Chapter 24
“Ye like the lady, admit it,” Niamh teased the next morning in Killian’s chamber as he buttoned his léine and sat to adjust his brogue.
“We are readin’ a book together,” Killian replied, ignoring her squeals and the teasing laugh that erupted from her. “I mean it. I dinnae plan to do anythin’ else with the lady.”
“Keep lyin’ to yerself,” Niamh countered as she sat on the edge of his bed.
“I watched ye two dance in Wehnthor. I see the way ye look at her, Killian. If ye have feelings for the lady, then perhaps ye should tell her? Ye have always provided for us, Killian. It willnae be so bad if ye wanted somethin’ for yerself now. ”
“What I want is to make sure all of ye are safe… includin’ Lily. Now that she has sided with us, our enemies have become hers, too. I cannae let her die because of me.”
He got on his feet, and Niamh followed. “But ye can also be happy while ye protect us,” she pointed out.
“Niamh—”
“Killian, listen to me,” she said, stopping him from saying anything else when she put her hands on his arm.
“Our brother died without findin’ a person that made him happy.
If she makes ye smile… if she makes yer heart beat faster, and she understands yer struggles, then she might just be what yer heart needs to feel at peace. ”
Killian had never thought about Lily like this. As someone who brought him peace. But if he was being honest, then he had to admit that whenever she was around him, it was easy to forget all about his problems.
“I shall see ye later, sister,” he said, smiling at Niamh before he framed her cheeks and kissed her forehead. “I dinnae want to keep Lily waitin’.”
He caught her smile as he turned away from her. “I am sure ye dinnae. Ye will be surprised to see her today. She looks absolutely bonnie. And she was worried about how she looked, too. Dinnae tell her I said that, though.”
Killian released a light chuckle at his sister’s words, then opened his chamber door. Niamh walked behind him, and he had made it to the stairway before Lily came out of her chamber.
The moment he saw her, his breath caught in his throat, and he faltered in his steps. He blinked as his pulse quickened.
He had thought Lily was beautiful before, but seeing her dressed in an earasaid with a full bodice and a low neckline that exposed her creamy skin sent a rush of pulsating energy right through him.
The earasaid’s color matched the vibrant golden rays of sunlight that blessed the skies during the day. It also gave her complexion a lovely hue. Killian loved her in the dress.
The thought of taking off every layer of her clothes to expose the creamy skin beneath crossed his mind and left him reeling on the spot.
“Enjoy yerselves out there,” Niamh said and stifled a giggle as she hurried away from them.
Killian remained rooted to the spot as Lily approached him with uncertain steps. He could tell she lacked confidence in the earasaid. He had never seen her wear one besides a nightdress, and he thought she looked absolutely breathtaking in even that.
Ever since she had arrived, she had dressed in riding habits and trews.
Killian did not mind that choice of clothing, but the earasaid brought out her slender curves and made it impossible for him to look away from her.
Or resist her. He feared, today, he might not be able to stop himself from wanting more.
More of her taste, more of her pliant body… those lips.
“Ye are bonnie,” he whispered to her and reached out to touch the strands falling to the side of her face. “I love the earasaid.”
Lily’s smile brightened her face. Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks flushed a color that Killian admired.
“Niamh said the dress would suit me. I did not believe her… I am not used to such fine silk.”
“I love it.”
It took sheer effort for Killian to not express just how much he loved it. He wanted to trail his hands down her skirts, lift them up and bury his lips in her core while caressing her thighs.
She made him sick with need. But today was about spending time with her, so he had to keep his hunger under check.
Killian extended a hand to her. “Shall we?”
When she placed hers in his palm, he curled his fingers around her it, wondering how such frail hand could wield a sword perfectly.
They reached the drawbridge and walked down to the stables.
Killian had ordered the stable boy to prepare them a horse earlier that morning, and he intended to ride with her down to the moors.
“What do we need a horse for? I thought we were to stay in the garden?”
He shook his head. “I want to show ye my favorite place. It is a spot that brings me solace whenever I am in dire need of it. Ever since I became laird, I have barely had a moment to myself when I could just relax, read a book, or do anythin’ else I enjoy.”
“Well, today, you get the chance to read anything you want,” Lily said with a wide smile that made him shiver inside.
Killian led his stallion outside, then turned to her again. “All right… let us go,” he murmured some seconds later before he planted his hands on her waist, lifted her off the ground, and placed her on the stallion.
Lily laughed as they rode away, and Killian enjoyed having her close to him. The wind ruffled her hair and brought it closer to his nose. He inhaled her scent and let it wash all over him.
He could sit with her like this forever and not care about anything else. He wished he could spend every day with her like this. It didn’t matter that he had a lot of problems to deal with. Lily made all of them seem like nothing.
When they arrived at the farthest part of the moors, he stopped and helped her dismount.
“Oh my,” Lily gasped as she looked around and walked towards the edge of the cliff so she could stare down. “This is beautiful… This is perfect. I have never seen anything like this,” she breathed as she stared down at the blue waters beneath the cliff.
Killian stood next to her and gently eased closer so he could touch her hand. They stood there for a long time, staring down and enjoying the silence.
He finally led her to the shade an oak tree provided. They sat, and he took out the history book he had shown her. Killian took his time to read each page to her, then they sat there for a long time, and he told her about his travels to England and Asia.
“They serve the best tea in Asia. The family I lived with was the son of an English earl who fell in love with a woman beneath his station and traveled to Asia with her. They seemed pretty happy, and his wife made the best tea,” he told her.
“So, what about English tea?” Lily asked him as she laughed. “It was all I had tasted before I moved here.”
“I find English tea a bit too plain.”
“I would like to taste some other kinds of tea one day… I’d like to travel the world like you have, too. It would be very interesting.”
“Maybe one day I can take ye,” Killian said.
He enjoyed being with her like this. He did not even realize he had made a statement about a future.
“You would?” her voice shook as she asked, and those wide blue eyes landed on his again.
“If ye ask nicely.”
Killian loved the flush that sprang up her cheeks and neck, but then she rolled her eyes to hide her embarrassment. He could see himself spending more time with her like this in the years to come.
A hearty sensation filled him as his thoughts spiraled down a future path. Killian had never considered a future with anyone, but just now, he envisioned having Lily with him here always and showing her the world.
Killian knew she would love every part of their travels if they eventually set out. She had a keen sense of adventure, and her spirit had caught his attention from the start.
He sighed, allowing his heart to expand with the rush of energy and excitement that flowed through him.
Can I really have a life with her?
Lily was reading to herself now as he stole another glance at her. Killian could feel his heart beat for her already. He could not handle the rush of emotions coursing through him then.
When and how did he start falling for Lily?