Part 7 (2/2)

”I wanted to get you to Lochlan as soon as possible.”

”Then why did you double back?”

Because a lady so fine deserves better than to sleep on soggy ground with me for company.

That was something he had no intention of explaining to her. ”Because I wanted to.”

Ewan poured more ale and downed it, then poured more. He took the goblet and pitcher and made for the door.

Frowning, Nora watched him leave.

”Aenos, go after him,” Sorcha said. ”I don't want him sleeping in the barn again. He caught a cold and was sick for days the last time he did that.”

Aenos nodded and got up to follow him.

After Aenos left, Nora turned to Sorcha. ”Sorcha, why is Lord Ewan so-”

”Gruff?”

”Surly and drunken was what I wanted to say, but gruff works as well.”

”Guilt, my lady, is hard on a man. Every day he lives that his brother doesn't is a day he feels he owes to Kieran.”

”What do you mean?”

Sorcha traced a circle on the table for a minute as if debating whether she should answer. When she spoke, her voice was scarce more than a whisper, as if she were imparting a secret to her. ”Well, one night when the lad was drunk, he said something that has stuck in my mind. He said that he didn't deserve comfort while his brother was lying at the bottom of a cold loch because he was a fool.”

Nora frowned at that. ”But his cave is furnished in luxury.”

”Aye, the doing of his mother once she saw how he was living up there in the hills with nothing at all for comfort. Not even a blanket to warm him. The lady couldn't stand the thought of him in such misery, so she led an army of helpers and threatened to come every day if he removed any of it.”

Nora smiled at his mother's kindness. ”So he intends to waste away his life because his brother is dead?”

”It appears so.”

Nora sat back as she thought that over. Why would he throw away his life because his brother was weak?

”Well, what foolishness is that?” she asked.

”My lady, you don't understand how close they were.”

”Perhaps not, but does he honestly think that his drinking and such would make his brother happy?”

It didn't make any sense at all that he would think that or act the way he did.

Before Nora could think better of it, she got up and went outside to find Ewan.

He was sitting on a log at the rear of the cottage drinking with Aenos.

The instant he saw her, he cursed. ”Why are you out here?”

She didn't answer. Instead, she took the goblet from his hand and poured it out.

His face flushed with anger. ”What are you doing?”

The answer was so obvious that she didn't bother explaining. Instead, she grabbed the pitcher and headed back toward the house.

Nora didn't get far before Ewan caught her.

”Give me that,” he said, trying to take it from her hands.

”Nay,” she said firmly.

His face was aghast. ”Nay?”

”Nay.”

Ewan reached for it again.

Nora twisted and tried to get past him, but somehow in the process she ended up dousing both of them and stumbling.

So intent on regaining his ale, Ewan didn't think to catch either one of them. They landed on the ground, limbs entwined with Nora on top of him.

His body reacted instantly to the feel of her softness squirming against him.

For a moment, he couldn't move. All he could do was feel her b.r.e.a.s.t.s against his chest, her legs against his, her breath falling on his face.

It had been so long since he last held a woman, so long since he had seen a woman as fair as this one who didn't belong to one of his brothers.

Longing pierced him as he focused his gaze on her parted lips.

Taste her.

It was all he could do not to yield to the anguished need he felt for her. To the heated fury of his groin that begged for a wee taste of her body.

Aye, she was all fire and beauty. And he wanted her in a way most mad.

Nora couldn't breathe as she stared down into Ewan's perfect blue eyes. Never in her life had she been this close to a man.

Who knew one would be so hard, so... well, masculine.

She felt a peculiar urge to rub herself against him, to feel his hardness with the whole of her body.

His eyes were dark, dangerous as he watched her in silence.

”Here, my lady,” Aenos said as he joined them. ”Let me help you up.”

Ewan cursed again, and as Aenos helped her up she saw their clothes, and she realized why he'd done that. They were both drenched by ale.