Page 15 of Claimed
They reached the landing at the top of the stairs, and Lady Drew tripped. She would have fallen against the wall if Carr hadn’t leaped forward and caught her around the hips, hauling her back against him.
For the briefest of instants, their bodies were pressed flush together. He felt the slender length of her back against his chest, the curve of her buttocks against his groin.
Heat surged through his lower body, and Carr pushed her away from him, panic clamping around his chest.
The last thing he needed was to humiliate himself right now.
However, Lady Drew hadn’t noticed. She gave an embarrassed laugh and tottered away from him.
“Apologies, Broderick … I think I may have over imbibed tonight.”
Aye, he thought grimly. She had—they both had.
And yet the words that had passed between them, the lingering looks, were an unexpected gift, stolen moments that Carr couldn’t bring himself to regret. He’d treasure them till the end of his days.
Lady Drew stumbled along the hallway and reached a door, her fingers curling around the handle.
“Milady.” Carr stepped quickly to her side and drew her back. “That isn’t yer bed-chamber.”
Drew glanced up, turning her face fully to him, her eyes widening. “It isn’t?”
For a long moment, their gazes fused. Carr was aware then of just how close they were standing. They were so near that he could see the fine texture of her skin, the darker flecks of slate against the smoke grey in her eyes. She smelt of rosemary and lavender.
Carr could hear the ‘thud’ of his heart against his ribs. He was acutely aware too of the fact that his fingers now tingled, for he ached to touch her.
He swallowed. This wasn’t good—not at all.
The moment lengthened, and Drew’s eyes darkened, the pupils growing large, her Cupid’s bow lips parting.
The Lord have mercy. He wasn’t made out of stone. This woman’s nearness was heady; it had far more effect upon him than bramble wine. A dull ache throbbed under his breastbone, the pain reminding him of just how impossible his yearning for this woman was.
Tonight had been both pleasure and pain, yet he had to put an end to things now, before he did something he would seriously regret in the morning.
Lady Drew’s senses were addled with wine, her defenses lowered. He wouldn’t take advantage of her.
“That room is mine, milady,” he said softly, taking a deliberate step back and gently pushing her in the right direction. “Sleep well.”
Drew stepped into her bed-chamber and pushed the door closed behind her. Leaning her back against it, she took a deep, steadying breath. Around her, the shadowy room had started to spin. She needed to get to her bed, before she fell over.
Lord, that wine has addled my brains.
Had she imagined it, outside in the hallway, or had Carr Broderick almost kissed her?
She’d gazed up into his face and seen hunger in his eyes. Standing so close to him had turned her breathless. His closeness, the warmth of his body, and the scent of leather and musky, virile male had overwhelmed her. She’d leaned into him then, wanting him to lower his lips to hers—yet he hadn’t.
Drew raised a trembling hand and touched her mouth. She wished he had kissed her.
This trip from Dunan to Inishail hadn’t begun as she’d expected. They hadn’t even left Skye, and it had already turned into an adventure. A brawl and a revealing conversation that made her see the man who’d been charged with her protection in a completely different light—tonight was memorable to say the least.
“I’m feeling unwell.”
Lady Drew’s comment, muttered between clenched teeth, made Carr glance over at her. He perched at the bow of the barge that was taking them across the water to the mainland.
Carr frowned, taking in her pale face and the lines of tension around her mouth. “It’s not long now till we dock, milady,” he murmured.
“I’m not sure I can wait till then.” As if to make her point, Drew clutched at her belly, her pallor increasing.
Kyle of Lochalsh loomed before them, a cluster of stone cottages with thatched roofs rising out of the mist. Around them, the waters of Loch Carron were dark and still this morning. The crossing wasn’t rough at all, although Carr knew that wasn’t the reason why the lady was unwell.
