once more, but this time his touch was different – more deliberate, more intimate. His hands slid down her arms to position them correctly, but they lingered longer than necessary. When he helped her draw the bow, his chest pressed firmly against her back, she could feel his heart beating as rapidly as her own.
"Easy now,"he murmured, his lips close to her ear. "Take a deep breath."
Sophie tried,but her lungs seemed to have forgotten how to work properly. Every point where their bodies touched felt like it was on fire. She was acutely aware of his strength, of how easily he could pull her into his arms if he wanted to.
"Release,"Kenneth commanded softly.
The arrow flewtrue this time, shattering one of the bottles. Sophie let out a delighted laugh, turning in Kenneth's arms to beam up at him.
