Page 67 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
“Right. And ye two… ye should think about practicin’ away from here.” Brenda winked at them. “We daenae want Leana endangerin’ anyone with her terrible archery skills.”
“Oi!” Leana complained, while Kenneth and Valerie burst out laughing.
“She’s got a point,” Kenneth relented, closing the distance between them.
Even though they had their backs to the retreating trio, Leana felt nervous. Kenneth’s proximity only served to remind her how fast her heart was capable of beating.
She looked up at him, and he brushed a strand of hair from her face. He brought it to his lips and kissed it very gently, as if he was afraid of breaking her in some way.
Leana felt something inside her unfurl and melt at the gesture.
“Come with me,” Kenneth murmured, running his hand down her arm, caressing it over the silk, and finally taking her hand.
She looked at him, full of doubt, curiosity, and intrigue… But finally, she decided to follow him.
She didn’t care if her heart would be broken at the end of the day. She just wanted to spend one more moment with him.
Just one more stolen moment before she had to say goodbye.
CHAPTER 22
“Nay, nae like that,”Kenneth said, lifting Leana’s arm a little higher.
His hand, firm in its grip, came to rest on her shoulder, before sliding down her arm and resting on her hips.
Unable to help herself, Leana sucked in a breath. She was just following instructions, avoiding looking at the Laird, who was at her back. But she could feel him.
She could feel his warmth, his presence, the authority in his husky, slightly raspy voice, and the hint of muscle that brushed against her from time to time when their bodies were close.
She tried to deny the power all those little details had over her, but it was impossible for her not to admit how much she wanted him.
“That. Now, focus on the target and pull the strin’ toward ye.”
To help her, Kenneth moved a little closer. His body brushed tantalizingly against hers as he held her firmly.
Leana inhaled, and after a moment, she exhaled deeply.
I cannae take this anymore. If I keep pretendin’ I daenae want this, I’ll die…
She looked up at him. His square chin was framed invitingly by the thick curtain of dark hair that floated in the wind.
There, in front of the imposing cliff where they had settled to train, Leana felt as if there was no one else in the world but the two of them.
Unable to help herself, she let go of the bow and arrow, and only then did Kenneth lower his face to look at her.
Her heart pounded in her chest. “I’ve missed ye,” she confessed in a whisper.
Kenneth’s fingers glided slowly, carefully over her face. The lesson seemed to have faded into the background. For suddenly, they both had more pressing matters to deal with.
Fortunately, Kenneth seemed to get the hint. His lips didn’t hesitate, nor did his body.
He took her by the chin, causing her to turn around so that they were facing each other. He lowered his face, and she rose on her tiptoes, opening her mouth in anticipation of his kiss.
A moan left her lips as they met halfway.
Leana wrapped her arms around Kenneth’s neck, while his hand cupped her cheek and the other cradled her neck. His mouth crashed down on hers, claiming her as if he had never let her go.
It was a passionate kiss, one in which they had a silent conversation, telling each other, like two devoted lovers, how much they had missed each other. Kenneth stroked Leana’s face as his tongue confidently explored her mouth, and her knees almost buckled at the sensation. Her doubts evaporated as she surrendered to the longing that had gripped her the past few days.
