The Betrayal - By Ruth Langan Page 0,30
its prey, but the meaning was perfectly clear. He didn’t want her. Didn’t want to be awakened from sleep to devour her.
Devour.
Kylia stopped in midstride as the meaning of his words washed over her. An aroused wolf devouring its prey.
Could it be that he hadn’t rejected her love out of disinterest, but out of fear for her? She clapped a hand to her mouth as the realization dawned. He’d been protecting her. Her virtue. Afraid to take what she offered. Afraid that, by satisfying his own hunger, he would bring harm to her.
Her heart swelled with love for the man who would put her needs ahead of his own desire. No wonder his people had chosen him laird of their clan. Could they have found a more noble, honorable man than Grant MacCallum?
In her mind he had become a hero. A warrior and protector, determined to save her at any cost.
She turned back in time to see him disappear into the shadowy fringe of the forest, where he blended into the darkness. Moving quickly she followed.
Hearing the crunch of leaves and the snap of branches, he whirled, sword drawn.
When he saw that it was Kylia, his eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t be here.”
She ignored the thread of anger in his tone. “I know now what you were doing.”
He watched the uneven rise and fall of her chest as she struggled to calm her breathing. Nerves? he wondered. Or merely the exertion of following him?
“And what is it you think I was doing?”
“Protecting me, my lord.”
His frown deepened. “Such a clever woman, my lady. If I’m not careful you’ll soon uncover all my secrets, and figure out all the ways of my world, as well.”
“Perhaps not all of them. But this much I know. You are not as disinterested in me as you pretend to be.”
He couldn’t hide his surprise. “And how would you know that?”
“For one thing, you have never once called me by name. Is it because you find my name so distasteful on your tongue? Or do you think, by refusing to do so, you keep a distance between us?”
For a moment he simply stared at her as he mulled her words. “I think perhaps you’re far too clever by half, my la—” He stopped. “I see what you mean. Very well. I’ll agree to call you by name if you’ll do the same for me.”
She swallowed and folded her hands primly at her waist before lifting her chin. “Grant.” It was spoken in a whisper.
The smile returned to his lips. This time he allowed it to reach his eyes. “I can’t hear you.”
She cleared her throat. Met his look. “Grant.” She spoke the word clearly. “There you have it. And now mine, my lord.”
His smile faded, replaced by a frown. His fingers gripped the hilt of his sword until they were white. Why was this such an effort? He couldn’t say. But he did manage to say, “Kylia.”
“I don’t believe I heard you, my lord.”
She was teasing him. He could see the laughter in those heather eyes. Teasing him as a maiden would tease a lover. The realization had him thrusting his sword deep into the ground before reaching out to close his hands around her upper arms and draw her closer.
“Kylia.” His voice was a growl of pleasure and pain. “Kylia. Kylia. It is the loveliest name in the land. And I have long wanted to say it aloud.”
He dragged her into his arms and pressed his mouth to the hair at her temple, breathing her in. “Kylia. My beautiful Kylia. As lovely as your name.”
“Grant…”
He cut off her words with a kiss that seemed to steal her very breath. His mouth moved over hers, drinking her in, tasting, devouring.
She was caught by surprise. Always before, his kisses had been hesitant, almost reluctant. As though testing her, and allowing her to test him. To explore the unknown. But this time it was different. There was a boldness, a possessiveness about this kiss that had her head spinning, her heart thundering. He took it deep, draining her even as he filled her. As his arms tightened around her, he took the kiss deeper still, until she had no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck and give herself up fully to him.
“Grant.”
“I love the sound of my name on your lips.” He spoke the words against her mouth, then inside her mouth.
She couldn’t catch her breath. Couldn’t think. All she could do was hold on as