Page 31 of All In Good Time

“I’m still speaking,” she said, giving him a look that stopped him in his tracks. “I’m not going to get in your way. If you feel like it’s the right thing to do, then I understand. I’m not happy about it, but I get it.” Sara watched as the irritation that was so apparent a moment ago drained from his face.

“Sara,” the longing in his voice pierced something deep inside her. He reached out to cup her cheek in his warm, callused hand, “if I’d known ye were coming I would never have made the promise to marry her,” he confessed.

Sara closed her eyes and allowed herself a moment of comfort from his touch. She took a deep breath, opened her eyes and moved his hand. She couldn’t allow herself to be distracted now. “The only thing I don’t fully understand is why no one has gone to look for the man.” Sara stepped away from Logan. She needed some space for this conversation.

Logan sighed, resigned to the situation. “First, I dinnae ken who he is and second, Aisla asked me not to. She doesnae wish him to feel obligated to marry her under the circumstances.”

“Well, it looks like I’m one up on you. I know who it is.” She knew she must look like the cat who ate the canary. She hadn’t meant to tell him, but she blurted it out before she could lock her lips.

“Ye… how?…”

“I asked around.”

He looked horrified.

“Don’t worry.” She waved her hand like she was swatting away a fly. “I was discreet. The person who told me has no idea why I was asking.”

Relief washed over his face. “Well, are ye going to tell me?”

“Tell you what?” She was having fun playing with him. But then, he grabbed her hand again and led her down a passageway into a darkened room, the only light coming from a slowly dying fire. Logan grabbed some wood and threw it on the hearth, which sparked and then flared. He closed the door and then stood staring at Sara.

“You’re making me uncomfortable, Logan. Why are we in here? Where are we?” She peeked around him, but could barely make out a long table with chairs around it. Arch shaped windows lined the walls and a cool breeze blowing through caused her to shiver.

“Come.” Logan beckoned her closer to the hearth. She joined him and they stood facing each other.

Logan scrubbed his hands through his hair and Sara tipped her head, hands on her hips and fingers tapping furiously. “Well, you haven’t answered any of my questions.”

“I’m sorry, lass.”

Was he sorry he hadn’t answered her questions or was he sorry for what had happened. She couldn’t tell.

“Sara, I’ve wanted ye since the first-time I set eyes on ye.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head in apparent disbelief, but didn’t continue.

“Go on. You were saying you wanted me?” Sara was overjoyed to hear those words and wanted more.

“Aye. I’m such a fool.”

“Exactly what I’ve been saying.”

He tipped his head, a question in his eyes and then a deep chuckle erupted from his throat. “’Tis what I love about ye, Sara. Ye dinnae mince words.” He took her hands in his, looking deeply into her eyes. Her breath caught in her throat. “I wish I could change things.”

It was a simple statement, but Sara could feel the truth in his words. “I feel the same way.” Then it occurred to her that she might just be able to alter their course. She knew exactly how to do it. Happiness that she could actually do something instead of just allowing life to happen to her, caused her to throw her arms around Logan’s neck. She gazed longingly into his eyes and then without question or refusal, their lips met in a kiss. And what a kiss it was. Sara’s feet left the ground as Logan lifted her to gain a better angle. Flurries of butterfly wings beat in her belly, her body felt the effects of wanting him so badly that it hurt. This was probably not the best idea, but there was no stopping it now.

Before she knew what was happening, she found herself pinned against the side of the table. Logan pushed a chair out of his way, all the while kissing and caressing her face, her hair, her neck. For her part, Sara was speechless. Her hands were doing the talking for her. She ran them over the strong muscles of his chest, pulling his shirt open so she could touch his velvety skin. He pulled her closer and she could feel his hardened manhood against her belly. He wanted her. She smiled at the joy that brought her. He dipped his head lower, to the tops of her breasts, which peeked out over the bodice of her dress. Damn it, why did she have to be so tightly tied into it. There was no way she was going to be able to get it off and then back on again.

“Logan,” she breathlessly whispered his name.

“Aye, lass.”

“We shouldn’t…”

His tongue licked her cleavage and then back up to her neck. “You were saying.”

What was she saying? She couldn’t think clearly enough to form a cohesive sentence. “Mmmm…”

“Do ye like that, Sara?” he whispered.

Oh my gosh, he was tickling that sensitive spot behind her ear with his tongue. “Yes,” she murmured.