didn’t make any sense at all.
Hadn’t he just said she wasn’t pretty? He’d pulled her into his arms yet complained when she’d touched him. What a confusing man.
“You’re so beautiful that you’re nearly painful to the eyes, Sorch,” he continued. “When you walk into a room, it lights up.”
“Really?” She blinked back her unshed tears.
“Long ago, I thought the room lit up when you walked into it because of who you are.” He let his fingertip drag across the expanse of her chest. “In here.”
“In my breasts?” she queried. Then immediately wanted to bite the words back. What a ridiculous thing to say.
“There too,” he chuckled. “But really, it was what was in your heart for me back then. That was what made you beautiful. Your open and giving heart.”
“And now, my heart’s not beautiful anymore?”
“I’m certain it is, but I’m so busy looking at the rest of you that I miss the heart completely.”
His hold had gentled while they stood there, but Sorcha made no move to extricate herself from his grasp.
“And ‘pretty’ doesn’t begin to describe you,” he continued.
She couldn’t help but smile. “So, I can safely assume that men find me ta be attractive?”
He snuffled, a harsh sound from his nose. “That’s safe to say. I’m not the only one who has been trying to look down your dress.”
“Ye were tryin’ ta look down my dress?” She shook her head. “I thought ye were just glancin’ at them.”
“I was trying to look down your dress. Never doubt it. I might do it again later.”
“Promises, promises,” she murmured.
He laughed again. “Don’t tempt me, minx,” he warned.
Things were going better than she’d hoped, but he hadn’t tried to kiss her yet. What to do about that? “So, ye think I’m pretty.” She held up her hand when he went to contradict her. “Pretty enough,” she corrected.
“Pretty enough for what?” he countered.
To care whether or not she set her cap for someone else? To drive him a bit mad at the idea? “Ta catch a Lycan. Is that no’ what we were discussin’?”
“There’s not a chance in hell that I’m going to let you hunt or catch a Lycan,” he informed her. “Over my dead body.”
She opened her mouth to once again comment about his dead body, but he was already speaking again.
“And I’d have to be dead again before I’d allow it. We don’t die easily, just so you know.”
“But Elspeth and Cait both have Lycans of their very own. And I’ve always wanted one.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw, and she wanted more than anything to smooth it with her fingers. “Those men are not puppies you can bring home, let sleep in your bed, and train. They’re much more than that.”
“Are they?” she asked, her eyes moving from his jaw to his lips.
“Indeed. And I will not see you get hurt by one of them. I’d have to kill him. Then Eynsford would try to kill me. It’d be a bloody mess. Cait would be angry at me forever.”
Of course, all of this had to do with Cait. As far as Alec was concerned, everything always went back to Cait. She’d been foolish to have thought otherwise. All she’d wanted was a kiss and she’d ended up with a broken heart instead.
“Will ye ever be over her?”
She didn’t expect an answer and berated herself for even asking. Alec didn’t say a word. He just looked down at her, his black eyes fathomless.
“She loves her husband.”
“I’m aware of that.” His tone was brusque. But he didn’t set her away from him.
“But ye’re still pinin’ for her.”
“Right now, the only person on my mind is you,” he admitted, though he avoided her gaze when he said it.
“Because I’m a nuisance. I understand. Ye probably hate havin’ me underfoot.”
His hand slid down over her hip. The other one joined his exploration, smoothing her dress over her other side.
“I’ve had you in my arms for a few minutes. And you haven’t even tried to get away.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because I’m dangerous.”
She giggled at the very idea.
“Because you are much too good for the likes of me.” For some reason, that comment felt like it had been wrenched from his soul, and Sorcha’s smile disappeared. He couldn’t really believe that, could he?
“Ye are good, Alec.” She patted his chest lightly. “In here.”
“The only place I’m good is…” He suddenly stopped.
“Never mind.”
“What were ye goin’ ta say?”
“Nothing.”
How could he say “nothing”? Not knowing would torture her. She shoved against his chest. “Ye