Page 17 of Highlander’s Unspoken Attraction

The question was a valid one and not for the first time, Bain cursed how perceptive Alison was. It was one of her greatest strengths and one of the reasons he knew he needed to work quickly to get her on their side. “I told you already.”

“You never⁠—”

“Alison,” he breathed out before cupping his hand around her cheek. The warmth of her skin soaked into Bain’s hand, and he tried to keep his touch light to keep from spooking her. “I have told you, but maybe now you’ll be ready to hear me. I love you.”

Alison couldn’t help the jump of her heartbeat at those words. She wanted so desperately to hear them again, but in another voice—the voice that had whispered soft words into her ear last night. Words she was quickly coming to realize she may never actually hear again. Her lack of action made it easy for Bain to move in closer until there were only a few inches of air separating them. If anyone happened upon them right now, there would no doubt be rumors swirling by supper.

“If you were mine, I would never treat you as an afterthought. I would have you by my side, as it should be.”

Those were the perfect words to tug on something inside of her. Alison couldn’t move as she looked into Bain’s familiar eyes. He was moving closer, and while she knew propriety meant she should back away, Alison remained rooted in that spot. Everything in her was screaming to move, run, do something to stop what she knew was coming before things she couldn’t take back happened. But wasn’t that rich? Liam had spent years disregarding her feelings. He’d ignored their marriage and what it was all meant for and yet she was still considering him. Even in her sadness, her thoughts were still full of him.

“I won’t push you,” Bain said before brushing his thumb across her bottom lip. His gray eyes were downcast following the motion and he continued moving in, slowly aiming for his target. Alison’s distress was palpable, drawing him in like a warm fire on a cold winter’s night and he went gladly. He knew this was crossing a line, but if he was able to steal the barest of kisses, he’d know that he had a way in. The cracks in Alison and Liam’s marriage were clearly visible and he wanted to take a hammer to them, shattering the bedrock of their relationship completely until there was nothing left to fall back on.

Bain needed Liam to be utterly alone in the clan with no one to turn to when Bain made his move. He needed the show of having Alison by his side to start swaying those in the clan who looked at her as a Lady.

“You are a beautiful woman, Alison. And if you were with me, by my side, I would make sure you felt that way every day. You would never have to wonder about my feelings for you.”

Alison’s thoughts were screaming as Bain moved ever closer. His face eclipsed everything, and she was left with pulling away or letting what would be, come and deal with the consequences later. That those were her two options was frustrating in and of itself.

When Bain made his move, he was surprised Alison didn’t move away. After all her questions, he’d thought for sure he would have to do more to grease the way in. But when his lips pressed to hers, she didn’t step back or separate their lips. The kiss was dry with her lips staying firmly closed, but Bain still took it as a win that they were kissing at all. He reached up, cupping her cheeks and moving her face closer to his to deepen the kiss. He didn’t push for too much more, sensing that it wasn’t the right time. When Alison finally moved away, he released his hold on her, slowly opening his eyes.

Alison stepped back, a hand coming up to press against her lips. She tried to ignore the way it shook as she looked at Bain. “I need you to leave, please. I need to be alone.” Guilt gnawed at her as she pressed against her lips as if to wipe away any traces Bain had left.

Alison held herself stiffly, not knowing what she would do if Bain refused. She had let him in, let him kiss her. Things had gotten so far out of hand she didn’t know how to come back from it.

Bain clenched his fists by his side. He had given Alison much to think about and he was satisfied for now with the direction things had gone. With a stiff nod, he turned and exited the chamber, the taste of Alison still lingering on his lips.