Page 27 of Kilted Hate

“And get down there and clean up that mess,” Domhnall added.

“Aye, me laird,” they both said again, hurrying past them and running down the stairs.

Domhnall continued on down the corridor, but from the corner of his eye, he noticed Katherine throwing him glances.

“Spit it out, lass,” he demanded.

“I, I suppose I am impressed.”

“With what?” Domhnall said carefully.

He had moved with lightning speed to save her. Had she noticed? It wouldn’t be the first time she had mentioned it, but then, he had made the stupid mistake of losing his temper on the day she had arrived.

“With the way you handled those boys. I will admit, there are lords in England who would have had them whipped or worse for making such a dangerous mistake.”

“And what good would that have done them? It was an accident. Punishing an accident is like beating an animal for making the noises nature gave it. It’s not only pointless, it’s cruel.”

He realized his tone was a little harsh, but he supposed it angered him that any man thought it beneficial to beat a child for making a mistake.

When he looked down at Katherine, she had a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Are ye laughing at me?”

“Not at all.” She shook her head. “I just find your view rather refreshing.”

When they arrived at her bedchamber, Katherine opened her door and walked inside. Domhnall followed, assuming that the open door was an unspoken invitation for him to do so.

“Please. Sit,” she said, gesturing to a chair beside the fire.

She then turned around to the dresser. While she poured water from the jug into a bowl, Domhnall slipped his plaid from off his shoulder and pulled his shirt from his body. He was about to sit when Katherine turned around with the bowl in hand, and upon seeing him, came to an immediate halt, nearly losing her grip on the bowl entirely.

“Oh, my,” she gasped.

He couldn’t stop the smirk from forming while watching her face flush bright red. Her wide eyes scanned his muscular body, as though seeing new territory for the first time, and in that moment, Domhnall came to a surprising realization.

She’s so innocent, she’s never seen a man in a state o’ undress ‘afore now.

CHAPTER NINE

So stunned was she, that Katherine nearly dropped the bowl of water she held in her hands. Domhnall was obviously broad and strong. Anyone with eyes would be able to see that, even if the man was draped in every item of clothing he owned. Yet, she could only gawk in disbelief as she grazed across the pure masculinity that emanated from him.

There were dips and crevices starting from the huge width of his shoulders, running across his chest, and then down across the mass of his musclebound stomach. In fact, having never seen a naked man before, she had to wonder if all of them looked like that beneath their clothing.

I hardly think Reginald’s thin frame contains the solid mass I am looking at.

Of course, it didn’t.

As she continued to drink him all in, she could feel her heart thumping in her chest, her stomach twisting, and nearly mesmerized by his sculptured form, Katherine struggled to pull her eyes away.

A few seconds later, however, she realized she was staring, and darting her eyes up, she met the smiling lips of her future husband. His expression emanated mild amusement at her reaction. It was then that she felt the heat rush to her face, and her cheeks burned as though they were on fire.

“Sit,” she demanded hurriedly.

“Are ye sure ye dinnae want tae look a little longer?”

He was now smiling broadly as he teased her, but feeling utterly mortified with embarrassment, Katherine huffed and hurried past him to see to his wound. Placing the bowl on the floor, she took a linen towel and dipped it into the water. Yet, once again, she was faced with his broad and muscular back.

With the cloth in her hand, she hesitated to continue, fearful of touching the taut skin before her.

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