He was astonished that she would abase herself in this fashion, but it touched him. She was such a tender soul, so kind and...so desirable. He stroked his hand over the top of her shining, flame-colored hair and drew her to her feet.
“If the church let women be priests, Leana,” he remarked, smiling, “you should have been one because you are one of the handful of truly good people I have ever met. I will agree to your suggestion because you have reminded me what a truly fortunate man I am. He can stay in the cell tonight, he has food. I will send men to find the candlestick but I will also send men to feed his family. Then he can work for me and he can feed his family through honest work. Does that make you happy?”
“It does, M’Laird,” she replied, smiling. “An’ noo I must get hame.”
“Stay,” he said suddenly. “Stay for dinner.” He could not let a woman like that go. She was a saint.
Leana stared at him for a moment in astonishment. She was actually being asked to break bread with a laird! She looked down at her grubby dress, which she had not had the chance to change.
“I cannae, M’Laird,” she replied, shaking her head emphatically. “I should get back tae my faither.”
“You can write him a message. I will send a rider with it,” he offered.
She smiled. “Good idea, M’Laird, except we cannae read or write.”
“My messenger can tell him, then.” Fraser persisted. “I will send a meal for Joe too.”
“How will I get home?” she frowned, almost frightened of the answer.
“Stay here. You can stay in one of the bedrooms.” He smiled, but still she hesitated, and he laughed softly. “You really are a very annoying woman. The food is the best, I promise you.” He was aware that he was saying one thing, but his body was saying another. He was becoming aroused just by looking at the soft, slim body in front of him, and for the hundredth time, he wished he knew how it would feel to kiss her.
Leana crossed her arms and studied him for a moment, then she said, “Why, M’Laird? I am just a tenant o’ yours. I am naebody.”
“To say thank you,” he said softly. “For helping me to find my lost treasure, and for teaching me to be a more merciful man.” He was very close to her now, and they could feel the warmth of each other’s bodies.
Leana noticed that his eyes were even darker than usual, the pupils enlarged so that they were almost black. She had found those eyes very frightening at one time, but now they seemed to be warm and even loving.
She dismissed that fantasy at once. This person was a laird and she was the daughter of a tenant. There could never be anything between them, and yet…
“Say yes,” he murmured.
She gave a little laugh, nodded, and playfully pushed him in the chest. He pretended to stagger backwards and she giggled, and there was a moment of pure magic between them where she was just a woman and he was just a man. However, the moment ended as he had to turn to attend to a servant who wanted to speak to him. Fraser swore under his breath.
He quickly organized everything to her comfort and led her into the dining room, where he had spiced mulled wine prepared. He poured some for her and waited while she tasted it.
Leana had never tasted anything so heavenly, and she tipped her head back to enjoy the spicy caramel fruitiness of the wine as it flowed over her palate. It made her whole body tingle with delight, and he noticed that there was gooseflesh on her arms.
When she lowered her head again she beamed at him and licked her lips, and that was the moment when all his good intentions fled. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her with all the pent-up passion he had been keeping in check all day. Her lips were as soft as rose petals and after a moment of resistance, they opened to his in a sensual surrender that threatened to arouse him to the point of no return.
Leana gave a little squeal as she felt herself being pulled into his embrace. She stiffened for a moment, startled, then returned his kiss fervently, feeling his lips, surprisingly soft, caressing hers in a way that was driving her wild with desire. She felt his manhood against her, and involuntarily moved her hips forward to rub herself against it, and was rewarded with a groan of pleasure.
“I am sorry,” he said breathlessly as they drew apart. “I-I could not resist you a moment longer. You are so beautiful.”
Leana had felt strange sensations running through her while he held her; the now familiar wetness and sweet ache in her secret place, and a tingle throughout her whole body that she had never known before. What was happening to her?
She could not look at him for a moment, but when she finally did meet his eyes he looked ashamed. She touched his face and smiled. “I liked it, M’Laird.”
“You are not angry?” he asked in disbelief.
“Ye’d have knawn if I wis!” she laughed, and he joined in.
“After that kiss, I think you had better call me Fraser,” he told her with a wicked grin.
Dinner was a merry, relaxed meal. They swapped stories and found out about each other's lives, and each realized how different their life experiences had been. Fraser found Leana absolutely enchanting, and she kept him laughing till they had finished the last mouthful of cranachan, a dessert made of wild blackberries, toasted oatmeal, and honey. He offered her another glass of mulled wine but she refused, putting a hand over her glass.
“Tryin’ tae get me drunk?” she asked, laughing into his eyes.
He shook his head. “No,” he replied huskily. “But I think I have had too much. Goodnight, Leana.” He kissed her forehead and called a maidservant to show her to her bedroom, then he rushed away before he was tempted to kiss her again.
