Page 37 of A Kilted Marriage of Convenience

“Would ye like to talk to me about it now?” she asked softly.

“Nay,” Aidan replied. “I dinnae want to talk about it.”

“I do,” she pushed. “Is this the reason ye refused to stay with me the other night?”

Aidan thought for a moment before replying as honestly as he could. “Nay exactly. I have nae stayed the night with anyone before. It’s nae really my cup of tea, to be so tender with a lass. It was part of the reason, but nae the whole reason, ye ken.”

Aidan could see that Ciara was genuinely worried for him, and that encouraged him to finally talk about his problem. He wasn’t completely at ease with the conversation, but he also did not mind sharing that much with her.

He saw in Ciara a kindness that ran deep within her. This was one woman he knew he could allow himself to be vulnerable with. He still had his fears that his ailment could cause her harm, but looking at her now, it was clear that she had no worries for herself. Only him. And nothing felt better than that.

“Dae ye ken why ye sleepwalk? Dae ye have any idea why it happens?”

“No,” Aidan said, shaking his head. “It started some time ago, when I was much younger. Whenever I was plagued by too many worries and thoughts, I always woke up everywhere but my bed. I never took it seriously and didnae talk about it. But one night, like tonight, I tried to walk out of a window. That time, however, it was Darragh who saved me.”

“So why dinnae ye lock the door?” Ciara asked, giving Aidan’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“I always do,” he replied, thankful for her hand in his. “Even the windows in my room are barred because of this. Today was a particularly troublesome day and I forgot.”

Ciara perked up at that, clearly curious. “Is everything alright with the clan?”

Aidan reflected for a moment. He did not know how much of the internal clan machinations he wanted her to know about. He did not want to keep secrets from her, but he also did not want to give too many details unless absolutely necessary.

“It’s nae really a clan problem,” Aidan replied with a slight chuckle. “It’s more about my proposed marriage to ye, the daughter of our sworn enemy. The clan is divided about it, ye see. On one hand, the members of the clan believe our marriage will be the perfect revenge against yer father. On the other hand, there are those who dinnae think it in our interest to mix MacDonald blood with that of the MacNeils. However, I have decided to marry ye, I made ye that promise already. Whatever the clan decides is inconsequential to me, although I would have liked to convince them all.”

“Well,” Ciara said, turning to look at him, “thank ye for tonight, Aidan. Thank ye for trying yer best to comfort me in my distress, and for saving me from the soldiers. I am very grateful.”

“Why?” Aidan asked softly, unable to withhold the question burning his mind. “Why did ye need saving tonight from yer father and his soldiers? Ye are a captive here. Why would ye choose to be saved from freedom? I doubt those men would have caused ye any harm. Why didnae ye just go home with them?”

Ciara was slow in responding, and she looked as if she tried her best to collect herself.

“My father and I are very different,” she finally said. “I felt really terrible witnessing what happened to Lillie and what he put her through. Being here with ye and yer family, it felt like a betrayal to my friendship with Lillie to willingly go back to my father’s keep. It also felt like a betrayal to ye.”

“To me?” Aidan asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Aye,” Ciara continued. “Somehow, I have come to believe that ye dae deserve to get revenge against my father. I also would not like to return if it means that I would... that I would have to leave ye.”

Aidan looked at her, stunned. Could it be that she loves him too? Warmth blossomed inside him as he looked at her with brand new eyes, but she looked away, blushing red.

Aidan turned her face to his gently and edged closer to her, before putting an arm around her waist and pulling her gently to his side. How could he have ever doubted how she felt about him? Her eyes were afire as she looked into his, and that fire pierced right through his soul.

He ran his fingers slowly up her arm, feeling her smooth skin in his calloused hand. He leaned in until his face was mere inches away from hers. Ciara closed her eyes and her lips parted slightly in a silent invitation. Those supple lips…

Ciara’s mouth welcomed him like a long-lost friend. Gooseflesh broke out on her skin as he grabbed her into his arms. His hunger matched hers, and in moments they were clawing at each other passionately, gasping for air.

Without breaking the kiss, Aidan slipped a hand off her waist, pushing her back slightly so he could cup her bosom. Ciara breathed sharply, and her nipple hardened between his fingers. He gently squeezed it, and she let out a soft moan of pleasure. The sound beckoned to him, and he squeezed harder on her breast, forcing his tongue deep into her mouth.

Ciara tried to undo her shift, but Aidan held her hand. He broke off the kiss abruptly, and her eyes flew open. But Aidan pressed a finger to her lips.

“Hush now… nae talking,” he said as he reached under her thighs to lift off her shift. He dumped it on the floor, turning to stare at her. She was naked as a babe, beautiful. Her pale skin set him on fire, and he felt himself grow to full length as he ran a hand down the center of her body to her legs.

He pressed her down gently on her back and stood up slowly, then began to undress. He took off his night shirt, britches, and boots, shrugging them off his feet and leaving himself completely bare, as he allowed Ciara to drink him in. His member was long and hard, and he watched as her eyes settled there.

Aidan smiled as she stretched out an eager hand to him, in a silent invitation to join her in bed. He kissed her on the neck, on the throat, in the middle of her chest, craving to taste her further and further. Ciara’s breathing became ragged, and she squirmed as his hand worked its way up her inner thighs.

“Take me... please,” Ciara whispered, and Aidan chuckled as he attacked one of her breasts with a burning hunger. At the same moment, he slipped his fingers into her warm center without any resistance, and he felt her arc as she moaned softly in pleasure.

Aidan settled on top of her, pushing his fingers deeper into her core and placing his hardness on her thigh. Ciara grabbed his buttocks, digging her nails into his firm flesh as he sucked at her nipples hungrily.