Forbidden Heart (Hearts of the Highlands #6) - Paula Quinn Page 0,87

love ye, Silene. Pray fer the time that is left to go by quickly.”

She giggled. The next thing she knew, she was crushed in his embrace. His hand was under her nape and the other held her up.

When he kissed her, everything seemed to lose its light. None of it was important. All she needed was him.

He ran his tongue over her and pulled at her lower lip with his teeth.

She wanted to know where he learned such things and what else he knew about what to do with his tongue.

He kissed her softly and with rigid control. She had to call on all her defenses to break away from him. She did and turned for her door.

Inside, she shut the door and had a fleeting thought to go find Father Timothy and confess these wanton thoughts to him. Elysande’s advice was to wed Galeren. She would if she could! Perhaps confessing to the priest was what she needed. These feelings certainly did feel sinful. Elysande said it felt sinful because it felt so good. Why did Silene think she had five babes and one on the way if it wasn’t pleasant? Elysande had asked. Silene could now understand why. And this, just from kissing!

She looked at the large, masculine chair and her purple gown draped over it. She would wear it when she wed Galeren. She closed her eyes and prayed for the days to be quick.

When she opened them again, she looked around Lucan’s room. She didn’t know what Galeren’s room looked like, but Lucan’s room was very warm and comfortable. She should stay here for the two days—away from the temptation of him.

She had a duty to God to help Galeren fulfill his vow—and make a new one to her.

She would stay here until the morning of her marriage. His aunts and female cousins would all help her if they knew why she was staying locked up in her room.

Father Timothy would be here early to escort her to church for prayers. They enjoyed their mornings together when everyone else was asleep. But if he was opposed to coming into her room, she wouldn’t be praying with him.

She would stay here and pray and rest.

She undressed and, after a time on her knees, she climbed into bed. Her thoughts were filled with the captain. His laughter, his scent of woodsmoke, the sound of his deep, lilting voice across her ears, the sight of him surrounded by children and a kitten on his shoulder, playing with his hair. She thought of every moment with him until she fell asleep.

And there, she dreamed of him.

She awoke to a knock at her door. Her room was dark but a quick glance to the half-open window revealed the blue-gray haze of dawn.

She’d slept late.

She opened the door partway as she wore only her chemise. Smiling on the other side was Lionell.

“Good morn, Miss Sparrow. I was goin’ fer a walk in the gardens and thought ye might like to join me.”

“Good morn to you, Lionell. My apologies but I cannot. I am staying in my room until tomorrow when ’tis time to become wife to your brother.”

“Are ye hidin’ from Galeren?” he asked. “D’ye not want to wed him?”

“Oh, aye. I do want to wed him. Very much.”

His autumn-colored brow fell for a moment but then he sighed and offered her a sheepish look. “Fergive me.”

“Oh, but what for?” she asked.

He held up his palm to stop her from saying anything else and let his gaze rove over her face. “Though I do find ye lovely, mayhap one of the bonniest lasses I know, I was only tryin’ to make my brother angry. I dinna know why. He would likely kill me.”

She shook her head. “Nay, Lionell. He would not kill you.”

“Lady, ye dinna know how he beats my arse—and that is when he isna angry!”

Silene fought the urge to giggle. Perhaps it was Lionell’s brash but charming demeanor. The prioress would have fainted had she heard how often he used the word arse.

“He wants you to learn how to defend yourself. Who better to teach you than such a skilled warrior as your brother? My guess is you will grow weary of having your backside beaten and will learn how to fight back, and when you can fight him, you can fight anyone.”

“Mayhap, I dinna want to fight,” he told her.

“Do you want to live within these walls for the rest of your life, never to venture out again? Because,