With his arm wrapped around her once more, they headed toward the castle. Katie’s feet moved, but otherwise, she seemed almost asleep. It took him a few minutes to realize she was holding in a sob and tears were slowly rolling down her cheeks, dripping like spring raindrops on his tartan.
“What’s the matter, lass?”
A full minute passed, and he thought she would not answer him. Then she stopped, pulled the tartan snug around her body, and looked up at him. “We almost lost her.” She covered her eyes with her hands. “If I didn’t get the babe out when I did, she would have died.”
“But ye did get the babe out. And she didna die.”
She shook her head back and forth, a slight wailing coming from her. “I thought she would die. She was so still at the end, hardly breathing, like she’d given up.” She swallowed and looked up at him with tortured eyes. “I slapped her in the face to wake her. I had to make her push.”
Katie turned and continued to walk. “All my efforts to turn the bairn failed. I pulled him out feet first. That was when Freya passed out, but she awoke after we cleaned her up.”
Evan pulled her close against him again as she continued to shiver. Once they were inside the very quiet castle, he led her to the library, where he poured them both a glass of whisky.
Katie swayed on her feet. “’Tis too early in the day for whisky.”
“Nay. Consider it the end of the night.” He raised the glass and saluted her. “S math a rinn thu.” Well done.
Katie took a sip and closed her eyes as the liquid slid down her throat. She moaned slightly, and he watched the muscles in her throat work. She was tired, her clothes wrinkled and dirty, her hair a tangled mess. Yet she looked beautiful.
He set his glass down and reached his hand out, his heart pounding in his chest. “Come here, lass.”
Her eyes never leaving his, she placed her glass on the table and took his hand. “Aye?”
With one quick move, he pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth with his.
Chapter Fifteen
Katie’s fatigue immediately fled as Evan pulled her into his arms and took her mouth in a possessive kiss. Before she had time to think about how tired and disheveled she was, her body took over, shooting fire throughout, right to her fingertips. Her heart pounded and all the air left her lungs.
Evan’s hands were everywhere, so she joined in, and ran her palms over his back, his shoulders, his muscled arms. He cupped her face and tilted her head so he could go deeper. His tongue nudged her lips and she opened, enjoying the taste of whisky and the dueling of their tongues.
Every thought in her head fled, replaced with the scent of the man who held her. The faint aroma of bath soap, horses, and leather stormed her senses.
He pulled back and studied her face. “Ach, lass. I want ye so much.” Then he continued his assault, kissing her cheeks, jaw, eyelids, then going lower to her neck and chest.
She tilted her head to give him more access to the soft skin under her ear. She might be inexperienced, but she wasn’t innocent. She knew exactly what he wanted from her, and she was eager to give it to him. All thoughts of any repercussions had been relegated to the back of her mind, where she would not have to deal with it until later. Much, much later. He wanted her, she wanted him. What else could matter?
Then she remembered the state she was in. She’d been sweating, handling blood, a newborn sticky babe, and the rest of the messy matter that came with childbirth. How could she ever give herself to this man when she most likely smelled like a fishwife?
That put a damper on her passion. She drew back, pushing on his chest, leaving him looking confused.
&
nbsp; “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shook herself. “Everything.” She backed up and adjusted the bodice of her gown that he had managed to loosen when she wasn’t thinking. But now she was thinking, and this was not a good idea. Not only was she a mess but Evan was only here for a short time, and then he would head back to Argyll, leaving her alone with any consequences from their actions.
What a fool she was! Hadn’t she learned that men were unreliable? Her da had been a devoted husband and father until Ma had died, and then he’d abandoned her, her brother, and their clan. Evan had already told her he was headed back to Argyll as soon as he could. So she would warm his bed while he was here, then wave goodbye when he left?
“I dinnae think this is a good idea.”
He moved toward her. “I disagree. I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
She held her hand up to stop him. “Nay. ’Tis not. And I am verra tired.” With those words, she fled the room, ignoring Evan’s voice calling her back.
Out of breath from her race up the stairs, Katie summoned a very sleepy Meggie and had her prepare a bath. For as tired as she was, she couldn’t sleep until she’d washed away the fear and fatigue of the night, along with the smell.
The babe and mother had survived the childbirth, although Freya could still have problems and would need to be watched for a few days.