Page 69 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

“An’ ye’ll make something o’ yerself, I ken it,” said Neacal, soothingly. He reached out for her hand, this time more confidently than before, stroking it softly. “Yer special, Teasag,” said Neacal, finally taking the initiative and coming over to her and kissing her on the forehead.

Teasag became drawn into his gaze.

“An’ so are ye, Neacal, too good for the life ye lead,” she said, softly. There was sadness in her voice, as she seemed to be debating with herself about what to do next.

“An’… I would really like to finish that sketch o’ ye in proper paints,” here, she pulled away ruefully. “If ye dinnae mind?”

“Mind?” asked Neacal. “No-one’s e’er painted me afore, o’ course I dinnae mind, I’m flattered!” he smiled, and for a moment, Teasag seemed to relax.

Being so close to her without being able to hold her was driving Neacal to the limit. Inside, his heart thundered on, trying its hardest not to implode with the weight of everything that was happening.

“Ye deserve better than this, Neacal,” she said, her forehead drawing into a pensive line. “An’ I think ye can do it, too…”

Neacal’s face shone with excitement. No-one had ever had confidence in him like this before. Leaning into her face, he whispered closely.

“Why dinnae ye show me…?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

N eacal’s warm lips pressed into her own, filling her senses with an unexpected zing. Bursts of pleasure erupted up and down, all through her, as he ran his hands up and down her back.

Quite when they had gone from handholding to kissing, she did not know. All she knew was that the sensation of his skin exploded all over her body, making it quiver in unexpected places.

With her velveteen lips, she drew Neacal in closer, bringing him further and deeper into a kiss.

Inside, she felt her heartrate hasten, both speeding up and then, at odd moments, slowing down again until it settled into a new and different pace. Locked together, Neacal’s scent was upon her, filling her senses.

“Show ye?” Teasag said, coming up for air in between his tight embrace. Ever since he had spoken them, she had wondered about his words. “Ye dinnae need me to show ye what to do,” she said, tilting her head back to get a better look in his eyes.

In the gray light of the morning, his deep blue gaze penetrated her, seeing to the bottom of her heart.

“If ye want me to, I can do it,” said Neacal, without faltering in his gaze. He ran his hands over her shoulders, exciting her senses with his touch.

He looked at her intensely. “I’ve nae said that to anyone else afore, but then, they never thought I was worth anything…,” his lips hovered in front of hers, teasing her with the promise of a kiss. “Maybe I’m nae…”

“Nonsense,” Teasag came over, bringing her own lips around, on top of his. Slowly, she nuzzled against him with a soft but pertinent kiss.

Then, their ardor intensified. The kiss, which had begun soft and gentle, heated to a boil, with both of them clinging crazily to each other.

Above their heads, the sun was beginning to rise, illuminating the whole field with its rays. Slowly, it was starting to look a bit more like summertime. Teasag lay back against the tree, feeling the warmth in her hair, and laughed.

“Neacal,” she sighed.

His touch brushed her skin, setting her senses twitching. Then, Neacal pressed in nearer, his face hovering closer to her lips.

“Aye?” he said, with a quizzical smile that instantly made Teasag want to rip his clothes off.

For a moment, she paused, shocked at her own thoughts. But ever since she had met him, she had been having these visions.

“What?” he whispered, seeing her discomfort. “What is it?”

“We shouldnae,” she said, but in a voice of regret. She brought her hand over to stroke his face and was immediately lost in the beauty of his skin. Curiously, she felt the sheen against her skin. It was so soft, so different from any man’s she had known before.

“Ye dinnae want to?” said Neacal, concern coming into his eyes. He looked disappointed but seemed to be trying to hide it. Teasag’s heart gave a leap.

“Nae, I want to, very much,” she said, laying her hands upon his upper torso. For now, his plaid was still in place, but all she could think about was removing it. Despite her words, Teasag felt her fingers explore his chest, stroking and caressing him, unable to stop.

Teasag’s heart was in palpitations, and the nearer she got to him, the worse it was. How had this happened to her? She had always been skeptical that love and passion actually existed.