Page 35 of Kilty Plea
He tried to show her all the things he couldn’t put into words. The feelings he couldn’t even put intothoughts.
He tried to show her the way she madehimfeel, as if he was a hero. As if he mattered, even among his chaotic family. He tried to show her how she kept him calm and focused.
Judging from her little moan, and the way she leaned into him, it didn’t quite work.
After a long moment, he became aware of noises behind him. Lenny apparently disapproved of the kiss, judging from the retching noises he was making. At least, Paytonhopedthey were mere noises, and the lad wasn’t actually puking his breakfast up at the sight of two people in love—
What?
Payton pulled away, staring into hazel eyes, hazy with desire.In love? Was he in love with Flora? He’d known her for such a short time…
Stop fighting it. Ye’re in love.
A smile surprised him, bursting across his lips with the suddenness of an autumn storm, and she smiled softly, shyly in response.
Ye love her, aye.
She’d offered herself to him once before. And everyone already thought them married… But he’d lived most of his adult life with a horrific scar across his face, and knew he was no prize. He’d wait.
He’d wait untilFlorawanted him forhim, not for what he could give her or do for her.
Her hand was pressed against his chest, and he wondered if she could feel how frantically it beat. For her.
A small throat cleared behind him. “Flora, all things considered,” the lad announced, “tell Payton I think I’ll find someplace else to sleep tonight.”
Chapter 7
Flora didn’tlike the idea of her younger brother sleeping in the stables, but as it happened, his vow to move out of the chamber she’d been sharing with Payton didn’t matter, because there was barely time for sleeping any longer.
When the MacIntyres Yuled, they Yuledhard.
Did ye just verb the noun “Yule”?
Aye, one could verb aught if one tried hard enough.
Like right there. Where ye verbed the noun “verb”?
Exactly.
Between the log-lighting, the merry-making, and the holy Masses, Flora felt strung-out, like a piece of catgut drying for a lute-string.
No’ a flattering analogy.
In the days following that kiss in the forest, she barely had a moment alone with Payton, and when she did, they did little more than talk about their plans or their days. Och, at night, ‘twas still wonderful to curl up in his arms to sleep, and sometimes they kissed…but more often than not, she was too tired to keep her eyes open, and he chuckled and pulled her up against him.
But when she wasn’t with him, the memory of that kiss kept Flora flushed and smiling. Payton had said he hadn’t wanted to be parted from her! That was why he’d lied to his family, told them they were married.
‘Twas no holy vow or plan for the future…
But for now, ‘twas good enough.
On the one hand, she couldn’t wait for Hogmanay to be over, so she and Payton could have some peace and quiet together.
On the other hand, once the new year started, he was due back at court, at the King’s side, fulfilling his role as a Hunter. She wasn’t at all certain what that would mean for her place in his life, or if she’d even have one.
And on the third hand—this was getting out of hand—she couldn’t wish the holidays to pass too quickly, because Lenny was so excited about them.
Their mother had died giving birth to the lad, so Flora—being so much older—had done what she could to ensure Lenny had a happy childhood…up until the bandit attack. But their Yule and Hogmanay celebrations had been simple, unlike the celebrations at MacIntyre Castle.
