"Aye," Fraser answered as he gave a bow. Killian turned to the window and watched Leah pick from the garden. He wondered if she was thinking of him, if his kiss had seared her soul as deeply as hers had done to him.
"Leave," Killian instructed over his shoulder as his attention remained locked on Leah. The lonely sound of boots on the hard floor echoed in the study. It was the low moan of the door being pulled closed that sent chills through him. Gripping the side of the window, Killian watched Leah with a cardinal lust burning within him. How easy it was to envision pinning Leah to the tree.
Regret pounded against Killian. He should have taken his moment when he had the chance. Why did he have to stop at just the kiss when he wanted to do so much more? The need to have her was overwhelming. Aroused and frustrated, Killian's thoughts shifted to darker and sexier places. A smile stretched across his lips as he thought of hiking her skirts to her hips, bending her over the wooden bench, and having her before his entire court.
A gasp escaped his lips the moment Leah's gaze met his. He hadn't expected her to turn and find him watching her. Yet, there was no hiding the evidence as he stood before the window longing for her.
A severe knock shattered the moment. Killian dropped his head as his ire raged.
"This better be important," Killian shouted over his shoulder. The door creaked as it opened, aggravating Killian even more. He didn't want interruptions; he wanted to be alone.
"Ye asked for a report about yer brother?" Elsie asked as she popped her head into the room. Killian let out a heavy, disgruntled sigh as he begrudgingly turned away from the window. The idea struck him like the kick of a mule.
"Get Leah to give me the reports from now on," Killian said with a mischievous smirk.
"Are ye sure ye want to do that? Am I nae doin' the best I can?" Elsie asked, the panic in her tone catching Killian off guard.
"I've nay intentions of replacin' ye," Killian reassured her. "Nae with Leah or anyone else. Out of all the people in this castle, I trust ye the most."
"And Fraser?" Elsie asked, arching a hopeful brow. Killian relaxed as he realized what he was asking her to do. But to have his council believe the ruse, he needed every angle he could get.
"Alright, ye're a close second," Killian retracted. "Now will ye have Leah caught up with me brother's health and see that she reports to me every day just as ye do."
A knowing smile tugged at the corner of Elsie's lips. Killian could see the rumors and gossip skipping from her lips the second the study door closed behind her.
"If that is what ye wish," Elsie answered as she gave a low bow. "Shall I fetch her now for ye?"
"Nay," Killian answered. "Just inform her of her new responsibilities. And tell her expect to see her at three o'clock on the nose with her report."
Elsie didn't linger around. She gave a low bow and exited the room swiftly. A playful smirk tickled Killian's lips as he wondered how Leah would react to her new position. How he wished he could be a fly on the wall when Elsie told her.
Just as soon as the door closed, another knock came to intrude on his day. He glanced back to the window, but it was too late. Leah had already disappeared. Where she had run off to, he didn't know, but how he wanted to be there with her.
"Laird MacMillan, I have a bone to pick," a farmer said as he barged into the study. Killian steeled his emotions and tamed the woes of his lust to step into the role of laird.
"O'Grady, and what exactly is it that I can do for ye?" Killian asked as he focused on his duties.
The day continued with random interruptions, and by the end of the day, Killian was spent. He looked around the study at the mountain of paperwork that needed to be sorted. It looked like an endless task that would take an eternity to complete.
Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. A jolt of energy coursed through him that pricked his instincts. He rose to his feet, ready to defend. Through the crack of the door, he spotted her, Leah, casually strolling by his study. Killian eased as he imagined her floral scent swirling about his study. How could a woman be more intoxicating than wine?
"Watch out," a servant said as Killian's hand shot out as if he could stop the accident from occurring. In a flash, Killian watched a servant careen into Leah, and the pair stumble to the ground. The first response to protect startled him. But as he watched the rouge on Leah's cheeks brighten as she realized he'd witnessed the scene, he smiled.
"That damn dog," the servant hissed as Killian charged to help Leah.
"Are ye all right?" he asked as Leah climbed to her feet and dusted herself off.
"I'm so sorry," the woman said as she double-checked Leah. "Oh, yer dress. That's nae good. I'm so sorry. The dog got out of me hands."
"It's all right," Leah said as Killian noticed the rip exposing the natural curve of Leah's bosom. Although it was but a flash of skin, it was enough to send Killian into a frenzy. He sucked in a deep breath as he stepped back. There was no way he could control himself, not with so many witnesses.
"I'm terribly sorry, truly I am," the servant said.
"I'll patch it up," Leah answered as Killian watched her eyes shift to him. The embarrassed flush on her cheeks excited him too much.
"A patch willnae do. Ye need a new dress," Killian retorted. "Maybe a couple of them from what I've gathered."
"Laird MacMillan, ye daenae have to do that," Leah said as she glanced to inspect the full damage. Killian wanted to hand a purse of coins to the servant for causing such a cut through Leah's dress. But thought against it. "I stand corrected."
