Page 29 of Stealing a Kilted Heart

“Fer scaring all the the fish away fer one. And.. well… fer the state of me clothes.”

Knox’s brows knitted together as he attempted to decipher Fia’s words. Could she truly mean that, could she be apologizing to him for is mistake?

“I’m the one who should be apologizin’, Miss MacKenzie,” Knox said. “I shouldnae be starin’ at ye, but I cannae deny yer beauty.”

Fia’s gaze snapped up to meet his, her cheeks heating as she wrapped the cloak a little tighter around herself. Perhaps it had been the wrong thing to say, Knox thought, but between his panic when he saw her go under and his arousal at seeing her body, he didn’t really know what he was saying at all.

There was one thing he longed to know, though, even if asking would only make their situation even more awkward. “Ye seem tae apologize a lot and tae truly underestimate yerself in many ways. Did a man make ye think that?”

For a moment, Fia hesitated and Knox thought she wouldn’t answer him. But then she nodded quietly, confirming his suspicions.

“Was it the same one tae whom ye were meant tae be wedded tae?”

Another nod, this one even more timid. “He… he always criticized me, me home, me work. He also told me I look like a laddie. I thought… I thought all men might think the same about me. ‘Tis also why I apologized, I guess…”

With a sigh, Knox sat down across from Fia, their knees brushing against each other. “He doesnae sound like a man who deserved ye.”

At that, Fia cracked a small smile, something he took as a victory. “I suppose ye’re right,” she said. “But it’s difficult tae nae believe him sometimes.”

Before he even knew what he was doing, Knox took Fia’s hand and guided it to his manhood, pressing it against his length. “Is this proof enough?”

Fia froze, her eyes widening, but she made no effort to pull back from Knox. She only stared at him, her breath quickening, her chest heaving with every inhalation. He took it as a good sign. And then, emboldened by her reaction, he reached for her and kissed her.

Fia’s lips were a little cold but so soft against his. His fingers tangled in her wet hair, pulling her closer, and in that moment, every concern from the past few weeks finally truly melted away. He could think about nothing else; nothing but Fia there with him, soft and pliant as he kissed her.

And then she moaned, the sound soft and tender, sending a jolt of arousal through him, and that was when Knox pulled back abruptly. He, too, was wide-eyed and panting, shocked by what he had just done.

This was nothing like him. He was always in control of his actions. He was even in control of his thoughts, never allowing himself to stray too far into unwanted territory. What could have possibly possessed him to do such a thing now? He was supposed to be a perfect gentleman, to treat every woman with respect, and yet he couldn’t claim to have treated Fia with any respect now.

“Forgive me,” he said once more, clearing his throat as he grabbed the oars and began pulling them towards the bank. “I shouldnae have done that.”

He dreaded the ride home. He dreaded everything that was to follow, and yet he had no other choice but to spend more agonizing moments with Fia before he could retreat into his study and try his best to avoid her. He didn’t dare even look at her. The last thing he wanted was to see contempt in her face, anything that would reveal she now despised him and thought little of him.

He didn’t think he could bear it.