Seduction in the Highlands: By choosing him she loses her inheritance, by leaving him she brakes her heart...

by Kendrick, Kenna

  Not that he cared. Not really. Elizabeth did not even mean to stay for that long, did she?

  He left the library, deciding he needed to go home. His work was done for the day, and since Angus had not yet returned, he would ride Uaill home and wash and change his filthy clothes from the night before.

  An hour later, he stepped out from the small stone cottage with a thatched roof that had been his parents’ house and now belonged to him and stared off at the expanse of the Sound before him. It was a relatively long journey from Duart to there, but he resided on one of the highest hills, so the journey was worth every minute.

  His hair was wet, and with his clean clothes, he felt like a new man again and not simply bristling with anger. The smell of liquor was now washed from him and the sweat from sleeping alone on the floor like a pig. He smirked. Perhaps that was part of the reason why Elizabeth had rejected him twice now. He was simply repulsive, and remembering his stained waistcoat, he knew he had not looked the part of the handsome, romantic suitor very well.

  Feeling hungry, he planned to return to Mrs. MacLean to see what food he could gather from the stores when he saw a horse flash by him. He knew by the light brown color that it was the mare he had given Elizabeth, and to his annoyance, his skin tingled excitedly at the sight of her galloping on the hill, her long blond hair now loose and blowing recklessly in the wind. She did not seem like she noticed him, and she stopped atop the highest point of the hill, just a little up from his cottage.

  Liam stared after her. This was his chance. He had a sudden impulse, and so he ran after her. As he grew closer, he was amazed by her beauty, so refined, almost angelic before but now wild and unruly. Dismounting the mare, she nearly resembled a Scotswomen in the way her curls hung about her, caressed by the sweet wind of Mull.

  He approached her, and when she turned to face him, her face showed nothing of anger or frustration like it had in the library. She looked excited. Her icy blue eyes had bloomed in color, and he could now even see specks of green in them, coming out against the lush green of the hills. She said, her voice like the reverent whisper in a church sanctuary, “This is the most beautiful sight I have ever beheld.”

  Her eyes turned back down to the view where the base of the hills ran into a graveled beach and then out to mystical blue water. Liam was frozen to the spot, a heat filling his whole body as he observed her awe. He quite agreed with her statement, but his eyes were fixed upon her instead. “That it is,” he replied in a low voice.

  At first, he wasn’t sure that he had spoken, but then she turned back to him, and Liam saw her expression as her mind registered his words. At that moment, he wanted nothing else in the world than to kiss her passionately, but he stood firm. His fingers tingled, and his stomach yearned, but he did not move. He did not want to scare away this wild beauty who was suddenly becoming the only thing in his world at the moment. He was afraid to blink in case the image would flee, and he would be left alone, and his life would suddenly seem suddenly cold and empty.

  His voice croaked into life. “I am sorry, ye know, lass. For the kiss and for what I said.” He stumbled and faltered as he thought of the words. Her chest was still heaving for breath after her furious ride, and she watched him sort out the words to say. “I was a drunken fool. I found myself alone on the cold stone floor the next morning, with stains upon me waistcoat as ye saw. I didnae even remember the words I said tae ye until later. Mrs. MacLean said that all the servants knew about my foolishness. Ye were right tae slap me.” He laid a hand on his cheek and laughed a little.

  “I can still feel the fire ye left there. It was rightly deserved. Me ma, God rest her soul, would have been proud of ye.”

  He waited a moment, watching Elizabeth’s expression. It melted into a smile, and she laughed as well. “I must say, I have never slapped anyone before and with such vehemence.”

  Liam rubbed his cheek. “My cheek here would say that ye are well-practiced at it.”

  She laughed once more and then stopped, her eyes watching him. She looked like she was about to say something else, but she didn’t. She bit her lip and furrowed her brow, and Liam felt his stomach tighten with desire. He would forever remember the feel of her plump, soft lips on his, and his body ached for that feeling to return.

