Page 23 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“Fine, I accept. Thank ye.” She turned her back to him, ready for his assistance. When he first touched the laces, she was startled at the gentleness of his touch. She wondered if he undressed all his lovers so. As he tightened the gown around her waist, his firm pull elicited oddly exciting sensations within her.

Or perhaps he has a firm touch? Maybe he is a strong lover.

Scarlett shivered at the idea and barely managed to hold still while he worked. He was partly finished lacing her gown when he stopped.

“Is something wrong?” Scarlett asked.

“I merely admire beauty like fine wine.”

“Oh!”

“Aye, calm yer blood,” he chuckled. His voice was velvety in her ear, and she found she couldn’t move away as he moved closer. “I’m a man. Forgive me, but I would have tae be blind nae tae admire ye in this moment.” He threaded another lace through the silken brocade. As he did so, his fingers brushed her back. Her breath hitched, startled at his touch, but she remained still. “Ye have me curious,” he murmured.

“About?”

“How much ye ken of what happens between a man and a woman.”

“Ha!” She threw her head back and laughed indulgently. “Believe me, I ken many things, my laird. Even if I didnae ken much of it, walking in on ye just now would have offered a few clues.” The tavern had been an unfriendly place to learn of such things. Most of the time, she rejected the idea of pleasure completely, letting no man close enough to touch her.

Noah’s was the closest touch she’d ever felt.

The laird tightened the final laces at her waist.

“I said ye can call me by my name. It’s Noah,” he whispered, moving his lips near her ear. When he came that close, Scarlett forgot everything. Somehow, she neglected to think of his mistress, of how he had barged into her room, even their argument. She thought only of the attraction, the tension between them.

“Noah.” She tried his name out, rather surprised at how it easily rolled off her tongue. At the sound of his name, he moved closer and brushed his lips across the back of her neck, not quite a kiss, but a tantalizing hint of what could be.

“We shouldnae do this,” she whispered.

“Yet here we are.”

“A minute ago, ye were yelling at me, my laird.”

“Noah,” he reminded her firmly.

“Noah.” The way she stressed his name urged him to move his lips, finally kissing her. A brief nip of his teeth, a hint of what was to come, and a rush of pleasure shot through her. Despite the rational voice in her head telling her to leave, her body defied her and stayed put.

“Aye, but ye and I cannae deny that there is heat between us, as well as argument,” he whispered, moving his lips up her neck until he found a spot under her ear. “Tip yer head.” Strangely, she obeyed. It gave him better access and he kissed a sweet spot at the back of her neck.

Abruptly, she sat up straight. “I dinnae obey orders.”

“Ye were tempted tae, and ye did for a minute,” he whispered. She looked at him as his hands lowered from her gown and his lips moved away from her neck.

“There, I have behaved. Reasonably,” he noted as they looked at each other.

“Reasonably?” she questioned.

“I’m sorry.” His sudden words had her speechless and staring at him, wide-eyed. He looked uncomfortable, shifting his weight back and forth. “What ye said earlier was right. I have hardly greeted ye as the most warm-hearted men would have. I am nae monster. I dinnae want ye tae think I am.”

She nodded, accepting the statement no matter how baffling. This man was ice and anger one minute, and heat and kisses the next.

“Perhaps ye could continue yer good ways and have supper with me tonight?” Why did I ask that? Scarlett cursed inwardly the moment the words were out, reminding herself that the laird would be Eloise’s husband.

“I cannae stay; I have clan business to attend to.” She sighed with relief. “Yet, if ye do wish tae ken each other better, then be prepared tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow?” she asked as he hastened to the door. He hovered in the doorway for a second.

“’Twill be a fun day.” He winked, turned, and made to leave. “We shall ken each other better after tomorrow. Oh, and…” he hesitated a few steps away and glanced back over his shoulder. “I like that gown.” With those final words, he departed.