“Here ye are.” His sexy smile played with her nerves like a kiss as he handed her a glass of wine.
She swirled the liquid in her glass and then took a small sip. The tangy ambrosia warmed her throat and belly.
“Thank you, Don.”
He looked at her thoughtfully, his gaze narrowing. “What is it?”
“We need to talk.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “We need to talk about us, what we’re going to do.”
“Aye, I know. I hoped we wouldna have to.” His hand cupped her face, and he kissed her softly on the lips.
“Do you have a family missing you?” She hadn’t asked before, hoping, no praying, he didn’t have a wife in 1647.
“I have my clan and my brother.” His face turned sullen. “My betrothed died three years ago of fever, and I have no children.”
He could still see her pale face, fever-bright, whispering his name before the light left her eyes. He’d sworn never to love again—it made men weak, made them careless. But Lainie’s touch made him believe strength might look different from what he’d been taught.
“Oh, Don, I am so sorry.”
“Dinna worry, Lainie, lass.” He stroked her cheek. “I loved her deeply, but she was in so much pain at the end… I couldna ask her to stay, so I watched the verra last of her breath afore she was gone.”
Lainie’s heart ached for his loss. “How come you haven’t married since?”
Donnel looked away, as if the actual reason was too hard to say aloud. “There has been much going on with my clan. Warring with the MacRaes takes a lot of energy. I didna have the time to find another wife. Nor did I want another.”
Lainie set her wine glass down and snuggled closer to him. Being in his arms was incredibly comfortable, and she wished he could stay with her here… but she was also aware that any sort of relationship would impede her career plans. She frowned to herself. She was such a workaholic.
“Do ye have a family?”
She could sense the tension in his voice; she knew he must have feared the answer as much as she had feared his. “Just my sisters and my parents.”
“Why aren’t ye married?”
“I work a lot, and with my work, I travel all the time. I’ve never wanted to put a man through that. It would be too hard. Unless, of course, the man had enough money to live off of, and he didn’t have to work, then he could just come along with me,” she said jokingly.
“Hmm…your customs are much different than ours. ‘Tis verra strange to me, that ye work and travel on your own.” His fingers lightly stroked her back. Lainie shuddered at the sensitive feelings his touch elicited.
“Yes, our times are much different.”
“Lainie, ye know I canna stay.” His fingers massaged little circles in the small of her back, as his lips tenderly kissed her cheeks and then her neck. Gooseflesh covered her skin, and her nipples hardened against the fabric of her shirt.
“I know.” She closed her eyes, letting her body sink into the pleasures he opened for her. Suddenly, a thought popped into her mind. “The lady I bought the box from told me a riddle when I left, but I didn’t understand,” she whispered.
Why hadn’t she recalled the woman’s words before now? Lainie felt like an idiot; she was sure this was what they’d been looking for. Perhaps part of her subconsciously needed this time with Donell.
“What was it?” He nuzzled her ear, nibbling a lobe.
“When what’s inside must go and hide, tap it thrice and wave goodbye.” She tilted her head to give him better access.
“What does it mean?”
“I don’t know.” Lainie shifted so she leaned against him, chest to chest. She kissed his collarbone, smiling when he inhaled sharply.
Donell tipped her chin up, brushing his mouth against hers. She let her tongue tease his lips, tasting the wine he’d sipped. The wind howled outside. The fire inside flickered and crackled. Her body thrummed from his ministrations. Donell captured her tongue lightly with his teeth, sucking it into his mouth. They kissed leisurely, just tasting and feeling each other. When they parted, both were panting, their eyes heavily lidded. Their passion was strong, and when they drank from the wine that was each other, it intoxicated them both.
Lainie wanted to make love to Donell so badly, but she knew they needed to figure this out. Putting off the inevitable would only make the heartache stronger. Donell must have sensed her thoughts as his gaze lingered on hers, his own pain reflected in his eyes.
“What were ye doin’ when I appeared?” Donell asked.
