Page 50 of The Mad Highlander
“Ye should come closer, so ye dinnae feel as much of the chill,” the Laird suggested. He didn’t wait for Iris to respond and pulled her tight into his embrace as he trod water for both of them. As soon as her body was against his, she felt some warmth on her front, even if the rest of her was chilled by the water.
“How does that feel?” Cayden asked.
“Aye, that does feel better,” Iris admitted. “Perhaps ye could have led with this being what ye had in mind and nae how refreshin’ the cold water is.”
“Isn’t it, though?” Cayden took a deep breath. “Just look around ye! Is it nae beautiful?”
Iris looked around, safely encompassed in Cayden’s arms. “Aye, it is bonny out here. Yer sister made a good recommendation.”
“Och, she likes to think that she found this place first as if me and me brother didnae come down here all the time when we were bairns. I let her think she found it first only because of how happy she was when she came back to the castle that day. She must only have been eleven.”
“She’s lucky to have ye,” Iris told him. “Ye protect her well.”
“Ye have to protect the ones who need it,” Cayden replied. “That’s the most important thing in the world.”
They stared into each other’s eyes as they floated on the loch, the sun beating down from above but doing far less to warm Iris than the Laird’s hard body against her. The cold didn’t feel as cold anymore.
“I ken ye have to go, and I ken it is to save me brother, and I appreciate that more than anything anyone has ever done for me, but I still wish ye didnae have to go. I wish ye could stay here with me.”
“Aye, I wish that, too,” Cayden admitted. “When I come back, we will have many more picnics together. We’ll explore the grounds and the countryside and enjoy each other’s company.”
“I would like that,” Iris agreed. She let out a small giggle.
“What are ye thinkin’ now?” Cayden asked, smiling at hearing her laugh.
“I was only thinkin’ about the stag. When I heard the rustlin’ in the trees, I thought someone had come to attack us. I had a panic in me breast. Thankfully, it was only the stag. Still, can ye imagine if we heard that noise now instead of back then? I think it might be funny as I ken me arms would be flappin’ around in the water like a bird about to drown.”
“That would be a sight to behold,” the Laird admitted. “I would be out of the water in an instant to take care of it.”
“I ken ye would. And even if I dinnae like ye goin’ after me brother, I ken ye will save him. I’ve never met another man like ye.”
Cayden’s blue eyes softened, becoming less bright and a little warmer. “I’ve never met a lass like ye,” he replied. “We were forced together, but if I had kenned ye afore that, I would choose ye over any other lass in the country.” There was a moment before Cayden added, “Course, it has always been near impossible to get any lass when most think ye are mad.”
Iris brought up her hand to Cayden’s cheek, holding it there. “Aye, but they only ken yer reputation and nae the man ye are. Ye are nae mad. Ye are strong and protective. Ye are nae what yer reputation suggests.”
Cayden pulled her toward him more. There was no gap between them, and Iris felt her breasts squashed against his chest. She gripped his back and pulled to squash herself even more against him.
His lips met hers, and he kissed her gently. He held his lips to hers, and the cold water was forgotten. Iris could not feel anything except his touch—she was numb to everything else. She brought one hand up to the back of his head, running her fingers through his wet hair. The kiss was not a passionate one, but it was far from emotionless.
Iris felt lost in the kiss. He was leaving her soon, and the kiss felt like a goodbye. It felt like the sort of kiss someone would give someone else if it were to be the last kiss they would share.
When they came apart, Iris thought she might cry.
“Ye dinnae really ken anything about me reputation, do ye?” Cayden asked. “The actual reasons they call me the mad laird. Not the blood in the hall or the bones of me enemies but the real reasons.”
He was scaring her now. She was convinced she knew who he was, but she was now doubting that. She didn’t know how to respond to him.
“Before I leave the castle, ye deserve to ken who I really am,” Cayden said.
21
Cayden had never shied away from anything in his life, but as he got out of the water, he thought about backtracking. It was foolish to bring up anything when he was leaving so soon. He wanted to get back in the water and kiss her properly—give her the kiss she deserved.
Cayden climbed onto the bank and reached back to help Iris out. He pulled her up onto the grass and wrapped his arms around her to warm her body. Iris’ cream dress was soaked through, and it highlighted her silhouette. He should be thinking of that instead of his past.
He was thinking of her, but the past weighed heavier on his mind. He had too much respect for her not to give her the truth, no matter what that would do to them. She had changed him since she had arrived at the castle, and that gave him the strength to be honest with her.
Cayden rubbed her back, longing to rub her front, too. He could not remember a situation where his mind had trumped his desires.
