Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The next morning, Kenneth and Callum rode out early to scour the grounds again. Aidan must be close, yet they saw no trace of him or his men among the crags and woodlands surrounding Duntulm.
After several hours’ riding, they paused at a cottage that was a tavern of sorts, offering a meal and ale in what was once the crofter’s tiny front parlor.
“D’ye lads wish tae partake of me good-wife’s potage?” The tavern keeper asked, pouring them each a tankard of ale.
After a thirsty swig of the ale, Kenneth reached into his sporran, extracted Halvard’s letter and passed it to Callum.
He read it, folded it and passed it back to Kenneth.
“So, the lady is who she claimed tae be all along.”
Kenneth nodded glumly.
Callum huffed. “And ye’re none too happy about this new turn of events.”
Kenneth shook his head. “The lass has done well since she’s been at the castle. The villagers took a right shine tae her after she helped out.”
“Aye. Fer a Sassenach she’s nae bad at all. She fitted in wi’ us surprisingly. I thought she was an English rose who’d nae get her fingers dirty.”
Kenneth gave a short laugh. “Och. I thought so too. But she’s nae as soft as I thought.
” He tapped the table for a few seconds.
“That’s nae tae say she’s nae soft, of course, as she is that, but she’s got hardyment and courage too.
” He smiled to himself. “She gave it laldy when she worked wi’ auld Fergus. ”
They both chuckled, recalling the way Selene had handled the old bull.
“She’s getting under yer skin,” Callum said eventually, after a long stretch of quiet.
Kenneth didn’t answer.
Callum snorted. “Dae ye want me tae pretend I’m blind?”
Kenneth exhaled a long, ragged breath. “Nay. I admit I have feelings fer the lady.”
His heart beat faster as his mind slipped unbidden over the softness of Selene’s curves and the scent of her hair as he held her, swaying close in his arms on Arvak’s broad back.
And there was the unhesitating way she’d seen to the cut on his hand, warming his heart with her tenderness.
Then, in a rush of blood, he recalled the feel of her lips against his.
He swallowed, unable to meet Callum’s gaze. “I’m a damned fool fer falling so hard.” The words felt dangerous in his mouth.
“A fool in love?” Callum shook his head decisively. “I’ve seen the lass casting sly glances at ye when ye’re nae aware, so me guess is that she’s every bit as enamored as ye.”
At Callum’s words Kenneth felt a lift to his spirits, and a fleeting hope raised its head.
“I’ve been a fool tae be so taken with the lass.” He grunted. “How would she ever care fer the Brute of Sleat?” He gave a dismissive laugh.
“Och, lad. Ye sell yerself short. Any lady worthy of yer affection will see beyond the name they’ve given ye and ken ye’re worthy.”
Despite the fragment of comfort in Callum’s words, Kenneth was still shaking his head.
“Nay matter what Selene may think of me – and I believe ye’re mistaken – Halvard is nae an ally.
I’ll wager he will ne’er allow anything between us.
It would mean a forced alliance between our clans.
” His mouth formed a tight line as he imagined the cutting rejection his suit would receive from the haughty Halvard MacLeod.
“I cannae imagine he’d agree tae his wife’s sister wedded tae the man said tae have murdered the lass he was meant tae marry.”
Callum reined in his horse and stared at him. “Kenneth, I was there. I ken what truly happened. All of us who ken the man ye are ken yer reputation is undeserved. I’ll stand beside ye and attest tae the truth before Halvard MacLeod and any other man who disbelieves ye.”
Kenneth could not help but smile at his friend’s loyalty. “I thank ye fer those kind words.” He sighed. “Yet, I believe me suit would be rejected despite any protestations tae the contrary.”
Callum pshawed loudly. “Nonsense, lad. Ye deserve happiness more than any man I ken.” He tilted his head and cast Kenneth a challenging look. “Mayhap ‘tis time fer ye tae put all these fears of yers tae rest. Ask the lady how she feels.”
Kenneth shook his head, gaze fixed on the horizon. “It’s too late, Halvard’s men could be with us at any time tae escort her tae Raasay.”
“Nay,” Callum gave a snort of disapproval. “It’ll be too late only if ye dinnae act.”
At last, a grin quirked Kenneth’s lip. “Ye speak some sense. Ye’re right me good friend.
This night I shall put yer notion tae the test. I’ll approach Lady Selene and make an end tae this wondering and speculation once and fer all.
If she is fer me as ye suggest, the devil can take the Laird Halvard and his disapproval. ”
Callum laughed. “Och, aye, lad. I’m glad I’ve at last talked some good sense intae ye.”
They were both in good spirits as they rode back to the castle in the gathering dusk.
That night, after supper, Kenneth went in search of Selene. To his delight he found her alone in the solar standing near the window, moonlight falling across her hair.
