Page 35 of The Rogue's Bride
He set his goblet down on the window ledge with a thump. “I’m not sure I would.”
Caitrin heaved in a deep breath. Suddenly, it felt airless inside the solar, despite the fact that she sat next to the open window. Caitrin put down her goblet and rose from the seat, taking a step away from him. “I should go,” she said quietly, her heart racing now. “It’s late.”
Alasdair moved.
One moment, he’d been standing there, watching her with eyes aflame, the next he stepped forward, covering the distance between them. He reached out, grasped Caitrin’s shoulders, and pulled her toward him.
Then he bent his head and kissed her.
It was a searing, hard kiss—and it scattered Caitrin’s thoughts like autumn leaves caught by the wind.
At first, she was shocked and stood there rigid as his mouth slanted over hers. And then the feel of his lips on hers ignited something deep in Caitrin’s belly. His touch made her body quiver.
Still gripping her shoulders, Alasdair pushed Caitrin back against the wall. His lips parted hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth as he deepened the kiss. The hard length of his body pressed up against hers. The spicy male scent of him filled her senses. He kissed her as if he was starved.
Caitrin gave in to the heat of Alasdair’s embrace for a moment, before a chill washed over her.
What am I doing?
If she submitted to this, she’d risk losing everything she’d worked so hard to achieve here at Duntulm. Independence. Respect. She wouldn’t let another man control her. Caitrin’s hands went up to Alasdair’s chest.
Never again.
She braced herself against him, pushing hard.
Alasdair pulled back, surprise filtering over his face. “Caitrin?”
“I can’t,” Caitrin gasped. She slid along the wall, away from him. “We can’t.”
Alasdair frowned, his eyes shadowing with concern. “What’s wrong?”
He took a step toward her, but Caitrin held out a hand, warning him not to come any closer. “No … Alasdair. Please don’t.”
He stopped short, his face going taut. “I’d never hurt ye.”
Caitrin shook her head. She should have seen this moment coming. Tension had been building between them for a while now; it had only been a matter of time.
“This was a mistake,” she whispered.
His features hardened. “We haven’t done anything wrong, Caitrin. All I did was kiss ye.”
“No.” The word ripped from her. “I don’t want this.”
She backed up from him, knocking into the edge of the oaken table that dominated the center of the solar. Then she turned and fled from the chamber.
Alasdair watched Caitrin run from him.
He took two swift steps to follow her and then brought himself up short.
No.
His heart slammed painfully against his ribs as the door to the solar thudded shut, and he heard her footfalls receding quickly down the hallway beyond.
I don’t want this.
The words had struck him like physical blows. They still stung in the aftermath.
Alasdair dragged a hand through his hair and spat out a curse.
