Or did she?
“’Tis what a rake does, lass.” His husky brogue was close to her ear, sending spurts of undeniable desire skittering through her. “He offers naught but a quick fook and a swift goodbye. Is that the kind of man ye think I am?”
So overcome by the brush of his lips against her ear, she couldn’t comprehend his words. Almost nodding before they sunk in, she shook her head.
“Excellent,” he said, tracing his lips along her jawline. “Because as I said, I’m nae rake. I’m a rogue, lass. Do ye ken the difference?”
Swallowing hard, she shook her head again.
“A rogue woos his would-be lover.” His mouth grazed hers ever-so-lightly, not enough of a contact to be called a kiss, but her lips tingled anyway, wanting more. “A rogue seduces his lover.” His lips teased her cheek, her brow. “Seduces her wi’ kisses. Wi’ words of admiration and scientific discovery.”
Her puff of laughter wafted between them.
“He does all this long ‘ere he takes her tae his bed. He waits until she’s hot and wanton with desire, longing for him. Begging him tae take her. Do ye ken the difference now?”
A jerky nod was all she could manage.
“Good. Ye’ll stay here,” he commanded, brooking no argument. “Where I can woo ye more wi’ talk of science. It is the best option for ye now anyway.”
Yes, it might be. But it might also be the worst. He was so calm and contained while she was trembling so badly, she thought her knees would give out. It made her want to hit him.
“What if I don’t want to be wooed?”
That mocking brow lifted once more as if he doubted there was any such possibility. “What lass disnae?”
He was an incredible flirt. A arrogant one. How many women had he wooed? How many times had he succeeded?
“You’re amazing.” The words weren’t entirely complimentary. “Did it even occur to you that I might not want to be wooed because I have someone already? That I’m married? You haven’t even asked.”
He stilled. “Are ye, lass? Are ye wed?”
“No, but that’s not the point. I live alone. I take care of myself. I don’t need a man to do it for me,” she said. “I don’t need to stay here just because you think I do.”
“Yet ye will stay.”
“You’re unbearable,” she told him, astounded by his utter confidence. “How can you be so sure of yourself?”
“Because ye are are fascinated wi’ me, lass.”
Cocky bastard. Yes, she was. Utterly.
“As I am wi’ ye,” he added quietly, turning away so quickly, Al was sure she’d imagined the admission. Or was he embarrassed by it?
“Come,” he said, tugging her hand. “I’ve made a list of questions I want ye tae answer for me.”
It was a heady feeling, being wanted by a man like Keir. Being wanted for her mind as well. Was there really anything wrong with being attracted to him? With wanting him? The temptation was strong. For all she might be able to find a physical release without a man, a part of her longed to be held in strong arms. To curl into a man. A man like him.
Maybe.
Yes, she would stay. For now. But eventually no matter what she gained from the experience, she was sure it would all end as he described. With a quick fuck and a swift goodbye.
Chapter 14
The next two days slipped away without another word being said on the subject of her eventual departure. As Keir promised, they took their meals alone and aggression-free. There were long walks through the gardens and down to the firth where he pointed out the peak of Ben Wyvis in the distance and talked about his homeland. Talks about her world and then one where his cousin would live out the remainder of his days.
Longer hours in the library reading or working their way through his ever-growing list of questions. In many ways, she felt she’d found a kindred soul in him. In all the years she’d immersed herself in science to hide from the fact that she was alone, it’d never occurred to her that she could share it with another.
His roguish method of seduction was working on her. She reveled in his company. His ability to woo her with words was undeniable. His insatiable thirst for knowledge was as sexy as his body.
But his promise to seduce her with kisses in addition to words had been coming up short. He didn’t try to touch her again beyond a casual brush of his fingers or the occasional caress when holding her arm or hand. Even so she was more aware of him with each passing day.
In fact, she was beginning to think it might be fun to… well, do all the wonderfully promiscuous things she’d never had the time or opportunity to do in her life of dedicated academia.
Such thoughts only brought her closer to what she saw as the inevitable conclusion and end of her days at Dingwall.
“How did ye pass yer afternoon wi’oot me?” he asked at dinner the third night.
“After you abandoned me to actually do some work?”
With a pile of correspondence waiting for him, he’d spent a portion of each afternoon in his study. Running Dingwall and the lands attached to it took time and effort. With his father still missing, it had fallen to him to pick up the reins.
“I sobbed uncontrollably, of course,” she quipped, helping herself to another portion of the delicious apple frushie they’d been served for dessert. “How could I possibly survive without your company?”
Valid question, however, as she’d been constantly by his side for days now.
He didn’t seem to mind.
Neither did she.
“Did ye moan and wail?” he retorted. “Tear oot yer hair in grief?”
“Absolutely.” They shared a grin. She liked their banter, too. Surrounded by engineers and physicists for the last few years, Al had almost forgotten what a sense of humor was. “Actually, I spent the afternoon with Peigi hemming a couple more dresses.”
In truth, her new maid had hemmed for them both since Al had no idea how to effectively wield a needle and thread. She’d also kept up a steady stream of amicable chatter that had helped pass the time quicker.
