Her belly fluttered and her pulse quickened at the mere mention.
“Aye?”
“Did you enjoy it?”
She searched his expression for any hint of condescension or jest, but there was none.
“Aye,” she whispered. “I did.”
“Would you let me kiss you again?”
He’d said ’twas too dangerous. And he’d been right. She was an earl’s daughter and meant for a great marriage. She could not give herself over to her desires, just because a man was handsome and a damned fine kisser.
“William, you said earlier that wasn’t a good idea. Have you changed your mind?”
She was aware she’d worded that awkwardly. Did she want to kiss him? Aye, that and more, but she had to be sensible about it. She had a real sense of where it would lead.
“Something has changed, aye.”
“Tell me what has changed.”
He leaned toward her and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “By God, no one has ever captivated me the way you have.”
That wasn’t new; he’d told her that before.
William cupped her face with his hands and touched his nose with hers before holding his lips inches from hers. “Tell me you are as stirred as I am,” he whispered.
There was no doubt about it. “I am.”
“Tell me you want me as much as I want you.”
“I do.”
Her brain would not let her form more flowery words than the simple truth and in that moment, she did not possess the strength to push him away.
His lips crashed into hers unleashing all the pent-up tension within her over the past days and weeks. She curled her arms around his neck and gave over to her body’s craving. She did exactly what she wanted to do and took everything he offered. His hands were in her hair, then on her back pulling her closer so that her breasts were tight to his chest. She could feel his heart beating through his chest. The hard thumping made her nipples tight and hard.
“I have one more question for you,” he said breaking the kiss and holding her head, staring deep into her eyes.
Agnes nodded. Words were not forthcoming.
“Will you be my wife?”
The shock of the words made her breath catch in her throat. His wife? Marriage to him? The most eligible man in Scotland and the one who had just kissed her like she was the last woman in the world?
“William, are you certain?”
“Aye, Agnes. I have never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“Then the only answer I can give you is, aye, William. I will marry you.”
With that he pulled her into his arms and kissed her so profoundly she was sure her grandchildren would feel it. Moments later he pulled away saying something about an early rise and she must be rested. Before she could recall her clan’s motto,Commit thy work to God, she was in her chamber alone and staring at the closed door.
Had that really just happened?
*
William paced ashe waited for his instructions to be carried out. He’d written several letters to be dispatched immediately in several directions including Stirling Castle, Mugdock Castle, and Girnigoe. The last had been the hardest. To ask for what he needed without giving the impression his daughter still held her virtue proved difficult and delicate. In the end he was satisfied with his letter and couldn’t wait to see what the results would be once they arrived.
