Wicked Laird (Brethren of Stone 2)

The flesh tightened and Elle gasped into his mouth. In her wild imaginings, a man’s touch had never felt like this and she wanted more.

“Elle,” he groaned as he began to trail kisses down her neck. He followed the neckline of her dress and Elle twisted her head to the side to allow him better access. He tugged at the fabric, trying to reveal more of her skin and she reached for the buttons, wanting him to have access to it.

That thought was the only thing that made her push at his chest to try and add some distance. Though she contemplated taking off her clothes.

He didn’t back away but he did lift his head. “Elle?”

“I should…I should go.” She wasn’t going to allow it to continue. She’d give Blair whatever he wanted. Except for one thing. Her heart. And somehow, she knew, if he continued to touch her like that, she’d be powerless to resist.

Stepping out of his arms, she raced to the door. “Thank ye fer dinner.” Then she stepped out and fled down the hall.

It wasn’t that she was a coward. He deserved someone better than her. Not that he’d offered her anything. But if he didn’t touch her then she could help him. She could work off her debt and do the right thing.

If, however, she found herself falling in love… Well, it changed everything. How, she didn’t exactly know, but she did know that she wouldn’t be making rational decisions anymore. She’d be letting her emotions guide her and that was never good.

At least not for her.

No, she needed to keep her hands to herself at all costs. And, what was even more important, she needed to keep Blair’s off of her.

Chapter Ten

Blair let out a growl of frustration as he paced the room. He wanted her.

Had he ever wanted a woman so much?

Hell and damnation, he couldn’t even think of another woman. Even Cordelia was but a foggy memory. He’d thought she’d be etched in his mind forever.

Elle was so much more a woman than Cordelia could ever be. And not just because of her beauty. Though Elle made him ache every time he looked at her, and he pulsed with it after touching her.

But she was strong, kind, talented, independent, and so vulnerable. A man could get lost in a woman like that.

He crossed to the door, wanting to chase after her. He’d haul her back here and make love to her. He’d…he stopped.

What would he do? Propose marriage? Listen as another woman he’d rushed to save rejected him? Granted, Elle would be different. She didn’t want a husband. She’d been clear about it and he understood, but it was the same end result. He’d want a woman who didn’t want him in return.

But another voice tempted him. Maybe if they were together, she’d change her mind. He could prove to her that she needed him as much as he was growing to want her.

He banged his fist on the table. That was exactly what he’d done before. He’d once made fun of Stone for not indulging in the company of women. But Stone hadn’t been the one playing the fool.

Tossing himself on his bed, he decided he should go to sleep. He’d put his energy into building his business, just as he’d always intended. If he got lucky, he’d have the opportunity to beat McKenzie’s face into pulp.

But that thought didn’t make him feel better.

In fact, he grew more restless as the night went on. Not even the rocking of the ship soothed him and he only managed a few hours of disjointed sleep.

When the first ray of the sun peeked into his window, he knew they had nearly reached his land. He rose and headed out onto the deck. To his surprise, he found Elle there.

Her hair was in a simple braid and wisps blew in the wind. The breeze made her cheeks even pinker and her eyes brighter. The soft pink of her lips was even more pronounced than usual and, it occurred to him, they were swollen from his kisses. While that tugged at his masculine need, he realized that her sudden departure had made him feel…rejected. He attempted to reason with himself. His attraction to Elle was liable to distract him from his fight with McKenzie. He needed to keep his wits about him, but her leaving still stung.

She turned to him and reached out her hand. “Don’t be angry with me.”

Something tugged in his chest. “I was never angry.”

“Good,” she gave him a small smile as she slipped her hand into his. “Please understand,” she took a deep breath. “I’ve never let a man touch me like that and I—”

His head snapped back. “Never let a man touch you?” Based on her story about McKenzie, Blair had assumed there was a physical component to her relationship with the other man. She had no guardian and they’d been engaged. Not that it mattered to him that she wasn’t a maid, in fact, he was relieved that she hadn’t been used that way but he was surprised.

She shook her head.