Page 45 of Sinbound to the Highlander
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Almost lost in the sudden rush of his desire, Evan took a moment to understand what Freya said. Her eyes were wide and filled with fear and regret, and her lips, bitten-red and plump with his kisses, were now in a thin, flat line.
Panicked, he rushed to apologize, “I dinnae mean to scare ye, I—”
Shaking her head, Freya laid a hand on his, softly prying him away from her breast, “We cannae do this, Evan. Me sister, Elspeth, would be devastated. Ye are goin’ to marry her. And besides, someone might have seen us.”
Evan slipped her from his lap to the seat beside him, “If we were seen, I’d own up to it. And the marriage, I’m nae sure about marryin’ her anymore.”
His words had Freya backing away, “Is it me? Is it because of what we did? Evan—”
A thumb was laid across her lips, sealing the nervous words from escaping, “Shh, nay sweeting, t’was nay ye or what we just did. Honestly, I’ve had me doubts from the first time I was alone with Elspeth. She is rather…spoiled and selfish.”
“Then why are ye still makin’ to marry her?” Freya asked, then winced. “I dinnae mean it that way. I mean, if ye’re nay happy, why marry her? Why carry us here, to yer home, if ye are nay sure ye want to wed her?”
“It’s complicated,” Evan sighed. “I cannae just break the betrothal because I see how self-centered she is. Her parents are blinded to it and will never take me at me word, above hers. I need them to see who she is and why I cannae marry her.”
“So, this was a ploy?” Freya asked.
“More of a last effort for her to show me she can be a better person,” Evan replied. “I’ve tried to give her me doubts, but I have little faith that aside from divine intervention, she’ll change.”
“And me?” Freya asked, nervously. “Why did ye kiss me?”
“Ye need to listen to those who truly see ye and tell ye that ye are lovely, nay only in the face, but yer heart, sweetling,” Evan said. “‘Tis as pure, refined gold. Ye have had so little, but ye are willing to give so much. I told ye, I dinnae care about yer schoolin’ or yer freckles. I ken ye are a lovely person, inside and out.”
With her cheeks pinking, Freya asked, “Thank ye, but where does that leave us?”
Sagging into the wooden bench, Evan tilted his head back as if he could see the stars through the roof, then, shook his head. “I wish I could give ye a firm answer, but I need the Milleson’s to see Elspeth’s behavior and meet me half way. It feels weak, another man might just break the engagement and have it done for, but I do need Laird Lobhdain in me corner in case another war comes along. I cannae alienate him for me selfish reasons, or me people would suffer.”
She leaned into him, “I understand. In any case, thank ye. I now ken what it is to kiss.”
If only that was all I wanted.
Shifting so she could fit into the crook of his neck, Evan slid a hand down her arm. “I wanted to do that from the first moment I saw ye,” he admitted. “But I ken it wouldnae be right. And my head was all sort of confused. ‘Twas the same day, Elspeth showed me how vain she was.”
“How?” Freya asked.
Bending his head, to meet a tuft of her hair, he decided not to sour the mood anymore, “I’d rather nay speak of it.” Dropping a kiss on her forehead, he added, “I ken it’s time to go back in. Ye might be missed if ye stay out any longer.”
Reluctantly, he pulled away and helped her to stand. Holding her close, Evan promised, “I’ll sort this out, I promise.”
He led her back into the castle and left her in the corridor to her room. Freya’s hand slipped through his and left a lasting touch as she went to her door and went inside. On the way to his quarters, Evan vowed to find a way to convince Laird and Lady Lobhdain to let him marry Freya, if Elspeth showed her true colors.
Freya’s touch lingered with him when he poured out a cup of wine to have besides the roaring fireplace. He smiled at the flickering flames with pity; he doubted they were as hot as the liquid fire that had coursed through his blood when kissing Freya.
Her body was a perfect fit in his arms, slender and supple, like a young sapling. How Freya had reacted to his touch was pouring oil onto a bonfire, so eagerly, and so naturally, spurring him into crossing a line he never did when he was with a woman. Her breasts on his chest had begged to be touched, to be held, caressed. He’d obliged, and her response had made him begin to harden.
She was right in stoppin’ us; otherwise, I might have done somethin’ we’d both regret.
The best thing he had done was to stop them, but that did not stop the regret, or the lingering arousal that was taking a long time to leave his system, for a good reason. Looking back on Freya’s eyes when he’d touched her nipples, he felt the flame flare again.
Swirling the wine, he thought of what activities he would take Elspeth and Freya on the next day. Perhaps they would like to see the countryside, and the coast, the massive stones standing tall on the sands of Laigh of Moray, or see the ruins of Elgin Cathedral.
Oh, right, Elspeth doesnae ride, and Freya doesnae ken how to.
Maybe it would be best to separate them, as Freya had stated that her sister was not all that fond of her. Or, was it best to see them interact first? He placed the goblet on a table, went to disrobe and wash. Tomorrow would tell how the week was going to be, and dearly did he hope that it would be a telling one.
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