Page 37 of The Scot’s Secret

“Perhaps I shall.”

He nearly said, ‘Please do,” but somehow restrained himself.

She turned, presumably toward the bushes, when he reached out and grabbed her hand. Mayhap he was not so adept at restraining himself after all. He needed to touch her, if only for a moment.

“You have that look again.”

He was sure he did.

“Which one precisely?” he managed to ask. He tugged her closer, imagining her lips on his own.

“The one that makes me think you’re going to kiss me.”

She was standing so close he could smell the mint she must have chewed moments before.

“I could have kissed you last eve but did not. What makes you think I’ll do so now?”

His warrior-woman swallowed. She was nervous.

“You’re holding my hand. And are standing too close to be proper.” Her voice wavered.

“Nothing about our arrangement out here is proper. I thought we’d established that already.”

He let go of her hand and used it to cover her cheek. “’Tis much too smooth and pretty to cover with mud.”

His thumb ran a trail from her cheek to her lips. She parted them, and he traced her lower lip before moving his hand back toward her cheek.

“I wanted to do this as you slept.”

Alex allowed his hand to roam freely, sliding it behind her neck.

“But you did not.”

“Nay, lass, I did not.”

When she licked her lips, he could no longer resist temptation.

“I couldn’t have asked for your permission then.”

“Neither have you asked for it now.”

He pulled her head toward his.

“You could stop me at any moment.”

Their faces were so close, Alex could feel her breath against his face. His heart raced like that of an untried lad.

“Why would I do that?”

He groaned at her words and pulled her toward him in truth. At the first touch of their lips, Alex immediately had to get closer. He brought his other hand up and pulled her head toward him. He vaguely felt her arms wrap around his back.

She was hesitant, as if she’d never been kissed. He pressed his lips to hers, opening them slightly to show her what to do, when a loud splash startled them both. He pulled away and looked around.

Nothing.

He ran closer to the bank of the river, still nothing.

“Likely an animal, but I need to be sure. Stay here.”