“Ye shouldnae stand there, Ava,” he said again. “Move away from that spot. They say it’s bad luck for a lass nae tae be kissed beneath the mistletoe.”
“Well…” She wasn’t sure what she was thinking. Maybe it was the lack of sleep that made her say it, or the fact that they were alone so early in the day that it felt as if they had suspended reality for a short while. All she knew was that one kiss did not soundsobad. “I dinnae want any bad luck in me life. Dae I?” She purposefully didn’t move away.
“Ava.” His voice had turned deep, even harsh, as he tilted his head to the side and watched her avidly. “Dinnae taunt a man who has been rock hard fer ye all night.”
His words shot a thrill up through her stomach, then down somewhere between her legs. To hear Kai talk in such a way was seductive. She loved the roughness of it, as well as the way he clearly restrained himself, standing as still as stone.
“I’m nae taunting ye,” she whispered.
“That is exactly what ye are doing.” He gestured a mad hand at the mistletoe over her head. “Dae ye think any man could resist ye now?”
“Kai,” she whispered, chewing her lip for a moment. When his eyes shot down to her lips, she halted, remembering what he had said about soft voices and expressions, how they could draw a man in. She deepened her voice when she spoke again. “I didnae ask ye tae resist.”
“Ah, curse the wee man above,” he muttered darkly. It was a sudden release of tension as he marched toward her. The thrill became even greater in Ava’s stomach as he neared her, then his hand was upon her. He caught the curve of her back and pulled her into him.
The first meeting of their lips was a crash, full of need and desperation. Ava wasn’t even sure where she put her hands. Was it on his shoulders? His biceps where she clung to the muscle beneath? She could feel the strength lingering there. His hands stayed firmly on her back, pulling her into him, so that there was no air between their chests, with her breasts flattened against his muscled torso.
Ava had never known a kiss before. She hadn’t expected the heat, the thrill, nor the constant movement of their lips as they tried to get closer to one another. Each time she thought about how incredible it was thatKaiwas the one kissing her, he somehow deepened it, parting her lips. Inhaling in surprise, she felt his tongue come out to meet her own, then everything changed.
Her hands ran from his shoulders down his arms, the touch gentle, as his fingers curved almost delicately against her back. The kiss became slow, exploratory, even tender.
She knew instantly that Kai would never push her further than she wanted to go. He’d only moved forward when she had practically begged him to do so, but the tenderness of the kiss now, the softness, the need, spoke volumes.
“Kai,” she whispered between kisses as he deepened it once more, exploring her slowly and softly. Such heat shot through her body at his touches that she began to shake.
“I ken,” he whispered, moving to brush her lips with his own. “Ye want me tae stop.”
“Nay. Dinnae stop.”
“Ye and I ken we both have tae.” Yet he kissed her again, the brush of lips so soft and tender this time that she flattened her body to his, not wanting to let go. His body felt amazing pressed against her, the strength of his torso making her feel incredibly safe.
“Aye, we have tae stop.” He pulled back.
Both breathless, they stood there, staring at each other.
Ava could have sworn there was a fire that had started in her stomach. It burned, threatening to engulf her. She and Kai had crossed a line now, something they could never go back from.
“Kai, I–” At her words, he shook his head, clearly not wanting her to say anymore.
“It can remain our secret. I promise.” He moved forward, placing his lips softly to her temple. It was such a sweet action that she closed her eyes, wanting to hold onto the moment for as long as possible. “None shall hear it from me.” He released her.
She felt cold, shaky, unable to stand on her own two feet as he backed up from her.
“At least now ye willnae have that bad luck.” He winked at her, but the easy smile couldn’t quite dispel the tension in the air between them. He walked around her and headed for the door, leaving Ava staring after him, her body completely breathless.
“Kai? Kai!” Ava yelled for him.
Kai pretended not to hear as he sparred with one of Laird Finley’s soldiers.
“Kai! Dinnae ignore me.”
“How could I ever ignore ye?” he shouted back, nearly catching his sparring partner’s shoulder with his blade in his distraction.
“Hey!” the soldier warned him to be more careful and Kai held up an apologetic hand, but clearly his partner had had enough. “Find another if ye want tae cut them open.” The soldier marched away, returning his sword to his belt.
Kai huffed and lowered his own sword, looking around the open lawn of the MacKinnon castle. It was how he had spent the last two days. Every waking moment he’d either been hiding in his chamber, riding, or here in the lawns, finding someone new to practice with. It was the first time Ava had found him.
“Kai!” she hissed, jumping up on a low-lying stone wall beside him. “Ye think I have nae noticed ye have been avoiding me? For two days, nae a word.”
