To take a lass from her home and force her into marriage? And what role did her mother play? Arranged marriages were common among their people but against the lass’s will? And then to refuse when she asked to be released. Nay, Aidam would not allow it to happen. His resolve was now more sure than ever.
“You cannae marry me uncle, lass.” Aidam moved closer and ran his hand down her cheek.
“But what can I do? I have to leave. Ye cannae stop me.” She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. The warmth of her cheek under his hand caused his need to protect her to became overwhelming. “Please,” she begged. Aidam felt dampness hit his palm and knew she was crying. “I ken I shouldnae have tried to steal yer clothes, but I didnae ken what else to do.”
“Ellie,” he whispered. “We’ll figure it out, lass. We’ll figure it out.” How long had she been holding in her true emotions? How long had she been pretending? Playing the part of the obedient bride-to-be, all the while suffering at his uncle’s harsh indifference.
“Aidam,” she whispered back, and the soft resignation in her voice was his undoing. He leaned down and gently took her lips with his own. With one taste of her, all rational thought flew from his mind. He deepened the kiss, half expecting her to pull away, and she had every right. She was upset and knew not where to turn, and all he could do was pull her closer, trying to keep her as near to him as possible.
She opened her mouth for him, allowing him to use his tongue to taste her sweetness. She wrapped an arm around his neck, and he led her toward the bed. Sitting first, he pulled her into his lap, never once breaking the contact between their bodies.
Ellie broke the kiss and looked deep into his eyes. He mourned the loss of her touch, but he could lose himself in the emerald ocean of her gaze.
“Aidam, we shouldn’t. Not when…” her voice trailed off as she looked into the fire. Aidam did not like feeling as if she did not want his kiss or his touch, but he felt her response to him.
“Not when what, love? What is it that keeps ye from me?” He asked. He knew she felt what he did. She did not love his uncle. She was not going to be wed to the man, not if Aidam took a breath. So what was it that was holding her back?
“I dae nae want ye to think I dae nae feel…” her voice faded again. Aidam took his finger and gently lifted Ellie’s chin until she was looking at him once more. He wished desperately that she could feel his need for her through their eyes alone.
“Tell me, lass. Anything that troubles yer soul troubles mine. I want ye to ken ye can trust me.” Trust was all they had.
“Very well,” she replied, taking a deep breath while holding his gaze. “I dae nae wish to be a mere place holder for ye Aidam Sinclair. I wish… I wish to be so much more.”
“A placeholder? Ellie, what do ye mean?”
“I ken about the other lass.” He opened his mouth, more in shock than to respond. But Ellie cut him off. “There is nay need for explanation. Ye’ve been so good to me. And well, this…this thing between us is strong, but I ken yer heart belongs to another.”
“And where did ye hear this?” Aidam was blindsided. What the devil was Ellie talking about? Another woman? Was she that blinded to what was happening between them? She was the only lass he fancied. She was the only lass he ever fancied.
“It’s the reason ye came back to the keep injured the other night, the reason ye fought those men in the village. Ye even mentioned it yerself.”
“I’m quite sure I never mentioned another lass, Ellie.”
“Nay, not exactly, but when ye were in yer cups, ye told yer uncle it was love that made ye act th’ way ye did. Ye blamed him for the state ye found yerself in. I ken ye weren’t in yer right mind, but sometimes the drink makes men speak truths they otherwise wouldnae speak. Besides, Jemina and Damon both mentioned ye were upset over a lass. I figured out the rest myself. I cannae continue to be with you, like this, if yer heart belongs to another.”
He resisted the urge to throw his head back and laugh. A clear picture of what she must be thinking formed for him. All this time, she thought him frivolous enough to care for another and dally with her. Ellie had no thought for herself or her own value, nor that his feelings for her were real. She went so far as to deny herself her own wants and desires to protect another lass and one she did not know. One who did not exist.
“There is no other lass, Ellie.”
“There has to be,” she said. “Jemina told me ye had yer heart broken when ye were a lad. She said it was a lass ye’ve never forgotten. Did she come back? Did ye see her? Was she promised to another? It’s alright. Ye dae nae have to be stoic with me, Aidam, we’re friends.” Ellie was insistent, and he understood why. He remembered that conversation with Jemina. She had been broken-hearted over some village boy who did not share an affection. To calm his young cousin in her angst, he told her some truth of his own. He neglected, however, to reveal the name of his mystery lass to Jemina. Now, he sees it was to his peril.
“We’re much more than friends, ye kind, good-hearted lass,” he whispered and pulled Ellie back into his arms. He kissed her again, slowly, allowing his lips to gently caress hers before pulling away to catch her gaze. The gentle flowing grasses of spring meadows paled in comparison to his Ellie’s eyes. They were filled with so much emotion and confusion.
It was no longer fair of Aidam to keep his secret. Ellie had been so brave to confess what led her to her betrothal to his uncle. It was no easy task. She deserved to know his truth as well.
He paused before wrapping his arms more tightly around her. What was his truth exactly? “Ellie, there was a lass. Jemina was right in that much.” He felt her stiffen slightly, but she did not resist him or pull away, so he continued. “She did come back intae me life. She was promised to another, or so I thought. But now I ken the truth. Her heart never belonged to that other man. I could not begin to hope her heart would belong to me, but I ken I have to try. I have to try and show her what she means to me.”
What exactly did she mean to him? Was he ready to name it? He knew certain things to be absolutely true. He would offer her all of him, would she have him. He would move heaven and earth to get her away from Sinclair lands. He would stay by her side and start a new life together. He vowed to himself then and there that he would spend the rest of his days protecting her, keeping her safe, and ensuring she knew his desire for her.
“Oh.” Her one-word response held the weight of their combined emotion. It was no longer okay for him to drag it out. He feared she would flee his arms at any moment.
“Ellie, I have a confession.” He picked up her hand and planted a soft kiss against her palm. “It’s true, I’ve never forgotten the lass who captured my heart all those years ago…” he moved his lips to her wrist. He could feel Ellie’s heartbeat speeding against her delicate skin. “She has come back, and the lass still holds my heart, my desire, and my undying devotion…” He ran his lips further up her arm, caressing with his lips while pushing up the soft silk of her gown with his free hand to gain more access to her delectable skin. He never wanted to be apart from her again. He hoped beyond all hope that when he finished his confession, she would not pull away. That would be the end of him. His desire for her consumed him. He continued to kiss up her arm, discarding it to taste the translucent place where her neck met her collar bone.
“Aidam…” she groaned as he licked and teased the hollow at her throat.
“Let me finish, Ellie. That lass ye’ve been so worried after. That lass was, is, and always will be you.”
