Page 20 of A Kilted Marriage of Convenience

CHAPTERTWELVE

Aidan did not know what it was about Ciara that seemed to ensnare him, but as he stared at her, looking shy and apologetic, his attraction to her deepened. The light from the room reflected wonderfully on her beautiful hair, and it created a soft glow around her that complimented her already beautiful face, making her appear softer and even more feminine than before. Almost angelic. Her eyes shined brightly, both from her assumed victory and the fire.

Aidan swallowed to wet his suddenly dry throat. He wondered if she knew how beautiful she was. He remembered how innocent she had been acting so far, despite her attempts at coming off confident and worldly.

He looked to the side, fighting to keep his eyes away from her, but his gaze soon returned to her face. Her full lips were spread in a smile, and they beckoned him, and her eyes twinkled as though they knew something that they were refusing to share with him. He wanted to plunge his hands into her luscious hair as he made love to her mouth.

He watched her lips in confusion as she spoke. For a minute, he could make neither head nor tails of what she was saying.

"…ye hear what I said?"

She looked at him with concern, as though she was confused by his sudden silence. What is happening to me?

Daes it have anything to dae with the kiss? he wondered as his eyes traveled to her bare shoulders. She had dropped the robe after drinking the contents of the bowl, and now he could not help but stare. Aidan wondered if she knew that her shoulders were bare, or if she simply did not care. Memories of her hiding from him when she woke up almost naked in the infirmary filled his head.

The spell was broken by the realization that she would probably feel uneasy if she found out where his thoughts had taken him. Aidan took a step back from her and cleared his throat, averting his gaze from her. Unable to stop the thoughts that continually filled his foolish mind, he decided to change the topic to something unpleasant.

Her father will dae, he thought, but instantly felt guilty.

"Ye said that ye had been carrying out an errand for yer father, which was why ye were at the docks." He paused to give her time to remember, and he noticed her face go blank. Bringing up her father made him feel like a villain. He knew she must miss him, but they needed to talk about it so he could prepare for whatever came next. "Dae ye think that he would have begun his search by now, seeing as ye have nae returned? I am sure he has. Where dae ye think he would begin?"

Aidan saw shock flicker in her eyes before she once again shut off from him. Yet, there was something else he had seen flash in her eyes—a sort of disappointment by the sudden change of topic. It pleased him.

At least now he knew that he was not the only one who felt the chemistry between them. She looked away, her eyes focusing on the fireplace where the flames danced.

"I dinnae ken what to tell ye or what I should tell ye, for that matter. I have nae idea where he will begin his search. This much I can say and be honest about it…" she answered in a quiet voice, still not looking at him. "It isnae as though he goes looking for lost people all the time, let alone his daughter."

Aidan could feel that she was upset by his line of questioning, which confirmed what he already knew. She was missing her father. She was afraid. He wished he did not have to remind her of her position, but it needed to be done. They had to be prepared in case Keir raided their lands looking for his missing child.

"What is life in yer keep like?" She looked at him with a strange expression, not uttering a word, and he continued. "I am curious because ye seem to be sheltered, and there isnae much kent about ye, other than the fact that Laird MacNeil has a daughter with hair as red as his. Yer father must truly care about ye since ye are his only bairn.”

Aidan watched Ciara. She looked everywhere but at him. If he had not known better, he would have thought that she was hiding something. However, he suspected she was most likely emotional, as reality had started to hit her.

"Well, I… I dinnae…" she broke off.

Aidan felt bad for her yet again. Although she appeared to be very different from the cruel Laird MacNeil, it seemed too much to hope for her to want to work against him after all. Her face was tinged with sadness. She was just a woman, all on her own.

He was about to apologize when Ciara moved toward him. His eyes widened the closer she got, as her intentions became clear to him. Her eyes were lowered, and it seemed as if she was staring at his lips.

Nay, she could never. Ciara leaned in closer, on her tiptoes, just a breath away from his lips. An inch more and he could taste her.

“Why are ye asking me all these questions, my laird?”

He remained silent as her body curled into his, her hand slowly reaching up and caressing his chest. He knew she was embarrassed. And inexperienced and shy. Yet, with a single touch, she had lit a fire inside him, consuming every thought he had.

"What are ye…” he mumbled.

Ciara leaned in and kissed him before he could complete his question, and his eyes widened in shock. Aidan's hand pressed on the small of her back without a second thought, and his other hand found its way into her hair. He did not know what it was about her red curls that drew him in so much. He pulled her closer, drawing small circles around her waist with his hand—his other twisted into her hair.

Aidan pulled his mouth away from hers, smiling when she whimpered and chased after him, craving more. He was glad that she was just as affected as he was, and he suckled gently on her lower lip, nibbling softly at it. He enjoyed the moan that escaped her, encouraging him to do it again. Turning them around, Aidan pressed her against the wall closest to the door and pressed his body into hers. He kissed her again, deeper than before. A need to possess all of her overtook him almost to a point of desperation.

Aidan knew very well that he could not make Ciara his own. She was innocent, and he would be damned if he robbed her of her purity out of greedy lust. The last thing he wanted was for her to think that he had taken advantage of her. That did not mean, however, that he could not show her what pleasures the body had to offer.

As he kissed her, his hands traveled from the small of her back to her waist, then up to the side of her breasts. He let out a groan as his fingers caressed the soft mounds of her flesh. Aidan started a trail leading to her nipple, letting out a low growl of approval when his fingers grazed her perked peaks. He kissed her shoulders, his lips lingering on her skin with every kiss until he trailed up her neck. He suckled on the soft skin there, smiling against her skin when she let out a loud moan.

He loved the way she reacted to him. His hands found their way to the laces that held her gown in place, slowly undoing them to afford her a chance to refuse him. He stopped and pierced her gaze. He could see that beneath her lustful eyes she was unsure. She had seen him naked, but this would be the first time any man saw her.

Aidan let out a breath in relief when he saw her worry be replaced by determination in her eyes. He did not know what he would have done if she had said no to him, for the aching in his loins was unbearable.