Page 35 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

Looking a little coy, she dropped her gaze and shuffled from one foot to the other. “Ye didnae want tae kiss me earlier because I was drunk.”

“Evelyn,” Benedict began.

“Nae, please. Ye must listen tae me. I’ve slept a while, and I’m nae drunk any longer. ‘Tis me who wants tae kiss ye. ‘Tis the feelings o’ me heart that have brought me here. Nae the liquor.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him with nervous anticipation. It had taken some will power earlier to stop himself from kissing her, but he simply refused to take advantage of her in the state she was in. Now, however, it was clear Evelyn was indeed, sober. Nor could he deny, by her words or her actions, that she was of sound mind.

“This isnae a good idea.

“It’s only one kiss,” she said, the plea in her voice evident.

He knew what he was going to do before he took her face in his hands. He just couldn’t help himself. She was an elixir for his soul. A soothing tonic for a wound no one could see. A satisfaction for his craving.

Taking a step forward, he placed his huge hands on the soft skin of her cheeks and lowered his lips to hers. As the times before, she opened up to him, yielding to his desire, and yet, even her lips could not satiate his hunger. Breathlessly, their tongues roved, and flicked, and explored, she appearing as hungry as he.

Her arms snaked around his body as far as they would go, while he pulled her into him, feeling the warmth from her dancing on his skin. Her hands clawed at him, trying to pull him even closer, but their bodies were pressed tight with not a breath between them.

With his lips clashing against hers, and the sparks between them nearly bursting into flames, Benedict could feel his heart racing, his gut clenching, and his groin aching for her. He wanted her in that moment. In fact, he had never desired her as much as he desired her now.

What about Audor?

Even in the throes of passion his mind would not let him have this moment. And as much as he wanted to push the thought of his brother from his head, the guilt grew from one second to the next.

Eventually, he could stand it no longer, and slowly breaking free from Evelyn’s embrace, Benedict took a step back. “My God, woman. That’s one hell o’ a second kiss.”

If only her passion was for me, and nae Audor.

“Third,” she gasped breathlessly, gazing up at him with fire still dancing in her eyes.

Benedict laughed nervously, for clearly, Audor had kissed her before he left. He would know that if he was Audor, and quite swiftly, he found himself on the back foot, scrabbling to try and correct himself.

“Och, aye. There was that time…” he rambled vaguely, hoping to god he was right.

“Nay,” she said softly, a slow smile dancing on her lips. “The first time ye ever kissed me was in Laird Mackay’s library on the eve o’ his wedding. And, while we are discussing it, me faither can never ken I was there.”

A cold sensation ran through the entirety of Benedict’s body as he realized she knew who he was. Stunned to silence, he could not even move, and instead, stared at her with wide eyes.

“When?” he said finally. “When did ye ken?”

“I’ve kent from the beginning, Benedict. I’ve been able tae tell ye and yer brother apart from the first night we arrived. Almost immediately.”

“But how?” he blurted, completely astonished. “Nae one else can.”

She smiled at him. “I’m going tae keep that as my little secret.”

Still reeling, the next question seemed to fall from his mouth. “Why didnae ye say anything? Why didnae ye tell me ye kent?”

Evelyn’s smile faded then, and she dropped her gaze. A silence fell between them. A silence that Benedict neither understood, nor wanted to continue.

“Evelyn—”

“It would make it all real,” she breathed. “If I told ye I kent, it would make how I feel about ye, and how ye feel about me, real. And… and I didnae want tae face the truth because… well, because…”

“It’s all right, Evelyn,” Benedict said, taking her hand in his.

He led her to the bed and pulled her to sit down beside him.

“I ken exactly what ye mean. I dae. Me heart has ached fer ye, as yers has ached fer me. I’ve been battling me feelings all this time.”