Page 45 of Kilty Plea
“I care about naught else, love.” Once ‘twas said, a weight lifted from Payton’s shoulders. He’d admitted how he felt about her, and the castle hadn’t come crashing down around his head.
“Then…” Gray-green eyes flicked to his, then away. “Why did ye no’…”
Payton sighed and shifted his hold on her. “Because, love. Last night was aboutye. Ye didnae have to do aught for me.”
“I wanted to,” she sniffed.
That sounded like a weak argument to him. She peeked up at him again.
“What about the other nights, Payton?”
Every night since they’d arrived and told his family they were married. Every night since he’d kissed her again.
“Ye…were tired?” he tried.
Flora frowned. “Iwouldnaehave been tired if ye’d been kissing me.”
Och, she was likely correct. He sighed again, hating that he had to spell this out.
“Because, Flora,yedidnae want it.”
She suddenly stiffened, her arms falling away from his neck. “W-what?”
“Ye only offered yer body to me afore because ye needed something from me.” Payton scrubbed his hand over his face. “Do ye no’ understand? ‘Tis the only reasonanywoman would offer herself to me! Whores want money, ladies want influence…”
“And I wanted to find my brother,” Flora finished dully. “That’s what ye think, aye?”
Payton’s arm tightened around her for a moment, before relaxing. He had her in his lap now, aye, but he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. “The abbot offered ye to me, as if ye were some kind of chattel, because he wanted me to be obligated to him. Do ye understand, lass? In my world, fooking is about obligation, and I didnae want that.”
She was staring at the fire again, and he could see the tears in her eyes. Finally, she said quietly, “Nay.”
Nay?
When she turned back to him, her expression fell into a scowl. “Nay. When we’re together, Payton—and wewillbe together—we will nae be fooking.” Anger charged her tone now, and she pushed away from him. “Last night…”
She shook her head as she stood, and he had to curl his hands into fists to keep from reaching for her, pulling her back when she clearly didn’t want to be with him.
But to his surprise, she turned and placed her hands on his shoulders, bending closer. “Last night was the first inkling I had that a man could be aught other than painful.”
His heart clenched at the thought of a man touching her with something besides reverence, but she went on.
“Last night, ye taught me I wasworthcaring for. I wasworthpleasure. I was worth…” She shook her head, then took a deep breath, holding his gaze. “And I ken this.”
Instead of continuing, she leaned forward and kissed him.
Not on the lips, but on his brow.
Then, her lips dropped to the bridge of his nose, which had been destroyed years ago. Then she kissed the scar under his left eye. She used her fingertips to turn his head so she could kiss what remained of his ruined ear.
And each touch of her lips…was like a brand.
He could feel her in his skin, in hissoul. He could feel her breath, taste her heart, close his eyes and still see her brilliant light.
‘Twas a benediction.
“Last night, Payton,” she whispered, “I wanted to bring ye pleasure. No’ because ye broughtmepleasure. No’ because I was obligated…but because yer pleasure would bring me joy.”
He was having trouble taking a breath, but he understood what she meant. “’Twas why I did it,” he admitted.
