Page 31 of Don't Give A Damn About My Plaid Reputation
“‘Tis my wish to have peace for my clan. We’re small, and I’ve been fighting Ian Murray since afore my da died and I became laird. An alliance would provide for my people.”
He knew he sounded defeated. Hefeltdefeated.
After a long moment, he heard her move closer. When she spoke, she was right behind him. “Ye’re a good man, Kester MacBain. A good laird.”
He closed his eyes, imagining he couldfeelher heat pressed against his back. “I’m no’.” His voice was raw. “If I were a good man, I wouldnae have fallen in love with ye.”
Well, shite.
He heard her slow inhale. “Are…are ye sure ye meant to say that out loud already? We’re only halfway through.”
“Through what?” He opened his eyes to find the vista of the loch hadn’t changed.
“Through….” ‘Twas easy to imagine her flapping her hands about, in that adorable way of hers. “Throughthis. Our story. Fifty percent seems a bit early.”
He turned. “Lass, whatareye talking about?”
“I dinnae ken!” she all-but-wailed, her eyes wide. Although he couldn’t see it in the dim light, ‘twasnae difficult to guess she was panicked. “I came out here to convince ye I dinnae need yer love—“
“Ye dinnae,” he declared sharply, reaching for her hands. Shite, his were still sticky, but he squeezed anyhow. “Robena, I’m nae good for ye. Yedinnaeneed my love.”
Her eyes were wide. “But I have it,” she whispered.
Well, shite again.
He couldn’t deny it, so he said naught.
“Kester….” When she took a deep breath, her shoulders expanded beneath that ridiculous shirt she wore. “Ye’ve said ye…care for me. I understand now why ye think we couldnae be together, at Oliphant Castle, but….”
When she trailed off, he found himself leaning closer. “But what?” he finally prompted.
She lifted his hands to her lips. Holding his gaze as well as could be expected in the reflected moonlight, she brushed a kiss to his knuckles.
He barely managed to keep from shuddering, and under his kilt, his cock was rock-hard.
“We’re no’ at Oliphant Castle,” she whispered. “We’re no’ at the Highland Games. Here and now, we’re standing alone beside a loch. Nae past, nae future, Kester.”
God’s Blood, he didn’t want to hear this from her.
Well, aye, hedidwant to hear this—wanted it more than his next breath—but each word out of her mouth wore down his resistance.
Be strong.
“I understand yer commitment to yer clan, and to the King.” She flattened his hands against her chest and held him there. He could feel her heart pounding against his palms. “But ye have a commitment to yer heart as well.”
He swallowed. “Nay.”
And of course, she ignored his whisper. “Here and now, Kester MacBain. That’s all I’m asking from ye. I want nae commitment, I want nae vows. Just…here and now.”
Unbidden, he swayed toward her, his attention on her lips. On her words.
God’s Wounds, he wanted to say aye, to agree. But….
“I cannae hurt ye that way.”
“Ye’ll no’ hurtme, because I’m asking for it. And nae one else will find out.”
She had a point.
