Page 43 of Love Beyond Time
“I am not! I’ve only been sipping. What was I supposed to do while y’all were visiting?”
“Well, not drink them dry, Bri! If ye’re no drunk, why doona ye walk a few steps and show me, aye?” He stepped out of her way while she grasped onto the edge of the table to support herself.
“Fine.”
He watched as she took three or four wobbly steps in his direction before swaying widely and falling into his side. “Ye are no drunk, ye say?”
“Ok, fine. But I didn’t mean to. They just kept refilling it, over and over again, and this hasn’t been my most favorite day.”
“Aye, I saw them, lass, and I no suppose that it has.” He bent to scoop her up around her knees, cradling her against his chest as they made their way up the stairs to their guest bedchamber.
She was asleep by the time he lay her on the bed, and gently tucking the covers around her, he moved to find himself a spot on the floor.
As much as he wanted to cradle her in his arms all night long, he wouldn’t share her bed until she asked.
Chapter 27
Putting aside my monumental hangover, the trip to visit Donal MacChristy was an undisputable success. Over the two days that we’d spent there, Eoin had kept Donal so busy that I hardly ever saw either of them. I spent my time lounging around the castle, tenderly caring for my wicked bad headache.
We were now on our last day of riding to visit Ramsay Kinnaird, an ally according to Eoin, but a man I knew very little about from either Mary or history. It was a longer journey from MacChristy’s to Kinnaird’s, and we’d been forced to camp two nights along the way.
Eoin was slowly-but-surely chipping away at the rock wall fortress of my friend zone. The first night the weather had been warm enough for us to sleep on opposite sides of a fire he’d built in a small clearing.
On the second night the wind blew too roughly through the trees to start a fire, and we were forced to snuggle together to stay warm. It had started out as a necessity, with both of us covered by the same blankets and me curling into the nook of his arm with my head against his chest. But as the night progressed he turned his body so that our fronts were flush against each other, his warm breath wafting against my face, his breath shaky as he pressed himself against me, hard and ready, inviting me to accept him.
I’d feigned sleep, refusing to open my eyes and give myself away. Always a gentleman, he only tried a moment before giving up and kissing me lightly on the forehead, quickly rolling onto his back, shifting me into the crook of his arm once more.
I slept maybe half an hour the entire night.
* * *
The next day, I couldn’t keep from squirming in the saddle. Eion seemed concerned. “We are almost there, lass. Do ye need me to stop?”
“If it’s alright with you, I’d rather not. Don’t want to risk getting another sticker stuck in my bum.”
“Aye, it’s fine. I’m anxious to finish the ride, as well.”
When we arrived at Kinnaird Castle, we weren’t greeted by Ramsay at the entrance as we were Donal. Instead, we were escorted into a long study, and expected to wait until Ramsay chose to bless us with his presence. I’d never met the man, but I was already sure I wouldn’t like him.
After nearly two hours, he burst through the doors. “Ah, Eoin! What an unexpected surprise. I was verra sorry to hear about yer father’s death, but I’m sure ye will make a fine laird yerself.”
Eoin stepped almost protectively in front of me, and it did nothing to make me like the man more. “Thank ye, Ramsay. It’s been too long. I’d like ye to meet my wife. This is Blaire, Donal MacChristy’s daughter.”
“Aye, I’d heard that ye’d married, but I never imagined she’d be so beautiful. I bet it is lovely to have her warm yer bed at night. Would ye mind if I borrow her for a night, while ye are here?”
Surprising me, Eoin reached out and laced his hand with mine. If I’d been in reach of anything heavy and solid, I would’ve chunked it at the ugly bastard’s head.
“Ach, Eoin, doona fash yerself, I’m only fooling with ye. Come, join me for food and drink, and ye can tell me what has brought ye here. Sylva here will escort Blaire up to yer bedchamber and will have food brought to her.” Ramsay didn’t give Eoin a chance to reply before charging through the doors from which he’d come.
I whirled on him, jerking my hand free. “What? You don’t seriously expect me to eat dinner in my room like a punished child, right?”
He reached forward and grasped both of my hands and brought them to his lips. “I’m sorry, lass. Ramsay’s an arse, but we are guests. We must do as he bids. I need his men if we are to have adequate protection against the attack.
“Fine.” I pulled my hands free of his grasp and started moving toward the door. “Show me to my room, please. I’m a woman. I’m sure it’s too hard for me to find on my own.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes as he moved past me to direct me upstairs.
* * *
