Page 15 of The Laird’s Wicked Game (Highland Scandal #2)

KYLIE SHUT THE book firmly, even as her pulse raced like a bolting hind.

Ever since Rae had loaned it to her, she hadn’t dared read it. Instead, she’d slipped the volume under her mattress and tried to forget it. But the book’s presence burned like a coal in her mind—and so, this morning, with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, she’d retrieved the slim volume and started it, at the beginning.

Staring down at the innocent-enough cover now, she leaned her head back against the wall.

Satan strike her down, she didn’t know what to make of what she’d just read. She wasn’t an innocent, and yet many of the things she’d read had surprised her, shocked her even. The book was lewd, detailed, and frank in its opinions and descriptions. She wondered who had written it. And for what purpose? As a manual?

Her mind churned as she splayed a hand over its smooth leather cover.

It was the first day of September—nearly a week had passed since she and the laird had taken supper together.

He needed his answer.

She lifted her other hand then, placing it to where her pulse fluttered at the base of her throat. Rae wanted them to work their way through this book, for her to choose chapters. Excitement quickened in her belly, clutching as she imagined doing some of the things she’d just read.

Errol hadn’t done any of it. His approach to coupling had been fast and furious. In the early days, she’d found him exciting, even if he didn’t seem to care if she reached her peak or not. But this book focused on the woman’s pleasure, as much if not more so than the man’s.

It had been a revelation.

Sucking in a deep breath, Kylie closed her eyes. No one will know .

None of her kin were here. She was on her own at Dounarwyse now. If she and Rae were careful, which he’d assured her they would be, they could embark on this six-month journey of discovery before concluding things in the spring, without anyone within the broch being the wiser. She could enjoy the pleasures of the flesh without having to deal with the negative consequences and complications of actually being in a relationship.

And ye would have delicious memories to hold dear.

Kylie’s heart kicked, and her eyes snapped open .

The Saints forgive her, she really was considering this. “Daft woman,” she muttered aloud. It felt odd to have this bedchamber to herself, although it was just as well at present, for she couldn’t have read this lewd book without piquing Makenna’s interest. It had been another reason to wait before opening it. “Ye don’t even know if he will please ye.”

However, even as the words slipped off her tongue, her belly clenched once more. Rae’s kiss had promised her that, even if he was inexperienced in the art of pleasing a lover, he’d take to this game with enthusiasm. And for her part, she was so hungry for him that just the sight of the man made her feel dizzy with lust.

No, whatever the coming months would bring, if she agreed to this, the laird of Dounarwyse wouldn’t disappoint her in bed.

And yet, still, she hesitated.

Kylie was a woman who liked to think through every decision meticulously. All her sisters had once teased her about her cautious ways, and she’d answered that someone had to make up for their recklessness. Someone had to think about the consequences of irresponsible behavior.

If she agreed to this, she’d experience the thrill of pleasure and freedom for a few moons—but she’d also be taking a huge risk, with her reputation and her position here.

Cursing, Kylie set aside the book and threw back the blankets, swinging her legs over the side. She’d drive herself mad if she kept going around in circles, chewing over the rights and wrongs of this. One of the maids would be up soon, to help her ready herself to break her fast with the laird and his sons.

It was time to face the day—and Rae Maclean.

“Very well, Maclean. I accept yer proposal.” Kylie’s words made Rae’s pulse leap. “Just six months mind … the moment we spy the first snowdrops bloom, we shall stop.”

He inclined his head, hope quickening within him. “Snowdrops flower early … ye could have waited for bluebells.” Indeed, the first snowdrops usually peeked their bonnets up in mid to late February, even braving snow and ice to do so, while bluebells didn’t flower until March.

Kylie’s jaw firmed at these words, and she folded her arms across her chest. “Snowdrops.”

Rae had been teasing her, of course, but he sensed she was too on edge to be played with, and so he nodded.

The pair of them stood in his solar. They’d broken their fast, as usual, with his sons. But instead of leaving with Ailean and Lyle, and taking them straight to the lady’s solar, where they’d begin their morning’s lessons, Kylie had bid them to go ahead while she spoke to the laird. Alone.

Rae had known why, although he’d steeled himself for her to decline him.

Over the past days, she’d been on edge in his company, often refusing to meet his eye when he sought her gaze out. In truth, he’d started to berate himself for making her so uncomfortable. This morning he’d awoken out of sorts. It was September the first, the beginning of autumn. If she didn’t seek him out to give him her answer, then he wouldn’t speak of his ‘game’ again.

Of course, he’d had a few days to regret his rash behavior. He’d hired Kylie to teach his sons, not warm his bed. She was a lady, not one of those lusty lasses at The Barnacle .

He didn’t wish for the complication of a relationship, but he wanted Kylie, and the force of his longing for her made his gut ache, made his breathing grow shallow whenever she walked into a room. His appetite for food had lessened over the past few days as he’d waited for her answer, and when she’d asked to speak to him this morning, he’d started to sweat.

But she’d accepted.

All the same, he had to be certain that she didn’t feel coerced into this. “Are ye sure this is what ye truly want?” He asked, stepping close to her.

“Aye.” Her voice was husky now. “I have thought of little else these past days.”

Heat ignited in his belly at this admission, but even so, he persisted. “If ye feel uncomfortable and would rather I withdraw my proposal, I can. Yer position here isn’t in jeopardy … and it never will be.”

She inclined her head. “It sounds as if ye are the one who’s had second thoughts?”

He huffed a laugh before moving closer still. They were near enough now that he could have reached out and drawn her into his arms. All the same, he restrained himself. Servants were due to appear at any moment to clear away the trenchers from the table behind them. He’d made the rules of this game clear, and he’d follow them. “No,” he said softly. “I just want to reassure myself that ye are a willing party.”

