Page 69 of Tempting the Highland Devil
Once their lips merged, Arran felt like he was home again. He slid his tongue into her mouth and filled himself with her taste. Yvaine’s moan made him crave more of her, so he deepened the kiss and pressed her closer against his body.
The only thought on his mind was her, and so he drew his fingers through her hair and groaned as she snaked her arms around his neck. Their heated kiss ended after a full minute, and he pulled back with a sigh. His skin burned with the rush of his hunger, and he could not wait till he got the chance to be alone with her again.
Arran smoothed a hand over her hair and kissed the tip of her nose again before he said, “Yer braither and I will work to find who is behind yer kidnappin’, and once we do, we will live freely here.”
She only nodded, and he stared at her lips for a little bit before he sighed. “I dinnae want to be away from ye right now, but we must join the others for supper soon.”
“Then come to the garden tonight,” she whispered before staring down at his hands. “It will be just ye and me.”
Arran smiled, and for the first time in his life, he allowed the warmth she stirred in him linger. He wanted more of it…more of this feeling.
“All right,” he agreed then drew her in for another kiss.
“Ye lovebirds should join us for a game,” Lily announced from a distance, and they sprang apart while giggling.
Arran realized Duncan and Killian had come to the fields, and everyone was watching them as they kissed. He ignored the flush rising on the back of his neck, and they hurried to join the others for a game of joustin’ in the fields.
Yvaine sat with Amelia and watched the rest of them compete. Their laughter filled the evening skies and made Arran the happiest. His castle hadn’t heard the melodies of laughter in years, and frankly, before now, he did not think that it ever would.
36
That evening, after they shared a hearty supper, Yvaine finally got the chance to head for the gardens where she would meet with Arran.
She watched the star-lit skies for a little while till he joined her. Yvaine smiled when he wrapped his arms around her from behind then kissed the side of her neck.
“Ye made it,” she whispered to him as he came to stand by her side then tucked her into the crook of his arms. They started a slow walk around the gardens quietly at first, and she enjoyed having him with her like this.
Yvaine did not think this day would come when she first came here. Back then, she did not think Arran would ever admit that he cared for her. Now in his arms, she knew there was no place she’d rather be.
“It has been ages since I walked around like this,” Arran said to her. “It was usually nay safe to stroll the gardens of me castle. We never ken when our enemies will attack. I spent most of me days trainin’ meself and our men; I never had the time for anythin’ else.”
“What happened to yer maither wasnae yer fault, Arran. Yer faither was a cruel man, and he was to blame for all that has happened. Ye had naythin’ to do with it, and naythin’ ye ever tell me about yerself can make me feel otherwise.”
“Ye have too much faith in me, Yvaine,” he whispered to her before facing her fully. Yvaine’s heart pounded when Arran took both her hands and linked their fingers. “Nay one has had this much faith in me before, nay even my faither.”
She held onto his gaze and smiled. “I dinnae wish to talk about yer faither anymore. Tell me about yer travels. Will I ever get the chance to see England for myself?”
“Do ye wish to see England?” he asked.
Yvaine nodded, and her lips widened with her smile. “I told ye before. I shall be like one of the English ladies and spend my days drinkin’ tea and playin’ the grand piano.”
Their laughter mingled and lifted her spirits. Yvaine had never felt anything like the flutter of her pulse in that moment. Even as her laughter sobered up, she guarded the memories close to her heart.
They stopped walking after some time then sat under an oak tree to enjoy the night and their company. After some time, she lay on the ground and rested her head on his lap.
Arran toyed with her hair as he told her about his travels and fond memories he had of his mother. It was the longest he had spoken to her, and the most he had shared any part of himself with her.
“She used to stroll the gardens and sing while she was alive. Most of the villagers celebrated in the castle durin’ the harvest season at such times, and they all had good thin’s to say about her. Even though me faither dinnae approve of the feast, she carried on with it anyway.”
Arran sucked in a deep breath before he finally added. “All of that ended when the first war began. There was no joy or music in the castle since then.”
“We can change that,” Yvaine suggested and sat up to look at him.
Arran’s brows puckered together in genuine confusion, and Yvaine smiled before touching his cheek. “We will host a feast for the villagers this harvest season, and there shall be music and dancin’. It will be just like when yer maither was alive.”
Arran considered her words with a smile, and he nodded as his insides thickened with emotions for her. When she moved closer to him and pressed a kiss to his lips, he froze.
He couldn’t breathe for a second till she finally moved away from him and grinned. Arran could not contain himself any longer, so he drew her to him and kissed her deeply, tasting her mouth and filling himself with every part of her.
