Page 61 of The Winter Laird

Confusion warred with humor in her eyes. “Are you teasing me?”

“If you have to ask, I must redouble my efforts. Alas, I must place that on hold for the moment, though. I must head out to the lists to ensure my men have continued their training in my absence.”

“Oh. Okay,” she replied uncertainly. She looked around again and bit her lip.

“But first,” Nioclas lowered his voice, “perhaps we ought to muss you up a bit. Just so no one suspects I won’t miss you as terribly as I will.”

Her eyes widened, and he knew she was still unsure if he was teasing her. He stepped closer to her and reveled in her body’s response; she swayed towards him, her eyes trained on his mouth. He allowed her to see his seductive smile before he nudged her lips open with his own.

Her reaction was immediate, and she melted into him.

He nipped her bottom lip. “I shall see you at supper, my lady.”

The look of astonishment on her face lightened Nioclas’s heart.

Aye. There was hope for them yet.

* * *

Though she spentthe better part of the afternoon sorting through the finer details of what her clients had told her in the past—in the future?—Brianagh still couldn’t figure out Nioclas’s intent. Were they still playing the game? Or was he serious?

A slightly-more-than-tiny part of her wanted to believe he was serious, but she knew such thoughts weren’t wise. She didn’t want any reason to stay in the Middle Ages; she earned her T-shirt and was ready to go home.

Well, almost ready, she amended, glancing at the large bed. Maybe her reason for going back in time was to see what all the fuss was about that elusive feeling of desire. Perhaps her fate, despite what Reilly continued to insist, was that she needed to learn about those feelings in order to better match her future clients—

“Are you well?”

Brianagh jumped, startled by Erin’s appearance. “Me? Oh yes. I’m perfectly well.” She glanced at the window in her chamber, noting the lengthening shadows. “I didn’t realize how late it’s gotten. Is it time for supper?”

Erin nodded and entered the room. “I’ve said that twice already. Are you certain you’re well, Bri? You seem distracted. Is it because Nioclas is going to visit his former lover?”

Brianagh frowned. “What?”

Erin shrugged. “Well, he’s not going specifically to see her, I’m sure. He’s visiting her sire’s stronghold, as he has business with the man.” At Bri’s raised eyebrows, she hastened to add, “Oh, don’t concern yourself about the lass’s reputation. Her sire is well aware of her indiscretions, and though he hoped for a match with Nick, he knew such a powerful laird would want someone with more…”

“Discretion?” Bri supplied.

Erin snickered. “Aye. Discretion. The MacDermotts have always hoped to ally with the MacWilliams, but her sire knows such a match is merely a hope.”

“Of course,” Bri murmured.

“Well, may you never meet Una in the flesh. There’s something about her that makes me tuck in a bit tighter to Donovan.”

“Where I’m from, that’s called women’s intuition. It means we can sense that something’s not right.”

Erin nodded emphatically. “Aye, that’s it exactly. But worry not, my lady. Nick is true and honest; he’s clearly smitten with you, and during the wedding he did give a vow of chastity to his true love.”

“The vows. Right,” Brianagh echoed.

A lover.

Of course he would have a lover. Theirs was a game they were playing, so that he wouldn’t have to commit to anyone, and she could go home.

The burning sensation in her chest only proved her desperation to return home. She was sure of it.

So sure, in fact, that she took supper in her chamber instead of joining Nioclas, resolved to think on only future things for the remainder of the night.

* * *

---