She lifted her chin, her luminous oak-colored eyes holding his. “I am.”

He smiled, even as his pulse started to hammer in his ears. “Tonight then? ”

A tremor went through Kylie, her soft lips parting slightly. “Aye,” she whispered back. “When do ye wish me to come to ye?”

“Late,” he replied. “Wait until yer candle burns down … and knock on my door thrice.”

Kylie made her way down the stairs, padding softly in her slippers. It was indeed late. The candle in the lantern at her bedside had burned down to a melted stub. As soon as it had, she’d risen from her bed and thrown a woolen cloak about her shoulders, pulling up the hood. Then, tucking The Art of Coupling under her mantle, she slipped from her bedchamber.

There wasn’t likely to be anyone about at this hour. All the same, she glanced around her before heading down the shadowed hallway to the landing. The laird’s solar and bedchamber sat on the first floor of the broch. A door led between them, while two external doors faced the landing.

Stopping before the left one, Kylie inhaled deeply and straightened her spine—even as her heart thumped against her ribs.

Heavens, she was close to losing her nerve.

She’d hardly eaten anything at supper, for her stomach had closed, and had barely paid any attention to the conversation at the table around her. All she’d been able to think about was that in a few hours’ time, she’d be naked in the laird’s bed.

Excitement tightened her chest then, her breathing growing shallow. And when she lifted her hand to knock, she noted that it shook slightly. Clenching her fingers into a fist, she took a deep breath and knocked three times as Rae had instructed.

And then she waited.

A heartbeat passed, and then another, before the door swung open.

Rae Maclean stood there, clad in braies and a loosely tucked lèine. She’d expected to find him looking a bit rumpled and sleepy, yet he appeared as wide awake as she was.

Wordlessly, he stepped aside and gestured for her to enter, and Kylie did, before he closed the door behind her. She then pushed down the hood of her cloak, as he turned to her once more.

For a few moments, they merely stared at each other.

Kylie drank him in, noting the way his tunic was unlaced at the throat, revealing crisp whorls of auburn hair upon his chest. The soft glow of the hearth to his left kissed his skin, brought out the red in his hair, and darkened his green eyes.

Her pulse started to race once more. How she wanted to throw herself at him.

There was no doubt about it, the laird of Dounarwyse was a fine-looking man. He wasn’t classically handsome, not in the way his brother was, but there was an intensity to him, an undercurrent of sensuality, that made Kylie’s senses reel.

“Ye brought the book?” he asked finally, breaking the silence.

She cleared her throat before casting him a shy look under her eyelashes. “Aye.” She handed it to him. “Here ye are.”

He took it, and his lips curved into a slow smile that lifted years from his face. “Have ye read it? ”

She nodded. Aye, she had. Thoroughly. In truth, some of the acts described in here were far too adventurous for her. Some of them had made her blush up to her hairline, while others made her curious.

Rae moved back from her then and set the volume upon the edge of the large canopied bed that dominated the chamber. Upon entering, Kylie’s attention had been so fixed upon the laird that she hadn’t taken the time to observe her surroundings. However, she did so now. The chamber was comfortably furnished with sheepskins upon the floor. A large tapestry, depicting a bucolic scene of fields against the backdrop of mountains, dominated one wall, while a large hearth burned opposite the bed.

Storm sat by the fire, scratching under his chin with his back paw.

Rae’s gaze traveled to his dog before he gave a low whistle and headed to the door that led through to his solar. “Come on, lad … ye can sleep next door tonight.”

The collie gave him an affronted look.

“Off ye go.” Rae opened the door and gestured.

Slowly, Storm rose to his feet. He then padded through into the solar, head low, tail down.

“I think he’s taken offense,” Kylie noted, smiling despite the nerves that now fluttered like moths in her belly.

Rae gave a soft snort. “That’s because I indulge him too much.” He closed the door firmly behind the collie. “However, having my dog watching me bed ye will put me off.”

Kylie giggled at this. She couldn’t help it. The relationship between the laird and his Highland collie could be a comical one, and it eased the tension in the bedchamber just a little. Still smiling, she removed her cloak and hung it up by the door .

And when she turned to face Rae once more, she found him watching her intently. And the naked desire in his eyes made her knees weaken.

Of course, she looked far different from usual. Her hair, while not unbound, was braided loosely down her back. It wasn’t coiled tightly around the crown of her head or above each ear like during the day. And instead of a high-collared surcote over a kirtle, she wore nothing but a linen night-rail.

Rae’s throat bobbed as he raked his gaze down the length of her.

The heat in his eyes made her feel as if she’d burst into flames at any moment.

His lips parted then, and she glanced down to see that her breasts—unrestricted by clothing and swollen with arousal—thrust against the thin material. The man would have been blind not to see her peaked nipples.

“Ye are so bonnie,” he said huskily.

She swallowed, dizziness sweeping over her. If he kept looking at her like that, she’d soon be on her knees, begging him to take her. “What happens now?” she whispered.

“Now, ye choose a chapter, and we shall follow its instructions.”

Kylie’s pulse fluttered in her throat.

His lips tugged up at the corners once more, even as his gaze remained limpid. “Aye, lass … I want ye to decide what we do, remember?”

A moment passed, and then she moved to the large bed and picked up the book .

After reading it numerous times over the previous day, she knew exactly which chapter she wished to begin with. Nonetheless, she didn’t want him to think she’d given this a lot of thought, and so she took her time leafing through the pages before handing the open book to him. “This one.”

Rae scanned his gaze down the page, and she watched his pupils flare wide, even as his body stilled. “Aye,” he said, his voice tight with anticipation. “This is perfect.”