He held my chair out and tucked me in. The table was decorated with candles and enhanced with the firelight, which provided a romantic vibe. Set in front of me was a dish covered by a dome. Artair removed the cover to reveal steak and vegetables done in a hollandaise sauce.
He lifted another dome off a centered plate to reveal still-warm bread fresh from the oven. I loved bread and reached for two pieces, quickly buttering the first and popping it in my mouth. I moaned and groaned in pure bliss.
Artair looked amused and reached for a piece, taking his time. The man had so much control it was almost intimidating.
“Sorry,” I said through a mouthful, “I couldn't hold back.”
“That's all right, lass. I'm not the sort of Daddy who worries about table manners, at least not in the privacy of my home.”
Hmm... “What sort of Daddy are you, exactly?”
He seared me with a gaze that made my inner thighs slick.
“The kind who is more concerned with things like honesty and safety,” he replied before taking a bite of his bread.
I thought back on all he'd shared with me since we met at the airport, and now that I had more context, everything he said made sense. He was exactly who he said, which led me to the question, who exactly was I?
“As an example, getting up while the seatbelt sign was still on was not acceptable.”
I could feel his eyes on me and worked on not eating like an animal while under his watchful gaze. 'Cut, chew, swallow' became like a working mantra as I focused on what I knew how to do—eat—instead of letting my mind wander once again down the rabbit hole about who I was. However, when I was done with my meal, my conscience, which had been trying to get my attention, finally succeeded.
“I have a confession.” I put my fork and knife down and kept my gaze averted from his probing one.
“I'm all ears, lass.”
“I had some issues on campus, and that is why I left Canada. I basically ran away because I couldn't deal with it.”
His eyes darkened slightly, but beyond that, he offered no visible change.
“There was a guy who wouldn't take no for an answer and caused me a bit of grief. I guess he felt entitled. Anyway, I just needed to get away,” I finished lamely. Saying it out loud sounded so stupid and immature, but I couldn't help that. “If you want to end this now that you know the truth, I'm okay with that. I mean, I would understand.”
He held my gaze a moment longer, his eye color lightening substantially, and I wondered what that meant.
“What kind of Daddy would I be if I abandoned a Little just because she has a narrative that is less than perfect and of no fault of her own?”
Good question, but no answer was forthcoming.
“We'll talk about this tomorrow. Speaking of, how do you feel about a climb up the Trossachs and taking in a few castles, perhaps even a boat tour? The fresh air will help let go of all the negativity.”
Fatigue was setting in, and keeping my eyes open was becoming a struggle. “I think,” I stopped to yawn, “that would be wonderful.”
He nodded as if something had been settled. Pushing away from the table, he scooped me into his arms again. I could seriously get used to being carried around like a child; it felt so good. He placed me in bed, snuggled up behind me, and pressed my warmed bottom against his pelvis.
“Sleep now.”
No need to tell me twice. Within seconds, I was out.
Chapter Six
Artair
“Oh my god! Oh! Look!”
We were standing on a cliff overlooking Dunnottar Castle, and admittedly, it was a majestic site. The castle had resisted Edward the Longshanks and a myriad of other invasions from the English. It was said that being a POW in the bowels of the castle was hell itself, and from this vantage point, I could see why.
The castle was surrounded on three sides by the frothing Atlantic Ocean, and the salt water and wind would have howled through the prison level. “Poor bastards,” I muttered.
A storm had passed through the night Luna confessed the conditions surrounding her sudden departure from Canada,putting a dent in our plans for several days. Luckily, we'd been safely nestled in my castle for the storm's duration, giving me ample opportunity to offer her an indoor tour.
