Page 29 of The Scot

Chapter 13

Terric had made many bad decisions in his life.

Allowing Rory too much control as his second before he was ready.

Not moving against King John sooner.

But this? Kissing the sister of his friend? It was a poor idea, indeed, and Terric knew it down to his bones. He’d known it before he’d invited her inside.

But he extended his hand anyway, merely because he wanted to. He wanted her.

She looked at it a moment, Roysa’s expressive eyes not failing her now. Despite all the reasons she shouldn’t take it, she clearly wanted to.

And so she did.

Her hand felt so small and soft in his much larger palm. A perfect fit, really.

He took the tankard from her other hand and leaned down to place it on a nearby table. He’d never admit it, of course, but he was nervous. It had been some time since he’d kissed a woman.

Unlike his brother, Terric did not dally with the servants. Since coming to England, he had been focused on their cause and not much else.

And Roysa was no ordinary woman.

Releasing her hand, Terric slid his hands up either side of her neck, his fingers quickly becoming entangled in hair so soft he groaned before thinking better of it. He considered warning her of the dangers of what they were about to do, but it was clear she already knew.

They were two unmarried adults who desired each other, and nothing else much mattered at the moment. When he leaned forward, their lips finally touching, Terric tightened his grip on her head, pulling her even closer.

When she opened her mouth for him, Terric took full advantage. He moved much more quickly than intended, his tongue finding hers and tangling with it as if they had done this before. He kissed her as if he’d wanted to do it from the moment they’d met. And perhaps he had.

When her arms moved to his back, Terric finally acknowledged to himself that the simple kiss had become anything but.

He tore his mouth from hers, knowing two things.

That kiss could make him forget all else that was important to him.

And he did not care.

“You’ve not kissed that way before?”

She’d known to open for him, but from there it had been as hesitant as a virgin’s kiss.

“Nay.”

They were close enough for Terric to smell the combination of ale and mint on her breath. Too close for them to carry on a conversation without him succumbing to temptation. He moved back slightly but kept his hands locked around her head, unwilling for her to move too far from him.

“How is that possible?”

She had the fullest lips he’d ever seen. Lips made to be kissed.

“My husband was . . .” She blinked.

“He kissed you, surely.”

Roysa nodded. “But not in that way, precisely.”

He could see she was embarrassed, but Terric wanted to understand.

“Did he abuse you, Roysa?”