Page 26 of Highlander’s Evil Side

Beitris shook her head, holding up a hand as she continued to laugh. Fraser frowned, placing his hands on his hips as he watched her gasp and try to calm her breath. Yet, every time she met Fraser’s gaze, she burst into another fit of giggles. His bride was clearly the maddest woman he had ever met.

“I don’t see what’s so amusing,” Fraser said sternly. “I know ye may care for Laird Hendry deeply, but I hope we may be able to be friendly with one another.”

“Care deeply?” Beitris gasped. “For Laird Hendry?” She threw back her head, another chortle escaping her lips. “I have never in my life heard something so amusing.”

Fraser’s frown deepened. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Beitris inhaled deeply, gaining her breath. Her hand held her stomach, and she pushed her hair away from her face, her eyes still watering with tears as she said, “I have never been in love with Hendry. Hendry,” she waved a hand, her brows tenting as she searched for the words, “he was a dear childhood friend. Naething more.”

“O-oh,” Fraser breathed. “But I thought—”

Beitris shook her head. “Our parents wanted us to wed when we were young, but I never loved him. Even as we grew older, I saw him more like a loving brother than a man. I was happy when he found his love.”

The tension in Fraser’s shoulders eased, and he felt the jealousy disappear and be replaced with something else. He felt relieved, happy even, to know Beitris hadn’t been in love with Hendry Dunbar, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have any other suitors.

“Was there another man?” Fraser asked quickly, releasing a breath when Beitris shook her head.

“Nae, nae one.”

“And what of the man who kissed ye?” Fraser frowned when terror sparked in Beitris’s gaze, and her breath hitched. He hated seeing her this way, hated how she took a step away from him as if she was reliving the experience all over again. “We don’t need to speak of it. I apologize if I am making ye uncomfortable again.”

“Nae.” Beitris shook her head, grabbing her shoes from the ground and stepping past him. She moved purposefully towards the large stones near the cascading water.

Fraser followed her, feeling uneasiness clawing at his back, wondering how to fix this so he may see her smile again. She sat at the edge of the rock, her feet hanging over the edge, kicking back and forth while she gazed down into her lap. Fraser lowered himself next to her, watching as she wrung her hands, her gaze looking distant as if she was trapped within memories.

“What is it?” Fraser asked, touching her shoulder lightly.

His breath hitched when she leaned into his touch. Boldness took hold of him, and his arm slid over her shoulders. He watched her, wide-eyed and waiting for her to shove him away, but instead, she rested her head against his shoulders, making heat flood through him.

“The man looked like ye,” she whispered, “but I know now, yer not him. Yer too kind to be him. He was forceful; he would not stop, even when I tried to push him away.”

Fraser frowned, his hands fisting as anger took hold, boiling inside him. How could anyone treat a lady so cruelly? He heard of men taking advantage of women, thinking they were better and women were weak. Fraser always tried to be the better man, always tried to help women in need when faced with such a difficult situation, but sometimes, good men could not be found everywhere.

“Did he do anything else to ye? Did he—”

The shake of her head gave him pause, yet her face flushed. She winced and pulled away from him, her voice becoming softer. He leaned in, unable to make out the words.

“What did ye say?” Fraser hoped he wasn’t pushing too much. He wanted her to feel at ease around him; he wanted her to trust him, speaking with him whenever she needed and about whatever she wanted.

Beitris heaved a sigh before saying, louder this time, “It was my first kiss.” Her eyes clamped closed, her face growing redder.

Fraser stared down at her, not knowing what to say.

“He took my first kiss.” Beitris wrenched away from him. “And I did not want it so. It was forcefully taken from me, and I had nae say in the matter.” Her eyes opened, and Fraser’s heart twinged at the tears glimmering in her gaze. One tear fell, slipping down her cheek. Fraser reached for it, caressing it away. Beitris’s eyes widened, her breath becoming unsteady.

“I hate to see ye cry,” Fraser whispered, knowing it wasn’t a good enough excuse for touching her, but it was the truth. He hated seeing her like this, hated knowing someone had done something so brutish to her. “Ye deserve to have a proper first kiss.”

Beitris sniffed. Fraser realized his hand was still on her cheek, caressing her. He told himself to pull away, to stop, but Beitris leaned into his hand, making it impossible for him to move away from her.

“Ye deserve to be treated gently,” he breathed. He didn’t know what he was doing. His heart pounded in his ears, his insides fluttering with desire. “Ye deserve to be kissed softly.” Fraser’s gaze dipped to her lips, watching them part. “To feel wanted and needed and loved, to feel joy knowing someone cares for ye.” His tongue darted out, moistening his bottom lip as he hovered above her, stroking her cheek, her neck, her hair. Her skin was so smooth and soft. He didn’t think he could ever get enough of it. “It should never be forced.”

Beitris leaned towards him, her eyes blinking innocently up at him and sending pleasurable shudders running up and down his spine. Her hand lightly touched his, moving it to cradle the back of her neck. Fraser gasped, her nose lightly nuzzling his as she whispered, “Can ye show me?”

Fraser released a shuddering breath, closing the distance between them and pressing his lips against hers. His hand stroked her neck, his other sliding up to caress her cheek. She whimpered, leaning into his touch. The mere sound of her voice urged him, stoked the fires burning within him, demanding he be more bold. His mouth opened, his tongue sliding against her lips. She gasped, and his tongue entered her, sliding against her, slow and languid. Her body relaxed into his hold, and within seconds she was kissing him back, her hands touching his arms, his face, his hair. She explored his body as she kissed him, and Fraser didn’t think he could ever muster the strength to pull away from her.

Beitris had captured him: heart, body, and soul.

Fraser wanted more, needed more.