She didn’t mention she stayed in her room in an effort to keep her interfaces with the remainder of the MacCoinnich and Urquhart clan as fleeting as possible.
Artair had asked her to walk with him a couple times. He appeared kind—as a man of the cloth, she supposed it was expected—but as their talks inevitably resulted in tedious pontification, she always felt compelled to keep them brief.
Oran seemed harmless, quiet and scholarly. He seemed more surprised than not when someone noticed he was about and spoke to him. Conversation with him often trickled away to long stretches of awkward silence, and therefore, was also short-lived. Honestly, there was little more that could be hoped for between two of the most socially awkward people born in any time.
Ceana might have been friendly enough if she weren’t prone to sly insinuations with one breath and frivolous chatter with the next. Al had no idea what she truly thought about anything.
Maeve, on the other hand, clearly had it in for her, turning up whenever Al was alone to try to intimidate her into confessing to what Maeve wanted to hear. Mainly that Al really was either the witch or the clootie Maeve alternately accused her of being, and that ultimately she’d had some sort of hand in Hugh’s disappearance.
As Keir had recommended, she avoided the woman as best she could.
“How would ye pass the days in yer time?”
“I told you, I worked. I had a cat.”
“Come, there maun be something more.”
She knew what he was getting at. He’d tried several times to turn the conversation to her personal life. To things she didn’t want to talk about. As she usually did, she deflected the question. “Honestly, there’s really not much to tell. I live… lived a boring, uneventful life.”
“Och,” he scoffed. “Surely, it wisnae so bad.”
She laughed at that. “Keir, I’ve spent the last five years working on a dissertation about the difference betw
een the experimental uncertainty of classical physics and the fundamental uncertainty of quantum mechanics. Does that sound like a life of excitement to you?”
His blue eyes glittered with interest in the candlelight. He leaned toward her in anticipation. God, it really did.
Another meal lost to the debate of scientific discovery between her time and his.
He didn’t seem to mind.
Neither did she.
He was wooing his way straight to the center of her heart.
“Enough of this,” he exclaimed some hours later, pushing away the decanter of wine they’d emptied and standing. “There’s something I want tae show ye this night. Will ye come wi’ me?”
She took his proffered hand and stood, a little unsteadily. “Of course.” Was there any question? “What is it?”
“A surprise. Come.”
In the hall, he took a branched candelabra from his ancient footman to light their way through the unlit castle passages. Through a series of dark drawing rooms they passed without any particular haste. One after another.
“Where are we going? Artair gave me a tour of the castle the other afternoon but I don’t remember going this way.”
“Ye’ll see,” he said mysteriously, leading her into a circular turret in the northeast corner of the castle. Inside, there was nothing but a spiraling staircase ascending up into the darkness. He held the candelabra high and began to climb.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Should I brace myself?”
“Maybe.” Still clumsy in long dresses, she gathered up her skirts in one hand, lifting them high. She rushed to catch up to him, reaching for his strong arm once more. “It’s about your family.”
“Are any of them gi’ing ye trouble?”
There was no need to mention Maeve’s so-far harmless threats. “It’s just that your family dynamic is so odd. You’re all related but it’s like living in a house filled with strangers. And I get I haven’t been here long but you and your brothers don’t seem to be overly upset by your father’s absence.”
“Is there a question in there?”
She shook her head in exasperation. “You know what I mean. I get that he was imprudent and even reckless in this whole Culloden thing, but most people tend to really care for their parents. I thought you did as well, when you left the dungeon”—and left me there—“in such a rush that day. What gives?”
He mouthed those last two words silently but a few moments later, finally replied, “Our father is a difficult man. All he cares for is appearances. He married the daughter of a duke for that reason alone… though I do like tae think he came tae care for her as she was a kind, bonny lady. Watch your step here. He had his sons for the same reason. One to inherit, one for the military, one for the church. Just as it should be. That perfection was marred by Oran’s arrival. I believe Father resented him for it.
“When Hugh’s parents died, Father took his nephew into his home. Just as he should. Played the perfect guardian for the admiration it gained him at court. Nae many men hae the chance tae hae stewardship o’er a duke, ye see.”
If she didn’t, he was painting a pretty thorough picture.
“E’en this bluidy war,” he continued. “Father dinnae support the cause itself. He did it tae look good, tae gain favor because he was certain the prince had the support tae secure the throne. He recalled Hugh and me from France tae show his command o’er us. Bugger it, he probably charged intae the thick of it for the same reason. He dinnae care for anything but himself. Everything he did was for show.”
From the wounded note in Keir’s voice, it sounded like Cairn was also able to put on a pretty decent show of caring for his sons, in front of others at least. How it must have hurt and confused them when they were small boys if that affection didn’t carry over to their personal relationship.
She knew all too well how that felt.
“I’m sorry.” She squeezed his arm comfortingly.
He shrugged nonchalantly but covered her hand with his. “Dinnae be. There’s no greater foolishness than living one’s entire life based on how others perceive it. ‘Tis difficult to like a person who does so. Or respect them. But he is my father and I would see him safely home.”
“Of course, you will.”
They walked up the wide staircase two flights, then three in silence. But as they began up the next, another question popped into her head. “And then what?”
