Page 50 of Tempting the Highland Devil
Arran cleared his throat and tried to recall the most eventful of his journeys. “I visited Rome,” he began then placed his hand on hers and began telling her of his experience in the great land.
They sat there for longer than he realized, and soon, he had finished all the berries in their basket. Yvaine laughed easily and made hand gestures as she told him of her desire to travel out of the Highlands one day.
“Ye dinnae ken how lucky ye are to have experienced all of these thin’s,” she said to him as a gleam spread in her eyes.
“I am indeed lucky,” he whispered, his heart swelling with emotions he did not know he could experience. Arran believed he was lucky but not because he had traveled and experienced a different life than what they were used to on the Highlands.
He was lucky because of her.Because with her I can dare to hope and dream of being a better laird and a better man.
Arran allowed the tides sweeping through him take control as she laughed and grinned at him.
“Perhaps one day we shall travel together? To Rome, Asia, or just London? I shall learn the English ways and be the perfect lady too.”
Yvaine playfully got on her feet and curtsied to show him how a proper English lady would greet a gentleman. “And I shall wear hats and gloves this high with corsets tight enough to break my bones too.”
She lifted her earasaid to show off her stockings as she talked and laughed. Arran drowned in the bliss of listening to her and began to envision what his life would be like if they spent every moment together like this.
He wanted that more than anything else. Regardless of how dangerous it was to let his heart beat for her, he could not stop it. Arran was enthralled by her, and he liked the feelings she stirred in him.
When she sat again, she was breathlessly laughing, and he could not stop himself right then as he cupped her chin, eased closer to her, and took her lips for a sweet, satisfying kiss.
Yvaine’s tongue slid into his mouth and aroused him further. Arran heard nothing else as their lips moved in rhythm to the beat of his heart. He kissed her with passion, stroked her hair, and tipped her head back, so he could savor her tongue and lower lip.
When he pulled back, her cheeks glazed with her flush and desire hummed in his veins till he could only hear its sounds.
They were lost in each other’s eyes, craving more in that moment while he battled his urges. The right thing was to stay away and protect Yvaine from him. At least he thought it was, but Arran was not sure anymore because every moment with her was perfect.
And real.They stayed outside there till the skies darkened into a lazy black hue and covered the brilliance of the afternoon sun. Arran did not mind having her all to himself like this, but he had to stop himself from enjoying it too much before it was too late to turn back.
“Yvaine…”
“I ken what ye are goin’ to say, Arran,” Yvaine said with a sad smile. “I ken ye think ye are protectin’ me, but ye arenae. Carin’ for me is what protects me. I need ye Arran, and I think ye need me too.”
She moved her hand to his chest now, and gently caressed. “I think ye do.”
He nodded slowly before covering her hand on his chest with his. “I need ye,” he admitted even though it drove a knife through his heart. “But I cannae want ye, Yvaine. I cannae give ye the life ye want; ye ken that. We are married, but I cannae be anythin’ more than yer protector and yer friend. I cannae fulfill my duties to ye, or allow myself…”
He trailed off and shook his head as a lump formed in his throat. Arran’s finger touched her lips before he growled. “I want ye so much, it hurts me.”
“It hurts me too,” she whispered in a sweet, angelic voice. “This is right, Arran. This is meant to be.” When he tried to pull away from her, she inched closer again and seduced him with her lips. “Dinnae run from me, please.”
“And what happens if I ever hurt ye? If I end up like me faither? Someone tried to hurt ye, Yvaine, because of me!”
“And ye protected me,” she countered as he tried peeling her hand away from his face. “Ye have saved me many times. Ye are a good man, and ye can be the man I think ye are, Arran. I ken ye can.”
His resolve softened when her lips brushed over his again and lured him in. Arran’s resolve crumbled right then, and he let her take control, sit astride his lap, and kiss him till he was lost and trembling with his need for her.
26
Yvaine wanted more than his kisses, and she went for it. She slid her hands down his chest and tipped her head back to give him access. He growled against her skin and suckled on her neck with heated passion.
There was no denying the fiery shot of energy that surged through her and tantalized her soul. The prickly heat made her unable to breathe for a moment. She was lost in the moment, not caring about anything else.
“Yvaine,” he called as he began moving her dress up to expose her stockings. Yvaine closed her eyes and gave into the sensations rushing through her. If he wanted to take her now, she would let him.
As his fingers glided over the inner skin of her thigh, she parted some more for him and whimpered. With a swift move, he switched position, so she lay on the ground, and he knelt in front of her.
Arran paused when he dragged his lips up her thigh then he shook his head and slowly began to withdraw. A cold flush instantly touched where his lips had been, and she shivered before pulling her skirts down to cover her legs.
