Page 35

His lips quirked upward as a knowing look crossed his face.

Amusement danced in his eyes, and she instantly regretted her words. Of course, he would see it as an opportunity to tease her.

He leaned slightly forward, his voice low and laced with a mischievous edge.

“Are ye trying to shame me for being shirtless while I tend to my hounds?”

Yvette took a deep, steadying breath. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, but she held her ground.

He was teasing her, she knew that, but it didn’t make it any easier to face him. She gave a huff, crossing her arms in an attempt to steady herself.

“Yes, I am. There is no reason why you should be shirtless with the animals,” she said, her words firmer than she felt.

She didn’t want to look at him, didn’t want to meet his gaze as his playful grin widened.

“Would ye prefer I be shirtless withyou?” he asked, and his voice was thick with a quiet challenge, almost daring her to respond.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, her world seemed to slow. The question hung in the air between them, and she felt the heat of his gaze on her skin.

Yvette couldn’t answer. She couldn’t even move. Her thoughts scrambled, her pulse quickening. He was so close now. She could see every droplet of sweat tracing down his tanned skin, glistening under the light of the day.

His muscles were so defined, his body so powerful, it was almost too much to bear. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure, but she felt exposed in a way she hadn’t anticipated.

“I—I… I didn’t…” her voice left off, her mind unable to provide a proper answer.

She quickly turned her face away, unable to meet his eyes, her cheeks burning with a heat she couldn’t suppress.

She bit her lower lip, trying to calm her racing heart, but the rush of emotion—embarrassment, desire, confusion—all tangled together, leaving her speechless.

Killian moved closer, his boots silent on the ground as he slowly closed the distance between them.

She could feel his presence, his warmth surrounding her, as he stopped just in front of her. His eyes never left hers, and the intensity of his gaze was both a challenge and an invitation.

“Would you prefer that,wife?” he repeated, his voice low, thick with something unspoken.

Yvette’s throat tightened, the breath caught in her chest.

Every inch of her screamed to run, to break the tension, but her body betrayed her, remaining rooted to the spot.

And then, as if sensing the storm of emotions swirling within her, Killian cocked his head slightly to the side, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Judging from the look on yer face, I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, his words full of teasing amusement.

Yvette’s eyes widened in shock. His words felt like a revelation, though she couldn’t quite explain why. She was both embarrassed and flustered by the effect his teasing had on her.

She took a step back, as if his words had physically pushed her away, breaking the spell that had wrapped around her. She shook her head quickly, trying to regain control over herself.

“No! I—I… I do not want whatever you said.” Her voice came out a little sharper than she intended, a note of panic creeping in as she struggled to make sense of what had just happened.

“I shall await you in the drawing room. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” her words tumbled out, rushing to put distance between them.

She turned on her heel, nearly stumbling in her haste, and she couldn’t look back at him. She couldn’t let him see how flustered she had become, how his teasing had left her vulnerable and unsettled.

Killian didn’t stop her. She heard his deep chuckle behind her as she walked away, but it didn’t comfort her. In fact, it only made her heart race faster.

She had no idea what had just happened, but one thing was certain: the distance between them had never felt more fragile, and yet, she was physically drawn to him in a way she could not describe.

Yvette pressed her hand against her chest as she walked back to the house, trying to steady her breath.