Highland Hellion (Highland Weddings #3)(31)

He crossed into the room as the door shut behind him. She watched his body go tense as the sound of it meeting the doorjamb hit their ears.

Katherine ended up smiling. “I don’t believe my reputation could be in worse condition.”

“So I should just dispense with correct behavior?” he demanded.

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” she answered. He drew himself up stiffly in response. “I meant that as much for myself as you.”

She’d surprised him once more. He crossed his arms over his chest and contemplated her. Something rippled over her skin, an awareness of him, or maybe it was more correct to say that she was conscious of how aware he was of her. She couldn’t recall feeling so exposed to anyone before.

“Why were ye allowed to be a lad?”

It was a personal question, and yet she didn’t shy away from answering. Maybe that was because she had been alone for so long, or perhaps it had more to do with her feeling that he saw deeply into her soul. All she knew for certain was that it was very nice to be asked a question like she was more than a prisoner.

“I’m English.”

Rolfe rolled his eyes at her. “I had no’ noticed.”

Katherine discovered herself sharing a smile with him. “Marcus knew there would be times I might be faced with difficulties over my blood.”

“So he took ye into his training yard?” Rolfe’s tone was disbelieving.

She smiled brighter, feeling her pride returning. “Not exactly.”

Rolfe snorted at her, admiring her daring. “Ye snuck in.”

She nodded, not bothering to hide how proud she was.

Rolfe’s grin faded. “But Marcus is no fool. For all that I do nae profess to call the man a friend, I know him. He does not miss details. No’ for as many years as ye must have been training to be as good at mounting as ye are.”

“In truth, I failed to think about it myself, but it seems he did know. Only recently did it become a matter he was unwilling to ignore any longer.” Lament crept into her tone.

“Ye should no’…dislike yer own gender, Katherine. Ye’re a fine-looking woman.”

He’d moved closer. Somehow, she hadn’t noticed, or perhaps she was simply becoming at ease in his presence. She felt more aware with him there, and it was a relief after so many endless hours alone in the darkness. She craved the sensation, even though it felt as if everything was heightened. Her sight, hearing, even the way her skin registered the air moving in the room. All of it was intense, and Rolfe was the most overwhelming of all. The span of his shoulders, the way he pushed his sleeves up to expose his forearms.

His gaze was enchanting.

“Green eyes,” she muttered. “I don’t believe I have ever seen them before.”

He took another step toward her, angling his head down now that he was so close to her.

“I’ve never seen a woman pull herself up into the saddle.”

She started to smile, but froze when he leaned down toward her.

He was going to kiss her.

The thought felt frozen in her mind, becoming the only thing she could manage to think about. There didn’t seem to be anything but him and the way her insides felt as if they were twisting with anticipation. Even the surface of her lips was eager, and Rolfe didn’t disappoint her.

He pressed his lips to hers with a softness that delighted her. Unlike the last time, she wasn’t crushed by his strength. No, it was intoxicating. Her wits dulled until there was nothing but the motion of his lips against hers. Naught except for the impulse to lift herself up onto her toes so she might kiss him in return. He guided her with a gentle hand on her nape, his fingers sending a ripple of excitement down her spine that spread out over her skin, raising gooseflesh and drawing her nipples into tight little points.

She gasped, and he sealed her mouth beneath his once more as he moved with her. She was twisting, unable to remain still, so she grasped the front of his doublet, holding on to the only steady thing in her world.

Him.

He made a low sound that rumbled through his chest. It was a mixture of promise and enjoyment that made her heart accelerate and her thoughts fall completely away. She found a new place inside her mind, one where impulses bred and combined and were ruled by nothing.

In this state of mind, she pulled him to her and opened her mouth so the kiss might grow deeper, harder, more intoxicating. Rolfe bound her to him, delighting her with his strength. She craved it, craved him, and she simply wasn’t close enough. There were too many layers of clothing between them when what she wanted was to be pressed against his bare skin.

It was a shocking urge that knocked her back to her senses for a moment as she pulled away, breaking their kiss so she might drag in a ragged breath and think.

Rolfe simply kissed his way down her face and onto the side of her neck.

Delicious…

She had never understood why women were called creatures of enchantment. Now, she felt that way herself, only she was the one falling under the spell. It wove its way through her mind as Rolfe’s lips sent ripple after ripple of pleasure down her body. She heard herself crying out. Little sounds of breathless wonderment that she scarcely believed came from her.

She had never been so wanton.

Never realized her body could feel so much delight.

And then she was alone, stumbling back a step to lean on the wall. She was grateful for the support because her knees trembled and threatened to fold.