“Ye are due a lot of punishment,” she said, though she smiled as she turned to face him. “Last night… should nae have happened.”
“Aye, I ken.” He sighed. “But dae ye wish it hadnae?”
Instead of answering, she blushed even redder. It was such a delicious shade of crimson that he couldn’t move from her side, even when she reached across him to pick up a third scabbard to look at. This one was made of leather and woven fabric, imprinted with the stars. When she went so near to him, he inhaled deeply, finding it increasingly impossible to stay away from her.
Maybe he could have put up walls between them if he knew she felt nothing, but that was not what the last few days had proven. That kiss, the way her body had melded to his in that bed… all of it spoke volumes.
She cannae keep away from me either.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, distracted by the scabbard.
“Aye, useful too.” He nodded. “Ye can keep yer blade at yer side tae enact punishment on unsuspecting suitors any time ye like then.”
She laughed at his words as she laid the scabbard back down. Clearly, she wasn’t going to buy it. Something knotted in Kai’s stomach as he longed to buy it for her. It could be a gift, a small gift. It didn’t have to mean anything if he gave it to her in secret.
“Ava…” Kai began slowly.
“Aye?” She jerked her head up, looking hopeful. What was she expecting him to say? Something wondrous.
“About last night…” He wanted to explain why he had left so early, but how could he put into words that he had woken up rock hard and hadn’t wanted to frighten her? That he had slipped out, tormented by thoughts of making love to Ava in that bed, hearing her moan his name and gasp, see her writhe as he entered her. “This morning, I–”
“There ye are.” The deep voice made Kai freeze instantly.
Ava was the one to step away. The distance she created between the two of them made Kai feel sick. He turned to face the stall,pretending to be interested in its wares and firmly ignoring the presence of Laird Blair Grant as he hurried up to greet Ava.
“I have been looking fer ye.”
“Me?” Ava said, apparently unable to keep the surprise out of her voice.
“Aye. Well, how could a man resist looking fer such a beautiful woman?”
It was such a prosaic compliment that Kai looked at the heavens, pleading for patience. It was also a far cry from the easy flirtation there had been between Kai and Ava just seconds before.
“Oh. Well… I… thank ye.” Ava’s lack of composure made Kai shoot a glance over his shoulder at her. He smiled forcefully, showing her what she should be doing to encourage Blair’s attention. She smiled in reflex at that moment.
“Come. It has become so cold and icy.” Laird Grant offered his arm to Ava. “Let me escort ye back tae the castle.”
“Thank ye. I’d like that very much.” Using all the charm and wiles that Kai had taught her, Ava slid her hand in the most teasing of ways across Laird Grant’s arm and smiled up at him sweetly. They turned together and walked up the road, leaving Kai to stare after them, noticing the cold increasingly.
Fresh snow had started to fall and nearby, and he could hear Thora and Lyla talking about returning to the castle together, but he had no wish to return just yet. He waited until Thora and Lyla meandered far enough up the street not to pay attention to what he was doing, then he picked up the scabbard that Ava had admired so much.
“This one please,” Kai asked the stallholder and put his money in his pocket.
“A gift, sir?”
“Aye.”
He thought about the gift. It didn’t matter what happened between him and Ava. She had made up her mind. Her love would be Laird Blair Grant someday, as soon as she could ensnare him enough into offering a proposal of marriage.
Kai thrust the blade at the hay bale once again. He wished it would fight back, that there, in that great hall set up for their sport, the bale would jump to life and be the opponent he truly needed in order to vent some anger. Disappointingly, the bale remained very still.
He lashed out again with the broadsword, delving deep, as if he was running the bale through. Satisfied, he stepped back, breathing heavily.
“Who was yer opponent?”
“In the name of the wee man.” Kai spun around in shock, his heart pounding when he heard Ava’s voice. She stood there in the shadows of the room, her curiosity rolling off her in waves.
“Ye trying tae make me heart stop?”
