“I should kill yer uncle for what he said. Iwantto kill him,” he hissed.
“Ye are… angry,” she noted. “That’s understandable. I’m angry at him, too.”
“I’m nae just angry, I am furious!” he gritted out, his grip tightening on her chin. “Ever since ye came back into me life, it seems like all I can be is fuckin’ furious.”
She slapped his hand away and pushed to her feet. “Is that why ye asked me to stay behind? Just so ye can yell at me? I’ve already apologized a dozen times. If ye want me gone, just say it so we can be done with it!”
“Ye think I want ye gone?” He leaned over her, his face so close that their noses almost touched. “If I wanted ye gone, I would have turned ye away long ago.”
She scoffed. “I daenae understand ye. Ye say all I do is bring out the worst in ye, yet ye still want me around. Why?”
He exhaled, closing his eyes and shaking his head. When he opened them again, the fire had dimmed slightly and was replaced by something different. Something more akin to how he had looked at her that morning in his bedroom, or later that day in the gardens.
“I cannae stop thinking about ye.” His hand cupped the back of her neck. “Even after yer family offended me daughter, even after yer infinite meddling, even after almost costin’ me a war.”
He was so close that she could feel his hot breath against her lips. She didn’t dare move. She couldn’t even breathe.
He bent his head lower and brought his nose to her neck. He breathed in deeply and placed a soft kiss on her clavicle.
“Ye smell like lavender, lass. It’s drivin’ me mad.”
The words burned against her skin, and she instinctively tilted her head for more. She wanted him to kiss her again, to hold her and never let go.
His nose brushed against the nape of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. Flames spread from her stomach, crawling up her chest and through her body.
Her eyes fluttered closed as she gave in to the sensation. There was no one around this time. No servants, no family, no one who could interrupt them. She sighed audibly, the sound turning into a low whine that made his grip tighten.
He brought his face close to hers again. His hand stroked her jaw until his thumb brushed against her bottom lip. She stared up at him through heavy-lidded eyes.
Even in the dim light, she could see his pupils had dilated. The black depths shone with the flickering light of the flame. It was as if her own desire was being reflected back at her.
“Do ye remember all those years ago when ye openly challenged me in those gardens? That was very stupid of ye.” He chuckled, low and rough. “I’ve been thinkin’ about that night ever since ye returned to me. I daenae ken what it is, but I want ye. I want to possess ye. All of ye.”
Then his lips were on hers.
She threw his arms around his neck, while his moved down her back. He kissed her hungrily, tugging at her lips and swallowing her breath so she was left gasping and panting with need. They were pressed as close as they could be, and yet it was not enough for her.
His mouth moved to her jaw, her neck, placing open kisses that left scorching heat in their wake. She moaned, unable to fully express with words how she was feeling. It was too much, and at the same time, it wasn’t enough.
“Finlay,” she whispered breathlessly. “Finlay.”
He pulled back, looking down at her with hazy, clouded eyes. For a moment, she feared he would stop again, just like he had put a stop to all the other times they had gotten close like this. Instead, he flipped her around so that her back was to him and began to loosen the laces of her dress.
His fingers moved with expert precision, and her dress fell away and pooled at her feet, leaving her in nothing but her shift. She looked back over her shoulder at him, and he hooked one finger under her chin as he pressed another kiss to her lips.
“Get on the bed.” He murmured the words against her lips, but she felt the command in them.
She did as she was told, crawling onto the bed obediently. She sat up against the wall and waited for his next order.
“Lie down.” The words came out as a growl, and again, she obeyed.
She spread herself out on the quilt beneath her, her eyes glued to him as he unbuckled his sword belt and set it against the nearby wall. She expected him to start undressing. Instead, when he joined her, he was still fully clothed.
He hovered above her, planting his hands on either side of her head. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion.
“Are ye…” She licked her lips, gathering her thoughts enough so that she could get the question out. “Are ye going to take off yer clothes, too?”
“Nay,” he whispered. “If I do, I willnae be able to stop until I’ve taken ye completely. I still have enough of me wits about me to keep that from happenin’.”
