Page 4 of Highlander’s Evil Twin

It was a strange cocktail of emotions. Lust tinged with innocence. Suddenly, he felt happy and so glad that his father had arranged this marriage. With his brother in England, Hiram knew he was lucky to be the one offered her. He realized it in an instant and thought about those enticing green eyes and how captivating she was. He felt as if he had been in a trance all his life and yet was only now waking. All he could think about was her scent, her beauty, and that body. He yearned to return to her.

Hiram looked at the long line ahead of him and sighed. “Sorry guys, can you let me by? I need to get a drink for the lady.” The men parted instantly and he ordered his drink, impatiently waiting, heart thudding beneath his ribs. Once ready, he placed the glasses on a tray and returned the way he had come, trying not to spill the drinks in his eagerness.

“That was fast!” she said appreciatively and took her champagne, sipping it eagerly.

He smiled. “Well, I cheated this time and asked if anyone minded if we had our drinks first. They were happy to oblige as they know it is a...well, a special occasion.”

The color was returning to her face already and as the light danced against her skin, he felt his desire grow. “I was truly worried that you were going to faint before I could make it back to you.”

“No, my Lord, you saved the day. Thank you very much.” She raised the glass in a toast and smiled.

“I am simply glad to be able to help such a lovely lady and I will do so for the rest of our lives too,” Hiram stated simply.

Where did that come from? What is happening to me? he wondered.

“I am sure you will,” she said flatly.

Hiram frowned. He felt ice cold water on his ardor.

“Your staff really did a wonderful job of decorating everything so nicely, it’s beautiful,” Heather said to break the silence.

“Yes, they made such an effort indeed. I think they wondered whether this day would ever come.” He laughed.

“You didn’t want to get married before?” she prompted.

He shook his head. “I was away for much of the time defending our lands against usurpers. But also, no doubt, not mature enough to be a good husband.” He smiled ruefully.

Heather digested that information in silence, giving nothing away. “I too was not ready. Well, am not ready…not really.” She glanced at him guiltily. “It is all happening so fast.” She sipped her champagne, feeling it settle her nerves. “I only found out about you the other day. The news was presented to me and there was no way out. Sorry. I don’t mean that to sound…like a reflection on you.”

“I understand.” He nodded. “The same happened to me. That’s why I think we must try to make this work in a way that suits us both.” He thought about his previous desire to bed her until she became pregnant and to continue to bed others. He wondered if that would be acceptable.

“I think we should try. We need to make this work somehow.” She smiled at him, her full lips enticing him.

He was desperate to kiss her. To feel how she might taste, to feel her compliance—or her need to fight him. Either reaction would be fine, he realized. He wanted to seduce her and it might be fun if she protested a little. While it excited him, he also knew he was not capable of hurting her. He wanted her to enjoy it, to have fun with it, and to see how much pleasure they could both have. Hiram drew back from her, fighting temptation. “I am going to get us another drink,” he said quickly and moved away before she could react.

Sitting alone, Heather felt confused. For a moment, it had seemed that he was moving closer to kiss her. She knew that she was willing for that to happen. To see, to test out her attraction to him. Now he was gone and she felt an emptiness, a feeling of rejection within. She sighed deeply. There was something new, too. An aching sensation. She’d never experienced it before.

He was back quickly and handed her another glass.

“I must be careful not to have too much.” She smiled at him. “I haven’t had any since, well, since we had a ball for my younger sister’s birthday.”

“Where is she?” he asked, certain he had only seen three people enter the castle.

Heather swallowed hard. “She died a few months back.”

Hiram could hear the tremulous tone in her voice as she struggled to control her emotions.

“I’m very sorry, I understand how difficult it is. My brother died almost a year ago now.” He drew a deep breath and released it, letting go of tension. He placed his hand over her own. She didn’t move away, just relished the warmth of this connection and they sat quietly for a moment or two.

“I’m sorry about your brother. Were the two of you close?” she asked him.

“Sometimes, but perhaps not as close as I would have liked,” he said quietly.

Silence hung like a shroud around them and finally, Hiram cleared his throat. “Would you like to dance? That is, if you feel okay?” he asked.

She took a sip of water to help dilute the champagne that was making her feel heady and excited in this moment. “Yes, I think that would be nice.” She smiled and he helped her stand up.

He held his arm out and she put her hand on his, marveling at the strong muscles flexing beneath her hand. He seemed so nice. She wanted him to be nice. They had a lifetime ahead of them and needed to somehow make it pleasant. Her heart pounded beneath her ribs as he drew her close, and she could smell his scent and felt the hardness of his body against hers. The feeling felt good. Too good. His head nestled against her and feeling the rhythm of his lean body made her heart yield. But her head screamed out a warning.