“Thora!” Ava said in irritation, jumping back and pushing up the sleeves of her gown.
Thora stood behind the hay bale giggling. Clearly, she had kicked it over at the last second.
“I’m supposed tae be practicing here. Ye removing me targets isnae helping matters.”
Thora shrugged with mischief and smiled. Ava swung the sword around, intending to take aim at another hay bale which had been set up for sword practice, yet as she moved, her boot slipped on the ice. She nearly went flying and had to grab a low-lying wall in the courtyard to prevent herself falling flat on her face. Her gloved hand gripped the ice and stone wall hard as she heard Thora giggling behind her. “Thora!”
Thora brushed off some of the snow from the wall and moved to sit on it. “Now, are ye going tae tell me why ye have been working yer anger off all morning with a sword? What are ye angry about?”
“Nothing,” Ava lied as she stood straight and marched toward another hay bale. This time, she wasn’t impaired by the ice or Thora kicking the bale away. She performed a perfect lunge and ran the hay bale straight through.
“Ye’re lying,” Thora called.
“I’m nae,” Ava shouted back as she swung around again.
She knew she was lying. She had been angry ever since she had left Kai in the kitchen the night before, though she couldn’t put her finger on why. Was it because he seemed to think himself unworthy of love? Was it anger that she’d had to leave him so soon out of fear of being caught together? Or was it a fury all because of something else?
Her dreams in the night hadn’t helped. She’d gone to sleep and woken up heated, her body on fire, for she had dreamt she had climbed into Kai’s lap in that kitchen and begged him to help her with that feeling between her legs. Dream Kai had happily obliged, placed her back onto that table and reached under her skirt with his fingers. But then she woke up, probably because she had no idea what would actually happen if a man did touch her down there.
“Thora?” Kai’s voice made her whip around in surprise. She nearly slipped on the ice again, though this time, Thora was beside her to catch her arm and make sure she didn’t fall.
“Aye?” Thora called up to him.
“Katherine has asked fer yer help with the bairn,” Kai called as he strode out into the courtyard. Ava’s eyes ran over him. He was wearing a tight shirt today and loose cloak over the top. It reminded her of that flash of skin she had glimpsed the night before. “Erik is proving a handful this morning.”
“Och I’ll happily go help with me screaming nephew. He’s a confident little lad fer a bairn. Something tells me he’ll be as boldas his father someday,” Thora laughed as she strode past Kai and into the castle.
Ava just stared at Kai for a minute. He was looking back at her, the silence oddly elongating between them.
“A little tip.” Kai took a step forward. “I dinnae ken how Laird Grant thinks, but ye might want tae put yer weapons away when ye meet him.”
Angered at the idea, Ava thrust her sword down into a particularly large clump of ice.
“What is wrong with being a warrior?”
“Och, nothing.” Kai chuckled and shook his head. “But just because I find it attractive, it doesnae mean every man will, Ava. Remember that.” He turned and moved to walk back into the castle.
“Wait… what did ye say?” Ava felt excitement leap in her chest. “Kai?” She moved to follow him, catching up with him in the doorway.
“And about our next lesson.” He leaned back toward her, whispering conspiratorially. “I have tae help me braither today but meet me in me chamber tonight.”
“Yer chamber?” Ava’s mouth had turned dry.
“Aye. See ye then.” Kai turned and walked away, leaving Ava practically dithering with excitement and nerves.
I’ve never been in Kai’s bedchamber before.
The light tap on the door made Kai turn.
Ye are a fool fer doing this. Domhnall is right, dae I really want tae torment meself intae misery?
The idea of teaching a seduction lesson to Ava in his own bedchamber seemed logical at first. They were less likely to be disturbed there. Now when he thought of being so close to Ava, intimately talking together, perhaps touching, mere steps away from his bed, was enough to make him hard in his trews.
He looked down, praying he would stay soft for now, then hurried toward the door and opened it.
“Quick, let me inside,” Ava pleaded, waving at him. “Before anyone sees me.”
Smiling and loving how eager she was to be in his chamber, he opened it wide so she could step in, then closed the door behind her.
