Page 41 of Love Beyond Wanting
“I…I don’t want this.”
He lifted my dress to cover my breasts and nodded calmly.“I’m sorry, lass.’Twas too much, too soon.Let me go to the kitchen and find us something to eat.We can just sit together and talk.There is no need for us to do anything more.”
“No.”I shook my head and in my panic, said the one thing I didn’t mean at all.“I didn’t mean this.I meant you.I don’t want you.”
I saw his teeth grind together, but his voice was calm when he spoke.“Aye, ye do, lass.Ye want me so badly ye are scared to death of it.But I’ve no need of anyone who is so frightened of everything that they are willing to toy with another’s emotions just to protect themselves.Goodnight, Kate.”
He turned and walked out.
Chapter 26
For the better part of two days, I kept a low profile.I didn’t know how to remedy the situation with Maddock, and I was worried that if I was out and about the castle, my sour mood would be visible, and I didn’t want anyone to have to worry about me.
It surprised me then, to hear his voice on the other side of the door two days after our last encounter.
“Kate, lass, I thought ye might like to know that yer mother and David have arrived.”
I opened the door to him and gauged his expression carefully.He looked as friendly as ever.
“Oh, okay.Thanks for letting me know.Should I go down to meet them?”
He shook his head.“I doona think ’twill be necessary.I’m certain yer mother will be headed this way shortly.She is eager to see that ye are well.”
“Oh, okay.”I repeated myself, unsure of what to say to him.Eventually, in a burst of bravery, I said, “I thought you would be mad at me.”
He blinked as his brows furrowed together.“Lass, why would I be angry with ye?”
I shrugged.“Because I told you I didn’t want you.”
He cocked one knowing eyebrow at me, and I felt my cheeks flush red in embarrassment.
“But ye do, lass.And even if ye dinna want me, I still wouldna be angry with ye.”
“If you’re not angry, then what are you?”
He smiled and reached out to gently squeeze my hand.“I’m yer friend, lass.”
I mimicked his expression, raising one suspicious brow of my own.“So, you’re not going to find another reason to kiss me?You’re not going to compliment me or say anything flirty?”
He maintained a stoic expression as he dropped my hand.“No, lass.Three times I opened the door for ye, and three times ye turned me away.Ye are not ready.I canna fault ye for that.But our lives are now intertwined, lass.’Twould be a shame for either of us to harbor ill will toward the other.”
Nothing about what Maddock was saying felt right, but I could feel no dishonesty in his gaze or tone.
Before I could respond to him, he pointed toward the end of the hallway where I leaned out from my doorway to see my mother barreling toward me.
“Kate!Oh my God, I’m glad to see you.How are you feeling?”
I smiled as her arms came around me but I quickly pinched my nose at the stench of her.
“Much better.How was the rest of the journey?”
“We survived it.That’s all I care to dwell on.Laurel has some large, redheaded man making me a bath so I can wash off all of this mud and dirt, but he pointed me to where I could find you so I ran up here really quickly to check on you and squeeze your neck.”
I nodded and pulled out of her grip.“I’m happy to see you, too.Now go get in that bath.You stink.”I winked at her and continued.“I’ll catch up with you later.I know you must be exhausted.”
“I am, dear.”She turned her head and gave Maddock a curt nod.“Maddock.”
He copied her gesture.“Myla.”
