Page 35 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

He looked toward the door and then back to her. Gazing at her intently, he said, “I know you can speak. I heard you talk to your dog. I even heard ye singing one day when I came to see you.”

She gasped, eyes going wide with distress. He’d been at the cottage? He’d heard her when she thought she was alone?

He took her hand and guided her closer. She let him, though she was trembling inwardly.

“I’m sorry for yelling, for accusing you of something you didn’t do. In truth, I should have given you those things in the trunk. They aren’t doing anyone any good in there. I’m sorry I’ve been a bastard to you. I’ve been so intent on keeping everyone at a distance, I hadn’t realized what an arse I’ve become.”

He took her other hand and rubbed circles on the back with his thumbs. It was a pleasant feeling and she relaxed, moving toward him slightly. When he released her hand, it was to place his fingers gently on her cheek. She watched his eyes, waiting for his mood to shift again. She didn’t expect him to lean in closer.

“Can you forgive me for yelling?”

She nodded. Forgiving him was an easy thing to do.

It wasn’t until his warm lips were pressed to hers that she realized his plan had been to kiss her.

A small sound left her throat. If he hadn’t already known she could speak, it might have given her away. He made an answering noise, as if they were creating their own form of communication.

She enjoyed the way his mouth fit against hers. The way his lips moved over hers. Small nibbles at the edges of her mouth. Then his tongue teased at the seam of her lips and she parted them.

The small opening she offered was breached by his tongue, and it searched her mouth. His actions startled her at first, not knowing the ways of kissing since this was only the second time in her life, but when it seemed as though he wanted her to participate, she reached out with her own tongue and stroked his.

The sound he made this time was much louder and filled with need.

His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him. Her hands had still been holding up her gown, but she dropped it and trailed her fingers up over his large shoulders to his neck so she could twine them in his hair. Her dress slipped dangerously low on her breasts.

She was lost. She’d seen people kissing before, but it hadn’t looked like this. She’d seen men and women as they slipped away to their rooms or to the darkness of the forest.

She’d been too young to want to know what happened when they were alone. But now she wished she’d had someone to tell her the way of things so she knew what to expect.

“Have you lain with a man?” he asked, pulling away.

She shook her head, her breath coming fast as if she’d been running or hiding.

“I know you were supposed to be a virgin when we were wed, but it wouldn’t matter to me if you were or were not. I only ask to be sure you know what is done.”

She shook her head again but held on to his arm, hoping he wouldn’t leave.

He rested his forehead against hers and offered a soft smile. “Very well. We’ll go slow,” he whispered.

Slow? She might not know what she wanted, but she was fairly certain it wasn’t to go slow. Not with the way her heart pounded and her breath quickened. She felt jittery, ready for something amazing to happen.

But she allowed him to do as he wished, since he had more experience with such things. Slowly, he peeled her dress from her body and helped her out of her boots. Then he took her hair down, running his fingers through it.

Something deep inside her throbbed and ached. What was he doing to her? She was as terrified as she was intrigued. Whatever being a real wife entailed, she wanted it. Very much.

She leaned closer and kissed him. She felt his lips pull up against hers and enjoyed the feeling of knowing she’d brought a smile to the face of this normally stoic man.

When he pulled away she made a sound of complaint, and the smile grew, causing a small dimple to form on the left side of his mouth.

She’d thought her husband attractive, formidable, and handsome. But now she also thought him incredibly adorable. He looked almost boyish when he grinned like that.

Then he moved away from her. She reached for him, wanting him in her arms again, but he reached behind his neck and tugged his shirt over his head. He took a step closer when she held out her hand and allowed her to run her palm down his chest, over the hard ridges of his stomach.

Her hand was stopped by his belt. She frowned down at the fabric of his kilt that was keeping her from seeing and touching every part of him.

With a wink he reached past her hand and unfastened his belt. “Don’t be afraid when you see me. It will be all right, I promise.”

She nodded that she understood, but when his kilt dropped to his feet, she did not understand at all.