Page 11 of The Highland Heir

Kieran shook his head and looked a bitdisgusted by her offer.

His rejection peaked her anger and she turnedaway.

“Fine, I’ll go find someone else to kiss,then. Maybe Raymond will be willing to try it.”

Kieran grasped her arm and she turned back tohim, knowing what she would find.

“The hell you’ll let that daft arse kiss ye.”He took a deep breath before looking back at her. “Fine. I’ll doit.”

She crossed her arms and waited, but hedidn’t make a move to come closer.

“Do ye plan to do it today?” she pushed.

“Aye. I just need a minute.”

“You look the same as ye do when Cook servespottage. Do you think kissing me will be as bad as cabbage soup,Kieran?”

Despite her anger, he didn’t back away, nordid he answer. Just when she planned to walk away to go findRaymond, Kieran made his move. He grasped her upper arms and leanedin to press his lips to hers.

At the time, she’d found it ratheruneventful. He held his position for some time as if waiting forsomething to happen. When it clearly hadn’t, he’d pulled away andlooked at her.

She shrugged. “I certainly don’t feel like Ineed more of that.”

“Do you think I did it wrong?” he asked.Kieran was used to being told he did everything wrong. Even if shethought he’d done this wrong, she would never have said so. And, intruth, she didn’t think he had.

He’d placed his lips against hers, moved themaround a bit, and then stepped back. Just as the stable master haddone with the maid. Yet Ella had not lost control of her breathingor begged for more.

“Nay. I’m sure you did it just right. Mayhapit’s only for adults,” she’d reasoned.

Now, lying in her bed alone, she knew she’dbeen right. For just the thought of that long-ago kiss had causedher breathing to escalate. She wished she’d held on to the detailsof the moment.

What had he tasted like? Had his lips beensoft? Warm? Had he closed his eyes?

She thought of Kieran the way he was now, aman grown, and how it might feel to have him holding on to her armsfirmly, but not painfully. Pulling her closer so he might press hislips to hers.

She knew now that some kisses happened withtongues. Kieran had been the one to confirm it after he’d kissedAggie from the village.

Ella hadn’t felt jealous at the time, but nowshe did. If Agatha hadn’t already married and had two babes, Ellamight have found her and given her a right shove to the ground forkissing Kieran.

“Lord,” she whispered. What had caused such astrange reaction?

Kieran was a large, strong man. She also knewhe was handsome, and not only because the maids in the hall alwayssaid as much, but because Ella found him to be so as well.

She shook her head, hoping to give her brainsa shaking and dislodge such bizarre thoughts so she might find hersleep.

But the more she tried to think of Kieran asher friend, the more she remembered all the times he’d been closeto her and how she wished for it again.

She blamed her dream and worried if she fellasleep thinking of Kieran, she would dream of him again and disrupther father.

After spending the night tossing and turningwith hardly any sleep, she gave up and went to help Marnie in thekitchens. The cook started early in the morning, making bread andother things so the warriors could break their fast before theybegan training for the day.

“You’re up and about early this morn,” Marnienoted.

“Aye. I don’t wish to speak of it.”

The woman laughed. “If you didn’t wish tospeak of it, ye shouldn’t have told me ye didn’t wish to speak ofit. For now, you’ve piqued my curiosity.”

Ella could have easily come up with somethingelse to appease the woman’s interest, but as she looked around theempty room confirming they were alone, Ella decided she might wantto speak of her concerns.