Lily watched him pace around while she struggled to control her raging hunger. She chewed on her lower lip and lowered her eyes from his.
“Why did ye come to find me?” he asked after a long moment of tense silence passed. “Did ye need somethin’?”
“I just… I…” she stammered. She swallowed hard and then sucked in a deep breath to compose herself. “I wanted to make sure you were all right. I haven’t seen you since we returned from Wehnthor.”
She walked to him, and he backed away from her. His back slammed against the shelves behind him, and some books tumbled to the ground, crashing with a thud.
Lily and Killian reached for them at the same time. Their fingers brushed as they slowly straightened again, both holding the same book. Her throat felt parched, and she released the book to him a moment before she saw the title.
“A poem?” she asked, peering down at it one more time. “I did not know that you read poems.”
“I love books,” Killian told her. “I love art, culture… I used to paint before I became laird. During my travels, I learned a lot about many cultures too.”
“Did you ever go to Asia? Or journey down the famous silk road?” she asked, excited to learn more about his travels.
Killian smiled. “Let me show ye somethin’.” He turned away from her, fished in his collection for one book in particular, and then handed it to her. “It is about the Asian history and culture, written by a famous merchant in their area. Ye should read it.”
“Books do not fascinate me,” Lily admitted, shaking her head, but he took her hand and placed the book there, anyway.
“This one will,” he told her with a smile that reached his eyes.
“Let us read it together, then,” she suggested in an unsure voice, hoping he would not turn her down. “You can read it to me in the garden by the morrow.”
Killian’s lips parted a bit, and she held her breath in anticipation of his response.
“I would love that very much,” he said to her, his smile widening.
Lily smiled back. The fluttery feeling in the pit of her stomach spread to her heart, and she held it there, wanting to feel it the entire night.
The rest of the night after she left his study, she thought of him and what the next day would hold. Spending time alone in the garden meant they would be close to each other for a long time, and she could watch his face, listen to his silky voice, and admire his handsome features.
Her head swooned with excitement as she rolled over to her side of the bed. Her blood hummed the entire night, and her senses stayed heightened because of her churning thoughts.
Do I need to wear a dress or style my hair in some fancy way he would like?
Lily wished she had Amelia with her. Amelia would give good advice.
I can ask Niamh for advice.
Lily chewed on her lower lip as she considered that option. She realized as she lay there that she hoped Killian would find her beautiful tomorrow whilst they were alone together.
And I hope he likes me, too.
There was one insistent, steamy thought on her mind, though, as she tried to settle on what to do tomorrow. She wondered if Killian would finally make love to her.
24
“Ye like the lady, admit it,” Niamh teased the next morning in Killian’s chamber as he buttoned his léine and sat to adjust his brogue.
“We are readin’ a book together,” Killian replied, ignoring her squeals and the teasing laugh that erupted from her. “I mean it. I dinnae plan to do anythin’ else with the lady.”
“Keep lyin’ to yerself,” Niamh countered as she sat on the edge of his bed. “I watched ye two dance in Wehnthor. I see the way ye look at her, Killian. If ye have feelings for the lady, then perhaps ye should tell her? Ye have always provided for us, Killian. It willnae be so bad if ye wanted somethin’ for yerself now.”
“What I want is to make sure all of ye are safe… includin’ Lily. Now that she has sided with us, our enemies have become hers, too. I cannae let her die because of me.”
He got on his feet, and Niamh followed. “But ye can also be happy while ye protect us,” she pointed out.
“Niamh—”
