He massaged her breast, the abundant feel of her making him harden even more. Oh, the little golden-haired temptress. He leaned over her, nibbling at her nipple, then sucking the hardening bud into his mouth. Even through the damp fabric, he tasted her—a wee bit salty and sweet and a feast of feminine softness.
Kate tangled her fingers in his hair and brought him closer.
“Oh, Ian.” The moan was born deep in her throat.
He’d never heard his name sound like a prayer before.
“Aye, lass,” he rasped as he moved to her other breast. “Ye will see the moon and the stars.”
She looked up and him. “I only want to see you.”
His throat tightened to stop the heart-wrenching emotion from spilling out.
“I havna seen anyone so bonnie as ye,” he said. “And I nae will.”
He returned to worshiping her, grasping her waist, then kissing his way down her hips. He kissed every part of her—every inch of her sacred, every detail of her body a benediction.
He reached her ankles and ran his hands up her legs under the skirt of her dress, her skin there cool and smooth.
Crack.
Crack. Crack.
He looked up the shore, frantically trying to find the source of the sound. Thor looked in that direction as well, his ears moving to-and-fro.
“We better go, Katie,” Ian said. “As much as I want to continue.”
She bit her lower lip and sat up, flushed, her lips swollen and red. He would see her swollen and red like that in the most intimate part of her body.
Red and swollen from pleasure.
But not now.
First, he needed to bring her to the safety of Dundail.
He rose and gave her his hand. “Come, lass.”
She took his hand and he helped her up, bringing her into his arms.
Crack. Crack.
He put her behind his back and picked up his sword.
A small deer appeared from the bushes and stared at them. Ian itched for a spear or a bow. He sighed out with relief.
“Ye would have made a great dinner of him, wouldna ye?” he asked.
“Well,” she said. “I wouldn’t feel…”
“Ah. I canna hunt with the sword. And anything ye cook is goin’ to be heaven. Speaking of…” He climbed onto Thor’s back and helped Kate up. “Let’s go home. I’m ravenous—for yer food and for ye.”
She giggled, and they trotted down the coast.
But the joy of seeing Kate’s smile faded away as he started thinking about what would await him in Dundail. The troops were headed their way; although, he was sure they’d take several days before they reached Dundail—with all of their tents and supplies, armies moved slowly.
Still, he’d need to think quickly of how to defend his home and his lands. And it was painfully clear he wouldn’t be able to do it without his tenants.
And his clan.
Sharp pain pierced his gut at the thought that he’d woken up the monster within himself and killed that innocent lad without even realizing it. How many more would he need to kill?
Chapter 18
“Ah, ye silly lass. What were ye thinking, leaving like that with nae word, alone?” Cadha lamented.
Kate was just getting off the horse in front of Dundail house, with the help of Ian’s strong arms. Cadha wobbled towards Thor, waving her arms in the air, her cheeks flushed like two bright apples.
Was Cadha in such distress because of her? Kate’s feet landed on the ground, and she raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“Sorry, Cadha,” Kate said. “I didn’t think you’d be so worried.”
“Why of course I was worried, lass.” Cadha clasped her hands. “Even Manning was, in his way.” She turned to Ian. “And ye, where have ye been?”
The sun was setting behind the mountains on the other side of the loch, painting the sky in gold, orange, pink, and violet. The gray walls of the house were warm now, golden brown in this light, as though it had been freshly removed from the oven. The sight was homey and sweet, and something melted in Kate’s chest at the image.
“Out,” Ian said curtly and led Thor into the stables.
Kate followed him with her eyes. He glanced back briefly, his gaze lingering on her and launching a whirlwind of butterflies in her stomach. She hid a smile, then wheezed out a breath.
She returned her attention to Cadha, who studied her with eyebrows drawn together.
“What happened? Why did ye leave but now came together with the lord? Are ye playing at something, lass?”
Any trace of smile on Kate’s face fell. “No, no. I wanted to go home but was caught by the English on my way. They thought I knew something about the local fortifications or something and tried to get it out of me. Ian saved me.”
“Ye call him Ian?”
“Yes—what else should I call him?”
“What a servant should call their master. He’s yer lord.”
Kate nodded. “Yes. Well. Where I come from, people aren’t always so official.”
Cadha cocked her head and propped her hands against her hips. “So ye remember now? And where is that ye come from?”
Kate shrugged, uneasy now from the interrogation. “Far away. Listen, what do we do for dinner?”
“We?”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll make something. Ian—I mean, the lord—hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday.”
Kate passed by Cadha into the house, feeling the woman’s suspicious gaze on her like a heavy weight.
The kitchen was empty, but full of the smell of bread and cooking. Kate looked into the cauldron. In the now familiar medieval fashion, there were several linen pouches where vegetables, meat, and eggs were cooking. The water had already stopped boiling, steam rising.
The table was still covered with flour. And, like before, peels, crumbs, and dirt covered the surface.
Manning.
At least there was a bucket with
