As she digested that, her gaze sharpened. “So you are . . .”
“Just over three hundred.” He drew his finger across his throat. “The usual servant life span. From what I ken, it happens fairly sudden. One day the clock will just stop ticking, but until then I have all my faculties. A bonny deal, if you compare it to getting all creaky and gray, limp-dicked. Sorry. Shouldn’t have said that.”
She pressed her lips together. “I’m not offended. Have the two of you traveled without female companionship for all those years? Does your Master not . . . ?”
“Aye, he likes women well enough. ’Tis the artist thing. The issue isn’t male or female for him, but what ‘engages him artistically.’ That’s how he puts it. He likes a man for a servant because we’re nae very complicated.” He shrugged. Hell, he couldn’t say what it was about him that had “artistically engaged” Evan for nearly three centuries, but there it was. As for him . . . well, there was no expiration on a debt of honor.
He nodded toward the window. “What were you doing, the bird thing?”
She looked startled, then uncomfortable, so he waved a hand. “You dinnae have to tell me. I was spying, something Evan told me not to do.”
Alanna arched a brow. “Are you in the habit of disobeying your Master?”
“Chronically, according to him. Of course, he’s very fond o’ the single tail, probably because using it properly is artistically engaging as well. You’ve no need to worrit on that yourself. Never seen him beat a woman. Well, a guid spanking turns him on now and then, particularly if the lass has a fine, soft—”
Niall. Really?
Just making sure you were paying attention.
You will wish I wasn’t paying such close attention when you land.
She was giving him that three-headed dog look again, but then Evan startled him. Kiss her, Niall. I want to see how she reacts.
Didnae ye just say, about tempered steel and all?
Do it. Don’t say anything to warn her.
Niall didn’t have any problem with the kiss, but he didn’t want to scare her. Tightening his hand on her hair, a reassurance rather than an attack, he moved his hand up her back, feeling the thin strap of bra beneath the sweater, hooking his thumb there as he eased her toward his face. A variety of expressions crossed her brown eyes. Alarm, recognition, determination . . . decision.