“I know I’m clean.” The nonquestion hung in the air.
“I’m clean,” I promised. Guy had been my last lover, and I’d had a health check since then.
Mac shrugged before reaching for his jacket and pulling the square handkerchief out of its breast pocket. “Let me.”
Trying desperately to ignore the renewed sizzle of arousal as he wiped the cloth between my legs, I bit my lip against a moan.
Mac’s knowing gaze only made me hotter. Finally, he stood and held out a hand to help me up. “I promise we will use one next time, until we’re ready not to.”
“Next time?”
He stepped into me, wrapping his arms around my waist to cuddle me close. “Aye, next time. Unless …” His grip on me tightened. “You don’t want a next time?”
Before I could answer, bagpipes playing “Flower of Scotland” drew our attention back to the castle, and coordinated, moving lights in purple and green filled the sky over Ardnoch Castle.
“What the …?”
“Drone display. Instead of fireworks,” Mac murmured. The drones came together to make a gigantic three-dimensional thistle in the sky. It was so cool to watch that it took me a minute to realize what time it was. Lachlan always held the finale at midnight.
Wasn’t that when Cinderella’s dress changed back to rags, her carriage to a pumpkin?
Glancing away from the beautiful light show, I studied Mac’s handsome face as he looked up at the thistle. Hearing the searing cry of the pipes, I knew, despite the niggling fear, that I didn’t want what happened between us to just be a memory.
26
Mac
Sliding my arm around Arro’s waist, I eased her back down onto the grass by the loch so we could watch the display. The drones’ colors changed to blue and white as they moved into a new formation—the St. Andrew’s Cross flag. To my relief, Arro didn’t struggle or bolt. In fact, she rested her head on my chest and let me slide my fingers between hers to hold her hand.
I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what had happened. When she’d left the party, I’d intended to follow to keep her safe, but seeing her in the moonlight, looking like a stunning loch nymph, years of wanting had driven every thought from my mind.
Anyone could have come across us, but I’d genuinely lost sight of anything other than Arro and the need to be inside her.
If I was honest with myself … maybe even the need to claim her.
As she had claimed me. Branded me. Hers. Forever. No woman would ever compare.
Which was the reason I’d lost my mind and done something, as head of security, I’d either fire someone else for doing or have Lachlan warn a guest over.
Somehow, I couldn’t dredge up enough guilt about it—and definitely no regret.
The drones formed a Highlander in his kilt, then the Loch Ness monster, and finally returned to the thistle, ending the display. We heard the cheers of guests in the distance.
“I can’t go back in there.” Arro lifted her head. “My dress is covered in grass stains.” She laughed softly. “Everyone will know what I’ve been up to.”
I grinned, feeling more than a little satisfied by the reason for those grass stains. “You can wait at the door while I have a car brought around.”
She studied me. “I’m going home alone tonight, Mac.”
My stomach dropped. “All right,” I replied. “Does that mean you don’t want to give me a chance?”
Tears brightened her eyes as she tugged her hand from mine. “I don’t know what to do. I’m terrified of walking away from this, but I’m also scared that if I give you a chance, I might realize I can’t trust you, and then I’ve just messed you about.”
“Arro.” I grabbed for her hand again, holding it tight between both of mine. “Let me take that risk. I’m willing to take it. Just try … We’ll go on dates, we’ll spend time together, we’ll see how it goes. And if you decide after that, you don’t want to be with me, I’ll abide by it. No questions, no pushing you. I just want a chance.”
Her mouth, swollen from my kisses, trembled. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Heart pounding, I answered hoarsely, “Any time I get to be with you—a day, a week, a few months—it’ll be worth it. I’d rather have a moment with you than nothing at all. It’ll last me a lifetime.”