  He turned his eyes out to the sea, wondering what to say next. Did she not accept his apology? When he turned back, Elizabeth was right in front of him, and he could feel her breath caress his cheek. Their eyes met and locked, a mixture of green and blue. Liam felt lost at sea. And then, in another beat, as if time had stopped, Elizabeth leaned forward and kissed him herself.

  Chapter Eight

  Liam felt like he was in a dream. He thought perhaps he had fallen asleep at his cottage and should wake up now, even though the dream was more vivid than one he had ever experienced before. An angel had come to him, was kissing him, and tangling her arms about his neck as if she never wanted to let go. For a moment, his breath was caught in his chest, and he decided to tap his leg on the ground to wake himself up. When he did so, all he felt was the ground beneath his feet, and Elizabeth Darling was still wrapped around him in the waking reality.

  Ye bloody idiot! ‘Tis nae dream! He scolded himself for even wasting one second of this incredible turn of events. He pulled her close, tightening his arms around her and opening his mouth to hers, savoring the fresh taste of her again.

  To his amazement, this unpredictable temptress sighed a little with what he hoped was contentment, and he felt his blood wanting to go everywhere at once, especially centered down toward his manhood. He wanted to groan with desire as he felt the shape of her thin waist and the full breasts pressed up against him.

  This timid mouse was suddenly the most desirable woman he had ever met with. Their kiss was passionate yet gentle at the same time, and Liam wanted to enjoy every moment of her sudden boldness. He supposed that she did accept his apology after all. The faint smell of mint filled his nostrils, and it made him want her even more, pushing his tongue forward into her mouth to explore even further. When he did so, she trembled slightly but then allowed him entry, moaning a little once more as their tongues dueled to taste one another.

  “Well, well, well. There is a sight I never thought I would see.” Liam and Elizabeth froze for a moment, his hands on her waist. They pulled apart and turned slowly to see from whence the voice came, but Liam recognized it, and all the desire to make love suddenly fled his body and was replaced with a heavy dread when he saw Fergus. Fergus was bad enough, but it was not only Fergus who had rudely interrupted the amorous trail of his thoughts. He spotted a rather furious-looking Brea standing beside Fergus, her arms crossed.

  He dropped his hands from Elizabeth’s waist, and he tried not to wince as she practically jumped out of his arms back toward the horse. “Excuse me,” she said breathlessly. “I should not—It was not—Good day to you.” Hurriedly, she mounted her horse, and without looking down at him or saying anything else, clicked the horse into full speed and fled down the hill as fast as she could. He was suddenly left with the two last people in the world he wanted to see right then.

  Fergus was grinning, a sharp contrast to Brea’s reddening face. Liam boiled with anger. His best friend did not even have the decency to look even just the little bit shamefaced at having interrupted something so pleasurable; it was practically heavenly. He crossed his arms over his broad chest and stared him down. He didn’t even want to acknowledge Brea’s presence just yet.

  “So, Fergus, what in the bloody Hell do ye want?” His voice was grim, but Fergus just kept grinning.

  “Well, my friend, Brea came in search of me, now that Angus and I are back from the hunt, and I thought I would bring her tae the cottage, knowing ye were probably there, trying tae sleep off last night. Never in a million years did I expect tae find,” he coughed, “This.” Liam sighed angrily, but he knew that Fergus was right. Never in a million years had he expected Elizabeth to do that either, but now Fergus had gone
and embarrassed the lass, and she would probably never speak to him again. Or kiss him, for that matter. Now that would be a terrible pity, and Fergus MacLean would pay for it. His friend was due for a good fist-pounding anyway.

  Liam wasn’t quite sure how to respond. The best he could come up with was, “I see.” He coughed, turning his eyes reluctantly to his silent mistress if that was what she could be called. “Brea. I heard ye had returned tae the Isle for the usual work. Why have ye come tae find me?”

