Chapter 15
“Kenneth… Kenneth, wait, please. We have to stop.”
Leana’s words floated between them for a second, just before he stopped.
Her cheeks were flushed, her thick dark hair hanging around her face in unruly curls, her lips swollen from his kisses, and her spring blue eyes heavy-lidded.
If Kenneth had to put a face to beauty, it would be Leana’s—troubled, given to pleasure, and slightly restless to be carried away by her emotions.
And if he had to give a name to desire, it would be hers.
But beyond desiring her, he respected her, even though she might think differently. Force her to do something… No, that would never do. He wouldn’t continue until she was sure it was what she wanted. So, he broke the kiss and pulled back slightly.
Their ragged breaths mingled as he rested his forehead on hers.
“Tell me ye’re nae askin’ me to stop because of me wound, lass. Because if that’s the case…”
Slowly, he slid a hand down her stomach to her naked thigh.
Leana let out a delicious moan that almost drove him crazy. Her neck was slightly flushed—the result of all the kisses he had lavished on her.
In fact, her breasts were ready for him. A little further down and he could take her turgid nipple into his mouth…
But before he could go any further, Leana swallowed, took a deep breath, and, as if regaining her senses, pulled away from him.
And though she didn’t use much force to push him back, he moved out of the way as she got off the table and adjusted the skirt of her dress and her bodice.
“We cannae do this, Kenneth. Yer presence unsettles me…”
“Well, I hope so,” he drawled, smiling as he took her hand to pull her to him.
But Leana stepped back. “I mean it. This cannae happen again. It will make me lose focus, and right now I just need to focus on Hunter. Nae on ye… on us. On this,” she emphasized.
Her lips twisted in a grimace that almost made Kenneth smile.
I daenae think she’s aware that she’s doin’ this. That her mouth, like her face, is as transparent as a still lake.
“All right, lass,” he relented as he brushed his hair from his face. “If ye say I’m distractin’ ye, then I’ll stop.”
“Please.” Leana sounded relieved, but her expression said otherwise, and Kenneth was glad to see it.
She looked as disappointed as he was to wrap up their meeting.
Well, at least we agree on that.
Turning her back to him, Leana began to fix her dress.
In the throes of their passion, Kenneth had undone the laces of her corset, which she could no longer tie by herself.
She could probably do it under different circumstances, but something told Kenneth that she was nervous, and that was why she took so long to finish a rather simple task.
“Allow me,” he said as he approached her and grabbed the ribbons that held the corset in place.
“Thank ye,” Leana whispered, brushing her hair over her shoulder so that he could easily maneuver the garment.
But that had the opposite effect, as she had exposed her smooth, milky neck and the top of her back.
At first, Kenneth didn’t want to go any further than he already had, but as he fastened her corset, his lips moved of their own accord and began to trail along the curve of her neck.
Leana let out a sigh that quickly turned into a moan. She tilted her head a little more to give him better access, and her hands began to tremble as he teased her with the tip of his tongue.
“All done, lass,” he murmured, amused by her embarrassment as she pulled away.
She looked at him as if he had caught her in the middle of a naughty act—which was not far from the truth. Only this time, they were both involved. And unlike Leana, Kenneth didn’t want to stop.
But he paused, and after adjusting her dress one last time, Leana stepped back, nodding as if to herself.
“Thank ye… Thank ye for understandin’ me situation.”
“Aye,” he said, nodding once. He gently took her hand and planted a kiss on her knuckles. “Just promise me ye willnae get elusive with me again.”
“I… I daenae ken.” She bit her lower lip—a terribly provocative gesture. “Ye understand this is all very confusing for me…”
“It is for me too.” Kenneth was not going to concede that point. “But I’d rather this meeting didnae make us strangers.”
“But we are strangers, Kenneth,” Leana pointed out with a smile.
“Ye arenae to me, lass,” he declared, his words laced with just enough confidence to deepen her blush.
Leana nodded and looked down at her dress, pretending to smooth it, though there were no wrinkles in the ugly brown fabric.
“I’ll remain cordial with ye… for Hunter’s sake,” she said.
“Good,” he uttered, though he was already hating the distance she was putting between them.
She cleared her throat. “Then I guess I’ll take me leave, Laird MacReid.”
And with a small bow, she marched to the door.
But before she left the room, Kenneth called, “Do ye regret what we did?”
“Nay.” Her answer was immediate. She was facing away from him, but he could imagine the look on her face. “I only regret that we did it on such terms.”
