Page 42 of Sinful Scottish Laird
To that, she laughed. “I hope to. He wrote me recently. He had heard of my husband’s death and hoped to reunite. That’s why I came to Scotland. Not to find a husband, but to give Rob time to reach London before the bishop is pounding on my door.”
Cailean stared at her, trying to imagine this tale of two young lovers reunited after all these years. Something about it seemed a wee bit off.
“Please don’t think ill of me,” she begged him. “Haven’t you ever been in love?”
“Aye, of course I have.”
Her countenance suddenly changed. “Youhave?Just as I was beginning to believe you a heartless scoundrel. Who was she?”
“ASassenach,aye? Like you.”
“Like me?” She beamed, pleased with that. “Why didn’t you offer for her?”
“I did,” he said. “I courted her in earnest for two summers, but when I made my offer, she refused me.”
He said it so dispassionately that Daisy giggled. Cailean didn’t smile. “Oh,” she said quietly. “I beg your pardon. I thought you... I’m sorry, Cailean.”
“No,” he said brusquely. There was nothing more demeaning to him than her pity. “It wasna meant to be.”
She reached for his hand and squeezed it affectionately. “And there has been no one else,” she said. “Is that why you’ve never married? You love her still?”
Cailean chuckled and interlaced his fingers with hers. “No, I donna love her.Och, lass, there have been many others. I’m a man, no’ a priest. Never mind me—if you mean to marry this Spivey, why then did you kiss me?”
“Because my husband was ill for many years.” She toyed with the end of his neckcloth. “And neither am I a priest.” She smiled ruefully.
He understood her completely, and his skin began to tingle with anticipation. “You are no’,” he agreed, his hand finding her waist.
“I want... Ineeddiversion. Do you understand?”
Her words shot through him, lighting him up, setting him on fire. The lady needed him, and he was helpless to deny her. He moved forward, pushing her back against the wall. “I understand. What sort of diversion?” he asked, cupping the back of her head, then sliding his hand to her nape. “Attention? A kiss in the larder?” He moved his hand to her collarbone. “Tell me what you need.”
“I’ve already had a kiss in the larder. Andmyname is Daisy,” she said.
“Daisy,”he muttered. “Aye, it suits you to be named for a silly, sunny little flower,” he said, and touched his nose to her temple.
“Do you mean to divert me?” she asked, lifting her face to his.
“That would depend,” he muttered and moved his hand to the swell of her breast, his fingers dipping into her décolletage.
She leaned back and pressed her hand lightly against his chest. “On what?”
“On how you behave.”
Her smile of pleasure deepened into the dimples, and Cailean felt his corruption was complete. He would give whatever this woman wanted from him. He dipped down to kiss her.
She slid her hand up his chest and around his neck, pulled him into her body, and kissed him back, arousing him instantly. Cailean squeezed her hip, then gathered her gown in his hand, reaching for the hem. When he touched her bare leg, Daisy gasped as if touched by ice and bit his lower lip. “Am I behaving?” she asked breathlessly.
Cailean responded by silencing her with another kiss as he slid his hand up her leg. Her skin was lightning to him, singeing every nerve.
She pressed against him. “Scoundrel,” she whispered, and bent her neck so that he might kiss it.
“Diabhal,”he murmured against her skin.
Her breathing shortened; he could feel her body warm, as if she was melting into him. He himself was hot with lust. He moved his hand again, now to the inside of her thigh, soft and smooth, and a shudder of ardor snaked through him.
“A Diah,resist me, Daisy,” he said into her hair. “Think of your future andresistme.”
“I won’t. I refuse,” she said, and drew the lobe of his ear between her teeth. It was a small thing, but it pushed Cailean over the edge. He slipped his fingers in between her legs.
