Page 106 of The Highlander Is All That

Still, she crawled back into bed and pulled up the covers, but she stared at him through the shadows and flickering firelight.

It was probably not wise to stare at him, because all she could do was think about how handsome he was. How warm and kind. And how much she liked him. Really liked him. She’d never liked a man before. Not really.

But it was more than that, wasn’t it?

She knew him.

She trusted him.

And, if she was being completely honest with herself, she wanted him.

She wanted to kiss him, caress him, know what his flesh felt like beneath her palm.

She wanted to know how he tasted.

It was all very shocking. Her entire adult life she had been free of such thoughts, such inclinations.

Somehow, this man had gotten under her skin. He’d breached her defenses, just by being kind and constant and trustworthy. Somehow, he’d touched her. Reached her.

He had certainly won her over.

But he’d also awoken something in her, a hunger she’d kept buried deep.

Ever since her devastating love affair with Kirk, she’d ignored that aching emptiness in her soul, one that made her want desperately to be part of something. To not be alone.

She could ignore it no longer.

Ranald made her want that, and more.

Would it be so wrong to give in?

She was hardly an innocent. She knew what she was about. She understood it was only a physical act, that something lasting between the two of them was highly unlikely since she lived in London and he in Halkirk.

Yes. Perhaps she should offer herself. She had no doubt he was attracted to her. That was hardly at issue.

But what if he said no?

Oh dear. What a terrible thought.

Her mind whirled with one thought and then another, swinging from one end of the pendulum to the other. She huffed a sigh and rolled over.

His chuckle rumbled through the room, sending a shiver up her spine. “Can you no’ sleep, lass?”

God. When had that accent become so attractive? Hadn’t she once hated it?

“I’m trying.” To that end, she punched her pillow, then, after a moment, rolled over again, so she could see him.

“Did the bath no’ help?”

“It was lovely.”

She stilled as a truly naughty thought rattled through her brain. It was so reminiscent of something rash her sisters might do, it almost scared her. But part of that reaction was excitement.

She cleared her throat. “The water is still warm . . . if you’d like a bath as well.”

He stilled. In the firelight, she saw a muscle bunch in his cheek. Then he leaned over and swished his fingers in the bathwater. He laughed again. “Liar.”

She sat up and scraped her hair from her face. “I left some buckets on the hearth. You know. If you’re . . . interested.”