Page 23 of Fearless Heart
The worse was that he’d give into his desire. Not only that, but he’d hurt her tender feelings if he accusations proved false. If his accusation proved true, he couldn’t send her with James to King Robert. The conundrum of the situation hit his stomach. “I haven’t seen her since yesterday. Is she staying with Liam and Makenna?”
“She wasn’t in the main cave last night. I suppose she’s with Makenna, unless she stayed with Gilroy in the ossuary. God help the lass if she did.”
The thought of Lillia sleeping in the cold crypt unsettled him. He rose and trotted off to find her. Brodin followed and when he reached the ossuary, he didn’t see Lillia. Gilroy slept on his makeshift bedding and didn’t move. He was still recovering from his thrashing and the trek.
“Come, she must be with Makenna.”
He nodded at his comrade and followed him to the cave. Outside the entrance, he hesitated, but he had to get his questions answered even if being near her tortured him.
The cave crowded with Liam, Makenna, Darcy, and Lillia. There wasn’t much room for him and Brodin, but they teemed inside. He stood silent watching Lillia from afar. She smiled at him and continued playing with Darcy.
Brodin pulled Liam aside and spoke low. He couldn’t hear what he said, but their discussion ended quickly. Liam called his wife.
“Makenna, why don’t we sup with Kerrigan and Graeme this eve?”
“I made a broth and fresh bread for us—”
“Bring it. We shall share it with them.” When she didn’t take the hint, he called to his wee daughter. “Darcy, love, you want to see bairn William? Come and let us give Heath and Lillia privacy.”
Darcy didn’t wait for them and ran out of the cave in her haste to get to William. She adored the bairn and often played with him.
He kept his gaze on the opening until they left. Heath normally used his charm and gallantry to woo a woman or gain information from them, but this was Lillia. Somehow he’d have to get his answers without wooing.
“Lillia.” When he turned, he found her standing next to him, too near for her own good.
“Why are you here? If you wish to question me further, I—”
He grabbed her and lifted her from the ground. With his forehead against hers, he took a resigned breath. “I’m fighting damned hard, Sweetness, not to kiss you.”
“I wish you wouldn’t … fight it.”
He felt the light touch of her lips and any restraint that existed within him completely vanished. Heath held her tightly while his mouth ravished hers. Desire as strong as the halest wind swept through him. Damn the consequences, damn his oath to God, damn his suspicions. Heath set her upon the bed and used his body to press her back. He daren’t break free of their kiss certain some sense of sanity would come to him.
For once in his life, he did want he wanted and without restriction.
His rough hand caressed the soft curves of her body. Lillia moaned for she was affected as much as he. When his hand moved to her breast, she stiffened. He was about to withdraw, but she pressed her hand over his and sucked his lower lip. The swell of her bosom felt soft and yet supple. He wanted to taste her skin, to relish in her scent, and lose himself in the essence of her.
Heath swore he’d go slowly. Even with his somewhat vast experience with women, Lillia deserved to be wooed gently and yet the wherewithal to do so eluded him. He cared and that pounded his heart more ferociously than any fight he’d ever participated in.
Her hands distracted him when the smoothness of her fingers trailed the hard muscle of his bare thigh. She’d bunched the fabric of his tartan and uncovered his leg. The sensual urges of that small, but lustful action heated his blood and his manhood throbbed. Her small body fit perfectly against him, and he kept her still using his legs, arms, body.
He dislodged his mouth and rasped. “Lillia, tell me to cease. Tell me I’m hurting you. Make me stop before it’s too late.”
Her eyes clouded with desire. “I cannot, won’t. What you’re doing … feels too incredible.”
Heath lowered the bodice of her overdress and shifted the material of her chemise until he bared her breast. His mouth sought the taut nipple, and he knew there was no turning back. He disrobed her within seconds and helped her to remove his tartan and tunic.
The gentle caress of her hands on his naked chest drove him wild. He shifted his body to sidle hers and pressed the hardness of his member against her leg. She moaned and used her leg to keep him lodged against her. It took all his will not to take her then, but he cautioned himself. Lillia needed to be wooed gently.
Heath slid his hands down her soft skin until he reached her womanhood. As soon as he touched her, he pulled back from their kiss.
“I cannot stop now, Sweetness. There’s no turning back.”
“I don’t want to stop, Heath. Touch me. Hold me and whatever you do, don’t let go.”
He nodded. With one arm holding her, he used his other hand to undo the belt that kept his tartan around his waist. Once freed of it, he grinned down at her.
“You’re mine now, Lillia Hunter.”