Page 47 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

It was both a relief and a disappointment to Alana when Tadhg finished what he was doing and moved away from her again.

She had just gotten into position once more when she felt a large raindrop land on her face. Then another fell, and another. “Ach, ’tis startin’ tae rain again!” she exclaimed, dashing the drops away with her hand.

“Alana!”

“Aye?” She looked over at Tadhg to see rain spattering on his head too.

“Pay attention!” he told her sternly, apparently ignoring the drops falling on him.

“But what about the rain?” she asked as it began falling faster, this time quickly soaking her dress.

“Forget the rain! We have dry clothes tae change intae. This is more important. Ach, now ye’ve lost yer grip.” Sighing, he came over to reposition her stick in her hand and then returned to face her. Again, he assumed the fighting stance he had taught her. She followed suit, grimacing at first as cold rain trickled down inside her neckline.

However, before long, as she began to perspire from the exercise, she was grateful for its cooling effects. She huffed and puffed as they went through their dance, until she was soaking from a combination of sweat and rain.

“I think ye’re improving. But remember, never take yer eyes off yer opponent,” Tadhg reminded her, brandishing his own stick.

The rain was teeming down now, and though she tried to concentrate, her attention kept drifting to the way Tadhg’s shirt was sticking to him, outlining the powerful musculature of his upper body. The sight of the rippling strength visible beneath the thin cotton was making her stomach do strange things.

“Alana, focus! This could save yer life.”

“Aye, sorry.” She dragged her eyes away from his muscles and forced herself to concentrate on the task in hand.

They began again the strange, slow-motion dance left and right they had already performed many times since the beginning of the lesson. Alana tried to do as Tadhg asked, watching him intently, balancing her weight, shadowing his moves.

“Ye ken, ’tis much easier without the skirts in the way,” she observed, panting from the exertion but pleased when he said she was getting better. “’Tis quite liberating!”

“Aye,” he replied, wiping his forearm across his forehead to soak up the mixture of water and sweat running down his chiseled features. “Now, let’s see what ye remember. What’s yer aim in a knife fight?”

“Um, tae deprive yer opponent of his weapon as soon as ye can,” she panted, waiting on tenterhooks for his next move. He moved closer, his knife arm slowly moving from side to side as if he was deciding where to stick her.

“Very good. And how are ye gonnae dae that?”

“Like this!” Hoping to catch him out this time, she lunged forward with her pretend dagger, grunting with effort as she feinted at his knife arm. She wanted to knock his blade away if she could, to prove to him she could do it. Unfortunately, her skirts chose that moment to come lose from their moorings and tumbled down, tangling around her legs.

Tadhg was on her in a second, pinning her to the wet ground. In comparison to the puddle she found herself lying in, Tadhg’s body on top of her was warm and inviting, and his delicious musky scent filled her nose. His face was suspended just above hers, with both of them panting hard, and thrills coursed up and down her spine when she met his mesmerizing blue gaze.

She gathered her wits and her breath as best she could. “That was nae me fault. Me dress came down and tripped me,” she murmured, fearing she was about to drown in his eyes.

“Mmm,” he murmured, gazing down at her with a hunger that set her insides quivering. “Alana, ye’re soakin’ wet,” he breathed, gently brushing a wet lock of hair from her face. His words and his touch had an electrifying effect on her. Her breasts and her whole body leapt to attention, straining towards his. The urge to kiss him was so overwhelming, their history of hurt flew from her mind, and she surrendered to her desires.

She was seized by a strange compelling force she had never felt before, and when his mouth came down and his lips crushed hers, she found herself meeting them with a fiery passion drawn from somewhere deep inside her.

In the heat of the moment, she let herself go, reveling in Tadhg’s warmth atop her as he pinned her there, with the rain cascading down upon them, and his lips devouring hers hungrily. Compelled by the burning flame he was stoking inside her, she reached up and wound her arms around his neck, twining her fingers luxuriously in the dripping length of his hair, drawing him closer.

Her body sang as their tongues clashed and tangled together in an erotic dance. Tadhg’s free hand raked over her curves, squeezing her waist, her hips, and her behind, leaving her feeling hot and dizzy and craving more of his touch. The kiss deepened as they eagerly explored each other’s mouths and lips.

Then, a particularly large raindrop landed on Alana’s forehead and dragged her back to reality. Flooded by misgivings, she instantly broke the kiss, pushing him away and saying, “Nay! Stop! We must stop this before it goes any further. ’Tis a bad mistake!”

Tadhg stared down at her, his lips swollen from her kiss, the pain in his eyes unmistakable. It hurt her to see it, but she knew that however much she wanted him, she had to protect herself, from herself as much as from him.

“Will ye let me up, please,” she said, pushing again at his chest.

“Are ye sure ye want me tae?” he asked huskily, not taking his eyes off hers.

“Aye, I’m certain. Now, get off, me will ye?” she replied, refusing to look at him, lest she be trapped by her own desires again.