Page 39 of The Highland Heir

Not just kissing her, but claiming hercompletely.

And damn if she didn’t want to be claimed byKieran Sinclair.

She opened to him, allowing his tongue toslide into her mouth and tangle with hers. That was different fromwhen last they’d kissed. No, everything about this was differentthan the last time. As different as sunrise and sunset. Summer andwinter.

His body was larger than he’d been back then.Of course, she’d known he’d grown into a large man, but she’d notrealized quite how much space he took up until it was her space hewas taking.

She reached up, her hands tangling in hislongish black hair. His large hands spanned her waist, much as theydid when he’d hoisted her into her saddle, but that was differentas well. His hands were higher on her ribs, his thumbs stroked justunder her breasts, and she wanted to move them higher so they couldtouch her where she needed him.

Instead, his hands slid down her back untilthey were over her arse, and then he squeezed and pulled her closerto his body. She felt the hardness of him where his kilt was tentedaway from his legs.

The place between her legs throbbed for him,and she moaned without knowing she was capable of such a wantonsound.

Kieran fairly growled in response, and hislips moved from hers to catch her under her jaw and down her neck.She’d never known she could feel these things. She’d never knownthat spot on her neck was connected to other parts on herbody—parts of her body that seemed to just now come to life. Herbreasts ached for attention, and she worried she would catch onfire, but the only word she could utter was, “Yes.”

But this word seemed to have the oppositeeffect on Kieran. For he pulled away and stared at her, blinkingrapidly. It was as if he only just realized who he had beenkissing. Or mayhap a demon had possessed him and left his bodyabruptly.

“I—I’m sorry, Ella. Forgive me.” He didn’tgive her a chance to say anything in response, he just rushed offinto the trees, leaving her standing there with their horses.

With shaky hands, she reached up to touch herlips where they fairly tingled from his kiss. They felt swollen,but with no pain.

It had been a wonderful kiss. It waseverything she had dreamed of when she’d dreamed of him in her bedat home. Her body reacted in much the same way as it had when she’dwoken frustrated and needy.

Except he was here. Or rather he had been amoment ago.

Knowing Kieran as well as she did, it was nosurprise he had run from her after he’d returned to himself. Hewould never want to hurt her or take advantage of theirfriendship.

But his running away stung, and the longer ittook for him to return, the more irritated she became.

He was ruining this perfect moment. A momentthat seemed inevitable. Something had been growing between themsince the day he’d told her he was to marry. Some fog had beenlifted and the sun had shone directly on their friendship. Withoutthe shadows of their youth, the truth had been exposed openly.

They were friends, yes, but there wassomething else there.

Something wonderful.

Something they couldn’t keep.

Her breath caught and she tried to swallowwhen that bigger piece of the truth fell into place.

*

What had he done? Kieran asked himself thequestion for the sixth time as he trudged along the creek. Itwouldn’t do for him to get himself lost in the forest. Even as muchas he might want to.

He would have to go back. He shouldn’t haveleft her alone even for a moment. Teague would not be pleased forhis poor escort.

Of course, Teague would not be pleased toknow how Kieran had disrespected his daughter.

He let a list of curses fly in English aswell as Gaelic. Some Ella had taught him.

This was exactly what he’d known could nothappen. As much as he’d enjoyed it and would hold the memory of herkiss for the rest of his life, it was wrong of him to take it.

Not when he couldn’t give her everything shedeserved.

This was the worst thing a friend could do.But it was now clear he was no kind of a friend. That knowledgehurt the most. To think he had failed in this as well.

Eventually, he gave up on berating himselfand turned to go back.

He didn’t know what he would say. Ella wouldno doubt want to discuss it so it wasn’t stuck between them, but hewould have to decline. It was too raw.