He had given much thought to how he might approach her, but one glance at her standing there, her face lit by moonlight, all his strategies and tactics dissolved into longing.
All he could see were her eyes turned to him as he entered the room and he found it impossible to think beyond her beauty and how much he wished to make her his.
He could no longer fight the pull he felt toward her, as if some mysterious force hauled him inexorably to her side.
“Kenneth,” she said lightly, “I was not expecting I’d see you here. I thought you were conferring with Callum in the study.”
Stepping closer, he drew in a breath, catching a drift of her musky, lavender scent.
“Nay. ‘Tis ye I wish tae speak with, Lady Selene.”
She smiled up at him and he felt his heart melting and sensed unwanted movement in his groin. He ground his teeth. This was not the moment for his shaft to grow hard.
“Oh? What is it ye wish tae discuss. Have ye heard further from Halvard?”
He shook his head, almost lost for words.
“I have a wager fer ye,” he blurted, stepping closer. “A simple enough thing. The winner shares a cup of wine with the loser.”
She lifted a brow. “And what, pray tell, is this wager you wish me tae participate in?”
“Aye. I’ll wager I can kiss ye without touching yer lips.”
She blinked. “That’s ridiculous. Of course, you will only kiss my cheeks, making it easy for you to win your silly wager.”
“Is it?”
Nodding, she laughed, appearing not at all offended by his presumption.
“Well, d’ye agree wi’ me foolishness?”
She tossed her head. “I’m always up for a wager I am certain to win.”
He leaned in slow, and sure with the appearance of a confidence he did not feel at all.
Brushing a kiss to her earlobe, his tongue teased her emerald earbob. She giggled as he placed a series of kisses as light as a butterfly’s wing across her cheekbone and over the bridge of her elegant nose.
She hitched her breath and, emboldened, he kissed along her other cheekbone. His tongue dipped into the delicate shell of her ear and she gasped in a tiny breath.
He took the kisses to her eyelids, soft and gentle, noting how her breathing was becoming ragged and high in her chest.
She moved against him and he was almost undone by the softness of her breasts against his arm.
Her lips were so near, parted in such an invitation, he was beyond ready to lose any wager the stars might throw his way. One kiss. That was all he wanted.
Was that not so?
It was too much. His shaft was growing hard, he could scarcely breathe. All he wanted was to seize her in his embrace. To kiss her lips, to wind his tongue with hers, to taste her and hold her tight, to hear her moan softly in her throat as she returned his kiss with a passion equal to his.
But he kept his mind on the wager as he kissed her brows and her temple, then below her ear lobe and along the soft curve of her jaw.
Her breath trembled. Then came the softest moan from the depths of her throat.
Still, he resisted what he longed for above all else.
Her lips.
Her breathing stopped, she whimpered, and then, as he feather-touched his lips to the corner of her perfect mouth – close, but not touching – she turned and pressed herself to him.
Reaching a hand to the back of his head she tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his head down, pressing her lips to his mouth.
Deliberately, passionately, without any restraint.
She was his.
His arms wrapped her and, as their lips met, a wild passion surging unbidden between them. He was lost, his head whirling, scarcely aware of where he was, all he knew was her taste of apples and roses, her scent, the warm soft body pressed close that he enfolded in his arms.
He smiled against her mouth. “Seems ye’ve tricked me intae losing the wager.”
The little sound that came from her throat, halfway between a moan and a soft laugh, drove him out of what little remained of his senses. “Best wager I ever lost.”
The kiss deepened – molten heat blooming between them, her hands fisting his shirt, his arms drawing her closer, the world narrowing to the space they shared.
Even the swirling of bagpipes coming loud and clear on the battlements, splitting the air with urgency, took moments to penetrate the fog of Kenneth’s brain. But when the sound hit home, he froze. Selene jolted away from him, although his arms remained at her waist.
“What is it?”
He shook his head to clear his thoughts, registering the meaning of the sudden sound breaking through the night.
The war pipes were an unmistakable call to action.
Then came the shouts.
He pulled away, listening or a moment. “Something is wrong. The pipes arenae played that way unless an enemy is approaching. We may be under attack.”
Selene gasped, a hand wavered at her throat. “Is this—?”
“I dinnae ken what it is lass, I must go and join me men.”
Kenneth tore himself away from her, his breath harsh with a sudden scalding rush of fear for her safety.
He seized her hand.
“Come. Until I discover what this is, ye must stay in yer chamber and bolt the door. Dinnae open it fer anyone until I come fer ye.” He was already striding toward the door holding fast to her hand as he spoke.
Hastening beside him, she opened her mouth to speak, but he shook his head. “Dinnae argue, me sweet lass. I ken where is safest fer ye.”