“Killian, listen to me,” she said, stopping him from saying anything else when she put her hands on his arm. “Our brother died without findin’ a person that made him happy. If she makes ye smile… if she makes yer heart beat faster, and she understands yer struggles, then she might just be what yer heart needs to feel at peace.”
Killian had never thought about Lily like this. As someone who brought him peace.But if he was being honest, then he had to admit that whenever she was around him, it was easy to forget all about his problems.
“I shall see ye later, sister,” he said, smiling at Niamh before he framed her cheeks and kissed her forehead. “I dinnae want to keep Lily waitin’.”
He caught her smile as he turned away from her. “I am sure ye dinnae. Ye will be surprised to see her today. She looks absolutely bonnie. And she was worried about how she looked, too. Dinnae tell her I said that, though.”
Killian released a light chuckle at his sister’s words, then opened his chamber door. Niamh walked behind him, and he had made it to the stairway before Lily came out of her chamber.
The moment he saw her, his breath caught in his throat, and he faltered in his steps. He blinked as his pulse quickened.
He had thought Lily was beautiful before, but seeing her dressed in an earasaid with a full bodice and a low neckline that exposed her creamy skin sent a rush of pulsating energy right through him.
The earasaid’s color matched the vibrant golden rays of sunlight that blessed the skies during the day. It also gave her complexion a lovely hue. Killian loved her in the dress.
The thought of taking off every layer of her clothes to expose the creamy skin beneath crossed his mind and left him reeling on the spot.
“Enjoy yerselves out there,” Niamh said and stifled a giggle as she hurried away from them.
Killian remained rooted to the spot as Lily approached him with uncertain steps. He could tell she lacked confidence in the earasaid. He had never seen her wear one besides a nightdress, and he thought she looked absolutely breathtaking in even that.
Ever since she had arrived, she had dressed in riding habits and trews. Killian did not mind that choice of clothing, but the earasaid brought out her slender curves and made it impossible for him to look away from her. Or resist her. He feared, today, he might not be able to stop himself from wanting more.
More of her taste, more of her pliant body… those lips.
“Ye are bonnie,” he whispered to her and reached out to touch the strands falling to the side of her face. “I love the earasaid.”
Lily’s smile brightened her face. Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks flushed a color that Killian admired.
“Niamh said the dress would suit me. I did not believe her… I am not used to such fine silk.”
“I love it.”
It took sheer effort for Killian to not express just how much he loved it. He wanted to trail his hands down her skirts, lift them up and bury his lips in her core while caressing her thighs.
She made him sick with need. But today was about spending time with her, so he had to keep his hunger under check.
Killian extended a hand to her. “Shall we?”
When she placed hers in his palm, he curled his fingers around her it, wondering how such frail hand could wield a sword perfectly.
They reached the drawbridge and walked down to the stables.
Killian had ordered the stable boy to prepare them a horse earlier that morning, and he intended to ride with her down to the moors.
“What do we need a horse for? I thought we were to stay in the garden?”
He shook his head. “I want to show ye my favorite place. It is a spot that brings me solace whenever I am in dire need of it. Ever since I became laird, I have barely had a moment to myself when I could just relax, read a book, or do anythin’ else I enjoy.”
“Well, today, you get the chance to read anything you want,” Lily said with a wide smile that made him shiver inside.
Killian led his stallion outside, then turned to her again. “All right… let us go,” he murmured some seconds later before he planted his hands on her waist, lifted her off the ground, and placed her on the stallion.
Lily laughed as they rode away, and Killian enjoyed having her close to him. The wind ruffled her hair and brought it closer to his nose. He inhaled her scent and let it wash all over him.
He could sit with her like this forever and not care about anything else. He wished he could spend every day with her like this. It didn’t matter that he had a lot of problems to deal with. Lily made all of them seem like nothing.
When they arrived at the farthest part of the moors, he stopped and helped her dismount.
