Page 21 of Highland Ghost

Chapter Seven

“Ian? Are ye in here?” Caitlin made her way into the stable, feeling a little unsure if she wanted to go anywhere with Ian after he’d tried to deceive her and trick her into marrying him. Still, he’d seemed sincere when he’d apologized. He’d never pushed himself on her, and even managed to keep from touching her in a sexual way after he’d glimpsed her naked body.

She knew he’d wanted her last night. The bulge under his breeches didn’t lie. While she was scared, she was also curious about Ian. He was a handsome man, and she’d felt so safe in his arms. Even when he’d gently touched her cheek earlier, it sent a wave of excitement coursing through her.

“Stop it,” she said to herself, trying to still her lusty thoughts. She had to remember she was no longer marrying him. Not unless she wanted to wind up dead.

“Stop it?” came Ian’s voice from inside a stall. She peered over the top of the stall to see him saddling a horse. “I thought ye agreed to go with me.”

“I wasna talkin’ to ye,” she explained, feeling suddenly embarrassed.

“Is there someone else out there with ye?” He stretched his neck, looking for another person accompanying her.

“Nay, it’s just me.” Caitlin pushed open the stall door, watching him prepare the horse. He looked so masculine. She couldn’t help noticing the muscles in his arms. Why did he have to look so handsome, now that he was no longer going to be her husband? Damn, why couldn’t things be different? Why did there have to be stupid ghosts and a deadly curse? “I thought ye asked me to take a walk with ye,” she said. “Why are ye saddlin’ the horse?”

“I changed my mind. There is a little knoll that is magical and I thought it would be nice to go there. However, it is too far to walk. So we’ll ride instead.” He held out his arm and she stepped forward. Then his hands closed around her waist and, in one movement, he lifted her atop the horse.

“Oh!” she said in surprise, liking the way she felt when Ian touched her. “Is there another horse saddled as well?”

“Nay,” he told her.

“Well, what will ye ride?”

“All we need is one.” He hoisted himself up into the saddle behind her, surprising her once again. His legs cradled her and his body pushed up against hers. She felt the heat inside her already growing. “Dinna worry, I’ll hold on to ye so ye dinna fall.”

He turned the horse and started out of the stable, riding through the courtyard with everyone watching them. She wasn’t sure if she liked it or despised it. She supposed it was a little of both.

Once they were over the drawbridge, he brought the horse to a gallop and they headed down the road and toward a wooded area with a stream running through it.

“It sure is beautiful,” she said, feeling the breeze against her face, and smelling the heather in the fields.

“Aye. Beautiful,” he whispered in her ear, causing her to think he wasn’t talking about the weather. Her hair was tied back with a ribbon, but the ribbon came loose and her long hair blew free in the breeze. “Mmmm, yer hair smells guid,” he mumbled, causing her to look back, seeing that her hair was blowing in his face.

She giggled. “I’m sorry. I should have braided my hair,” she told him. “I didna realize we’d be ridin’.”

“Nay, leave it. I like it loose.” He took one hand and gently brushed her hair behind her ear. Then he nuzzled her neck and, to her surprise, he kissed her gently. She liked it. Her eyes closed slightly and her head fell to the side. “Och, I’m sorry. I didna mean to do that, lass.”

“Oh,” she said, wanting to tell him it was all right, but not wanting to encourage him at the same time. After all, they were no longer getting married. They probably shouldn’t be sitting so close, and certainly shouldn’t be kissing. Still, she couldn’t stop wondering what his lips would taste like against her own.

“We’re here,” he told her after a while, stopping near a little knoll at the bank of the river. The birds chirped happily, and the sun streamed down, warming the earth nicely for so late in the year. He dismounted and reached up, once again wrapping his hands around her waist and lifting her off the horse. She reached out and put her hands on his shoulders as he slid her down his body and placed her on her feet.

“This place does seem magical,” she said, shyly looking up to see his deep blue eyes staring back at her. “What is it?” she asked, quickly looking the other way.

“Hmmm?” he asked.

“Ye’re starin’ at me as if I have somethin’ on my face.”

“Nay,” he said, reaching out and lifting her chin until she was looking directly into his eyes. “I just want to remember how lovely ye are, and how ye were almost my wife.”

“Now, Ian, if ye’re tryin’ to change my mind, it willna work.”

“I assure ye, I am no’ tryin’ to do that. I realize now that I was foolish to even think of riskin’ yer life. Ye are a beautiful person with a guid heart and ye deserve someone so much better than me.”

Now, her heart was aching. She didn’t want him saying things like that.

“Ian, I understand the situation ye’re in, and I feel sorry for ye, honest I do. It’s just that I canna –” She stopped in midsentence as he dipped down and his mouth covered hers. The kiss lingered, and she did nothing to break the connection between them. She liked the taste of his lips against hers. He was so gentle and caring with the way he kissed. It seemed considerate, and . . . loving.

He broke the connection, and ran his thumb over her cheek as he still cradled her face in his big hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldna have done that. I just didna want to die before I kent how it felt to kiss ye, my bonnie lass.”