Page 38 of Betrayed by His Highland Wife

"Braw," said William, leading her away. "I wanted to show ye this."

Taking her by the hand, William led her away. In the dark, it was not easy to say exactly where they went. She knew it was around the back of the castle and that they went past the window to the great hall. But after that, she was lost.

Glancing around, Nora noticed the nighttime. Somehow, it suddenly seemed a whole lot darker than before. Tightening her grip on William's hand, she drew closer. A sensual chill ran through the air, making her shiver. When she looked around, she realized her cloak was still indoors.

"Here," said William, apparently hearing her thoughts. "Ye look cold."

He removed the cloak from his shoulders, covering it to rest on her own. The soft plaid wool fell on her arms, trapping the heat.

"Thank ye," she murmured, feeling warm. A freshness in the atmosphere reinvigorated her. Once again, she felt energized.

"Nearly there," said William mysteriously, leading her by the hand.

It was so dark that she could not see anything. The ground beneath her feet crackled and crunched. They appeared to have come off the loose pathway and were straddling a section of what felt like open grass.

Above her head, the full force of the night sky drew her breath.

"Wheesht," she hushed, looking up to the constellation above. For a moment, their talk was halted as they simply stared. The heavens had found them, twinkling in the night sky. Suddenly, it seemed as if every star in the universe was shining down on them, and Nora was genuinely breathless.

"Aye, it's braw," said William, his grip on her increasing. Nora felt a sudden desire to take him, hold him near. She shivered again, but this time not because she was cold.

"Here…" He pressed his hands into hers, harder this time, giving them a squeeze. There was silence between them; then, with no words, he leaned over, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

As soon as he had, there was no holding her. She did not give him a chance to wait and immediately kissed him too—harder. The kiss was sensual, firm, and deep.

Looking at William's face, Nora panicked. He just stared. William's eyes blinked unsurely at the aftermath of their kiss. Fearing he had changed his mind, Nora waited.

"I didnae mean to… I'm sorry," she blurted.

William just gazed at her. "I'm nae," he said, finally, taking her chin in his hands and pulling her close, delivering a kiss to shock her senses.

William…

She felt it in her extremities, a deep current stirring all through her. He kissed her again. This time it was slow and sensuous. Nora moaned; she was not used to this level of passion. But he just smiled and held her tight.

The touch of his skin, the feel of him there beside her, it all too quickly overwhelmed her. But Nora did not move away. Inside, her senses soaked it all, his embrace giving her the rush she had been craving.

A sweet breeze came from somewhere, ruffling his hair up high. Quizzically, she caressed him, stroking his hair, enjoying the feel of it between her hands.

"Braw," she murmured, as her fingers ran along his head. William seemed to tremble, as if her touch had unsettled him. But from the wicked grin running along his face, it had done the opposite.

Emboldened, William took her, this time head back, kissing her sublimely on the neck. Nora almost squealed. A rush as hard as the tide took her, leaving her aching and weak. Every part of her wanted to lie with him, run her hands all over him, holding him tight.

His hands ran all over her, gliding up and down her back and thighs. As a warm glow enveloped her, parts of her tingled that she did not even know she had.

"Nora, I—" His voice tapered off.

Suddenly, William looked uncertain. Nora watched his face. The trace of his fingers still upon her, she longed once more to taste his kiss. Her heart flinched. Surely, he was full of regret? Concerned, she watched him.

William grinned. Whatever he had been about to say was jettisoned in favor of action. Once again, he brought her near, his rose-colored lips hovering right in front of hers. The teasing grin said it all. Nora would not resist. Stroking her hair, he looked at her fully.

"I-I want to do that again. What do ye say?"

1 vomit, retch

11

The words he did not say swirled in his head. Taking her in his hands, William fell deeper into the kiss. She had kissed him back; that was all he could think. And instinctively, it took him deeper.