“Would you like to take a closer look?”
She turned her head toward him as he leaned down closer to her. Their horses were side by side allowing him to hold his face just inches from hers. He had full control over his horse to remain steady, and he would with hers as well if need be.
This moment would tell him everything he needed to know about her desires, and he was already well on his way to knowing the truth of it as her breathing became ragged.
“Agnes,” he whispered. “You are so beautiful.”
“I—”
“May I kiss you?”
She swallowed hard and in a small voice said, “Aye.”
He brushed his lips across hers as he reached one hand up to stroke the tender skin below her ear. He then held the back of her neck and drew her into a deeper kiss, parting her lips and tasting her sweetness. When she returned the kiss matching his movements, he sought her tongue. By God, she must be an enchantress come to drive him mad with desire.
When their tongues met and danced, she groaned in her throat. It was too much. He could not lay a finger on her and then not have her. He pulled back and stared hard into her eyes. There was more desire there than he’d ever seen in a woman’s eyes before.
“Agnes,” he whispered again. “I cannot resist you. I want you so badly. Forgive me, but I cannot kiss you like that again. It is too powerful, and I will not be able to stop from pleasuring you until you scream my name and beg for release.”
He was well aware how he sounded, but he couldn’t do this to himself or to her. She was a lady and as such deserved to be treated with respect and protected. Not taken advantage of on adeserted road with no one to intercept and intervene. He was her protecter. Who would save her from him?
Ages straightened up and touched her lips. “But what if I want you to kiss me?”
“You cannot say that, Agnes. I only have so much self-control.”
Did she not understand what was at stake?
After a few moments, she pulled away from him, adjusted herself, and trotted ahead. He sat back and raked his hand through his hair then scraped his hand down across his face. Christ’s teeth, he’d made a mess of it. Just when he had broken through and gotten onto common ground with her, he had to take it to a level from which they could not return. What was done could not be undone.
William rode behind her and matched her speed when she wanted to gallop and when she wanted to trot. Thankfully the guards had been keeping a good distance ahead and behind them and would not have seen anything.
They rode in silence for the remainder of the journey to Inverness. He’d had a long-running understanding with the Gordon of Inverness Castle, that he would find lodgings there at any time required or desired. The same arrangement was reciprocated as both clans were well favored with one another.
By his estimation, they would reach the castle before sundown, and from there they would break a meal together. Then they would not have to see one another again until the next day. He would give her all the space she desired, but he would know her whereabouts at all times. He’d promised to protect her, and that’s exactly what he intended to do, even if it meant keeping her at arm’s length.
Or…
He could do the right thing and ask for her hand. There had never been, and would never be another woman he desiredmore, so why did he hesitate? He could think of no good reason. And once he’d come to that realization, his entire outlook changed. He could see them at Mugdock Castle, loving one another and raising a family together. She would be the addition he’d always dreamed of. The more he thought of it, the lighter his heart lifted than it had been for a long time.
Now he needed to formulate a plan and explore the perfect moment to execute it. He would ask her, but he couldn’t formally announce anything until he spoke with her father. There needn’t be any reason for anyone to question propriety on either of their part.
Aye, he would make her his. Every part of that made him want to gallop up to her, lift her onto his saddle, and never let her go again. He decided he would do at least the first part and took off to catch up with her. Once she realized he was galloping hard toward her, she took off and it was a while before he actually caught up. By the time he did, she’d slowed to a trot and frowned.
“Have you gone mad in the head?” she asked.
“I have finally found clarity, Agnes.”
“Then I suggest you use it to fuel your common sense. You could have spooked her and harmed me.”
Put like that, he did realize he was a wee bit overzealous, but he couldn’t help himself. He smiled broadly at her, “I do apologize, my lady. I did not mean to spook your horse or startle you. I had a sudden need to be near you.”
She shook her head and turned back to look at the road ahead. From his vantage point, he was intently aware of a small smile resting on her lips. And he intended to keep it there.
Chapter Eight
The man hadclearly lost his wits. And the range of emotions over the past few hours were inexplicable. She much preferred the smiling, lighthearted William who rode alongside her now to the brooding one from earlier. What had brought about all these changes in him she could not say as she had been exploring her own thoughts and feelings.
The kiss had been anticipated but nothing could have prepared her for the feelings he’d stirred in her. She’d felt desire for him, but this was so much more. No silk shift could produce this tingling and ache from deep within her as though she craved something she did not yet understand, leaving her unfulfilled and wanting more.
