Page 40 of Kilty Plea
“Come here,” he murmured, shifting her so her head rested on his shoulder and her thigh was thrown over his. This allowed her to focus on the dull throbbing in her core, with her chemise still gathered around her hips.
What hadthatbeen about?
In her previous experiences with men—when she’d arrived at the Abbey—Flora had learned that they were simple creatures, caring only about their pleasure. Oh, she’d known that sexcouldbe enjoyable for a woman, but she’d seen no evidence that men worried about that pleasure.
Payton had shown her unimaginable pleasure, and had done it without expectation of reciprocation. Wait, actually…
She pushed herself up to see him staring at the bed’s canopy, his free hand stacked behind his head. When she glanced down his body, ‘twas to see him still wearing his kilt, and aye, ‘twas tented in the front.
Her hand rested atop his chest, her fingers spread, so she could feel the strong beat of his heart. ‘Twould be simple enough to move her hand lower, to caress that erection. To slip her hand beneath his kilt and stroke his cock. To put it in her mouth.
Shewantedto.
“Payton?”
“Go to sleep, Flora,” he said quietly, lowly. Without looking at her.
“But…” She moved her hand down his chest, and in the blink of an eye, he’d captured that hand, pressing it against his stomach.
Then he turned to her and pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Ye dinnae need to do aught ye dinnae want—I mean, do aught for me. Go to sleep, Flora.”
She wasn’t certain what he was trying to tell her. Shewantedto do this, to bring him the same pleasure he’d brought her.
But her eyelidswereheavy, and she felt sodrainedafter that explosion of pleasure.
And he was holding her again.
“Go to sleep, lass,” he commanded once more.
So, she obeyed.
Chapter 8
The rideback to MacIntyre Castle—Payton couldn’t call ithome, not when he’d felt such surprising contentment at the tower house—wasn’t silent, but it didn’t feel as comfortable as yesterday’s journey had been.
Tonight was Hogmanay, and the days would start getting longer. This should be a time of celebration, but he didn’t feel it.
His moods were tuned to the woman in his lap, and Flora seemed…sad. Withdrawn. A few times, he thought he felt her gaze on his face, but when he glanced down, she was staring over his shoulder, gaze thoughtful.
He wanted to ask what she was thinking of, but also…didn’t. Half afraid he wouldn’t like the answer.
What would happen, in a few short days, when he had to return to the King’s side? Flora could be happy in the tower house—she’d said that. It would be a good home for Lenny, a good place to raise a lad. And bairns—
What? Nay!
He wasn’t sure where that thought had come from, and Flora hadn’t…
He sighed, ruffling her hair in the process.
Since he’d known her, she’d made it clear all she wanted was to find her brother. She didn’t want Payton. She hadn’t even understood why he’d lied to his family about her. Last night he’d wanted herso badly…but he didn’t take what she’d offered.
Because he’d known, ultimately, that she hadn’t wanted that.
Not really.
She didn’t wanthim.
She’d been offering out of obligation; the same way she’d offered herself to him—for hisuse—the first night of their journey together.
