Page 32 of Taken By the Highland Villain

“What do ye…” Jude trailed off as she produced a length of cloth, cut in a shape he recognized. “Ye made me a new kilt?”

“Almost. It isnae quite finished yet.” Valerie waved for him to come and stand near the west-facing windows. “I want to see how it looks on ye, to see if there are any adjustments I need to make.”

Jude watched her saunter toward him with the length of fabric. “Ye’re nae goin’ to ask me to remove the kilt I’m wearin’, are ye?”

Valerie snorted. “Of course nae. I dinnae need to do so to be sure that I’ve got the fit right. It is a matter of making some minor adjustments, mostly in the hem, at this stage. I already have the measurements I need to be sure that it fits every other way.”

Jude lifted his arms away from his sides, careful not to touch her. Unlike when she’d been taking measurements, Valerie seemed much more cautious, her hands moving slowly and carefully as she wrapped the kilt around him. It was almost as if she were trying not to touch him. When her fingers brushed against him, even though it was through the layers, she blushed.

He’d thought her almost brazen before, but now he found himself wishing that nothing had changed between them. It was clear that the kiss they’d shared had affected her deeply. He’d never intended for that to happen.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

They spoke the words simultaneously.

Valerie stopped and looked up at him, her eyes wide, as startled as he felt. “What are ye sorry for?”

Jude swallowed. “For kissin’ ye the other day. I ken it was a mistake, and I shouldnae have done it.”

Valerie’s face reddened, and her mouth twisted in a bittersweet smile. “Och, ye werenae the only one involved in that. I kissed ye back, and I shouldnae have done it. I ken I’m promised to another… I should have kenned better than to let ye kiss me that way, much less respond. I should have pushed ye away.”

There was a lump in his throat, a heat in his blood, and a heaviness in his loins that cried out she was wrong, but Jude forced himself to ignore all of them.

“Still, lass. I should have shown better self-control, or at least sent ye away. I was surprised by yer actions, but I should have dismissed ye or had Moira watch us.”

“It isnae yer fault. I should have acted more professionally.”

Her voice was soft, and it made him want to hit something. Perhaps slap himself for making her sound so uncertain.

He was tired of apologizing and listening to her apologize. It felt like they were talking in circles for no purpose.

“Mayhap we should just agree that it was a bad idea and that we should never engage in such activity again.”

“Aye. It is the wisest course of action. Kissin’ and touchin’ each other like that… it should never happen again.”

“Never,” Jude agreed.

Valerie finished pinning and adjusting the fall of the kilt, her touch as soft as a butterfly’s wings. “There. Done.”

Her gaze met his.

Jude wasn’t sure who moved first. He only knew that there was a slow heat burning and building in his veins, and that as soon as her emerald gaze met his, he was lost.

His hands landed on her shoulders, just as her hands fisted in the fabric of his shirt. Then, he was pulling her close, his mouth claiming hers like a man dying of thirst who’d found a spring of pure, sweet water.

Valerie moaned into his mouth, her lips parting under his to allow him to slip his tongue inside and taste her. Their tongues tangled and dueled, teasing and testing as they stumbled and fell into the chair, Jude seated with Valerie straddling his thighs.

The scent of heather and honey filled his nose, the taste of sweetness and freshly baked bread lingering on his tongue as he explored the warm, moist cavern of her mouth, mapping every inch. Her weight was warm and soft, coaxing a guttural groan from him.

Jude managed to pull his head back, panting and breathless, so he could speak. “Och, lass…”

Her hands dragged across his chest in an unspoken challenge. Then, her fingers tangled in the laces of his shirt, pulling themopen to expose his chest as she leaned in and kissed him again. After a moment, she shifted her focus and nipped his earlobe.

Well, if she wants to do that…

Jude slid his hands from her shoulders to her breasts, then to the laces of her bodice. It was the work of a moment to loosen them, then undo them completely and drag both dress and chemise down to her waist, partially trapping her arms as he did so.