Page 22 of Kilty By Association
His hold tightened. “Ye are.”
“Then why…” ‘Twas as if the words had slipped from her lips, and Elspeth uttered a little groan and dropped her gaze once more.
“Why what?” he whispered, stroking her cheek. “Elspeth, talk to me.”
Her tongue flicked across her lower lip, and he felt her take a deep breath. “I dinnaefeellike a good mother. Sometimes I resent them.”
“I think that’s natural, especially considering the freedom ye used to have.”
“They changed my body.”
He felt himself smiling. “Yer body has naught to be concerned about, milady.” To prove the point, he shifted his palm away from her hip and around to her back.
She didn’t smile, but she didn’t pull away either. “Sometimes…” Her tone was that of a penitent at confession. “Sometimes, I dinnae think of them at all.”
For all he knew, ‘twas a perfectly natural thing for mothers. But he said, “Och, aye?”
“Aye.” Her gaze slowly lifted until ‘twas locked on his lips. “Like now. Right now, I’m no’ thinking of them at all.”
Craig’s heart began to beat faster, and he felt a stirring beneath his kilt. “N-now? What are ye thinking of instead?”
Her voice was a mere whisper, but he felt it in his soul. “Kissing ye.” Her gaze rose to meet his. “Is that horrible? I havenae felt this urge, thisdesire, in so long, I dinnae ken—”
Craiglikelyshould’ve continued talking to her. Likely should’ve heard her feelings and her fears and her concerns. Likely should’ve assured her this was normal and natural, and he would never do aught she didn’t want. Likely should have shoved the helm atop his head and walked away.
But he could be an idiot at times, and instead, he kissed her.
He pressed her against him, tipped her head back with his hold, and claimed her lips as his own.
Again.
And something deep inside him, something primitive and primal, howled in satisfaction when she made a little whimpery noise and wrapped her arms around his neck to return the kiss.
This wasn’t as frantic as the kiss they’d shared in that tavern. Nay, this was gentler, as if they were both exploring. Tongues teased, and Craig found himself smiling when Elspeth took his lower lip between hers and tugged.
His hand stroked her neck, then lower, and when he cupped her breast through the plain traveling gown she wore, she arched into his hold with a pleased gasp. He shifted, trying to hide his growing erection, but Elspeth’s movement stilled him. Her pelvis rocked forward, her warmth capturing him.
And then she began to rub against him, and Craig heard hisowngroan.
Elspeth was the one to pull away with a gasp, her fingers tight in the overgrown hair at the back of his neck.
“Craig,” she murmured, breathing hard.
“I’m sorry, milady.” But he didn’t drop his hand. In fact, he shifted his hand so that her breast fit more snugly in his hold and brushed his thumb across her nipple.
He saw a spark jump in her brown gaze, saw her nostrils flare, saw her lips curl a moment before she dragged him back down to meet her lips once more.
And aye, he smiled throughout this kiss as well.
They were both breathing hard when they heard the small voice calling.
“Mama? Mama, where are ye?”
Craig broke away from Elspeth, stepping to the side in time to see wee Katharine go trotting by. She wasn’t looking their way, but was in fact heading straight for the brambles. Hereleased Elspeth and lunged for her daughter, scooping the mischievous little imp in his arms as she squealed.
“Put me down, ye brigand!”
“Brigand, aye?” he rumbled, settling her atop his shoulders. “Ye’ve been listening to Brigit’s stories.”
