Page 16 of Married to the Highland Devil
He still massaged her toes then smoothed his hand up her leg and gently lowered it to the ground.
“Ye must be very careful. You arenae used to your surroundings here. If you dinnae mind, I will help ye with the bath.”
She panicked and bolted to her feet. Being this close to him made her body burn, and she was not used to the feeling. Not at all.
He helped her out of her dress next, his hands caressing some parts of her back as he did. She did not know how to respond to all of that emotion, so she sucked in a deep breath.
Standing in front of him in her undergarments, she felt very exposed. Duncan took her hand and led her to the tub then waited till she got in and sat.
“Do ye need anything else?”
“Not yet,” she told him.
She waited till she heard his retreating footsteps then closed her eyes and let the heat of the water seep through her skin and ease her nerves.
He made her so nervous.
How can I sleep tonight? With him by my side?
She stayed in the water for a long time then finally called for him to come with a nightdress. He left before she put it on then returned to walk her to the bed.
Amelia snuggled into the covers he threw over her body and closed her eyes once he extinguished the flames in the fireplace. She had never slept on the same bed with a man before.
Having Duncan’s hard body next to hers was too much to bear.
She could not shut her mind off or find a way to sleep, so she turned around, hoping she was facing him then moved her hands and tried to touch his face.
When she heard his large intake of breath, she knew he was awake and drew away immediately.
“I am sorry,” she murmured and tucked her hand away.
“Dinnae apologize to me,” he said in a raspy tone.
“I wanted to know if you were asleep. I cannot find sleep when I am not in my own bed.”
“What can I do?” He moved closer to her, and she felt his arm move around her waist.
Amelia sucked in a deep breath and moved her hand to his chest. She did not know what was going on, but it felt like his nearness did not make her any less bothered than she already was.
His face was close to hers now, and she held her breath, unable to breathe normally with him this close to her. Amelia squeezed her eyes shut when she felt him inch closer.
He is going to kiss me.
But she only felt his lips brush over her forehead.
“I meant it the other night,” he said. “When I said ye were bonnie, Amelia. I meant it. Yer bonnie.”
Amelia did not know what to say to him. No one had ever complimented her like this before, and she felt a light quiver in her stomach.
“No one besides my parents has ever said that to me before,” she told him.
She pressed her lips together, and her mind slowly started to relax when he began stroking her back. The moment was so sweet, she could not think of anything but enjoy the moment.
She finally relaxed fully, and Duncan’s strong hand returned to her waist. Amelia felt safe, and she could feel herself drifting off to sleep, listening to Duncan’s soft breathing. It would have been the perfect night. But when she woke up in the morning, Duncan was nowhere to be found.
8
Duncan only showed up later that morning to inform her they would leave immediately after breakfast. The ride after that was silent, and Amelia wished she could take in the sight around them.
