Page 61 of Scotch & Dreams

Violet let out a breath she’d been holding.

“Holy shit, that was a close call,” she whispered against his chest.

He kissed the top of her head like he’d done that first day and night they’d spent together. It brought back an instant comfort. When they were sure the group was out of the room and well past, Lachlan opened the narrow wooden door. The first thing she noticed was her torn black lace thong tossed on the stone tile floor very near to the large corridor the tour had just passed through. Embarrassment burned her cheeks. Lachlan followed her gaze, and then he strode toward them, knelt down, and picked them up.

“I dinnae think anyone noticed, lass. It’s okay.” He held up her torn panties as if realizing for the first time what he’d done to them. A smile threatened the edges of his lips. “I dinnae suppose ye want these back?” he offered, and before she could answer, he shocked her as he tightened his fist around them, crumpling them up. He held them to his nose and breathed deeply. His eyes closed as if he was inhaling an aphrodisiac.

Violet was both scandalized and aroused in equal measure. Before she could react, he opened his eyes, gave her a devilishforgive mecrooked grin, and shoved them into the inside pocket of his tux jacket.

For a moment, she thought to demand to have them back so she could dispose of them, but a little wicked part of her liked that he had them now and clearly wanted them. The way he breathed in her scent like a man breathing in his final breath. She wasn’t sure if she found it so erotic because it seemed so out of character for him or simply because he was so aroused by her. There was a wildness in Lachlan that she'd glimpsed before, but he seemed to keep that side of himself more caged. It seemed to her that he'd let that wild beast out to play, and she was surprised just how much she liked it. She tried to imagine what he might do with her torn panties. Would he throw them out, or would he keep them as a memento?

It was crazy to her now that the moment had passed, all that they had done. She wasn't a virgin, but she also hadn't had that much sex in her life. She was pretty sure that the proverbial sex bar was just set at an impossible height, and neither of them even came! She was so close, though, and sensed he was too. What was it about Lachlan that he could make her feel like a goddess that he worshipped?

Violet looked thoroughly ravished and unbelievably sexy. Knowing that he was responsible for her current state was incredibly potent. His cock was in pain. Talk about blue balls. She was a drug to him. He wanted nothing more than to pick up where they’d left off. God, he wanted nothing more than to slam back into her and make her come around his cock, to feel her pulsate, to hold her and look into those mossy green eyes as she shattered in pleasure. Unfortunately, reason was returning, and it seemed that this perhaps wasn’t the best time nor place. It pained Lachlan, though. He wanted more of this woman.

Much more.

“Are ye okay, lass?” he asked gently.

Violet had grown quiet as she adjusted her gown and hair in an attempt to right them. She looked up and smiled shyly. He wasn’t sure how she could pull a shy smile after what they had just been doing, but somehow, she did.

“Do you think we could have another drop of scotch before we head up?”

Oh my God, Lachlan thought to himself,I might just be in love.

Chapter 36

Jealousy’s Venom

Violetdidn’tstickaroundafter getting back from her "whisky tour" with Lachlan. When they came back up to the main room, Violet’s heart sank when none other than Anna MacDonald stole Lachlan away. Just because they’d had sex, it didn’t mean he was suddenly hers, despite her heart yelling to the contrary.

“I was looking for you,” the woman crooned, latching onto his arm, not even sparing Violet a glance. It was the first time Violet witnessed Lachlan looking completely uncomfortable. If she didn’t feel so vulnerable in the moment, she might have found it comical. Lachlan cleared his throat.

“Anna, this is Violet. She works with me at the sanctuary.”

Seriously, they’d just shared the most incredible connection, and that was how he introduced her. Violet didn’t have time to be offended as Anna clearly had other plans for Lachlan.

"Violet." The woman's eyes coolly assessed her. "Not a common name."

Before Violet could respond, Anna had already turned her attention back to Lachlan. "The first minister and his wife just arrived. Since they are friends of mine, I thought I could make the introductions,” Anna said smoothly.

Violet sensed it was more of a ploy to get Lachlan's attention. She didn't consider herself the jealous type, but something about this woman rubbed her wrong. Not that she had any business being jealous at all, did she? Now they'd come upstairs, she felt so uncertain as to what had just happened between them. What did it mean? Did it mean anything at all?

Lachlan scanned the room. "Aye, I'd appreciate that."

Violet was surprised when Lachlan turned back and stepped close to her. She couldn't help her instant reaction to him being in her space again. Her pulse kicked up with need snaking through her as if her body wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in his.

She swallowed, looking up into his reassuring eyes. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear that had come loose downstairs.

“I’m sorry, lass. Duty calls.” Why did he have to look at her like she was an angel while at the same time rejecting her? Maybe she had no right to wish that he would want her by his side. His right hand, as Orlagh had said, but also something more—her heart hoped.

“It’s fine." The words felt like a lie. "I know you have lots of people to talk with.” It was true. He was the host of this party, after all, but her heart wished that he wanted to keep her on his arm. Show her off proudly. She almost snickered out loud at her own stupidity. What had she thought, that they'd given into desire and suddenly they'd be a couple? She was his employee! God, she was such an idiot.

He kissed her forehead and gave her hand a squeeze before turning from her and striding toward an eagerly awaiting Anna. Violet watched them get lost in the crowd and wondered how she'd gotten it so wrong—again. For a suspended moment in time, she felt like he was hers completely. Now back upstairs, it was like the magic of that cask room was broken. Hadn't he felt it, too? That indescribable pull, that all-consuming need? Surely, it was not common place between two people.

And then a terrible unbidden thought crossed her mind. Despite knowing that everyone had sex, the thought that he’d probably had sex with Anna not only flashed through her mind, but it had her questioning—had it been like this for them? Was Lachlan just a casanova? She hated that she even questioned it after what just transpired between them.

Ugh. What was she doing even thinking about it? She'd be lying if she denied the sting of how he'd introduced her to his so-called ex after just having earth-shattering sex with her.

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