Page 158 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Then she turned, coyly, but Malcolm sensed she was grinning. Flashing her a look, Malcolm was about to answer, when she pressed her face to him, delivering a deep and unexpected kiss.

Malcolm fell into their embrace and with it, almost straight onto the floor.

"Och!" he moaned, as Ainslee laughed. Finally getting himself upright, she poured him a wee dram, although by that time he had already had way beyond too much.

It did not stop him taking another one, and as the dram went down, Ainslee looked at him keenly.

"Mal, I," she began. But Malcolm did not let her finish. He was suddenly certain of what she was going to say. Taking her hand, he braved himself.

Thinking of the clan ring in his pocket, he summoned together the words to make it right. Inside, his heart pounded. But for the life of him, the words would not come. Instead, the best he could manage was a mumbled, "I ken lassie, an' we will do, soon, as..."

Ainslee smiled, letting him off the hook. Squeezing her hand, Malcolm felt sick with anticipation. He had been building up to this, but suddenly, the moment was gone. How had he managed this?

Instead, Ainslee was watching him with something of concern in her widening eyes. All Malcolm could think was how beautiful she looked, in her simple dress, with her long, dark curls rushing around her face. Out of all the lasses in the clan she was the most graceful - even if she was not the most highborn.

But just thinking about this, brought back the problem - that of his clan.He was expected to wed a noble lass.

Ainslee tugged Malcolm's dark red locks teasingly, and looked at him archly.

"Wheesht! What ails ye? Ye waiting fer me to fall into the arms o' some other lad?"

Fever burst through Malcolm. “Mistress McDonald!" he whispered, mockingly. But inside he was rattled. Her heat radiated through her arisaid. Malcolm felt his heartbeat race. Placing his hand on her knee, he stroked her tenderly.

She moaned, tenderly.

"Och, lassie… How can ye suggest such a wicked thing?” he said, the corners of his mouth turning up. He loved teasing her. The skin beneath his fingers was soft and warm, brimming with barely disguised lust.

Ainslee’s eyes glinted. “Because I am still waiting for ye to make an honest lass o' me?" she suggested, softly, and Malcolm felt himself blush.

"Ach, I ken lass, I ken," he said, eyes darting about. Once again, his fingers went to the dark clan ring in his pocket. This time, he was sure he would find the words.

But just as they were nearly out, Ainslee changed again, this time she was playful.

"But in the meantime, I can think o' something to do...," she brought the tip of her tongue to her teeth, leaving Malcolm in sweats.

Ainslee gave a little giggle, so coy it almost tipped him over the edge. He was close now.

The taste of her kiss still on his lips, Malcolm summoned every drop of self-control he could muster. She shouldn’t tease him like that. He might capitulate.

She smiled again, her brown eyes glinting in the mellow light. Swiftly, Malcolm glanced about. This was madness. They were on their own. He was sure of it. Bringing his arm a little closer to Ainslee, he got comfortable.

Ainslee uncurled a lock of her long, dark hair, and wound it around her ring finger provocatively. Then, she fixed him a look.

Malcolm blushed, and a strange flame shot up in him. He had seen the way that men looked at her, the way his own brother looked at her. But whether they liked it or not, they would be wed.

Holding her hand tenderly, his resolve stiffened.

"Ainslee," he said, his fingers playing around the ring in his pocket. Yet, for some reason, he did not bring it out. Instead, he was trapped in her gaze.

Ainslee's mirrored eyes implored him, crazy emotions ran through him.

"Ainslee, I beseech ye, will ye marry me, lass?"

Malcolm felt himself sweat up and down, even though the snow was set for the night and the great hall was by no means warm. Ainslee's face was impenetrable. It took an age for her to speak at all, by which time, Malcolm had almost expired.

All the same, he kept his demeanor calm.

"Mal, I," she began, as Malcolm's heart almost ripped out of his ribcage. It was a no, he felt sure of it.