A Very Highland Holiday - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,131
a lord, but the descendant of a legendary king, a man about whom stories had been told for over a millennium. To someone like her, the realization was almost heady, as if she herself had stepped into a legend.
Or perhaps she was merely kissing one.
Elspeth was more than aware that they were alone in his chamber, where there was a bed. She was not so innocent that she’d never been kissed before, that she didn’t know what went on in a bed. She’d just never met anyone who’d made her want to experience it for herself.
Heat and desire seared through her as he deepened their kisses. Despite the clothing between them, she felt the hard planes of his body, and the hard bulge of his sex pressed to her. An ache began in her core and spread up her abdomen, swelling her breasts. Then, almost as if conjured by her thoughts, his hand moved under her arm and cupped her breast through her clothes.
She gasped as he took his lips from hers and kissed along her jaw. The bliss of his mouth against her flesh pushed her to cast her head back so he could have his fill of her if he wanted. She desperately hoped he wanted.
“Elspeth,” he whispered against her, his tongue swirling over her earlobe and then lower along her neck. All the while, his hand cupped and caressed her breast. How she longed to feel his flesh bare against her. Wanton was perhaps not a strong enough word to describe her behavior, but she didn’t care. She wanted this. She wanted him.
“We should stop,” he murmured even as he did nothing of the sort. His mouth trailed down to the hollow at the base of her throat.
He abruptly stepped back from her. “It’s best if we pause our, uh, this.”
“Pause? Does that mean we can continue later?” Her body screamed for something.
“Perhaps. We should probably go question Carrie.”
“I imagine she’s preparing for dinner. I think it must wait until later.”
“Elspeth, are you trying to coax me to continue…this?”
“Would that be bad?”
He chuckled and took her hand once more. Pressing a kiss to her fingertips, he looked into her eyes with unabashed desire. “Not to me, but we are not wed, and I would not have you thinking I would take advantage.”
“We could handfast.” She flinched. “I’m no better than Angus.”
“I can guess who Angus is, and don’t you dare compare yourself to him. Unless you’ve asked other men to handfast today?”
She smiled at his dry tone. “Not today.” She sobered and squeezed his hand. “Not ever.”
“You tempt me, Elspeth. In every way.” He swept his lips over hers once more. The kiss was brief, but her body reacted, curling toward him like a plant seeking the sun.
He stepped back once more. “You should go prepare for dinner.” His tone was gruff, while his eyes were hot with desire.
“All right.” She didn’t hide the reluctance or disappointment from her voice. “I’ll see you downstairs. After, we’ll speak with Carrie.”
He nodded. “And after that… Well, we’ll see what happens.”
Elspeth slitted her eyes at him, then dashed forward to brush a kiss against his cheek before turning and taking her leave. It was as if she walked on air.
She never wanted to come down.
Chapter Six
Tavish was the first to arrive in the common room for dinner. He could attribute it to hoping to catch Carrie so he could question her, but the truth was that he was eager to see Elspeth.
He’d nearly asked her to be his wife. The only thing that had stopped him was the short length of their acquaintance—that they’d met over two years ago didn’t count. How was it, then, that he felt as if he’d known her at least that long?
Because she’d inhabited his mind. From the moment he’d been drawn into her story in Dunkeld, he’d been enchanted. That she’d abandoned her need to tell a story to join him in his quest to find Lann Dhearg made her that much more enticing.
There was also her laugh, her sharp intelligence, and the undeniable way she felt in his arms—right. He was already halfway in love with her, at least, so why not propose marriage? After all, she was the one who’d suggested handfasting, and what was that beyond a step to marriage?
It allowed for a temporary union, one in which they didn’t have to stop what they’d been doing earlier. Was that all she wanted?