Page 48 of Highland Flame

“I’ll do it,” he said, eager to show her how much he’d learned. He took the knife from her, meaning to lop off the bottom ends of the candles, but she stopped him.

“Wait. Ye dinna want to slice it, ye need to gently roll the candle and let the blade do the work.” She took his hand again to demonstrate. With the feel of her touch, the candle was the last thing on his mind. Her body was pressed up to him, causing him to become warm. Her sweet scent filled his senses, making him want to kiss her again.

“Now, we’ll let them harden for a day, and then they’ll be ready to ship to our customers.” She held up the dual candles and smiled. “Before we bring them to market, or make a delivery, we’ll cut the candles apart and trim the wicks on an angle. So, what do ye think?”

She was still smiling at the candles she dangled before him, but his eyes were on her.

“I think I want to kiss ye and make love with ye again.” Slipping his arms around her waist, he pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. She held the candles out to the side.

“Cam,” she said, breaking away. “I’m sorry, but this process is time sensitive. If the wax is too cold or too hot, it makes all the difference in the world. Plus, we need to be careful that the candles dry properly and dinna crack.” She walked over to the drying rack and hung the tapers back up.

“Well, we wouldna want that to happen, would we?” Cam walked up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders, kissing the side of her neck.

“Cam, didna ye hear the church bells ringin’?” Nash walked in with North, both of them stopping in their tracks when they saw him.

“No’ this again,” grumbled North.

“We’re makin’ candles,” said Cam, over his shoulder. His hands were still on Yvaine.

“So, is that what ye’re callin’ it now?” Nash glared at him.

“What do ye two want?” asked Cam.

“Brathair Gillies said ye havena attended a single prayer service yet today. He wants ye to attend vespers and compline both,” North announced.

Cam let out a sigh, tired of going to church. “I’ll be glad when this punishment is over.” He started for the door.

“It doesna look like much of a punishment to me,” said Nash, his eyes still on Yvaine.

“Aye. Makin’ candles and kissin’ lassies sounds better than plowin’ fields all day, which is what we’ve been doin,” agreed his brother.

“Have ye two seen Avianca lately?” asked Yvaine, dipping some more candles. “She hasna been up here and I wonder what she is up to.”

“She’s with Sister Edna in the kitchen,” said Nash. “The girl wanted to see how the monks made bread.”

“Mayhap I’ll stop by the kitchen after the prayers and check out the bread as well,” said Cam.

“Cam, ye do ken that there are no more meals before mornin’,” Yvaine reminded him.

“I’m hungry,” he said, looking over his shoulder as he walked out the door. “Hungry for more than just bread and ale,” he mumbled under his breath, taking one last look at Yvaine, not able to get the memories of their love making out of his mind.