in some way, she finally knew what chemistry meant with another person, true, life changing emotion. And it was good.
He stared down at her, his eyes smoldering with desire and she shivered. “Aye, exactly like that.”
Her fingers pulled him down for another kiss, and for a moment she forgot where they were. The kiss was nothing but raw hunger, a need that consumed them both. Hands clutched, bodies meshed, and mouths fused as the kiss turned hot and demanding, both of them wanting more, but unable to get close enough.
He hitched her higher against him, and through his kilt she could feel his desire. She wanted to weep, to wrap her legs about his waist and beg him to put them both out of their misery and take her here.
Instead, she gave him one last taste, and pulled back. “Good luck with the rest of the day’s games, Aedan.”
His breathing was rapid, his eyes a little shocked. She could understand the latter because so was she. If only he lived in her time they would have a lot of fun together, but he didn’t, a fact she had to keep reminding herself.
“Where are ye going?” He clasped her arm to stop her from leaving.
“Aedan, I’m not for you and you know it. And while I enjoy kissing you—very much—I’m not lining up to be your wife. You need to leave me alone, and try and make a connection with a woman who is here.”
He let her go and she saw the shutters come up, his defenses back in place. That man she could handle—the cold, calculating one who did everything by the rule book. But when he lowered his guard, and showed the real man inside, one who was considerate, gentle, kind, and so damn passionate, she had no chance at keeping her feelings from getting involved.
“I never asked ye to be my wife.”
His words were like a slap, cold and harsh, and she knew why he said them. She’d hurt his pride. Hurt his heart a little, even, but wasn’t it better to keep him at a distance now, than form attachments to each other, the kind that would make her want to stay and never return home?
“I know.” She turned to leave and pulled back the canvas. “Don’t waste your time on me, Aedan. It won’t end well for either of us.” She left and tears pricked her eyes with each step she took toward the castle. No longer did she have the stomach to watch the day’s games. All she wanted was some peace and quiet, a chance to gather her wits and decide on what to do the next time she ran into him.
Just the thought of him made regret eat her alive. She wanted to see how their chemistry developed, where it would take them both. To a future together? A family, perhaps? Who knew? But it was something she’d never find out. How typical of her luck that she would meet a man who made her feel, for the first time since David’s death, and she couldn’t grab him with both hands and never let him go.
She’d always thought she’d been born under an unlucky star, and now she was damn well positive of it.
Aedan ground his teeth and stormed out onto the field, the games going on about him as he walked in no direction at all. He shook his head at his own stupidity. He should have left the lass well alone. She wasn’t of his class, and certainly wasn’t what he required in a wife. He needed a wife from a strong, proud family like his own, with access to a large army, that would be willing to support his cause against the O’Cains. Abigail Cross had none of those things.
And her archery was atrocious.
He stopped and ran a hand through his hair. It didn’t matter that she was the first lass he’d ever felt anything for. In the short time he’d known her, she’d woven her special magic around him, each day pulling him a little more into her world. A warm, bright, open, and happy world full of laughter and joy, a light that beckoned him from the dark places being a laird of a clan often took him.
He wanted to join her there, to be a part of such a carefree life, but as laird it wasn’t possible. Abigail was right. It was foolish of him to want her, and perhaps he should refrain from kissing her. It