“Lass, I cannae say nay, yet I fear we are taking a fearful risk.”
She stepped into the room and he followed. Once he’d drawn the door closed behind him, he swept her into his arms without another word.
Their mouths found each other before each of them could take a breath. All the pent-up longing and passion of the two weeks of silence was in their kiss. It was a greedy, desperate meeting of lips and tongues, as if they could somehow devour each other in the kissing and never be separated.
She was pressed so close to his hardness it seemed his mind would break with the longing for her. Her scent of roses filledhis senses, the softness of her hair flowing down her back as he brought his hands up to the fragrant tresses and tightened his hold on her.
The urging of her tongue, sweet with the taste of almond and honey, nearly drove him out of his mind. He cupped her behind with both his hands, drawing her even closer against him, his heart beating like bodhran. She gasped, writhing against him, her breasts soft against his chest, her thighs opening ever so slightly creating a space for his manhood. He uttered a guttural, deep groan. What he would give to strip her clothes and feel the silk of her naked skin against him.
“Aye lass,” he managed when at last they pulled apart to breathe again. “I’ve dreamed of nothing but this moment all this time. I’ve wanted nothing but tae take ye in me arms. I’ve been able tae think of naught else but ye.”
She laughed softly. “Arran Mackinnon, I have thought of nothing but ye in all me waking hours and ye’ve been in me dreams at night.”
“I must find a way tae rescue my maither so we can be free of Bairre. If he discovers we’re together our lives will be cut short without delay, so we must use all caution so that he doesnae discover us. I want us both tae live and make our way to safety, tae a place where we can be taegether.
Looking at him with her clear blue eyes she gave a grave nod. “I wish nothing more than tae be away from this cursed place.”
“But, for now, he’s charged me with guarding ye tae ensure ye dinnae escape. If ye flee, he’ll murder Emilia. And I think he is playin’ with us, fer while he asked me tae watch ye, I am sure he is having us watched fer he suspects us.”
Dahlia’s responded with a deep shudder.
He took her hand and pressed it to his lips before turning to the door. Pulling it slowly open he glanced into the passageway. No one was visible.
Turning to her he grinned. “Mayhap he has yet tae place his guards tae catch us out.”
“We can only pray that is so.” Dahlia’s lower lip trembled and her eyes were glazed with tears. “And, meanwhile, I’m tae spend an evening in the company of the devil himself, the Laird Bairre Mackinnon.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
On entering Bairre’s solar, Dahlia was surprised to see it was filled with lighted candles casting a benevolent glow over everything. That is, except for the dark figure of Bairre emerging from the flickering shadows.
As usual he was dressed in all black, from his black shirt and velvet jacket to his woolen trews and knee-high black leather boots. His dark hair had been brushed back and secured by a leather strap at his nape. In the dim light it was almost possible to imagine him as handsome, but as he drew near, his wolfish smile, showing his sharp teeth, dealt a blow to that notion.
He took her hand and she could not resist a shudder as he drew it to his lips. Neither could she resist the contrast with Arran’s warm lips on hers only hours ago.
Bairre escorted her to a chair for two situated in an alcove near the fireplace. Beside them on a side table was a vase containing an enormous bunch of roses, filling the air with their fragrance.
“I ken roses are yer favourite flower melady, so I had these chosen especially fer ye.”
“I thank ye. Roses are indeed me favorite.”
She sat in the loveseat Bairre indicated but, to her horror, he also lowered himself into it beside her, his body pressed uncomfortably close. She edged a few inches to the end of the seat but he filled the small space that opened up between them.
Arran, who had escorted her from her room, remained standing just inside the door, ignored by Bairre. She was tempted to bid him enter and take a seat but was mindful that was most likely Bairre’s intention. Another maneuver of his to trick her into betraying her feelings for Arran. She quivered as that thought took hold and the realization dawned that they were both at risk at this moment. All she could do to try and preserve their safety was to try to ignore the presence of Arran’s standing figure on the other side of the wide room.
He leaned over and poured two goblets with wine and placed one before her on a small table while raising the other with a grim smile.
“Tae yer health, melady.”
She raised the goblet and took a tiny sip, wishing there was some way she could extricate herself from his closeness. His unctuous manner was so great a contrast to his outburst of rage when they’d last been together that she was altogether confused.
He leaned back, one arm stretched along the loveseat behind her, his fingers toying with a wisp of hair at her nape, causing her to squirm with discomfort, a shiver running through her.
“Ye’re shivering. Is it nae warm enough in here fer ye?”
She shook her head, gathering her skirt around her, trying to ignore the oily expression of concern on his face. He was doing a good imitation of someone who was genuinely concerned for her welfare.
“Oh, I cannae have ye cold.” He leaped to his feet and paced to the fire, stoking the coals and placing to more logs into the flames.