  He knew the answer to that, but he hoped she wouldn’t be so silly as to express it. She uncrossed her arms, but Liam could see that her fists were clenched by her sides. “I have nae heard from ye in a wee while, MacLean. I thought perhaps ye had found another woman. And so ye have.” Her tone was biting and sarcastic.

  Fergus slowly began to walk back toward the cottage. “Me duty is done here, lad. I shall leave ye alone.”

  “If only ye had thought of that idea before!” Liam called after him but was only rewarded with another annoying chuckle.

  He furrowed his brow, trying to think of a good response for his lover. “Brea, I have been busy of late. Ye know that I cannae always come. I know that ye have plenty of other men on the Isle who pay ye handsomely for yer services. Do ye follow all of them when they dinnae return?”

  He knew he was a little harsh, but he couldn’t help it. His body felt empty and hollow without Elizabeth’s heated, passionate embrace. The whole delicious moment had been ruined by a woman who had been his previous lover but who made love to men for pay. It was her chosen profession, and so he had not understood her growing attachment in recent weeks. It had been a long time since he’d been planning to leave her, but now, this was just too much. It was the final straw.

  Brea’s lips tightened. “Liam MacLean, I never knew such a heartless bastard. Ye know the kind of clientele I receive and how ye are so very different from them. I had hoped ye would be a regular, and so ye were for a while until this English witch has come tae take ye away. Tell me, does she do everything that I can do?”

  Brea had a way of speaking that could make a more conservative man blush, but Liam was used to her ways. He thought back to the many pleasant evenings he’d spent with Brea, and she was skilled in many different and unique ways, but he never thought that would imply that either of them had an attachment to each other. He sighed. He had gotten himself into quite a predicament, and Fergus had been no help to him.

  Taking Mrs. MacLean’s advice, he said, “Brea, I am sorry that ye have regretted me absence lately, but there is nae that I can do. I am required more and more, and now I am tae be a guide and assistant tae the visitor of Lady Charlotte.” He was impressed; that sounded a better excuse than he thought it would.

  Brea bristled. “I suppose that was the guest then, nearly throwing herself ontae ye? Ye can tell she is a novice and nae used tae the ways of men.” She stepped toward him and traced a finger along his cheek and down his shoulder. Her eyes had changed from angry slits to smoldering brown coals. “Ye know that I can do more for ye than ye had ever dreamed of. Forget the lass. She knows naething. I can see she is a Lady. She willnae bed ye, ye know, and I know yer cock yearns tae possess it, but ye shall nae.”

  Liam watched Brea’s manner. Her dark hair and sensual lips were enough to tempt any man, and he had been tempted many times before, but after the most passionate kiss he had ever experienced, her attempts to persuade him back to her bed seemed almost pitiful.

  He pulled away, replacing his old expression of apology with a scowl. “Ye should go, lass. ‘Tis nae business of yers what I do or what the Lady does. Go back tae the pub and meet yer other customers.”

  For a moment, he could see Brea waver, as if her mind was flitting between a renewed attempt to seduce or something angry to say. Instead, she scoffed with disgust and turned away. She called back to him, “Ye will return tae me, lad. Soon enough. That white English rose will nae give ye what I can give ye. Ye will regret it in the end.”

  She stomped away, and Liam watched the back of her walk to the nearby cluster of buildings, far away down the hill. He was never so grateful to see a person go as he was then.

  * * *

  Elizabeth did not stop until she reached the safety of her bedroom and shut the door behind her. She laid against the hard wood, panting for breath, trying to reach equilibrium again. Her lungs were bursting, and her heart was racing, and she felt dizzy from it all. So much for finding a moment’s peace out in the countryside.

  Opening her eyes again, she spied a steaming tub in front of her fireplace, and she thought that for once, the Heavens had smiled upon her. Rushing towards it, feeling the need to relax into the heated and scented water as quickly as possible, she spotted a note on the side table, with a filled decanter of wine and accompanying glass.

