Page 8 of Kiss Me, Macrae
She noted the glint of stubbornness in his eyes and recognized the look from that morning at the inn when he insisted upon a kiss before he leapt from the window. Feeling a rush of desire at the memory, she covered her response with a sharp reply. “Fine, then.”
Surprisingly, he didn’t appear put off by her brusque manner.
In her experience, most men preferred women who willingly pandered to their wishes and whims. Though she wasn’t typically as rude as she just was to the Scot, Allegra had never managed to cultivate a biddable nature.
Giving her a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, he said, “Allow me a moment tae add this tae the cairn then we’ll be on our way.” He strode to a pile of stones that stood nearly as high as his knees. Carefully—almost reverently, he placed the rock he carried on top, then paused for a moment before turning back to her. “Right then, lassie, down we go.” A sweeping gesture indicated she should lead the way.
Before turning toward the path, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “What is the significance of the stones?”
He glanced back at the pile of rock. “A cairn can serve as a landmark or a memorial of sorts.”
Allegra didn’t have to ask what purpose this one in particular served. The quiet note of sadness in his voice gave her the answer.
For some reason, the path down the mountain felt surprisingly more treacherous than it had on the way up. More than once, as the wind swirled around her, the landscape seemed to tilt and the ground appeared to slope away from her feet at an alarming angle. Each time, the large Scotsman was there to grasp her elbow until she regained her balance.
And each time, Allegra had to clench her teeth against the swift rise of heat through her body.
How the simple touch of his hand on her arm could cause such a reaction was alarming, though perhaps it shouldn’t have been a surprise considering she’d been half-naked and writhing in his arms little more than a week ago.
She had fiercely tried not to think about that kiss in the days since. Any time she did, her heart would race and her belly would flutter in embarrassment for how quickly she had succumbed to the passions he’d invoked. At the first touch of his lips, she had lost all control. Her inhibitions had been nonexistent under the sweep of his rough hands and all she’d wanted was more of him.
With each grasp of his hand at her elbow or brush of his shoulder as they made their way along the path, she realized her unbridled desire at the inn hadn’t been a singular experience. The man attracted her in a way no other man ever had.
And as she recalled the details of that morning, she realized it wouldn’t take much to reach that state again.
Not that she wanted to.
Certainly not.
She had come to Scotland with the intention of deciding the next steps in her future. She absolutely could not entertain the idea of engaging in an affair with a rugged highland Scotsman.
Even if he was built as though carved of stone and his kisses tasted like sunlight and laughter.
Chapter 5
Their steps slowed to a stop at the stones standing as gateway between the two properties. Allegra felt an odd tightening in her body as she turned toward the man beside her. With the ancient grey rock behind him and the rugged landscape all around, he looked fully in command and yet totally at ease with himself in a way she couldn’t help but notice and admire.
He lowered his chin to seek her gaze. “I’d walk the rest of the way with ye,” he said in a rough tone, “but I’m gettin’ the sense ye’d prefer tae go on alone.”
Something twisted inside her at his choice of words. She didn’t particularly enjoy being alone. But that’s what life required at times. She lifted her chin. “I’ll be fine.”
“I dinnae doubt it, lass.” His smile tilted upward on one side. “But before ye go, I’m wonderin’ if ye’ll admit ye’ve been thinkin’ aboot our kiss.”
She could only hope her cheeks were too pink from the cold for him to notice her instant blush. “It was not so memorable.”
Her denial simply made him chuckle. “I might not be needin’ tae hear of yer undying love just yet, but I’ll not be havin’ yer lies either, lass.”
Allegra was about to refute his blatant implication that a declaration of love would be anything but a lie as well when he grinned widely to add, “Tell me truthfully ye dinnae want tae kiss me right now.”
Her eyes widened. “Your arrogance is staggering.”
He lifted one brow. “Are ye gonna say ye didn’t enjoy having my mouth coverin’ yers? My hands on your bare skin? My fingers between your thighs?”
“Stop. Say no more.” Allegra’s belly flipped wildly. His boldness had no limits.
“Och, lassie,” he scolded with a smile. “What happened between us is nothin’ tae be ashamed of.”
She snapped her chin up and gave him a swift glare. “I’m not ashamed.”