“I wonder why,” he said with full irony, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. She blushed, the most pleasant shade of red he had ever seen, though she didn’t let go of her look of pure fury.
He had a pleasant imagining. He was back in that great hall with her beneath the mistletoe, only they hadn’t stopped at kissing. The image in his mind was rough, and rather raw, with him bending her over the nearest table and entering from her behind, so that she blushed as red and cried out his name, slamming her hands down onto the table…
“Kai?” She called again to get his attention.
This is why I have tae avoid her. I cannae control me thoughts anymore.
“Ye have been busy enough,” he reminded her, driving his sword back into his scabbard. “Ye have spent all yer time with Laird Grant.”
“Ye ken I have tae,” she muttered.
“I dae, so dinnae blame me fer keeping me distance.” His voice was a little harsher than he had intended it to be, but he hoped it made things clear.
I cannae watch ye seduce him.
“Now, if ye’d excuse me, I need tae find another sparring partner.” He gestured to the training grounds and the soldiers battling together.
“Ye cannae avoid me completely, Kai. We arenae done with our lessons.” Her words made him turn sharply back to face her. “Or dae ye have nothing more ye can teach me?”
“Oh, there is definitely more I could teach ye.”
“Then teach me.” She jumped down off the wall in front of him. He had to hold his hands behind his back to stop himself from touching her. “Dinnae think about what happened in the great hall –”
“Ava,” he hissed darkly.
“Just teach me!” she begged, her hazel eyes flashing with passion. “Laird Grant shows nay sign of proposing yet, despite me spending every day with him. Teach me, Kai. Please. Fer me sister’s sake, teach me.”
Kai felt as if he had been kicked in the gut. Since he had arrived at the castle, he had noticed how Lyla had retreated into herself more even than before. She spent most of her time in her chamber or hiding somewhere else in the castle.
Aye, Ava is right. Lyla needs saving from her own fears.
“Tonight, in yer chamber after dinner,” Kai said simply, walking around Ava. “It will be our last lesson.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Kai stood awkwardly on the other side of Ava’s door. No one had seen him sneak up there, not even any of the guards. At one point, Kai thought one of Laird Grant’s advisors had seen him turn toward this part of the castle, but he was wrong. It was simply a movement of shadows, a trick of the light, as the man had walked in the other direction and barely paid any attention to him at all.
Now the time had come for Ava’s last lesson, Kai felt nerves tremble his gut. They would be alone together again, and this time, they would be alone in Ava’s chamber, just a few feet from her bed.
Hanging his head forward, Kai drummed some lessons into himself.
I’m here tae help her. I’m nae here tae take any pleasure fer meself or tae cause either of us any pain. It’s a lesson in seduction, that’s all.
He raised his hand slowly, then heard footsteps down the corridor. Terrified about being seen, he no longer bothered knocking and just reached for the door handle, turning it and stepping quickly inside.
“Ye bast–” The second half of Ava’s curse was drowned out as she flung herself from the bathtub.
Kai shut the door loudly behind him and leaned against the wall, finding it completely impossible to take his eyes off the sight before him.
Ava had been too quick for him to get a full view of her front, but he saw everything from the back. He saw the narrowness of her waist, the perfect slim hourglass of the strong shoulders and hips, and her rear, rounded with muscle. He was rock hard in seconds beneath his trews as her long-toned legs clambered out of the bath, her blonde braid swinging down her back. She snatched up a robe and threw it around her body, hiding her perfect smooth skin.
“Kai! What the hell has gotten intae ye?” she hissed wildly, turning around to face him as she fastened the robe across her waist.
“There was someone coming. Shh.” He waved a hand at her, trying to get her to lower her voice. “Would ye rather have them see me coming intae yer chamber?”
Sudden laughter fell from Kai’s lips as he covered his face. Every time he tried to distance himself from her, something happened to bring Ava back to the forefront of his mind.
He now couldn’t even try to persuade himself that with clothes off, perhaps Ava was not so beautiful. She was even more stunning than he had pictured her being.