“What terms?” Kenneth asked.
But she gave him only a small smile, slightly enigmatic and wistful.
And then she was gone, leaving only the scent of her skin and the memory of lips that would haunt him until he could taste them again.
It makes nay sense that I am so attracted to him. I’m his captive, and even if I werenae, I’ll be leavin’ soon. There can be nothing between us.
“Leana. Leana, are ye listenin’ to me?”
Beside her, Valerie caught her eye and pinched her cheek, making her yelp.
“I’m sorry, what?” Leana turned to her.
“I told ye, the milk is already boilin’… Watch out, it’s goin’ to spill!”
Quickly, Leana grabbed the pot of milk and pulled it away from the flames, while Valerie jumped up and down.
Fortunately, the milk did not spill over, and soon the foam began to subside. Meanwhile, one of the cooks brought them all the utensils and supplies Leana had requested.
The healer liked to make the medicines she used on her patients herself.
Most of the time, it was necessary to cook things in a very precise way to get the best results.
That was why she had insisted on preparing Hunter’s remedies herself, and that was why Valerie, who was as curious as a cat, had accompanied her.
“Ye certainly daenae have yer head on yer shoulders today,” Valerie noted affectionately.
Leana nodded. “It’s true. I’ve been distracted all day.”
“Aye…” A hint of amusement flickered in Valerie’s eyes. “Is it because of me cousin? Is he the one ye pine for all the time?”
“Are ye still at it?” Leana chuckled, pretending her mind wasn’t on Kenneth.
Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, because it was him she was pining for. He was the reason she couldn’t do two things right that afternoon.
“I’m sorry to disappoint ye, but nothing is going on between me and yer cousin…”
“Yet.” Valerie’s lips curled into a broad smile. “He’s obviously interested in ye.”
“Oh, really?” The speed with which Leana answered, coupled with the way she looked at Valerie, made the latter burst out laughing.
“And you are obviously attracted to him!” Valerie gushed, looking at her mischievously. “The only reason ye two arenae together is that ye’re too stubborn to admit that ye have feelings for each other!”
“We daenae have feelings for anyone,” Leana insisted, a little confused and annoyed at her reaction.
Ye need to get a grip on yerself, Leana. Ye’re nae goin’ to convince anyone that nothing is goin’ on between ye and Kenneth if ye daenae first remember that there cannae be anything between ye two!
But the truth was that the memory of their last encounter still haunted her. And though she wished she could, she couldn’t just forget the taste of his mouth or the pleasant pressure of his hands as they ran over her hips.
She could not concentrate on what she was doing, no matter how hard she tried. She paid special attention to the preparation of the remedies, but her body had memorized the measurements and recipes, and her mind used the time to wander.
And this wandering was driving her crazy.
As she placed everything on a tray to take to Hunter’s room, Valerie spoke again.
“Anyway, I’m sure that even if he didnae like ye as much as I ken he does, he would be happy to have ye stay with us for a long time. For it is evident that Hunter is recoverin’.”
“The Laird has nay feelings for me, and his wishes are of nay concern to me,” Leana asserted. “I will leave as soon as Hunter fully recovers. It is me duty to care for anyone who needs me.”
“We need ye,” Valerie said, squeezing her hand affectionately as she gave her a lovely smile. “People get sick all the time, and it would be nice to have a healer nearby.”
“I’m sure when Hunter gets better and I’m gone, ye’ll be able to find someone suitable to serve in me stead.”
“Or… Or ye could stay and do it yerself,” Valerie suggested, giggling.
Leana rolled her eyes. “I cannae stay. Me family needs me…”
“Aye, aye. That’s too bad. But I’m sure ye could be very happy here, with us.”
Valerie dropped the subject soon after, for which Leana was grateful, and instead focused on Hunter’s health.
It was clear that the boy was feeling much better. Color had returned to his face, and his breathing had improved, as far as Leana could tell. He was in his room, with his mother and his nanny.
As soon as Leana and Valerie stepped into his room, Brenda beamed.
“Valerie!” Hunter exclaimed, running to his cousin. He hugged her tightly before greeting Leana effusively. “Have ye come to play pirates with me, Val?” he asked excitedly.
“Of course,” Valerie replied, ruffling his hair.
“Absolutely. But first, we have to give ye yer medicine.”
“Is it the one that tastes like onions and turnips?” Hunter frowned slightly.
