Chapter 12 #2
He cleared his throat. "If truth be told, I've never wanted to kiss any lass as much as I want to kiss ye. Everything about ye calls to me."
"Ye want to kiss me?" she asked.
"Aye. More than ye can imagine. If ye dinnae mind me being yer first. I promise to be gentle."
"I'd like that," she said softly. "But ye'll have to teach me. I dinnae ken what to do."
His eyes darkened at that. Cormac would take anything she offered.
He leaned in and captured her lips with his.
The moment it happened, Cormac felt something tighten in his chest – a pull so strong he wanted more before the kiss had even properly begun.
He noted everything: the mint on her breath, the scent of lavender in her hair, the taste of innocence about her.
Before he knew it they were thoroughly entangled in one another.
Una followed Cormac’s lead with an eagerness that left her breathless.
When they eventually came up for air, Cormac could not stop pressing soft kisses to her cheek, her brow, the tip of her nose.
"Can ye show me more?" Una rasped.
"Aye, sweeting. Anything ye want of me, just ask."
Then he came to his senses. She was an innocent. Whatever passion she stirred in him, he had no right to press it.
He reluctantly put some distance between them. "We best eat before the food gets cold. Ye need yer sustenance."
Una blushed and looked down, and Cormac saw the flicker of doubt cross her face.
"Sweeting, dinnae do that."
"Do what?"
"Dinnae doubt how much I want ye. I just think 'tis wise we cease before we do something we can’t take back."
"Oh. I understand."
"No, ye dinnae understand."
Una yelped as she found herself lifted bodily onto Cormac's lap, his arms locking around her waist. She felt the evidence of his want pressing against her.
"Do ye feel my attraction to ye now?" he murmured against her hair.
She nodded.
"Good. Now get comfortable, because I am going to feed ye while ye remain on my lap."
"Why?"
"Because ye were the best kiss I have ever had. No one compares to ye, love." He kissed her forehead. "Now, how did I do as yer first?"
Una gave him a mischievous smile. "It was nice. But as I have none to compare it to, perhaps it was not very good. Mayhap I need to practice kissing other men to ken whether—"
A low growl cut her off. "I'll murder any man who touches yer lips. Ye practice only with me."
Una laughed. "I'll hold ye to it, Shadow."
"Hoyden," he said, and kissed the tip of her nose. "Come now, let me feed ye."
They settled and began to enjoy the meal. Cormac fed her the choicest pieces and ensured she had her fill. Una bloomed under his attention. No one had ever cared for her so well.
She realized, quietly and with some alarm, that she was slowly falling in love with him. It could not last. Everything about her was a lie. But at least for now, she would enjoy every moment, and tuck it away into memory for the cold nights ahead when it would be just her, alone in her cottage.
***
THE FOOD WAS HEARTY and they ate their fill, talking of many things.
"So, Lady Fenella, does yer da perhaps have a man chosen for ye?"
Una almost choked on her bread. She shook her head carefully. "I assume he would tell me if it were the case."
Cormac nodded. Una turned the question back on him. "What of ye? Do ye have a betrothed, or a lass ye are courting?"
Cormac said no. Though he thought briefly of the Annag Ruthven situation and suppressed a grimace. He decided to be truthful about the rest. "There are lassies who would like to think they can wed me, but I am not the marrying kind. At least I've never cared much for it."
"Oh," Una replied, a small disconcerted feeling settling beneath her ribs. "I imagine being the Shadow would not be compatible with having a wife and bairns."
"Aye, at least 'tis what I've always thought... until recently." He gazed at her with such warmth she could not help but blush.
He meant it. It was not until he met her that the idea of a wife and a home did not seem like such a burden. She was so refreshingly real. If only she were not a nobleman's daughter, he might consider it.
Una knew this was the moment to change the subject. "How long have ye been raiding?"
"A long time."
"Do ye have a place of yer own when ye are not on the road?"
Cormac was surprised. No one had ever asked him that. Usually they judged first. "Aye, I have a home. We all do. I've been with these men a long time. We trust each other without question."
"I can see that. Do ye never feel guilty?"
"We never rob anyone who does nae deserve it."
"There is some honor in that."
"We would never harm women or bairns."
"Do ye never worry about being caught?"
He couldn't help but smile at her concern. "I make sure the king is never inconvenienced by our actions. As for wealthy nobles, I am particular about which ones we target."
"How so?"
"Only those with no scruples." He shifted, signalling the change of subject. "But we best get ready for sleep. It has been a long day."
The servants returned, cleared the table, and replaced the pitchers with heated water before leaving again.
Una and Cormac moved about the room preparing for bed.
"Take the bed, love. I'll sleep on the chair by the door," Cormac said.
Una panicked immediately. If he slept by the door there was no way she could slip out and escape without waking him. "No, I insist ye take the bed. 'Tis only right ye have a proper rest."
"There is no chance in hell I will allow ye to sleep on a chair, lass."
"Perhaps we can share. 'Tis large enough for two."
"I dinnae think that would be wise. Ye take the bed, sweeting."
Una planted her hands on her hips. "Cormac, please dinnae make me feel guilty by sleeping on the chair. We are both fully grown. We can share with little fuss."
Cormac looked at her, then at the bed, and finally nodded. "All right."
Una was so relieved she dived under the covers immediately and turned her back to him. He waited several moments, sighed, blew out the candle, and joined her, careful to keep his distance.
They lay in complete silence, listening to the inn settle and the sound of their own breathing.
Una began to relax. She just needed to wait until Cormac fell asleep and his men settled for the night. Then she could slip out and head east, back to Kyleakin. She had placed her things beside the door for exactly that purpose.
The bed was warm and clean. She waited and waited, but Cormac continued to shift about restlessly. She yawned. Her eyelids began to droop. She would just close them for a moment.
She was fast asleep within minutes.
Cormac waited until her breathing evened out.
Only then did he turn toward her. He watched her curled up and sleeping beside him, and made his decision without hesitation.
He reached across and gently drew her into his arms, pulling her back against his chest. He felt the restlessness leave him instantly.
He breathed in her scent, closed his eyes, and for the second night running fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
***