Page 42 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

Unfurling them carefully, she brought them to him. Silently, he looked at them, Teasag tensing slightly as he did.

“That one was my friend, Caitriona, noo the lairdess McCallum…,” said Teasag, indicating one of her sketches. “An’ the other, there, that was just the view from my window in the keep…”

Neacal turned to look at her thoughtfully, casting aside his earlier frivolity. “There are braw, Teasag, really. Ye have got to do this, lassie, yer really good!”

“Really?” said Teasag, suddenly speechless. It was as if something had caught in her throat, making words impossible. “They’re alright, I suppose…”

“No, they’re more than alright, ye’ve got to do this, lass, when ye get back to toon…,” his words hung in the air as he caught Teasag’s eye.

By toon, Teasag was guessing that he actually meant Blackness. However, this was the first time he’d referred to it in such a familiar way.

Slowly, she pulled her brow into a frown. Blackness was not a large town, and although she had been away for many years, wondered if she had known him in the past.

But all that was forgotten, in the next gesture, as Neacal came closer, bringing his face nearer again. Inside, Teasag felt her heart pumping loudly. Surely he could hear it? It was so loud it was ridiculous.

For one minute, she thought he was going to laugh or even brush a hair from her face. But he didn’t. Instead, he turned to her and planted a kiss on her lips.

Shocked, Teasag almost recoiled but then stopped. Tenderly, Neacal’s lips entwined with her own, bringing his fingers around her back to nestle at her waist. The sensation of his touch, both on her face and midriff, caused a strange heat to simmer.

Teasag could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as Neacal pulled her closer, pressing his lips on hers and kissing her deeply.

Nothing was rushed about it, nor did it seem forceful… just a pure kiss, from nowhere.

Smiling, Neacal pulled away from her again, waiting for her reaction.

Teasag gazed up at him, too amazed to speak. Instead, she took his hand and, placing her palm in his, led him to the brown mare waiting patiently.

Had he blown it? Neacal’s heart was thumping heavily, skipping the occasional beat as he plundered Teasag’s sweet lips.

The sensation of her candy mouth curling around his own made him tremble in the pit of his stomach. Such a thrill coursed through him that Neacal thought he had been struck by a bolt from above.

It wouldn’t have surprised him if he had been smote for daring to touch someone as pure as Teasag. It had to be said, even approaching her made him feel nervous.

“Well?” enquired Neacal, his eyes pressing into hers. Teasag was shying away, and Neacal worried that he’d gone too far. Maybe he scared her off. Worse still, perhaps she hadn’t wanted to kiss him in the first place.

He kept looking into her eyes, but she darted them away - trying to avoid him. Inside, Neacal was crushed. This was bad.

Tentatively, he rocked back in an attempt to stand, but with the marshy field, almost fell into one of the ditches and had to make a mad clutch at Teasag to stop him from falling.

Great. So now he was pulling her into ditches too. Immediately, the pair of them almost toppled on top of each other, with Neacal trying his hardest to help them up.

“Sorry,” said Neacal, clutching at Teasag and attempting to pull her to her feet. “As if it’s nae bad enough, I nearly pulled ye over too; I’m so sorry…”

Neacal had just about straightened himself and helped Teasag to her feet. He was about to retreat a little from her and try and mend his wounded pride when she came forward.

“I’m nae,” she said, bringing her porcelain white face over to his. Unsure, she dipped her head, revealing her topaz blue gaze. Teasag’s eyes glistened at him mischievously.

“What?” said Neacal, caught off guard. All of a sudden, he wasn’t too sure that he knew what was going on anymore. One minute he was in a kiss; then, they were both in a ditch. And now, Teasag was looking at him strangely.

Paranoia hit him from nowhere. Was she going to hit him? Did his breath smell? Had she figured him out? Was his loot still safe in his knapsack?

But all Neacal’s cares faded in a blink as Teasag hovered over him, her honey-sweet scent immersing him. It was as if he could taste her still on his lips.

“I’m nae sorry,” said Teasag, with just the faintest hint of a smile. Neacal’s heart went into overdrive.

She wasn’t going to, was she? Neacal thought, his breath coming fast. Before he had a chance to think, Teasag’s lips were on his, locking onto him with a simple yet divine kiss.

Sweetness poured down from every angle. The softness of her lips, gliding against his, begged his senses for more. Inside, Neacal ached, feeling both desperate to have her but also wishing to take his time. However, as abruptly as it had begun, Teasag stopped and almost ran across to the brown mare.