“Ye ken I dae.” She gritted her teeth. “We’re going tae have tae take them off if we want tae stay warm enough.”
“In the name of the wee man, Ava. What are ye doing tae me?”
“What dae ye mean?” She angled her head around to look at him. Would this be the moment? Would this be the time he’d tell her when all of this charged air between them added up to something more?
He leaned back and reached for his shirt, tugging it out of his trews. Ava held her breath, just watching him.
“Look at the fire, Ava,” he ordered, though his voice was soft.
She chewed her lip, but did as he asked and looked away, into the flames. She heard the shirt as it was thrown away though with a soft flump. She longed to lean back and feel his chest.
“Ye sure about yer gown?” he whispered.
“I am.” She nodded. “I’ll catch me death otherwise.”
She felt his fingers begin to work the laces at her back. Her breath came as short, stuttered sounds now as she indulged in the feeling of Kai being the one to undress her. When the laces were loose, he grabbed hold of the skirt and lifted it. The gownwas tossed away too, near the fire where it would dry out, leaving Ava in nothing but her chemise.
She was suddenly aware that only a thin strip of woolen cloth hid her body from him.
“Ye can push me away at any point, aye?” Kai whispered, his voice deep and husky.
“I ken.”
“Good.” Then his arms came up around her fast and she was pulled into his chest.
A small sound escaped Ava’s lips. She prayed he didn’t think it was a moan of excitement, though that was indeed what it was as he held her close. She wrapped her own arms around his, her hands marveling at the toned muscle of his forearms as he buried his head on her shoulder.
There was so little between them now that as she closed her eyes, her mind whirred with possibilities.
There was a way the two of them could stay warm, if they had both wanted it. He could have loosened his trews and lifted her skirt, explored her, showed her what real love making was like. It wouldn’t be forceful or something ugly, but something beautifully exciting.
Well, it would certainly warm me up!
She even smiled at the thought, tipping his head back onto his shoulder. His arms shifted around her, one falling to the curve of her waist as he turned his head, resting his lips against her neck.
“Kai,” she whispered.
“Dinnae ask what I’m doing. Please, Ava,” he begged.
She changed tact instead, not wanting him to pull away from the slow movement of his arms. One hand was ever so gently exploring her, teasing her as it went from her hip to her waist, then back again.
This is nay longer the act of a friend, is it?
“Dae ye remember the first time we spent a night in each other’s company?” she whispered.
“We were just children.” He chuckled into her neck. “We spent the whole night in the kitchen, stealing food. We fell asleep cuddled up by the fire together.”
“Aye, we did.” Ava sighed as he moved his lips up her neck. It wasn’t quite a kiss, but it was something. “It wasnae quite a cuddle like this.”
“Dinnae think I didnae want tae hold ye like this, even then.” His voice was so husky, she could barely believe her ears.
“Kai…”
“Dinnae ask me anymore, Ava. Please,” he begged. “This is hard enough as it is, tae see ye choosing this path ahead of ye.”
She was floored by his words. She sat stock still as his hand continued to rub that teasing movement from her waist to her hip and back down again. He gripped firm, his fingers a tantalizing promise of what other touches there could be.
Oh God… Kai wants me too.
