His damp curls clung to the sides of his face, and his eyes flickered with mischief. It had been a month since they first talked to each other. They had only exchanged a couple of words before her father saw them… and Alasdair asked for her hand.
“Ye shouldnae,” Lily began, but he silenced her with a smile. “Faither will be calling for me soon.”
“Yer faither can spare ye ten minutes.”
She laughed nervously, glancing over her shoulder. “For someone who never defies him, ye seem braver than usual.”
“That’s just respect, but Iambraver than usual,” he said softly, his eyes searching hers. “I am marryin’ ye.”
Her cheeks burned again. “It is only a small handfasting. Nothin’ worth such bold words.”
“Nothing worth it?” His voice dropped. “I look forward to it.”
He leaned closer, and she felt his breath on her skin, causing shivers to run down her spine.
“I look forward to kissing ye before yer family. I look forward to dancing with ye after.” His voice dropped further. “I look forward to touching ye, tracing every part of ye.”
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
He lowered his head, and his mouth brushed her neck, soft and slow. Her knees buckled.
His hands slid down, then up her legs, pushing her skirt higher until his warm fingers pressed against her thighs. He pulled her closer, slamming her chest against his.
“Alasdair,” she whispered. “We should wait. The handfasting is only two days away. We cannae kiss before that—do ye want me faither to kill us both?”
He laughed low and warm against her skin. “It will be worth it. But forgive me, I cannae help it. I want to make ye mine. Properly mine.”
She trembled at his words. “How would ye ken what to do?”
“I kenye, lass. That’s all I need.”
Lily smiled warmly in response, and he returned it, though his eyes still burned with heat. He leaned closer, about to speak again, when a voice roared from above.
“Shaw!”
Alasdair stiffened. He pulled back at once, his eyes wide. “I must go.”
“Go,” Lily urged with a grin. “Or else me faither will turn ye into one of the fishes I gutted.”
He grinned once more and bent to kiss her lips quickly. Then, he slipped away, moving fast toward the upper deck.
Lily stayed where she was, her hands pressed to her mouth and her cheeks burning with sheer excitement.
Her first kiss. And the sweetest. She couldn’t wait for the next.
CHAPTER 11
Present Day
Just as quickly asAlasdair had gotten near her, he stepped back.
“I will leave and find another room to stay in. But ye must ken this…” he said, his voice steady and clear. “In a month, ye’ll be begging me to claim ye.”
She was rooted to the spot as he crossed to the table, grabbed his white shirt, and pulled it over his head.
“Sleep well,” he added, his tone almost casual. “We’ve got a lot to get through tomorrow. Sorcha said she’s already informed ye about the elders.”
Lily only nodded, slow and silent.
