Page 32 of Kilty By Association
Nay, she was not. She just…
Dinnae want to be impregnated by a blacksmith-turned-bodyguard?
Nay!
Nay, the idea of carrying Craig’s son or daughter was…well, itshouldn’tmake her heart tighten in wanting.
‘Twould make things infinitely more complicated right now, that was for certes.
“Elspeth…” His whisper floated around her, caressing her skin, even as his fingers spread across her back, tucking her impossibly closer. “Thank ye.”
She felt herself smiling but didn’t lift her head. ‘Twas too dark to see anything, anyhow. Might as well just focus on thefeelof his heat, the taste of his skin. The sound of his heart beating beneath her palm.
“I should be thanking ye.”
“Nay,” he rumbled, drawing his other hand up her back to cup her head. “I never expected someone like ye could look atme…”
“Ye are magnificent.” She kissed his chest. “Yeweremagnificent.Thank ye, Craig, for such pleasure. Nae one has ever cared about me enough to concern themselves with my pleasure.”
He was quiet for a long moment, then exhaled hard enough she could feel it tickle the small hairs near her ear. “Then thank ye for allowing me to take care of ye, love.”
Love.
The endearment made her smile again. ‘Twas likely said without thinking, the way he called her daughterssweet. But here and now, she could pretend it meant something more.
His beard tickled her, but she was too comfortable to move. So, she snaked her fingers up between them and pushed aside the bristles, feeling a bit like Mary, who’d fallen asleep in his arms earlier—dear God in Heaven, had it only been that morning?
Had her world been altered so beautifully in only a day?
But…
Craig was a King’s Hunter, assigned to protect her son. He would travel with them to Dungotit and solve the mystery of who was endangering them, and then…and then? And then he’d return to Scone. Being a Hunter wasn’t a hobby, something he could simplycease.
Nay, this was an enjoyable interlude, but there was no future for the two of them, no matter how delightful it might be to imagine being safe in his arms forever.
Under her ear, his heart beat strongly, reminding her he wouldn’t let her down. He’d protect Robbie as he’d vowed.
Craig was slowly stroking her skin, and she found herself quite cozy. The adventures of the day were finally catching up with her. Here in the dark, surrounded by his warmth and his heartbeat, she felt her eyelids growing heavy.
Beneath her, he suddenly stiffened.
Confused, Elspeth lifted her head…
And realized the beating she’d been hearing wasn’t his heartbeat. “What is that?” she breathed as the pounding slowly faded.
She couldn’t be certain, but in the darkness shethoughtshe saw the gleam of his smile, right before he pulled her down and tucked her beneath his chin once more.
Despite how messy they both were, he wrapped his arms around her, seeming content to hold her. Her husband had always left her bed immediately after the act, but Craig… Craig wascherishingher, wasn’t he?
“Unless I’m verra much mistaken,” came his amused whisper near her hair as she was falling asleep, “That, love, was the Ghostly Drummer of Oliphant Castle, telling me I’m doomed.”
Chapter 7
Craigknewhe shouldn’t be thinking about his heart this morning. What happened last night—hisheartshouldn’t have been involved at all. ‘Twas just two people, coming together for mutual satisfaction, aye?
So why did he feel so…lighttoday? Why was there a bounce in his step? Even wee Katharine had remarked upon it when he’d gone to fetch her and Robbie from the nursery.
“Ye’re happy this morning. I’m no’.” She’d tried to kick him in the shin. “Nurse dinnae let me put honey on my porridge.”