  My dear Elizabeth, it read.

  It is high time you spoiled yourself. I thought that you would enjoy a hot bath once you returned from your ride. I also hope that the sight of this beautiful Isle has given you something new to take hold of. It has certainly done that for me. We will meet again at dinner.

  Charlotte

  The view of the Isle certainly has given me something, and I fear it may be a dose of insanity. Not wanting to think about anything until she slipped beneath the steaming depths of the tub, Elizabeth pulled out of her dress and untied her stays as best she could. She was getting frustrated as her fingers in their flurried movements had trouble a few times, but soon enough, her skin was touching the bathwater, and she sighed with contentment as the heat tingled through her, and the smell of lavender and rose-filled the air.

  Turning to the small table, she poured herself wine, reveling in the beauty of freedom, and nearly drunk the whole glass in one gulp. She laid the glass back on the table and closed her eyes, feeling warm both inside and out. Suddenly, her conscience prickled. What was that, ElizabethDarling? Quite the harlot these days, I see. Not only have you thought about kissing two different men, but you have kissed the same one twice, and the second time, it was you who started it! Why, you practically leaped into his bed!

  Elizabeth grimaced as she thought of it, not because the kiss had been repulsive in any way. In fact, quite the opposite. So far, the opposite that Elizabeth still felt on fire from it, and her body was not letting her forget it. However, the embarrassment of being caught by the very woman who had barely acknowledged her earlier and asked after Liam! Had Elizabeth found herself in a sort of lover’s quarrel?

  Surely not. The woman is a prostitute, and Liam was merely one of her customers. No wonder he can kiss so well. Elizabeth’s muscles melted at the memory of the way his firm lips had caressed her own with expertise, schooling her own mouth to do the same. This time kissing him had been completely different. It was not the advances of a foolish, drunken man. It was the pairing of lips between two very willing and interested parties. Elizabeth didn’t know that kissing could be like that.

  She knew nothing of what happened between men and women, except what she had been able to glean from the Bible and medical books she’d found in her father’s library. If kissing was like that, with such fire and passion, that one wanted to share a bit of oneself with another person, then what came next could be even more blissful. Elizabeth could not even imagine how much more wonderful something could get after that kiss with Liam.

  Trailing her finger around the warm water, causing ripples to form, she moved to thinking about John Campbell. Now that she had experienced a true kiss in the light of day without the buzzing dullness of wine, she wondered what John’s kiss would be like. Both men in the span of a day had suddenly consumed her thoughts and were causing her to be someone she’d never thought she’d be.

  As she poured herself another glass of wine, she felt wicked and sinful, reveling in thoughts of Liam’s embrace while daydreaming about what John’s might be like. She twirled the gold ring on her finger with her thumb and thought suddenly about her mother. Had she ever felt such a thing about
her father?

  Surely not. He is an unkind, dismal, and altogether unpleasant man. He had never really said a kind word to Elizabeth unless she was doing something he approved of, and so she had spent her life doing things that would make him at least treat her with a modicum of respect. That was why being away from him for the first time felt like an unbelievable new world in which she could do anything she wanted without consequence.

  It emboldened her, and while part of her conscience tried to warn her against doing too many things or following every one of her new impulses, she couldn’t help it. The desire to fight against her upbringing was strong, and it could not be silenced. Soon enough, her aunt or her father would write and demand her return. She knew that her promise to her father still hung above her head, and while there was no certain timeline, she knew that it had to be soon. Her father was ill, and he could die at any time, leaving her entirely destitute, unable to fulfill her mother’s wish.

  Elizabeth looked at the ring again. But could her dear, sweet mother have truly wished her to marry a stranger without love, even if the man provided safety and wealth and status? She wasn’t sure she could answer that question anymore. Her mother had been gone for long enough that her face was beginning to fade from Elizabeth’s mind, and with it, her knowledge of her mother’s dreams and desires.