Page 18 of Deception of a Highlander

“Kieran,” she sighed softly.

The prickle of his whiskers rasped the sensitive curve of her neck.

He nuzzled his lips against her ear and sent a delicious wave of chills across her skin.

“I thought ye wanted to sleep in,” Kieran mumbled.

Mariel breathed in his scent and let herself fall under the security of his embrace.

Her fingers brushed his arm and found them bare. Her eyes flew open. Had they? Surely, they had not, or she would have remembered…

Unexpected and harsh reality crashed through the blissful haze of safety. A storm of questions rolled unanswered through her head. How had he gotten into her bed? When did he get there?

Mariel rolled over to face him and felt her mouth fall open at the sight of his bare torso. A light dusting of dark hair sprinkled his powerful chest and accentuated the etched lines of his physique. Banded muscles tightened across his stomach and disappeared into the tangle of sheets around his hips and legs.

Was he naked?

He opened an eye slightly and gave her a lazy, lopsided smile that woke the low pulse of desire within her.

“Ye made it to morning, I see.” His tone was light, intimate.

She offered a blithe smile, not quite sure what to say as she scrambled to remember what had occurred the previous night. When had he returned to her room?

Mired in frustration, she came up with nothing more than the memory of falling asleep alone and irritated. She couldn’t remember Kieran coming to her bed but dared not admit it out loud.

Her eyes skimmed over his finely sculpted torso in silent admiration. Looking at him now, she had no idea how forgetting such intimacy would be possible.

If Kieran noticed her assessment, he did not show it, nor did he appear discomfited by it. His dark eyes were both now open and met hers with quiet comfort.

“Ye dinna remember last night.” It was a statement more than a question.

Heat warmed her cheeks, and she stammered a reply. “I…I slept deeply and must still be tired. It’s not because you weren’t memorable or…”

His deep, chuckle stopped her, and an amused smile lit his face. “Dinna worry, ye dinna forget anything like that.”

The smile disappeared from around his eyes, and his expression grew serious. He cupped her cheek in a tender caress. “Ye had a nightmare, Mariel. Ye woke up the entire inn, probably all of Edinburgh for that matter, with yer screams. I came in here to quiet ye, and ye tried to fight me off.” He arched his eyebrow. “Ye’re a strong wee thing. I’ve half a mind to let ye toss a few cabers at the next games.”

The warmth drained from Mariel’s face with the realization of what he referred to. God, not that.

She had not had that nightmare in over a year. Her mind flashed back to the horror that haunted her dreams. Chills crept across her flesh.

Kieran’s arms tightened around her and pulled her from the memory before it could entangle her conscience. He traced the curve of her neck with his lips until the heat of his breath left chills of pleasure in place of those caused by dread. He brushed her ear with his lips, his voice velvety. “And if In an effort to defend myself, we had slept together the way ye thought we had, ye wouldna forget.”

A shiver wound down her spine, and her eyes raked down his naked torso. The intimacy of their closeness did not escape her. In fact, she was painfully aware of every movement, every subtle shift that brushed their bodies against one another, and every inch of him not covered by the sheets, including his bare feet thrust out from the short covers.

He had not been lying when he’d spoken to Gaira about the extra blanket. Jealousy had gotten the better of Mariel for naught.

All ten toes suddenly wriggled under her observation, and a carefree bubble of laughter burst from her.

“Your feet must be freezing,” she said.

“Aye,” he said. “Ye should feel them.”

His feet disappeared under the covers and icy toes pressed against her calves through the thin nightgown, a shocking contrast to the heat of their shared bed. She squealed and kicked at his feet to keep them away from her.

Kieran dodged her futile attack and thrust his frigid feet against her legs once more. She laughed and tried to roll out of his grasp. Too late did she remember how narrow the bed was and found herself slipping toward the floor. Before her rump could smack the hard floor, Kieran’s warm hands caught her by the waist and drew her back toward him.

He tucked her against his strength, and the chilled imprint of his feet upon her flesh melted away in a sizzle of awareness.