“It is important for ye to feel at ease,” he teased, loving the way she blushed more and more with each passing second. “Tell me yer final, most important condition, Keira.”
He loved the way her name sounded on his lips. Each syllable of her name was a melody that resonated with warmth, with a promise of something forbidden, something he could not wait to find out. He savored the sound, letting it linger in the air between them like a sweet note of music.
“During those two weeks, we won’t do anything only married couples do,” she clarified, much to his disappointment. In fact, he could barely hide it. “So? Do we have a deal, Laird MacCurtney?”
“I’m Laird MacCurtney again?” he couldn’t help but ask her playfully.
“You are until you agree to my conditions,” she replied, with a hint of a smile that danced on the corners of her lips.
“So be it, then,” he finally acquiesced. “I accept yer conditions.”
Not all of them, though.
But that would be a bridge he would cross later. However, she seemed to have been able to read his mind.
“All of them?” she pressed.
He rolled his eyes. “All of them,” he agreed, nodding.
Again, he accepted all of her conditions, although he did not really agree with the last one. Still, she was coming with him, and that was enough, for now. He had two weeks to see where this would lead them. He could not wait to have her all to himself.
“If that is all, I advise you to speak to yer friends and let them ken of yer change of plans,” he pointed out. “We shall start late in the afternoon.”
“Is your home far away?” she asked.
“No,” he responded. “I just dinnae wish to travel in the dark, unless I have to.”
“Are you afraid?” she asked, and he knew what she was trying to do.
He took a step closer to her, their lips almost touching. The fragrance emanating from her was intoxicating. She was tryingto regain control of the situation, but he was more than happy to remind her who was truly in control.
“Do I look like I’m afraid, lass?” he murmured, leaning even closer.
He knew that it looked as if he would kiss her right then and there, but that was a pleasure he wanted to reserve for a more special occasion, where he would have more time to not only savor the moment but turn it into something more.
“No, I just…” she started, but she had no words to finish. He liked that.
“While ye are with me, ye are under me protection,” he explained. “I will keep ye safe.”
But not from meself.
She took a quick step back, regaining her composure. “I can keep myself safe, thank you.”
“It is obvious ye are from the city, lass,” he pointed out. “Ye dinnae ken what danger looms in the Scottish Highlands after dark.”
She didn’t say anything to that. She merely lifted her turned-up nose a little higher and pursed her luscious lips at him. “I will go speak to my friends, then.”
“Ye do that.” He grinned.
She headed for the door, but the moment she was about to turn the knob, he added, “Dinnae be late, lass.”
She didn’t dignify him with an answer. Instead, she rushed outside, closing the door behind her, leaving him to the amusement of his thoughts of the upcoming two weeks.
Aye, the Scottish Highlands are indeed a dangerous place, lass.
He smirked, still gazing at the door.
But the danger is closer than ye think.
