Their last conversation had been in a room where the air held the scent of intimacy, and her sensual cries still rang out in his head. He forced himself to meet with Reid first as his friend leapt off his horse and approached.
William clasped Reid’s forearm. “Was yer journey uneventful?”
“As easy as it can be in the mud and rain. And far more uneventful than those villages that were set upon.” His gaze ran over the heavily fortified stone wall and spoke quietly. “Do ye think ’tis possible to make Newcastle fall?”
“Depends on how long they can last inside without supplies.”
Reid grunted, an unintelligible sound that was answer enough: he didn’t think it possible. At least he was smart enough not to voice his opinion. One never knew who was listening with so many of the king’s men surrounding them.
The king’s decision to lay siege on Newcastle was overzealous.
William greeted several of his men before stopping in front of Kinsey as she dismounted from her steed. Her slender legs were encased in a pair of trews that hugged her thighs distractingly and a leine that was nipped in at the waist with a belt.
The wind blew at her back, tossing her red curls about her and bringing her sweet perfume toward him. Images flashed in his mind of touching her, kissing her. Every sensation in his body ignited.
His cock stirred.
They could have a dalliance, of course. One that might fade to nothing between now and the time he would have to wed the Campbell lass.
And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to have her when he was so well aware of his obligation. His decision to keep his distance from her had been so much easier when she’d been a day behind him in their travel. Seeing her now, however, and being slammed with the memories of the intimacy they’d shared, he wondered if the lairdship was even worthwhile.
“William.” His name on her lips made an invisible band around his chest squeeze even tighter.
Best to do it now than before it was too late. Before it would be impossible.
“I need to speak with ye,” he said.
“Oh?” She slid him a coy glance that shot straight to his prick. “I need to speak with ye too.” She took a step closer. “Alone?”
He swallowed. “Aye. Set up yer tent and then come see me.”
Her lips quirked in a sensual smile, and she turned away. He followed her departure, unable to stop himself from watching her round bottom sway side to side in the those tight trews.
Jesu.
Guilt sliced through his interest like a blade.
She couldn’t be his.
He went back to his tent to wait for her. Time ticked by at an interminable pace as he went over his speech in his head, anticipating how she might reply and what he could say in return. And through it all, he couldn’t help but question his decision to become laird.
But could he really choose a woman he’d only known the short side of a month over his people, his birthright? Over what he’d spent a lifetime trying to be worthy of?
The flap to his tent swept inward, and Kinsey was there, wearing those damn trews. She pushed her curls back from her face and sauntered toward him.
“What do ye think?” Her hands skimmed up the sides of her thighs and stopped at her hips, framing them. With a wicked grin, she turned her backside to him and glanced over her shoulder.
The leather fit her curves perfectly.
His mouth went dry.
What did he think?
That he wanted to cup that firm arse in his palms while grinding their bodies together. That he could still edge his fingers into the fitted garment until she was wet beneath his touch and crying out like before.
Only this time, he wouldn’t stop.
“’Tis far easier to fight in.” She turned back around and kicked a single leg upward in demonstration. Her smile wavered. “Ye don’t like it?”
He shook his head. “It isna that.” He let his appreciation show as he ogled her from her top to bottom and back again. “I like it verra much.”
The air in the small tent warmed, as though heated by the sudden intimacy charging between them.
“I’ve been looking forward to seeing ye.” She stepped closer and gazed up at him. “I’ve been thinking of ye.” Her cheeks flushed with a delicate pink. “Of the last time we were together.”
The sweet, delicate scent that he loved so much teased at his senses.
“I’m sorry I left so abruptly,” he said. “I meant to bid ye farewell.”
“Reid told me.” She set her hand on William’s chest and slowly drew it upward. A caress. One of intent.
His cock went immediately hard.
Damn it.
“He also said ye were quite fond of me.” She brushed her body against his and gasped, glancing down at his evident arousal.
“Kinsey.” Her name came out as a groan.
She ran her hand down his torso. “William,” she purred.
Her eyes were heavy-lidded, sensual. It would be so easy to curl his arms around her slender frame, to pull her close and let the passion between them flare mindlessly out of control.
“We canna do this,” he ground out.
She rose on her toes and pressed her hot mouth to his neck. “Tonight,” she breathed.
He closed his eyes against the exquisite torment of his need. “Nay.” He stepped back from her, and his heel bumped the wall of the tent.
She gave a little laugh even as her brow furrowed with her confusion. “William, what is this about? I thought...” Her confidence faltered. “I thought ye wanted me. I thought we wanted each other.”
He ought to lie and tell her he did not but couldn’t bring himself to say such a falsehood. Not about this. She deserved to know the truth.
“I do want ye,” he admitted. “I want ye so bad I canna
