“Oh. That is comforting. Your sister has seen me naked,” Vivien gasped, clutching the blanket closer to herself.
Kieran walked across the room, no thought given to his own nudity, and picked up their clothes off the floor. He handed Vivien hers, helping her lace up her bodice and skirts as best he could – he was no handmaid, and he certainly was not one who really understood how to put a woman’s clothing on properly. He then proceeded to pull on his own breeches and shirt, all the while trying not to laugh while he could see that Vivien was on the verge of tears.
He took her face in his hands, kissed her gently on the mouth, and said, “There is naething tae worry abou’, I promise ye that. They willnae tell a soul. I will bet ye my armor an’ warhorse; they will never say a word about it, even tae each other. My sister is probably irreparably damaged by seeing her older brother naked. She’s not going tae want anyone else tae ken she has.”
“Are you sure?” Vivien looked up at him through tear-covered eyelashes. Kieran found himself feeling incredibly guilty for laughing at the situation when Vivien was clearly shaken up and horrified by what had happened.
“Aye, Sassenach. I promise ye,” he tried to smile reassuringly. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, bringing Kieran some relief.
“Tilly, Bailey, it’s safe tae come inside again,” he called out.
“Are ye sure?” Tilly’s voice wavered from the other side of the closed door.
Kieran shook his head, squashing down the laughter.
“Aye, I’m sure,” he replied.
Bailey poked his head through the door first, looking around the room with his eyes half-closed. Kieran cursed his luck – he wanted to guffaw at the precautions the two of them were taking, but he really could not bring himself to make Vivien feel worse.
“It’s safe,” Bailey said over his shoulder before entering the cabin, followed a few moments later by Tilly, her eyes firmly focused on the ground.
“Ye can sheathe yer weapons, can ye not?” Kieran asked eyebrow raised.
“Oh, yes, right, too true,” Bailey said, as he and Tilly put their respective blades away.
“What are ye doing here, anyway?” Kieran asked, taking Vivien’s hand in his as he smiled down at her. She seemed much calmer than she had been.
“You have been gone for hours; we were worried. It’s nearly three in the morning,” Bailey said, crossing his arms across his chest.
Vivien gasped next to Kieran, her face blanching.
“Is it really that late?” she said softly.
“Aye, it is,” Tilly replied. “I am Tilly, my Lady, Kieran’s brother. I’m sorry tae have had tae meet ye this way,” she continued, raising her eyes from the ground to look at Vivien. The smile she gave Vivien was genuine and warm enough, Kieran thought.
“Please, call me Vivien.” She smiled back at Tilly. “It’s lovely to meet you, regardless.”
“An’ this here is Bailey,” Tilly nodded her head at him, punching him in the shoulder playfully.
“I remember you. You were with Kieran when he came to see…” Vivien trailed off, her cheeks flushing bright red. Kieran knew she had been about to say her husband, but she could not bring herself to. Especially not after being caught out in the manner in which they had been.
“It’s a pleasure tae meet ye in person, my Lady,” Bailey bowed, not quite meeting her eyes, his own cheeks bright red with embarrassment.
“I must go.” Vivien turned to Kieran. “It is very late, so much later than I thought.”
Kieran sighed internally; the last thing he wanted was for Vivien to return to the castle, to her husband and her life away from him. He needed her to stay; he needed her to be his. Tasting her, feeling her, had irrevocably altered his perception of all things involving the opposite sex. He had never felt an attraction to anyone like he felt to her – she was addictive, and Kieran was addicted. He wished that night could carry on for eternity, with them wrapped in each other’s arms.
“Stay, Vivien,” he urged her, knowing that she would refuse him. He had to ask; the worst thing she could say was no, the best thing – he could only hope for the best. “I can protect ye; ye don’t need tae go back tae that man.”
Vivien looked away from him for a moment; he knew with a sinking feeling what her answer was.
“I can’t,” she said, looking back up at him, “I must return to the castle. It will only cause more problems, more attacks and provocations if I leave Stone like this. I wish I could stay, Kieran. But for your safety, for your clan’s, I must go back.”
“We can deal with all o’ that; there’s naething we cannae handle. You’ll be safe with us; we’re a strong clan with the best warriors in the country,” Kieran meant every word, but he could see the determination in her eyes. It was a lost cause.
Vivien shook her head, saying, “It is the only way I can hope to glean any useful information for you – I have to be able to help you.”
“If ye insist, I willnae force ye,” Kieran conceded.
