Heart of the Highlands: The Beast (Protectors of the Crown Book 1) by April Holthaus Page B
Authors: April Holthaus
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Inwardly, he smiled.
“Of course, Lassie.”
They sat in silence, watching the goslings play in the water like children playing follow the leader. Keira’s brief giggles were like music from heaven. Ian was surprised to find himself smiling, too. He kept glancing her way, not able to take his eyes off her. He wanted her, needed her, but damn if he could have her.
~*~
Keira fondly watched the young geese splash in the water. As the sun sank beneath the horizon, the orange sky began to fade, gradually replaced with dark blue. Behind her to the east, a few stars shone brightly as they twinkled in the sky. It would be only moments until the sky turned black, and was covered in stars.
Keira yawned. It was late, and the day had been long. Ian would leave tomorrow to complete his task, and soon he would return to take her home. In the meantime, she would offer her aid to Lady MacKenzie as payment for her hospitality.
“It’s late. I should probably head in. And where will ye and yer men be sleeping?” Keira asked.
“There is a guest house near the stables. If ye need anything, that’s where ye will find me.”
As he lowered his head, his gaze smoldered. Keira could almost feel the heat radiating from him. His proximity caused her heart to beat faster in her chest. She did not like the way he made her feel, but every nerve in her body was screaming at him to hold her the way he had when they were riding together.
Though she tried to resist him, she couldn’t stop herself from falling for his devilish charm. Only now did it occur to her that the day he ransacked the carriage he was actually rescuing her from a doomed future. He was a Highlander through and through; with honor as steadfast as stone and the ignorance of a mule.
“I am sure that I will no’ need yer help at this late hour,” she said as she scooted away.
Ian must have sensed her hesitation as he shifted toward her. She tried to look away, but Ian gently touched her chin, returning her gaze to his. She had not expected him to be gentle. Could a beast be gentle ? Lifting his hand, he brushed a loose tendril of hair over her ear. Grazing his hand down her cheek, he touched her lips, then her chin, and raised her head up slightly so they were eye to eye. She knew he was going to kiss her. Damn him ; because if he did, she knew she would not resist. The way he touched her, looked at her, even spoke to her, made her feel soft and vulnerable. Even her thoughts were too addled to focus on anything other than him. She wanted to be kissed; to be touched; to be loved.
“Ye have bewitched me, lassie,” he said as he leaned toward her.
Panic, excitement, and anticipation coursed through her veins. Her breaths were labored as he gazed at her lips. Unconsciously, she licked them before biting her bottom lip. The world around her seemed to fade away. Keira opened her lips slightly and drew in a breath. Ian combed his fingers through her hair and pulled her toward him. Forcefully, he pressed his wet lips against hers.
At the moment his lips touched hers a fire grew in her belly and her skin tingled right down to the tips of her toes. His kiss was possessive and demanding but she was a willing partner. It was when Ian broke the kiss that Keira realized what she had done. She had enjoyed it immensely. Was that wrong?
She thought to blame the drink she had at supper for her foolish actions. But if that were true, why did she so desperately want him to kiss her again? Standing quickly, she bid him goodnight before embarrassment set in, and then took off at a near sprint back toward the keep.
Chapter 11
With stars still shining bright, Ian and Rylan had ridden several miles away from the castle before its inhabitants even knew they were gone. Not wanting to be questioned about their intended destination, they thought it best to leave before dawn.
It was not Ian’s desire to leave without bidding Keira a proper goodbye, but it was for the best. After
“Of course, Lassie.”
They sat in silence, watching the goslings play in the water like children playing follow the leader. Keira’s brief giggles were like music from heaven. Ian was surprised to find himself smiling, too. He kept glancing her way, not able to take his eyes off her. He wanted her, needed her, but damn if he could have her.
~*~
Keira fondly watched the young geese splash in the water. As the sun sank beneath the horizon, the orange sky began to fade, gradually replaced with dark blue. Behind her to the east, a few stars shone brightly as they twinkled in the sky. It would be only moments until the sky turned black, and was covered in stars.
Keira yawned. It was late, and the day had been long. Ian would leave tomorrow to complete his task, and soon he would return to take her home. In the meantime, she would offer her aid to Lady MacKenzie as payment for her hospitality.
“It’s late. I should probably head in. And where will ye and yer men be sleeping?” Keira asked.
“There is a guest house near the stables. If ye need anything, that’s where ye will find me.”
As he lowered his head, his gaze smoldered. Keira could almost feel the heat radiating from him. His proximity caused her heart to beat faster in her chest. She did not like the way he made her feel, but every nerve in her body was screaming at him to hold her the way he had when they were riding together.
Though she tried to resist him, she couldn’t stop herself from falling for his devilish charm. Only now did it occur to her that the day he ransacked the carriage he was actually rescuing her from a doomed future. He was a Highlander through and through; with honor as steadfast as stone and the ignorance of a mule.
“I am sure that I will no’ need yer help at this late hour,” she said as she scooted away.
Ian must have sensed her hesitation as he shifted toward her. She tried to look away, but Ian gently touched her chin, returning her gaze to his. She had not expected him to be gentle. Could a beast be gentle ? Lifting his hand, he brushed a loose tendril of hair over her ear. Grazing his hand down her cheek, he touched her lips, then her chin, and raised her head up slightly so they were eye to eye. She knew he was going to kiss her. Damn him ; because if he did, she knew she would not resist. The way he touched her, looked at her, even spoke to her, made her feel soft and vulnerable. Even her thoughts were too addled to focus on anything other than him. She wanted to be kissed; to be touched; to be loved.
“Ye have bewitched me, lassie,” he said as he leaned toward her.
Panic, excitement, and anticipation coursed through her veins. Her breaths were labored as he gazed at her lips. Unconsciously, she licked them before biting her bottom lip. The world around her seemed to fade away. Keira opened her lips slightly and drew in a breath. Ian combed his fingers through her hair and pulled her toward him. Forcefully, he pressed his wet lips against hers.
At the moment his lips touched hers a fire grew in her belly and her skin tingled right down to the tips of her toes. His kiss was possessive and demanding but she was a willing partner. It was when Ian broke the kiss that Keira realized what she had done. She had enjoyed it immensely. Was that wrong?
She thought to blame the drink she had at supper for her foolish actions. But if that were true, why did she so desperately want him to kiss her again? Standing quickly, she bid him goodnight before embarrassment set in, and then took off at a near sprint back toward the keep.
Chapter 11
With stars still shining bright, Ian and Rylan had ridden several miles away from the castle before its inhabitants even knew they were gone. Not wanting to be questioned about their intended destination, they thought it best to leave before dawn.
It was not Ian’s desire to leave without bidding Keira a proper goodbye, but it was for the best. After
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