Chapter Six #3
His actions compelled her to open her mouth and she did, inviting ever deepening kisses.
Sinful kisses that made her forget where she was…
forget everything but him. His tongue flicked against hers, stroked with fiery erotic movements such as she'd never experienced before.
His taste was even more bewitching than his scent and it made her imagine wicked things.
The two of them in her bed, their naked skin sliding.
A moan reached her ears and she realized she'd made that shocking sound. He growled an even louder moan in response and the kiss grew fiercer. Pushing her against the door, he consumed her mouth with fire and passion.
Abruptly, he pulled back, breathing hard, watching her. "Now tell me, Lady Jessie, did you enjoy that, or nay?" he asked in a low murmur.
What? He expected her to talk now? After that? His green eyes were dark as a pine forest at gloaming. His heated look dared her to deny it.
She nodded, then shook her head.
"Which is it?" He darted a glance down at her lips again as if he might want to make a meal out of her. Some part of her wished he would.
"Aye," she whispered.
"And what does that mean? You want another?"
"Nay."
He gave her a crooked grin and moved closer. "You said you didn't lie."
'Twas true; she was lying. She grasped the plaid that crossed his chest and pulled him closer. He made a sensual purring sound and took possession of her mouth again.
Her arms around his neck, she couldn't get close enough to him. With his hands at the small of her back, he drew her tight against him, and she was certain the hardness she felt pressed against her lower belly was not his sporran.
He pulled back an inch, gazing into her eyes, his heavy-lidded and dark with passion. "We suit very well indeed, m'lady, as I knew we would from the first moment I saw you."
Clearly, he was hinting about marriage again. Fear shot through her, along with a good dose of mortification. She yanked her arms from around his neck, unable to believe she'd indulged in such a sinful kiss in a church. The good reverend might make her marry Torrin if he learned of it.
She turned, jerked open the heavy wooden door, and ran outside. Most of the gale had passed and only a light mist of rain and a breeze remained. She strode quickly along the walkway and through the wooden gate of the stone-walled kirkyard.
Torrin's footsteps sounded behind her, but she ignored him and headed toward the castle.
Of a certainty, she'd enjoyed the kiss, but that didn't mean she wanted to marry him.
He was too pushy and domineering by far.
She had found contentment living here with her family and clan.
Why alter something that wasn't a problem?
She had wanted a family of her own once, during her first betrothal and even when she'd been in the trial marriage to MacBain.
But when that faux marriage had shattered upon the rocks, some of her dreams had died.
Maybe she was barren as MacBain had accused.
And if so, why would Torrin want to marry her? He needed an heir.
She stopped and turned. Almost running into her, Torrin grasped her arms, steadying them both.
"I'm barren," she said. Her throat tightened and closed and tears burned her eyes. She tore herself away from his hold and ran toward the castle gates.
"Jessie," he called after her, but she didn't stop.
There, she'd told him the truth, the reason they couldn't marry. They didn't suit at all because he needed an heir more than anything, and she couldn't provide one.
∞∞∞
A quarter hour later, Torrin knocked at Jessie's bedchamber door. The woman he wanted for his wife was not barren. 'Twas impossible. He refused to believe it.
Her kiss had bewitched him. Once his lips had touched hers, he'd been certain she was the only woman for him.
Never had a kiss affected him so profoundly.
'Twas not only the lust which had consumed his body, but his heart had somersaulted within his chest. She was the woman he'd dreamed of the whole of his life.
He knocked again.
"Who is it?" Jessie's muffled response came from inside the room.
"Me. Torrin."
"What do you want?"
"To talk." That much should be obvious to her.
"There is naught to talk about," she assured him in a firm voice.
"I disagree," he growled. They had plenty to talk about. He had imagined her as the mother of his children for more than six months. And now, to suddenly be told that wouldn't be possible was a blow to his vitals.
"Did you not hear what I said outside?" she demanded.
"Of course, I heard. 'Tis why I'm here now. How do you ken 'tis true?"
"How do you think?" she practically yelled through the door. "When I was with MacBain, I was unable to conceive a bairn."
"Iosa is Muire Mhàthair." He detested the sound of MacBain's name, and to once again imagine the bastard lying with Jessie gutted him.
A chambermaid approached along the corridor. Once she had disappeared into a room, he turned back to the door. "Let me in. I want to talk about this in private. Servants are passing by."
"How grand," she muttered. "Gossip will be all over the castle by morn." She removed the bar from the door and opened it. "Very well. Do come in, m'laird. This is not at all scandalous," she said in an impertinent tone.
He slammed the door closed and barred it. When he faced her and saw the unshed tears glistening in her eyes, annoyance pounded through him. Not annoyance at her but at the situation. "Mayhap MacBain is not as virile as he thinks," he said.
She shrugged. "He was able to sire a son with his lovely wife after that."
"How many times did you lie with him?" Torrin hated the image in his head of Jessie with that whoreson. It made him want to break MacBain's nose again, along with a few of his limbs.
"I didn't count. 'Twas three months."
"Were you not in the trial marriage for a year and a day?"
"Aye, but he lost interest and found a prettier lass to secretly spend his nights with."
"There could be no prettier lass than you," Torrin muttered, remembering how her hair had shimmered like red flames in the sunlight today, and her eyes had rivaled the bright blue sky. Now, in the dimness of the room, the colors were more subdued but no less beautiful.
"I thank you, but…" She shook her head, tears dripping onto her cheeks.