Page 78 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

Yet, here she was, staying in Gaie’s cramped cottage with her uptight brother in tow!

Anxiously, Teasag glanced at Neacal. She felt her heart squeeze desperately. The sensation of being so close to him, but unable to touch was killing her.

All she really wanted was to have some time with Neacal, but the way things were going, that didn’t seem very likely!

And from the looks Lorcal was sending them, there was no way he was going to get off their case anytime soon, either! His intent must have been plain to see because when Neacal took her hand again, he measured up to him and looked squarely.

“I can tell ye I’ll take good care o’ her,” Neacal said, steeling his resolve.

He looked Lorcal firmly in the eye.

Her brother eyed him unsurely but then looked rueful.

“Ye better had,” he said, “else ye’ll have more than a murder charge to worry about!”

Three days.

That was how long it took for Lorcal to finally be persuaded it was safe enough to leave them together.

And another two days before Gaie did the same.

It was pretty clear that she had been monitoring them, paying special attention to Teasag. During that time, Teasag had also made some discoveries of her own.

Gaie was more of a sister to Neacal than a friend. Once she had noticed her concern was simply born of protective instincts, she relaxed considerably.

But she couldn’t relax completely.

No matter how much time they spent together, Teasag couldn’t escape the ache in her heart. When Neacal asked her what the matter was, she tried to shrug it off.

“It’s naething,” she said, caressing his hair tenderly. She loved the way it fell softly across his shoulders, just stopping at his collar bone.

It was early evening, and the sun’s rays were just beginning to fade to shadows. The remains of a hurried together meal lay on the table, and for once, Lorcal was out.

Teasag had just been settling down with Neacal, but despite her yearning to take things further, something was rattling in the back of her head, stopping things.

“Well then, I’m gonnae bid ye goodnight,” said Neacal, getting up to give her a soft kiss. “So, are ye coming?” he tempted her.

On his lips, the honeyed smell of mead lingered, filling Teasag with an immediate desire to have her way with him.

Neacal pulled towards her, embracing her softly with his deft fingers. Inside, Teasag felt herself burn and tingle as the passion inside her ratcheted up several notches.

“Touch me,” murmured Neacal, seeming to read Teasag’s mind. She heated up, both inside and out, a hot buzz racing through her from her stomach to her hips.

Flummoxed by her own thoughts, Teasag blushed, “alright,” she said, leaning into his kiss.

With no-one around, Teasag delved into his kiss, his lips teasing her with their softness. And with the scent of his body upon her, he leaned in close, nuzzling.

“So soft,” he said, wrapping his hands around her. The sensation of his skin made her shiver.

All Teasag could think about was melting. Beside her, Neacal gazed with his wide blue eyes. Running her hair through his fingers, he looked at her quizzically.

His smile was doing things to her resolve. But although her body yearned for him, now was not the right time. For a start off, Gaie would be back soon. Conscious of this, Teasag pulled herself up on the cushions she was resting against.

Sensing a change in her mood, Neacal hesitated. “Nae?” he said, but with a smile. Ruefully, Teasag nodded. It was not that she didn’t want to, but there were many things on her mind.

Watching Neacal go, Teasag furrowed her brow, and to process her thoughts, grabbed her scrapbook to start sketching.

Before long, her sheet was filled with a strange scene, depicting Neacal on a horse, his long hair thrashing from side to side.