Page 66
“The inn,” she blurted, realizing there was more to their union than simply being in each other’s arms. “I would not wish to relinquish it.”
“How would you feel about a partner in running it?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Truly? But is that possible? With your responsibilities to your clan . . .”
“I’ve spoken to my father already. And aye, there are times I will be needed. I will find someone to remain here with you, to protect you, if I am away. But I would gladly remain here, running the inn, by your side.”
“Your father,” she exclaimed. “How could I have not asked before?”
“Perhaps because you were nearly kidnapped and endured your stables being burned to the ground?”
She swatted his arm. “Tell me. Hurry, I wish to know. You told him of the inn? Of me? You’ve reconciled?”
“Which question shall I answer first?”
She cocked her head to the side. “Kieran.” Laughing, she waited for him to respond.
“Aye, we reconciled. I will tell you all later. For now, let us get you dressed and back down to the hall.”
“I can dress myself,” she said, realizing Kieran was right and reluctantly pulling herself from his arms.
“Perhaps,” he said, lifting her chemise from the bottom.
Maisie held her hands high as he pulled it off.
“Mmm, give me that,” he said, looking at her body.
“I would love nothing more, but perhaps not at this moment.”
She thought he would agree with her, but instead Kieran smiled in a way that told her he did not agree.
“There is little time, for certain. But enough for this.” And without another word, he closed the distance between them and kissed her in a way that made Maisie wish there were not people waiting for her belowstairs.
When his hand moved between her legs, Maisie thought briefly to tell him she could not possibly, but when his fingers began to move, his thumb pressing as another finger slipped inside her, all such thoughts fled her mind.
His tongue and hand moved together, Kieran moaning against her lips. That he could find pleasure from bringing hers made it all the more powerful. Without warning, her core began to clench around his fingers, and for that one moment, all of the awful things that had happened the night before melted away. Giving herself over to him, Maisie reveled in the release.
When they broke apart, she found him smiling as if pleased.
“So you are aware, I will be dressing and undressing you each day from this moment on.”
She laughed. “So you are aware, I fully support such an idea.”
“Tonight, I will make love to you properly. But for now . . .” He looked around the room. “If I am to dress you, it would be easier if I knew where to find your gowns.”
Maisie shook her head, smiling, already thinking ahead to the promise of that evening. Making love to Kieran, the man she loved and who loved her in return, one who would become her husband, sounded to her like the perfect end to a day.
28
Chapter
“Do you like it?”
Maisie had just come into the new stables. The men who had helped Kieran quickly construct a new one after the other burnt to the ground had all left. The sun had just set, and a chill settled into the air. He’d been about to fetch the stableboy, whom Kieran thought should be elevated to stable master after all he’d done. The boy had become invaluable to him, like Alice and Margaret were to Maisie. On the cusp of manhood, he was quickly someone Kieran had relied on these past days.
“Very much,” she said. “‘Tis so much bigger than the last one.” She walked into his arms.
“Since we will add rooms to the inn on your new land, we’ll need the extra stalls. I had just been preparing to bring the horses inside.”
