wandering direction of his hands even more than the conspiratorial whispers. “I am not so well suited anymore.”
If that did not deter him from this union, she was lost. Her father and Keane already demanded it. If Duncan wished it in spite of her supposed lack ofinnocence, she would be wed to him whether she willed it or nay.
“We have all changed.” His thumbs strayed over her collarbone to the neck of her linen kirtle. “You have turned into a woman of great talent and ambition. You’ve used it to further your family’s fame and wealth. I admire that, since my half brother increased our rents in my absence and used all the gain to indulge his temper with ill-chosen border wars.”
She stilled, captive to his touch and surprised at the sudden dark undertone to his words. Had she misjudged his relationship with Donegal? Could Duncan have seen the ugly side of his half brother’s character even though he had often defended him publicly?
“I think it is right to put family before all else,” she admitted, breathing in the clean scent of his skin underneath the hint of hickory smoke that clung to his garb from some hearth fire.
She really needed to extricate herself from the vacant chamber where they were far too alone. But just now, she couldn’t even seem to untwine herself from his sweetly seductive hands as he squeezed her closer.
“You see? We are one in this thinking. We are both ready to protect and defend those closest to us.” His gaze drew her in until she got lost in it. Spellbound by the connection, she did not sense the impending kiss until his lips brushed her cheek.
Her temple.
Swaying on her feet, she blinked and tried to reorient herself. Blindly, she gripped his tunic, steadying herself.
Perhaps he would understand her need to protect Leah, no matter what. Perhaps he would fall in love with the little girl as much as she had. But she could not count on it. She must demand it ere she went any further.
“Wait.” She edged back, knowing she could not go forward unless she ensured Leah’s safety. “I cannot— I will not—allow this unless you can assure me you will protect Leah.”
He frowned. Shook his head.
“Of course.” He leaned in to kiss her, his breath warm upon her neck. “Whatever you wish.”
“Nay.” She held him off, trembling within. “It is not enough. You must…” she said as she licked her lips. “You must swear it to me.”
He straightened fully, though he did not release her. Confusion and a fair amount of righteous indignation passed through his gaze.
“She is at risk somehow?” He studied her more carefully. “You have reason to believe she is in danger.”
“Nay. But as long as her father draws breath, I will worry that he might come back for her. This, I will not tolerate.”
Perhaps it was the mention of the child’s father. But something in her words caused a tightening ofhis jaw. An angry flare of the nostrils. But this time he did not hesitate to give her what she wished.
“By all I hold holy, I swear to you, I will keep Leah with my own life.”
Transfixed by the fierceness of the oath, she was silent a long moment.
“You would prefer I draw blood to seal the matter?” he asked, without a trace of hesitation.
“Nay.” She nodded jerkily, overwhelmed at the security she had just claimed for her child. Without question, she had obtained a stalwart protector for Leah. She just prayed Duncan would not come to despise her for all the secrets she kept. “The oath—your words—they are sufficient.”
“Then come to me,” he whispered, pulling her closer. “My service comes with a price and I plan to collect it tonight.”
His lips brushed her cheek. The tenderness of that touch, combined with a binding vow that she had not expected, softened her last shred of resistance. Maybe the time had come to seize the moment of happiness that had been teasing her senses every time she’d ever been in Duncan’s presence.
“I have
If that did not deter him from this union, she was lost. Her father and Keane already demanded it. If Duncan wished it in spite of her supposed lack ofinnocence, she would be wed to him whether she willed it or nay.
“We have all changed.” His thumbs strayed over her collarbone to the neck of her linen kirtle. “You have turned into a woman of great talent and ambition. You’ve used it to further your family’s fame and wealth. I admire that, since my half brother increased our rents in my absence and used all the gain to indulge his temper with ill-chosen border wars.”
She stilled, captive to his touch and surprised at the sudden dark undertone to his words. Had she misjudged his relationship with Donegal? Could Duncan have seen the ugly side of his half brother’s character even though he had often defended him publicly?
“I think it is right to put family before all else,” she admitted, breathing in the clean scent of his skin underneath the hint of hickory smoke that clung to his garb from some hearth fire.
She really needed to extricate herself from the vacant chamber where they were far too alone. But just now, she couldn’t even seem to untwine herself from his sweetly seductive hands as he squeezed her closer.
“You see? We are one in this thinking. We are both ready to protect and defend those closest to us.” His gaze drew her in until she got lost in it. Spellbound by the connection, she did not sense the impending kiss until his lips brushed her cheek.
Her temple.
Swaying on her feet, she blinked and tried to reorient herself. Blindly, she gripped his tunic, steadying herself.
Perhaps he would understand her need to protect Leah, no matter what. Perhaps he would fall in love with the little girl as much as she had. But she could not count on it. She must demand it ere she went any further.
“Wait.” She edged back, knowing she could not go forward unless she ensured Leah’s safety. “I cannot— I will not—allow this unless you can assure me you will protect Leah.”
He frowned. Shook his head.
“Of course.” He leaned in to kiss her, his breath warm upon her neck. “Whatever you wish.”
“Nay.” She held him off, trembling within. “It is not enough. You must…” she said as she licked her lips. “You must swear it to me.”
He straightened fully, though he did not release her. Confusion and a fair amount of righteous indignation passed through his gaze.
“She is at risk somehow?” He studied her more carefully. “You have reason to believe she is in danger.”
“Nay. But as long as her father draws breath, I will worry that he might come back for her. This, I will not tolerate.”
Perhaps it was the mention of the child’s father. But something in her words caused a tightening ofhis jaw. An angry flare of the nostrils. But this time he did not hesitate to give her what she wished.
“By all I hold holy, I swear to you, I will keep Leah with my own life.”
Transfixed by the fierceness of the oath, she was silent a long moment.
“You would prefer I draw blood to seal the matter?” he asked, without a trace of hesitation.
“Nay.” She nodded jerkily, overwhelmed at the security she had just claimed for her child. Without question, she had obtained a stalwart protector for Leah. She just prayed Duncan would not come to despise her for all the secrets she kept. “The oath—your words—they are sufficient.”
“Then come to me,” he whispered, pulling her closer. “My service comes with a price and I plan to collect it tonight.”
His lips brushed her cheek. The tenderness of that touch, combined with a binding vow that she had not expected, softened her last shred of resistance. Maybe the time had come to seize the moment of happiness that had been teasing her senses every time she’d ever been in Duncan’s presence.
“I have
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