Never Been Bit by Lydia Dare Page B

mind?” She spun quickly to face him.
    He’d nearly forgotten about the discussion with Cait.
    Who knew freckles could be so distracting? “What were you talking about with Caitrin?” he asked.
    She inhaled as though fortifying herself. “If ye must ken, I asked about personal relationships.”
    “Personal relationships? As in?”
    “As in the kind between a man and a woman.” Even her freckles blushed that time. She avoided his gaze.
    “Did she answer you?” More importantly, what did she say?
    “She refused, with little regard to the fact that she had promised me forever ago that she would tell me all. She said my husband would teach me what I need ta ken.” She inhaled deeply. “But I’m curious.” She watched his face closely. And must have seen his eyes darken with that comment, because her mouth fell open.
    He took full advantage. He dipped his head quickly and took her mouth with his. She raised her hands to hold his face close as his tongue stroked against hers. She may have only just received her first kiss, but she was a damn fine student. He sipped at her lips until the ache of his teeth nearly overwhelmed him. He knew they were fully distended. He pulled back from her and looked away.
    Damn. He was just as dangerous as those Lycans of which she was so enamored. “Your husband will teach you what you want to know. Cait’s right. And you shouldn’t go around being so curious. It could get you in trouble.”
    “Ye mean like the kind where ye kiss me senseless.” She did look a bit witless as she rested her face against his chest, her arms sliding around his waist as she breathed.
    She made him want to breathe with her.
    “Exactly,” he confirmed as he set her away from him. He needed to feed so he wouldn’t be quite so hungry. For some reason, he doubted it would help with this type of hunger. But he had to step away from her regardless. “I’ll see you a bit later,” he said as he slunk away from her.
    “No’ if I see ye first,” she teased. But there was something in her gaze. Something different. She looked… mischievous.
    He walked out of the orangery and straight into a cluster of English lords as they strode down the corridor. “I say, MacQuarrie,” the Earl of Chilcombe boomed. “The next time you tup a fair lady in the orangery, you should clean yourself up a bit before you leave.” The man pointed to Alec’s face and shirt.
    Alec rubbed at his cheeks and groaned aloud as he realized that mud coated his jaw. And two very obvious, very muddy, very feminine handprints stained his waistcoat.
    Sorcha. She knew. And she’d let him leave looking like he’d just been rolling in the mud with her.
    “I say we should journey into the orangery and meet the object of MacQuarrie’s affections,” Lord Loughton said.
    “Do it and die,” Alec warned.

Chapter Ten
    Nothing was as wonderful as a warm bath. Sorcha closed her eyes and rested her head against the edge of the copper tub, inhaling the sweet blossom fragrance she had added to the water. It made her think of the apple orchard at her father’s estate in Southwick. She smiled to herself as she remembered her last visit there.
    More species of wildflowers grew there than anywhere else she’d ever been. It was heaven. Anyone who visited in spring would be in awe of the meadows filled with butterflies and skylarks. Perhaps she could get Papa to send Alec an invitation. Southwick was the furthest place from darkness she could think of. His spirit would be lighter by at least tenfold.
    And wouldn’t it be lovely to kiss him in that magical setting?
    A knock at the door interrupted her musings. Sorcha gasped, sat up in the tub, and sloshed water over the edge.
    “Who is it?”
    She heard the door creak open. “It’s me,” came Maddie’s disembodied voice from behind the changing screen. Then the door closed with a click.
    Sorcha breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against the edge of the tub. “I’m in the middle of