Page 85 of A Touch So Wicked

Damian chuckled. “Did you miss my attention? You’ll have all of me you wish after tomorrow.”

“I wish none of you.”

He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “I doubt that. I know for a fact that one part of you wants one part of me.”

A heated blush crept up Elissa’s neck as she adroitly changed the subject. “Have you heard from Tavis Gordon?”

“Not yet.”

Elissa tilted her head thoughtfully. “I donna think he will come to our wedding.”

“Oh, he’ll come,” Damian said with conviction.

“Do you think he’ll cause trouble?”

“That remains to be seen. We’re prepared for him if he does show up.”

“I hope he stays away. He’s dangerous.”

Damian searched her face. “Are you worried about me, sweeting?”

“Not in the least,” Elissa returned. “Are you certain this marriage is wise? What if you fall in love with another woman after we’ve wed? I donna want to stand in the way of your happiness.”

“I told you how I feel about love. Nay, Elissa, we’ll deal well enough with one another if you can learn to put the past behind you.”

“And if I canna?”

He leaned close. “Then ’tis your loss, my lady. Think about it. Are you finished eating?”

“Aye.”

He rose and offered his hand. “I’ll escort you to your chamber.”

Elissa placed her hand in his and rose unsteadily to her feet. She saw Dermot beckoning to her and pulled her hand from Damian’s. “My kinsman wants a word with me, Damian.” Damian released her hand and stepped away so she could converse with her kinsman in private.

“His Lordship asked me to take the place of yer father,” Dermot said when he reached her. “I’m to escort ye from yer chamber to the hall tomorrow.”

“’Tis your right as the oldest living Fraser,” Elissa acknowledged. “You do me honor.”

“We all want ye to be happy, lass.”

“Oh, she will,” Damian said, his voice exuding confidence.

“Have our clansmen accepted my marriage to Lord Damian?” Elissa asked.

“Aye,” Dermot said without hesitation. “No one wants ye to wed the Gordon chieftain. He betrayed our trust.”

Elissa’s voice was low and fraught with sadness. “As I will betray my father’s trust when I wed Damian.”

“Enough!” Damian said. Then more gently, “’Tis time you retired, my lady.”

Elissa allowed Damian to escort her from the hall. When they reached her chamber, she feared he would follow her inside, but he stopped just short of entering.

“I don’t want to wait until we’re wed, but I will,” he murmured as he brought her into his arms. “I don’t understand my need for you. ’Tis like a sickness for which there is no cure.” He frowned. “’Tis not good for a man to be so afflicted.”

“Lust isna a reason for two people to wed,” Elissa observed. “Once the attraction fades, there is naught left.”

“I doubt that will happen with us,” Damian replied as he lifted her chin with his forefinger. “Kiss me, Elissa. ’Tis been too long.”