Page 30 of Forever My Lass

“It’s all right, Iain. Everything is all right. I’m safe, now.” Madeline kept her voice soft and soothing as she pressed her palm deeper into his chest. “I want you to breathe slowly. Can you do that for me?”

A dazed expression swept across his rugged features as his breathing remained fast and heavy, but she saw him making a concerted effort to do as she asked. Over the next minute or two, Madeline gently and quietly encouraged him to take deep breaths and slow his breathing. As he followed her instructions, his breathing began to slow and even out, while the frantic beat of his heart against her palm lessened to a more reasonable rate.

Iain’s head dropped until his forehead rested against hers in a sign of exhaustion. A savage shudder shook his tall, hard frame, and he dragged in a deep breath then blew it out forcefully. It was a harsh sound. It signaled his desperate attempt to free himself of the terror that had held him in its fierce grip seconds ago. Still concerned for him, Madeline lifted her hand from his chest to his cheek.

“Better?”

“Aye.” The hoarse whisper sent relief streaking through Madeline.

Although Iain appeared to be past the worst of his attack, she knew he would need several moments to recover. What on earth had made him so terrified for her safety? The memory of Iain’s face a few days ago when Ainslie had gone down to the inlet triggered the memory of Eileen’s comment the first morning she’d awoken at Muchalls Hall. The maid had said Iain was afraid of the water.

Then there was Ainslie’s mention of the sea cave and something about her uncle dying there. Had Iain’s brother drowned? Fear could make people react in a lot of different ways. She remembered her own reaction to being on the Destiny’s Dream and almost dying. The sudden sound of Iain drawing in a deep breath then exhaling it, jerked her out of her thoughts.

For the first time, the warmth of his face against her hand penetrated her consciousness. Quickly pulling her hand away from him, she pressed it into the gown she clutched tightly against her breasts. It was the only thing separating them, and she didn’t know how she was going to extricate herself from the situation. She wasn’t sure how long they’d stood standing in silence, when Iain drew in a deep breath then slowly released it.

“Thank ye, lass. It’s been a long time since that’s happened tae me.”

“You’re welcome, I’m just sorry I was the reason for your attack.”

“Ye are nae tae go swimming again without someone close by.” Iain lifted his head slightly to stare down into her eyes. His features were stern and implacable.

“But I—”

“Dinnae argue with me, Madeline. If ye truly are sorry for making me fear the worst, then ye will give me your word that ye will do as I ask.”

“You aren’t asking,” she muttered.

“Nae, I’m not. But I’ll have your word all the same.”

“Fine. You have my word.”

Satisfied with her answer, he straightened then stiffened as his gaze drifted downward. Frozen where she stood, she prepared herself for the reckoning to come. Heat spread its way through her cheeks the moment his gaze returned to hers. Immediately, her pulse skidded out of control at the desire darkening his eyes. Oh God, she was in trouble. Big trouble.

“Do ye swim without clothes at home, mo bhòidhchead fuilt dorcha?” There was that sexy-sounding Gaelic phrase again.

“No. And I didn’t just now either. I wore my underwear,” she said breathlessly. She jerked her head toward the sodden white linen lying behind her, while she tried to control her reaction to the sudden change in him. Madeline’s body hummed with a wild sensation as his thumbs rubbed small circles against the flesh of her arms. “But I didn’t…I didn’t want my dress to get soaked, too. So I thought…I was…oh why am I explaining myself to you.”

Scowling at him, Madeline pushed him away, then took two quick steps backward. One eyebrow shot upward as a small smile tugged at Iain’s mouth.

“Turn around,” she snapped. When he didn’t seem inclined to obey her command, she narrowed her gaze at him. “I said, turn around, Lord Glenburnie.”

“Does this mean ye have no need of a maidservant, lass?”

“It means exactly what I said. Turn around, before someone else comes along to embarrass me further.” At her sharp words, his small smile broadened, but he did as she ordered. “And close your eyes.”

“It’s a bit late for that, Madeline. I have an excellent memory of a bonnie lass with a thin nightgown clinging to a sweetly curved body.”

The soft words sent a hot frisson dancing across her skin. Madeline sucked in a sharp breath before she silently chided herself for her reaction. Quickly scrunching up the back of the gown, she ducked her head under the skirt, while trying to keep the rest of the gown covering her as best as she could.

Awkwardly, she pushed her arms through the sleeves as the skirt of the dress fell down to her ankles. Reaching behind her, Madeline tried to button the back of the gown. It had been a hell of a lot easier to undo the damn thing.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” she muttered with frustration.

“Are ye having trouble with the buttons, mo bhòidhchead fuilt dorcha?”

The laughter in his voice made her glare at his back. There was no sign of the man who, just a short time ago, had been shuddering in her arms in a state of sheer panic. Instead, that man had been replaced by a devastating Scotsman, whose voice could easily coax a woman to do just about anything.

“I don’t know what you’re calling me, but stop it.”