Page 48 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

With a deep sigh, he finally pushed himself off her and got to his feet. “Well, that was nice, while it lasted,” he murmured, helping her to her feet.

“It should never have happened,” she replied, knowing she was being ridiculous, standing in the pouring rain and smoothing her dripping gown and hair, vainly attempting to restore some sense of decorum.

“If ye say so,” he said, his voice heavy with regret. He turned his face and palms up to the rain, she noticed, letting it wash away the mud that had gathered during their practice. Realizing she was muddy too, she did the same.

“That’s the worst of it off, I think,” Tadhg said eventually, surprising her with a sudden smile. “Ye did very well with yer practice. If we have the chance, we’ll have another session, eh?” he offered.

“Aye, thank ye fer teachin’ me. I’m grateful,” Alana told him, feeling calmer now there was some distance between them but nevertheless angry with herself for kissing him.

“Shall we go back inside and get changed? I dinnae ken about ye, but I’m starvin’. We could have somethin’ tae eat. If we can keep the fire goin’, I can make some more tea if ye like.”

Glad he seemed to be as keen to act normally as she was, she answered, “Aye, I’m hungry as well, and hot tea sounds good. I’d like tae get intae some dry, warm clothin’. Now we’ve stopped practicin’, I’m startin’ tae feel cold,” Alana said, rubbing her arms against the chill of her wet clothes against her skin.

“Aye, me too,” he said. “And I dinnae want ye comin’ down with somethin’ from the cold, so let’s go inside quickly.”

So, with the awkwardness of the kiss hanging between them, they made their way back into the cave.

“Here, take this blanket,” Tadhg said, handing it back to Alana. “It’ll help tae keep ye warm and give ye some privacy when ye change out of yer wet things.”

“Thank ye,” she replied, taking the blanket, then immediately turning her back to him. “I need tae get out of this wet dress first. Will ye help me, please?” she asked in a small voice, not looking at him. It hurt to know she was only asking him because she had no choice.

“Aye, I’ll help ye,” he replied, applying himself to the task, trying not to torture himself by looking at the soft white nape of her neck and the pale, perfect skin he so wanted to kiss and caress as it was gradually revealed. The act of helping her out of her gown smacked of seduction, and he was a red-blooded male. What chance did he have?

It was so very hard to keep his hands from straying further than they should as the back of her dress came loose. They itched to cup her breasts or skim the curves of her waist and hips and behind as she had once loved him to do. Her floral scent mixed with rain was so arousing, like a drug, that he had to fight to resist taking liberties. He actually had to close his eyes as he unlaced her stays.

“There ye are, all done,” he told her at last, handing her the wet things and turning away so she would not see his aroused state. He was sure she would hate him for it, so he spent a few minutes poking at the fire ineffectually while the hardness subsided. Even so, he watched her out of the corner of his eye as, piece by piece, she took off her wet clothes behind the blanket and tossed them into a flat ledge of rock nearby.

Since she seemed occupied, he proceeded to strip off his own soaked clothing, until he was completely naked. He rubbed his hair and body as dry as he could with another blanket and then redressed. Just as he finished, he happened to glance around, and though she turned her head away instantly, he was sure he caught Alana peeping at him.

To know she had been peeking was confusing. The way she had kissed him twice now told him she wanted him as much as he wanted her. And her peeking only confirmed it. But what good is that when she’s deliberately holding herself aloof because of how I hurt her in the past? No bloody good at all.

“Well, I feel like a new man now I’m dry again,” he said when he was done dressing. He attempted a lighthearted tone, trying to both cheer himself up and dispel some of the tension between them.

“Aye, I feel much more comfortable, but I must admit, I’m startin’ tae ache all over from all the practicin’,” she replied, rubbing her wrists before sitting on a low rock by the fire and starting to comb out her long hair. She was dressed now too, in a simple wool dress the color of winter berries. He noticed it laced at the front and wondered if she had chosen it on purpose for that reason. More than likely she did, he thought, and ’tis probably just as well since I can hardly keep me hands off her.

Tadhg looked over at her, drinking in her loveliness with the familiar ache in his heart. “Ye look like a wee kelpie, sittin’ on a rock and comin’ yer hair out at sea,” he observed.

“Lurin’ innocent sailors tae their deaths?” she asked, laughing.

“I forgot about that bit,” he replied sheepishly, adding, “Anyway, I expect ye’ll have a few bruises on the morrow, but if what ye’ve learned saves yer life one day, it’ll have been worth it. It gives me a wee bit of peace of mind, tae ken ye can defend yersel’.”

While he was talking, he took out his hip flask and poured a hefty measure of whisky into the simmering pan of tea. He decanted the mixture into two small horn beakers and handed one to her. He was pleasantly surprised when she smiled almost shyly at him as she took it.

“I really appreciate ye takin’ the time tae teach me, Tadhg, and the way ye take care of me too. I ken ye’re doin’ yer best tae protect me.” She fixed her periwinkle blue eyes on him, making his heart clench. “Whatever ye might think of me, I am grateful.”

“Ye ken how I care about ye, Alana. I’ll nae lie about it,” he said, blowing across the hot tea mixture to cool it.

“Aye, I ken,” she murmured, hiding what he could see was a blush by turning to unpack some of their food and laying it out before them on the cloth it had been wrapped in. He was disappointed when she did not say any more in response to his declaration, not to mention how incredibly sexually frustrated he was. She had no idea how hard it was to be so close to her and not be able to touch her. Did she?

They shared a meal of bread, cheese, and dried meat, washed down with the alcoholic tea. As they ate, the urge to once again try to explain his long absence to her, to gain her understanding and forgiveness, came over him. But there was always the stumbling block of knowing what he knew about her origins and having lied to her about it for so long.

How could he be honest when telling her the truth meant losing her forever? However much he wanted to, he could not risk it. This horrible distance between them was the price he had to pay just to be with her. And he knew he would pay it for as long as he could.

Still, he thought to himself, maybe there’s something I can tell her. He swallowed a piece of cheese and then said, “Ye ken when I was away?”

“Aye. I’ll never forget it,” she replied, flicking him a quick glance as she sipped her tea.

“I worked as a scout, fer mesel’, nae fer any clan in particular.”