Page 47 of Bride of the Wicked Laird
Her next arrow went a tiny bit astray from the center mark, but not enough for her to be dismayed. She was still confident that her arrows were better positioned than those of Everard.
She handed the bow to him. “We’ve one more attempt. This will show us who is tae be the winner.”
He took the bow and nocked his arrow. His dashing smile had vanished, replaced by a grimly set jaw and his eyes fixed unblinking on the target. She held her breath. Her purchasing excursion to the fair was riding on this next shot.
And so was the kiss.
Not daring to breathe, she waited. Sure enough, the arrow flew true and keen to splice apart the second arrow she’d fired. It had been her best shot, already lodged deep in the very heart of the target.
She gasped.How can I ever hope tae best that?
And, by God’s bones, the laird’s eyes were shing with triumph.
Planting her feet apart, she took the bow, setting her nerves to steel, her hand as steady as the rock beneath Castle Kiessimul, her eyes on the prize.
Breathing in and out slowly, she brought herself to the moment when there was nothing in her thoughts but the distant target and the arrow standing upright at its center.
She drew back the string, released the arrow and closed her eyes.
At the sound of Everard’s gasp beside her, her eyes sprang open and she dared to look at the target. It took a moment for her to come to grips with what she saw. Her arrow had split his last shot in two, just as his had cleaved her second arrow apart.
“Well done lass.” He gave his head a disbelieving shake. “By me calculations we’ve scored exactly the same fer our efforts.”
Her heart stammered as she grasped all that that meant.
“It seems ye’ve a purse tae spend.” He was laughing as he reached for her hands and twirled her around. Breathless, dizzy with delight she ended up almost in his arms, heart pounding, laughter bubbling up.
I’ve done it. I’ve shown the laird I am his equal. At least where the bow and arrows are concerned.
Her eyes widened at the prospect of visiting the fair, but alas it was still some days off. She allowed herself a little happy dream of the scarf and earbobs and, mayhap, a sweet treat.
As her eyes lit on the arrows still lodged in the target, she caught her breath, making a mental tally as she did so. Ten arrows. First Everard’s and then hers. Studying the position of each of them, clearly added up to an equal score for their efforts.
She had won the purse. But he had won the kiss.
“Ye will have tae curb yer impatience fer the purchases ye will make…” he was saying. But she was hardly listening. Her blood was running thick at the prospect of him claiming his reward. A sudden tingling was coursing through her, starting with her lips, descending to her belly and rushing all the way to the forbidden place between her thighs.
She lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, their ice-blue had darkened so that they were almost the color of sapphires.
“…but it is trying me sorely tae curb me impatience fer our kiss.”
With that, she was in his arms. Whether she’d propelled herself there or whether he’d simply wound her tighter, she could not tell
All at once she was close enough to breathe in his scent of leather and smoke and feel his breath in her hair. It was like the dreams she had, where he was holding her.
He brushed a wayward tress back from her forehead and smiled down at her and she saw longing in his eyes. His body was hot and hard against her, and she could scarce believe he was holding her as if she was beautiful and made of precious porcelain.
She raised her face, waiting and longing to feel the kiss she knew would come.
His lips hovered over hers for what seemed an eternity.Has he changed his mind? He daesnae wish tae kiss me?
“Me laird. Ye won the rights tae me kiss. Have ye decided that ye dinnae wish tae claim it now?” The words were out before she could stay them.
He looked to the sky as if he was hoping to find an answer there. Still keeping her close, he shook his head.
“Davina, I ken ye’ve nae been kissed before. Are ye certain that ye dinnae mind me claiming me prize?”
She looked up at him with pink cheeks.