Leana burst out laughing. “Nay. For now, ye’re just goin’ to have some honey and milk and inhale the vapors of some plants.”
“And that’s medicine?” Hunter asked.
Leana nodded. “It is. But to prove it, ye’ll have to trust me.”
She led him to a chair, and on the table in front of it, she placed a bowl filled with an infusion that made her eyes water. It smelled of mint and other things.
Hunter looked at it strangely. But since Leana’s treatments made him feel better, he meekly obeyed her instructions, with the attentive and curious glances of Valerie and Brenda in between, who also found her methods fascinating.
In the end, Hunter seemed to feel much better than earlier.
“That was bizarre, but it works.” He laughed.
Leana sighed in relief. “That’s good to ken,” she replied, stroking his hair.
“Aye, it is,” a much deeper and more confident voice said from the door. Kenneth’s voice.
Instantly, Leana’s heart rate quickened. When she saw him, she grew worried. The blush his mere presence elicited bloomed on her cheeks. But she knew how to control herself.
“If we keep this up, ye’ll soon be whole again,” she promised as a hopeful Brenda pulled her in a tight hug.
“Thank ye! Thank ye so much for everything ye’ve done for me son.”
“I’m just doin’ me job,” Leana assured, touched by her gratitude.
It was clear that Kenneth was moved as well, but she chose not to focus on him. Instead, she gathered her materials and prepared to leave before another embarrassing situation arose between them.
“Well, if anyone needs me, I’ll be in me chamber.”
“Wait, I’ll go with ye,” Valerie said, before looking at Hunter. “But daenae worry, I’ll be back soon so we can play.”
With a nod, Leana said goodbye to everyone, followed by words of gratitude from Hunter and Brenda. Kenneth, unable to help himself, kept his eyes on her. But she avoided looking in his direction as best as she could, even though her heart was racing. Even though her lips ached to touch his again.
But still, she held back.
Valerie, who was in very good spirits, walked beside her with a spring in her steps.
“Wait for me a moment. I’ll meet ye in yer room,” she promised, before she hurried away.
Leana was curious to know what the girl was up to, but she didn’t ask. She just marched off to her quarters with a sigh.
She was tired but happy. It had been a satisfying day… in more ways than one.
A short while later, Valerie knocked on her door and entered the room, bearing a small pile of fabrics.
“What’s all this?” Leana asked.
“Dresses,” Valerie replied, laying out the pile on the bed. “I thought ye could change out of yer clothes and into cleaner ones. They’ll be a little short on ye, since I’m shorter than ye, but they will fit ye.”
Leana studied the dresses. It was true that they would be a little short, and that she would have to adjust the corset a little more, as she would not be able to fill the neckline. But they were beautiful, with fine, delicate lace and ornate flowers adorning the sky blue and pastel pink fabrics.
“They are beautiful, Valerie. Thank ye. But I daenae think it’s necessary.”
“Nonsense.” Valerie shook her head. “Ye deserve so much more, but ye took us by surprise. Nay one kenned ye were comin’. Otherwise, we would have had a much better chamber prepared for ye.”
“Aye, it was a surprise to me too,” Leana admitted with a slightly bitter smile as she bent down and fingered the dresses. “Are ye sure ye want to lend them to me?”
“They are a gift,” Valerie assured her. “And aye, I am absolutely sure. It’s me way of sayin’ thank ye for everything ye’ve done for me cousins.”
It didn’t escape Leana’s attention that Valerie said cousins, not cousin, but she remained silent, not wanting to start another argument about her relationship with Kenneth.
She nodded, feeling a welcome warmth in her chest. “Thank ye. It’s a very nice gesture.”
“Ye’re welcome,” Valerie said, taking her hand. “Oh, and one more thing. Me cousin has asked me to inform ye that the library is at yer disposal. There, ye will find paper and ink to write to yer sisters.”
“Really?” Leana asked, squeezing her hand in relief and excitement.
Valerie nodded exuberantly. “Aye. I told him how much ye were worried about them nae receiving any news of ye, so he agreed to prepare everythin’ so that ye can send the letters as soon as possible.
A messenger will send the letter as soon as ye finish it, so that yer family will hear from ye promptly. ”
“Thank ye!” Leana exclaimed, hugging her fiercely, unable to stop smiling.
For the first time, she wanted to kiss Kenneth not out of desire, but gratitude. For knowing that she had finally done something to stir not only his body but also his heart.