"What I saidbefore was uncalled for and rude. I shouldn't have said it. Please forgive me. I would say that my mother has worn off on me a bit, but the truth of the matter is, I'm the one who hasn't been very accommodating."
Aaron archedan eyebrow as he watched her start to fiddle with the tips of her fingernails. Remaining silent, he stepped back from the door and dropped his shoulders.
"Doye ken how to play chess?"
"No,my father said chess was a man's game."
"Would ye care to learn?"
Izzy lookedup at him through her long lashes. The red in her eyes caused Aaron's chest to tighten. He didn't like seeing her in such distress, but there was something stunning about her. She had an allure about her that mesmerized Aaron. Maybe it was the way her green eyes shown brighter against the red of her eyes. Or perhaps seeing her so vulnerable and open with him after he'd been trying so hard to crack her hard shell.
"Not really,"she answered. "My father's games would last hours. A battle of wits is what he'd say, and I don't have the patience at the moment. Do you know how to play thirty-one?"
"Aye.I may have played a time or two. Ye'll find the cards in the small drawer in the table." Aaron nudged his head to the small table next to the fireplace. Izzy's eyes sparkled with excitement as she darted for the table. Aaron moved swiftly to join her and took his place across from her at the table. Izzy pulled the cards out and slipped into the chair across from him. Her lips curled at the corners into a timid smile as she shuffled the deck.
"So,"she said as she dealt the cards. The tension between them seemed to crackle like water in hot oil.
"Mmm,"Aaron answered as he sorted his hand before settling in his seat. "Ye're up."
"I dealt; you're first."
Aaron madehis play before shifting his attention to the way Izzy chewed her lower lip. Despite the questions flickering through his head at breakneck speed, Aaron's gaze was on Izzy's bosom. Her perfect breasts rose and fell with each ragged breath she took. And within two rounds, Izzy dropped her cards on the table indicating her victory.
"Ha,"she said. "Point to me."
"Aye,ye may have won this battle, but the war is far from over."
"Is that so?I hate to break it to you, Highlander, but I think you should give up now. The cards clearly favor me."
Aaron letout a little snort as he tried to mask the smile tugging at his mouth. Her smile radiated throughout the room, shattering the tension between them in an instant. Aaron collected the cards and dealt again. The hand was over before he even picked his cards up from the table.
"See?"Izzy said with an even lighter laugh than before. "What did I tell you?"
"Beginner's luck,"Aaron counter as she grabbed the cards. "I doubt ye'd have the same sort of luck with a harder game."
"What exactly are you proposing?"Izzy asked as she tilted her head. Her hair cascaded over her shoulder, hiding half her face. Aaron reached across the table to brush it away. Before he pulled away, Izzy grabbed him by the hand. Her touch was warm andinviting. Aaron's breath hitched as Izzy drew his hand to her face. She leaned her face into the palm of his hand. All evidence of her crying had vanished, and still she looked as lovely as ever.
"Marriage,"he whispered. "The proposal is for yer hand."
Rouge kissedher cheeks as her gaze shifted. There came a spark in her gaze that kindle his longing. Without another word, Izzy slipped from her seat and into Aaron's lap. His body tensed. Whatever was going through her mind, Aaron wasn't going to stop it. Every fiber of his being craved her attention, and now that he had it, there was no way he was going to ruin the moment.
"I knowthat we have to marry," she whispered in his ear. "And it doesn't scare me like it once did."
"It's amazin'what a course of a day can do," he answered back. Izzy arched her eyebrow and curled her arms around his neck. Aaron didn't have time to protest, nor would he. He'd be insane to turn down such an enchanting and stunning woman. Izzy's chest rose and fell as her lips inched closer to his.
Aaron didn't hesitateand seized the moment.
He crushedhis lips to hers, curling his arms around her small frame. Her body pressed against his as Izzy's fingers snared the hair at the nape of his neck. There was a hunger to her kiss that made him want to pick her up and toss her to the bed. With his needs and wants mixing and mingling into a wild fray of cardinal lusts, Aaron pulled away.
"If ye wantme to ruin ye," Aaron mumbled, trying desperately to keep his wits about him when Izzy was making it impossible with her micro kisses on his neck, "keep at it."
"You wouldn't ruin me,"she answered, her lips brushing ever so slightly over his earlobe.
"Oh, but I would,"he said as he ran his fingers through her silky hair. He pulled in a long deep breath to steady himself as bending her over the table, throwing her skirts up, and claiming her became his only thought. "In ways that ye couldnae believe."
"And what would you do?"she asked in such a sultry voice that she was clearly pushing the boundaries of his resolve. "If you could do anything without remorse or consequence, what would you do?"
Aaron arched his eyebrow."I'd have ye experience utter bliss. The kind that would make even God jealous for the things I'd get to come out of yer mouth. Would ye like me to show ye?"
