She shook her head to banish the idea. Keir’s fingers cupped her chin to still her.
“’Tis the truth that ye are far too responsive to my touch to devote yerself to such a life.” He brushed a fingertip over her lower lip, drawing a soft gasp from her. Her heart accelerated and her breathing deepened. His scent filled her senses once again. It was full of dark mystery that touched off heat deep in her belly.
She slipped to the side, away from his disturbing touch. The fact that they were alone suddenly filled her thoughts. Her confidence deserted her in the face of that knowledge. The heat growing in her belly frightened her with the fact that she could not seem to control it.
“I do assure you I have the will to devote myself completely to what I choose. A convent will be devoid of temptations, making it much easier.”
“Well, I agree that ye are a temptation.”
His mouth touched hers. The kiss wasn’t timid but it lacked the hardness that she expected from so large a man. She jerked away from him but he followed her, one arm slipping around her waist to keep her close.
A small whimper passed her lips. She couldn’t hold the sound back. There was too much sensation to keep it inside. No amount of practice or self-discipline could help. She was overwhelmed. It swept over her, drowning her will to deny what she craved.
His lips toyed with hers, playing across their tender surface, slipping and toying with her until she moved hers. Another hand cupped the back of her head, tilting her face up so that his mouth could cover hers more completely. His kiss deepened, demanding more from her. He pressed her lips open, the tip of his tongue invading her mouth. He was suddenly too close, his body too hard and overwhelming. Need pulsed along with her blood and fear rose along with the heat—fear of her own response to him.
She struggled to regain her freedom but her hands were still bound. The leather biting into her wrists provided the leverage to regain her wits. She felt her skin tearing with her fight, the scent of blood rising up to mask the smell of his skin.
“No…release me!”
He muttered in Gaelic. She didn’t need to understand the language to recognize a curse. His tone drove the meaning home.
“Aye, that needs doing. Here, sit up.”
He didn’t remove his hands from her. He shifted his grip until his hand was holding her upper arm. “Hold still, lass. I don’t want to cut ye.”
He was correct, of course, but her body wouldn’t listen to her brain. Standing, she quivered and fought the urge to move away from his disturbing form. He ended up following her, turning in a small circle when she retreated even more.
She clenched her teeth and forced her feet to stand in place. The cool blade of a knife pressed against her wrist the moment she stilled. The bindings popped and she spun away from him.
“Easy, lass. I’m nae the one that keeps laying me hand across yer face when I’m cross with ye.”
No, what he did was far worse because she could not shut it out….
“I should have run that bastard Ronchford through. Yer wrists are bloody.”
“It is nothing.”
With a frown, Keir slid his dagger back into the sheath that was attached to his belt. “It appears that we are back to disagreeing.”
His gaze settled on her wrists for a moment, anger flickering in his eyes. There were only a few cuts that actually bled. Helena forced herself to stop rubbing at the bruises and lowered her hands to her sides.
“I don’t believe we ever began agreeing on anything.”
He grinned, flashing his teeth at her. “Well now, come back here and I’ll be more than happy to remind ye how much we both enjoyed that kiss.”
“No.”
He lifted one eyebrow and took a lazy step toward her. “No?”
“You heard me correctly.”
“Tell me why not.” His voice deepened and took on a thicker brogue. “Ye kissed me back as sure as the sun will rise in the morning.”
She moved away from him. “I didn’t deny that. It doesn’t mean I want to…to…”
“To kiss me again?”
“Stop toying with me.” She snapped at him. She needed him to return to the suspicious man who had watched her from across the room. This teasing Keir was too hard to ignore because she had allowed her dreams to