Page 30 of A Nameless Highland Laird
“Aye, though I suspect that is simply because we ken each other better today. I have enjoyed all of the time I spent with ye today.”
He shifted on his feet and cleared his throat, the tinges of embarrassment reaching the edge of his jaw.
“A-and thank ye,” he coughed again, “for, um, for teachin’ me. Ye ken, about all of this.”
He motioned to the table, hoping she would understand his meaning without making him admit to it again.
“Of course. It was an easy task with a fast learner such as yerself.”
* * *
Charlotte’s thoughtswere a riot as she walked back to her room. The day had been so unexpected, but then again, everything Cameron did was. The most surprising thing so far was that she had genuinely enjoyed being around him. He was unlike any other Laird she knew, so much so that it was easy to forget that he was one. When they talked, she wasn’t thinking about her promise to her father or that she was going to eventually have to marry Cameron. They were merely talking.
She had been so lost in her head that she was halfway into her room before she realized that she wasn’t alone.
A dark, shadowy figure stepped out from behind one of the curtain panels that surrounded her bed, sending her heart racing.
“Looks like someone had a good night.”
“Och, Alec. Ye frightened me. I thought I told ye nae to come to my chambers anymore. I dinnae want ye to get caught.”
“Tell me, dae ye enjoy the Laird’s company so much that I am that easy to forget?”
Her hand was still pressed against her chest as she tried to slow her heart back to a normal pace. Charlotte twisted her head to look at him strangely.
“What an odd question,” she told him.
“Ye would nae think it odd if ye had been able to see the smile ye were wearin’ when ye walked in here.”
His words were spat like venom. She knew then that he was looking for a fight, looking to make a point. She swallowed a sigh, not wanting to upset him any further.
“I have nae forgotten about ye, Alec. The Laird expects me to join him for dinner. There is nothing I can do about it. Ye ken that I have to do everything I can to make this work for my father’s sake, for our clan’s sake.”
She still stood only a few steps away from the door, not wanting to go any farther. She knew Alec would take her moving as a sign that she didn’t want to talk to him, that she didn’t want to see him. She tried to choose her words carefully, but she still managed to say the wrong thing.
Almost as soon as she had finished her explanation, Alec prowled towards her. Instinctively, she stepped further and further back until she was almost touching the wall. But that did not stop him from getting closer, stepping into her space until her back was firmly against the wall, the molding on the wall digging into her back.
“Ye keep sayin’ that but it is nae an answer I care for,” he growled, his voice rumbling in her ears.
“Alec, I—”
He didn’t let her finish her sentence. His lips crashed onto hers, rough and hard, while his hands encircled her waist and pushed her even further into the wall. She had nowhere to go but closer to him. Everything about his touch was demanding. Her eyes stayed open in shock that he would do such a thing, but his own expression was closed and angry.
For several seconds, she hardly responded to him. She couldn’t seem to will herself to push him off of her or to enjoy the kiss, so she stayed frozen. But Alec had known her for too long, he had been kissing her for too many years. He had been the one to teach her how to kiss. It was only a matter of time before she gave into him and let her body take control.
Her fingers went up to his shoulders, wrapping around his neck, though it was more so she had a place to put her hands than an effort to hold him in place. He didn’t seem to notice the difference as he deepened their kiss until their bodies were all but melded together. After another moment, he pulled away, tucking his head in between her head and shoulders, pressing feverish kisses to her exposed neck.
“Dinnae forget,” he rasped in between kisses, his breath hot on her skin, “I am the only one who kens who ye are.”
She tried to slow her own heart and breathing, not wanting to get too caught up in the moment, but he pressed on.
“I am the only one who does nae care about yer title.”
His words washed over her like a bucket of water from the winter spring. She unwrapped her hands from around his neck and placed them on his chest, pushing just enough to create a little bit of distance between them.
“Alec,” she whispered.
She knew her voice was breathless and hoarse, though not for the reasons he suspected. A gentle hand caressed the side of her face, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear and smoothing it down.