“With Father back here and the conflict wi’ England in ashes, I can return tae France. Continue my studies, my experiments…”
“Chase all the pretty French girls?” she added, only half-kidding.
He shook his head. “I should ne’er hae let him…” He frowned down at her. “I only just realized what ye said. Do ye still… Ah, ye’re bamming me.” He choked back a chuckle. “Och, ye’re an audacious lass, tae be sure. I’ve ne’er meet another like ye in all my days. Are all the lassies in the future like ye?”
She’d never been called audacious in her entire life. But he’d made the confrontations she once avoided into an exercise of wits, an invigorating, heart-pounding experience. Their repartee did make her feel bolder, braver. More brazen than she ever would have dared.
Still, she shook her head in response. “I’m not daring at all compared to most women in my time. In fact, I’ve always been painfully shy.” Especially around handsome men. She thought it but didn’t add it.
“Shy? Och, lass, I find that hard tae believe. Ye’re anything but. In fact, I’ve found ye singularly expressive in yer opinions. Especially when ye deliver such resounding set downs.”
“No, it’s true. I’m socially dysfunctional,” she insisted. “You’d call it being a wallflower, I suppose. Honestly, I was fast on my way to becoming a regular cat lady.”
He opened the door at the top of the tower and waved for her to precede him. “Cat lady?” he asked as she passed.
“A term for a reclusive spinster who lives alone and has no one but her many cats for company.”
“Ah, your Mr. Darcy,” he said, joining her on the roof of the turret. “I recall you mentioning him. Do ye think someone will take care of him in yer absence?”
“I hope so.”
Shaking off the wave of sadness threatening to overcome her, Al paced around the perimeter of the tower along the thigh high parapet. She peered up at the sky, seeing more stars than she’d ever imagined existed.
“Look at all the stars! I never seen the sky so full before. You can actually see the Milky Way. It’s so beautiful!”
“Nae as bonny as ye.”
She cast a grimace over her shoulder but said nothing.
“Ye dinnae believe me?” he asked, moving closer. “Hae I nae made myself clear on this matter?”
With a shrug, she shied away as he neared. Slowly though, since she didn’t want him to think he affected her in any way. Or that she was afraid of him. “I’m uncomfortable with men complimenting me.”
“How can ye nae be? Surely dozens of men hae thrown themselves at yer feet in admiration?”
Swallowing a laugh, she shook her head. “Not as many as you might think. Most think I’m too chubby.”
Scoffing at that, he strolled nearer, altering course as she continued to move. “Ye’ve all the lush curves any man could desire. If I may be so bold as tae make such an observation.”
“You are very bold.”
He grinned, his wicked smile flashing in the moonlight. He came closer still, until she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes. He was so very tall. Even to a woman who’d had to look up at men her whole life. Having him looming over her so should have been intimidating, but it wasn’t. She felt petite, yes, but protected. Safe. The idea of nestling into his encompassing embrace was alluring. But then she also felt energized and alive, even when standing in his shadow. As bright as those stars twinkling from above.
“Shall I be e’en bolder?” His brogue was low and husky. His fingertips traced her jawline in a
light caress, leaving her trembling with yearning. “Shall I offer ye my kiss and see if ye accept it?”
She licked her lips. More than anything, she wanted to say yes. For the past few days—when she hadn’t been lost to the pure enjoyment of their conversation, at least—she’d been pondering how it might be to kiss him. Replaying the ever-changing fantasies in her mind over and over.
Wondering why he hadn’t tried to yet.
Would he be hesitant? Would he take? Would he plunder like the rake he denied being?
Any of the scenarios might make her heart rate skyrocket. But this shameless flirtation? The way he asked in words that might have seemed uncertain yet were phrased with such assuredness, had her nearly puddling at his feet.
She wanted this. Wanted to know if it would be anything like the earth-shattering kisses she’d read about but never thought possible. Or even probable. She was dying to know.
Yet when he bent his head, his lips only hovered above hers. Uncertain what stopped him, she took a nervous step out of his reach. With a shake of her head, Al tucked her loose hair behind her ear and laughed lightly. Hoping her frayed nerves weren’t evident in the shaky laugh.
“There you go, getting your rake on again. Tell me, is this one of your usual pick-up lines?”
“Pick-up lines?” Keir frowned down at her.
“I thought you told me you left such bull…er, excessive flattery to your cousin,” she said with another light laugh. “Yet here you are, a veritable Prince Charming.”
“Ye think I’m bamming ye now?” he asked, deciphering her words. “Look at me, Al.”
Holding her chin firmly, he tilted her head back until she was forced to meet his eyes. “I am nae liar, nor am I prone tae false flattery. If I tell ye ye’re bonny, ‘tis because ye are. Because I believe ‘tis so.” His low voice was thick with his brogue. As it had before, the gravelly tone incited a corresponding tremor through her body. The desire she’d been denying surged through her veins, making her dizzy. “Ye insult me and my intelligence by making light or assuming my words empty ones. Do ye understand?”
“Y–yes.”
Love in the Time of a Highland Laird (A Laird for All Time Book 3) Page 9