Fire Maidens Scotland (Billionaires & Bodyguards #6) - Anna Lowe Page 0,57

peered quietly over her shoulder.

“Kind of cool, though,” she murmured. “The way the wind whistles.”

He chuckled. “You and Trevor would have been two birds of a feather. Tony, on the other hand…”

She laughed. Poor Tony was probably hunched over in the barracks at that very moment, cursing the Scottish weather. The poor guy was definitely not cut out for the climate. But she loved it. Sometimes, she even felt destined for it.

Destined for other things too, her dragon murmured. Like Lachlan.

She took a deep breath, trying not to let her thoughts stray.

But there they were, alone in a cozy house, with time on their hands and not much to do.

Oh, I have a few ideas, her dragon whipped its tail.

She put a hand on the window frame, reminding herself why she’d put the brakes on the previous night.

Tell me again. Why? her dragon demanded.

Lachlan was so close. So damned enticing. Just inches away, perfectly still except for the rise and fall of his chest with each breath.

Listen, her dragon whispered.

Her keen shifter senses tuned in to a faint sound. Not the steady roll of waves on the rocky beach, but the steady beat of his heart, slowing down to match hers. Each thump seemed to draw her closer and wrap her in a sensual spell.

A shutter rattled, and she leaned toward the glass for a look. Lachlan leaned too, coming even closer. So close, his chest touched her back.

Holly bit her lip. She should resist the temptation, right? She’d succeeded the previous night. She could do it again.

And ruin everything, her dragon grumbled.

Lachlan’s fingers brushed her arm, and she wondered if he felt it too. That sense of destiny, nudging them closer and closer. Making it impossible to do anything but touch.

His fingers played along her sleeve, then came to rest on her shoulder, and his breath warmed her neck.

She closed her eyes, trying not to think about how much she’d missed him. But that was impossible, and she found herself tilting her head to one side, picturing him kissing her neck. Oh God. Was she really giving in?

Maybe just a little, her dragon breathed as Lachlan inched his hand down the curve of her back, making her want to purr.

God, it was just like their first time, all those years ago when they’d sheltered in the millhouse and finally consummated their love. Just like that, yet nothing like that, because so much time had passed. Time filled with pain, loneliness, and yearning. All those scars on her heart, all those lessons learned. Even a few regrets.

So fix them, her dragon said. Give him a chance.

“Sorry.” Lachlan caught himself and eased away. “I’d better stop.”

She caught his hand. “You’d better not.”

An instant later, her cheeks burned with a blush. What was she doing, acting like a cat in heat?

Not like a cat. Like a dragon in love. One who recognizes her destiny, her shifter side said.

“I mean… Um…”

“I know what you mean,” Lachlan whispered, sliding his arms around her waist. “I know exactly what you mean.”

The low rumble of his voice sent sensual images dancing through her mind. And, oops. She started swaying, almost dancing in his arms. Wanting him so badly, she couldn’t speak.

Lachlan matched her movements, but his voice was choked.

“One of us has to be the reasonable one,” he murmured. “The one remembering why we shouldn’t do this.”

She nodded but went right on swaying her hips. “One of us really should. But I can’t.”

His throat bobbed, and his hands strayed upward from her waist. “Nor I. No matter what I try.”

He made an attempt to say something else, but his lips were pressed against her neck, and no sound came out. Just a gentle, rippling motion that sent sparks through her veins.

She reached back to cup his cheek, keeping him close. Almost ready to beg, Please, please. Don’t stop.

“Can’t stop,” he murmured, reading her mind.

“Good,” she whispered.

Over by the fireplace, Mungo heaved a sigh, then slipped out of the room as if even he recognized how inevitable their actions would be.

Holly made a mental note to shower the dog with attention…later. Right now, all she was capable of was responding to Lachlan’s touch. Her hips pressed back, and her hands cupped his, encouraging him to go on.

“Are you sure? Because if you don’t want to…” Lachlan started.

Her heart thumped faster, stirring her blood. “I’m sure.”

When his kisses turned to light nips, she barely hid a moan. And when his left hand cupped her breast, she arched, coming