Aiden sat in a large steaming tub, arms draped over the sides, bare chest visible. His muscles swelled, flexing with every small movement. Droplets of water trickled down taut, warm-looking skin. She imagined what it would feel like to place her palm on his chest, feeling his heartbeat thrum under her touch.
Her mouth had gone dry. She swallowed thickly, trying to force some moisture down her throat.
Snap out of it, lass!
Blinking, she breathed in deeply, trying to push away the hot desire churning in her gut. It steadfastly refused to go away.
He turned his head and saw her. “Oh. Ye’re early,” he said casually. “That eager to see me again, are ye?”
She immediately busied herself with drawing the whiskey bottle from her satchel, trying to hide the blush that was rapidly blooming across her face. “Daenae flatter yerself, Me Laird. This is business.”
She placed the bottle on the small table beside her and tried desperately not to look as flustered as she was.
I daenae think he’s falling for it.
“Sit.” He gestured to a chair by the tub. “Tell me about yer village. How are the new plants doing? Are people doing better?”
Hannah swallowed thickly again. “Perhaps we could discuss that when ye’re fully dressed.”
He grinned at her. She didn’t return the smile this time. “Why is that,brèagha? Can ye nae focus? Have ye perhaps been thinking of me the way I’ve been thinking of ye?”
He moved to stand up, sending water sloshing over the rim, and she squeezed her eyes shut. “Ye’ve been thinking of me? What does that mean?”
She heard him chuckling and more water sloshing, then the rustling of fabric. “Ye can look now, lass. It’s safe.”
Hannah peeked with one eye and then opened the other. He wore his léine, which fell below his knees and at least left him decent, even if it stuck in some places. He was also much closer than she’d thought.
She instinctively backed away.
“Now, tell me.” He continued to approach. “Did ye miss me?”
Her back hit the wall and startled a squeak from her. His arms rose to cage her in place.
“Why would I miss ye?” she shot back, ducking out from under his arms. Or trying to. He caught her and put her right back where she was.
“Ye daenae feel it?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Feel what? I’m just a purveyor of whiskey.”
He chuckled. “Like hell ye are.”
Hannah looked up at him in shock. “Watch yer mouth.”
That made him laugh harder, and he curled his hands around her shoulders to hold her in place. “Ye’re going to tell me what to do?” he asked, with bemusement on his face.
“Aye.”
“That may be too bold of ye, lass.”
“I’m nae afraid of ye.” Her voice only trembled a little now.
He took a slow step forward, then another, moving as smoothly as a wolf stalking its prey. “Oh, ye should be.”
His fingertips brushed her throat. She swallowed reflexively, sure he felt the movement. His warm hand curled around the back of her neck and pulled her close.
His lips crashed onto hers with sudden fierceness, startling a small sound from the back of her throat. Surprise shot through her, battling with an overwhelmingwant.
Had she been fighting this feeling? She thought so, but why? It didn’t make sense now, none of it.
