She wasn’t wrong. When the dance ended, he didn’t let go of her hand. “Care tae go outside with me, lass?” He wanted to tell her about the conversation he had with Isabel and how she was allowing him to go to Edna for help.
“Aye,” she answered. Together they moved through the crowd and outside, where the revelers had spilled out into the courtyard.
Erik guided Finley away from the crowd and down the path he had walked many times since she had shown him, the shadows covering them. He also chose to walk away from the north side of the keep, not wanting to come across the warrior that Isabel had told him about earlier.
“I talked with Isabel,” he told her softly, tucking her arm in his. Erik found himself nervous to be in her presence now, especially after he had all but admitted he was bothered by her. “She wishes for me tae tell Edna.”
“Good,” Finley answered. “Tis the right thing tae do.”
“Aye, I agree,” he responded. “And I will leave in two days.”
She halted their walk, turning toward him. “Aye, I know that as well.”
He swallowed, barely able to see her face in the shadows. He didn’t want to think about Isabel or him leaving during this time. He wanted to feel Finley’s lips moving over his, giving him the feelings he thought had died off long ago.
“Can I kiss ye, Finley?”
“Aye, Erik,” she whispered. “Kiss me.”
So, he did. Erik reached out and cupped her cheek with his hand, bringing her lips to his and feeling her sigh against them. Unlike other kisses, he took his time, tasting every inch of her lips before getting her to open up under his touch. She tasted of whiskey, and he growled low in his throat as his kiss turned feral, knowing that he would never get enough of Finley.
Her arms wound around his neck and pulled him closer until he was pressing her against the stone wall of the keep, fitting into her soft body.
“Lass,” he gasped, pulling his lips from hers and pressing them to her jawline. “Wot ye do tae me...”
“Erik,” she breathed, her hands running over his shoulders lightly. “I want ye.”
Erik stilled and pulled back to look at her. “Nay, lass,” he said, each word heavy with regret. “I wilnae do such tae ye.” He wasn’t going to leave her touched and subjected to a future without him. He wasn’t going to ruin what should be for her husband if she ever took one.
He respected her far too much.
She bit her lip. “Aye, I understand.”
He framed her face with his hands, hearing the hurt in her voice. “Nay, lass, ye dinnae understand wot I am saying. I want ye so badly I can taste it, but I wilnae ruin ye like that.”
“Can ye not touch me, then?” she whispered. “Please, Erik. I want tae experience that with ye.”
He should walk away. Erik knew that he should press a kiss to her lips and tell her goodbye now. To touch Finley would be both a blessing and a curse, but it wasn’t something he could walk away from. She was asking him, pleading with him, to give her something that only he could give her.
He couldn’t say no. “I will give ye nothing else,” he told her, bracing a hand above her head. “But mah kiss.”
She closed her eyes. “Then I wilnae ask again.”
No, it would never be enough. He would spend the rest of his days thinking of this moment they were sharing and the regrets that he would have. He was not the man she needed. He was broken.
“I’m sorry, lass,” he croaked, moving away from her.
