The Silent Highlander (Highland Intrigue Trilogy 1)

His arm was suddenly at her waist and he pulled her down to sit on his leg. His other hand captured her shaking one and he guided it to his open lips and slowly slipped the spoon into his mouth while keeping hold of her hand. He took all of the syrup, dragging his tongue along the spoon as he drew it out of his mouth, then he licked every last bit of the syrup off the spoon slowly, her captured hand following along with his every movement and stirring something deep inside her.

He finally let go of her hand and foolishly without thinking, she wiped at a spec of syrup, caught on his lip, with the tip of her finger.

He closed his eyes briefly and moaned, then his hand went to the back of her neck, gripping it, and his lips came down on hers.

Chapter 4

A pleasant shock ran through Elysia at the taste and strength of his lips. The sweetness of the bramble berry syrup on his lips and the strength and confidence in his kiss melted something inside her and she responded impulsively.

She wanted him to kiss her and she wanted to kiss him, and she did. Her insides quivered, warmth spread through her, and she felt as if her body was slowly waking from a long, deep sleep. She eagerly returned his ardent kiss with more confidence than she believed she possessed. It felt natural, as if she had kissed him many times.

A tiny gasp caught in her throat when the tip of his tongue caressed her sealed lips, bidding entrance. Instinct, desire, curiosity—whatever it was—had her opening her lips slightly in invitation.

His tongue darted into her mouth and once again a pleasant shock took hold and grew in intensity along with the kiss. She didn’t know when she had dropped the spoon and her hand had gripped Saber’s shoulder or when she had moved closer to him, her knee now resting between his legs and feeling…

Elysia pulled her mouth away and hurried off his lap. “You should go.” She didn’t want him to go, but he had to go. Their kiss had aroused him and the bulge between his legs—hard and large—could prove dangerous, especially since she had not stopped him from kissing her, but had encouraged him once he did.

Saber stood slowly and Elysia’s eyes followed as he stretched to his full height, his chest expanding as he drew back his shoulders. He was a size, at least compared to her small frame. Perhaps it was better they did not wed, and yet—how would she ever forget his kiss?

She knew now, staring at his bold green eyes, that the sparks she had seen there were passion and they still lingered there. She had not been wrong. He had wanted to kiss her. What else did he want from her? And what did she want from him?

She walked around the table to plant it like a shield between them, not that it would do much good if he decided not to leave. He could easily push the table aside. There was no way she could defend herself against him and he had given her no reason to think it necessary. He had not stopped her when she had pulled away from him—he had released her without hesitation. So was it the fear of her own desire for him that had her keeping her distance?

Saber walked to the door and stopped, turning to her. The word slipped easily from his lips. “Tomorrow.”

Elysia stared at the closed door a moment, then hurried to sit, her whole body feeling as if it was ready to crumble. Her fingers went to her lips. They were plump and sensitive to her touch and they ached—ached for the return of his lips.

She shook her head. This was not good. Saber’s kiss had branded her lips. It would forever be there, his sweet taste and the strength of him. She would never be able to kiss another man and not be reminded of Saber’s kiss and not long for his lips as she did now.

Whatever was she going to do?

The overcast sky only added to Elysia’s dismal thoughts since waking early this morning. She missed her sisters more each passing day and worried over the both of them, more so than she did for herself. It was too soon to hear from either one of them, but she wished one of them would get word to her.

She disliked living alone with no one to talk with, to share the day’s events, to share comfortable silence, to share laughter, and to share problems. She could use her two sisters’ support and advice right now, since she was perplexed with her situation.

She sighed, something she had done frequently this morning. She could not take another minute of worry. She had work to do. She picked up the stone she had been using to shape the thin slice of bone that eventually would be turned into a needle and continued with the task. She always made sure she had a sufficient supply of stitching needles. Many broke easily and she did not want to be caught without the needles to finish her many stitching projects.