Chapter Eighteen
Katie’s heart sped up. Spend the night here…with Evan…just the two of us?
She studied his face and saw nothing to make her believe he had planned this. Which was, of course, stupid, since the man might be an arrogant and overbearing laird, but surely he could not control the weather and call up a storm.
“Verra well. At least we’ve had a decent meal.” She looked around the room which had grown smaller after Evan’s words. She glanced down at the worn mattress and one blanket he’d dragged out, and swallowed.
Evan reached out his hand and took hers. “Do not fash yerself, lass. Nothing will happen that ye dinnae want.”
Katie gave a very unladylike snort at that remark. Needless to say, she wanted Evan. What woman this side of the grave would not want to spend a night—alone—with this man? Just the thought of him placing his hands on her body. Her naked skin. She shuddered and shifted away from him, giving herself some room to breathe.
She raised her chin, hoping to seem unconcerned, and said, “What are the sleeping arrangements?”
He attempted to look serious but a slight smirk appeared. “There is only one mattress and one blanket, and not enough peat to burn through the night. We have to sleep together to conserve our warmth.”
She gave him a stiff nod. “There is yer tartan, also.”
“Aye.”
“I understand. We are two adults. We can certainly comport ourselves with honor.” She cringed at the stupidity of her words.
He placed his knuckle under her chin and raised her head. “Ye have nothing to fear from me, lass.”
“Of course not.” Despite her attempted bravado, suddenly the storm was not the most frightening thing in her mind. More frightening than what was going on outside the walls was what could happen inside the walls. Well, she was no squeamish miss. She could certainly keep her head around Evan. Even if they were sleeping side by side. She was strong and determined, and would not do something that she would regret in the morning.
Probably said at least once by every woman since Eve.
Katie rose from the sofa and wandered to the window, refusing to look at the mattress lying on the floor, beckoning her to throw caution to the winds. “It looks like the rain is easing up. Perhaps we can still make it back.” Just then, a bolt of lightning hit the tree outside the cottage, and the clap of thunder accompanying it made her jump back so far, she slammed into Evan, who had followed her.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Easy, lass.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, and she leaned back, into his warmth. “Come, sit on the sofa. If it pleases ye, I can sleep there, and ye take the mattress. I’ve slept in much worse conditions. I just dinnae want ye to go racing through the door into the storm. I will not touch ye inappropriately.”
“Nay?” She didn’t ken whether she was happy or insulted. Didn’t he feel the same stirrings as she did?
“Not unless ye want me to,” he added with a straight face. But his eyes said something very different.
Back to that again. Dinnae the man ken she wanted to experience what she thought would follow his lovely kisses, but giving her consent made her feel wicked? Not that she wished to be forced, and she kenned in her heart Evan was not the sort of man to force a woman.
Evan lit the two candles they’d found, which gave the room a soft glow. They continued to study the rain pouring down. Evan rested his arm across the back of the sofa and began to fiddle with her hair. He was slouched on the sofa, his legs stretched out before him, very much the image of a man at rest. Except she felt the tension in his body.
It matched her own.
“One kiss?”
She jumped at his words, being so caught up in her own worries. Although the words were whispered, she felt as though he had shouted it loud enough for those in the castle to hear. She licked her dry lips. “What?”
Evan leaned forward, staring directly at her lips. “One kiss?”
Nay! her brain cried. But before she could think on the matter, her lips parted and she breathed out the word, “Aye.”
Slowly and gently, he cupped her face and lowered his mouth. She stared at his lips until she couldn’t see them anymore, then closed her eyes. And told herself she would not be affected by this kiss. She would not lose her head. She would not enjoy it, even. She would let him kiss her, and then she would sit back and return to the fascinating pastime of watching the rain fall.
Her heart sped up, and her breathing increased. Goodness, his lips were warm. Full and soft. She began to count to keep her mind focused, since her body was already humming. After she reached thirteen, she forgot what came next when he nudged her lips and swept into her mouth with his wicked tongue.
Someone moaned. It might have been her. She felt his smile against her mouth as he pulled her closer. Should she allow that? Their bodies met when he crushed her breasts against his hard chest.
Another moan, and another smile. Where was she in her counting? Oh yes. Thirteen. Or was it twenty-three?
“Relax, lass.” Evan pulled away from her mouth and began to kiss her cheeks, jawline, and the very soft and sensitive skin under her ear. Her hands moved up to grip his shoulders, and she was quite certain she was pulling him toward her. Since they were already plastered against each other, there was nowhere for him to go. Except inside her.