Read Online Highland Angel by Hannah Howell - Free Book Online Page A

any woman would cherish.
    “At the verra first hint of danger?” he asked, not sure why he was giving into her.
    “E’en the suspicion of a hint.” The way he was lightly caressing her face with his fingers was making her almost uncomfortably warm.
    “And ye willnae go out alone.”
    “Nay.” She almost squeaked the word when he touched his lips to her forehead.
    “And ne’er at night.” He kissed the outside corner of each of her eyes.
    “Nay, ne’er at night.”
    Kirstie could hear herself speaking, but was not exactly sure what she was saying. Her mind and her body seemed to be melting into a heated pool at his elegantly shod feet. She hoped she was not promising anything she would regret later. With each soft kiss upon her face, she cared less and less about talking. In fact, she was increasingly desirous of seeing how fast she could tear those elegant clothes off his too-tempting form and get him down on the floor. Since she was not entirely sure what she would do with him after that, she thought it a passingly strange urge. When he brushed his lips over hers, she felt her whole body tremble and clutched at the front of his tunic.
    “And ye will let me ken where in town ye mean to be,” he said softly, his mouth so close his lips brushed against hers as he spoke.
    “Oh, aye.”
    Payton tangled his fingers in her soft, thick hair, cradling the back of her head with one hand. He curled his other arm around her tiny waist and tugged her body closer to his. It had been a long time since he had had to use such subtlety, to coax or steal a kiss, but he was pleased to see that he still had some skill at it. Kirstie was intoxicatingly responsive. He knew he ought to feel guilty for taking advantage of that, but he did not. If it took a sly maneuver or two to get a kiss, he would not hesitate. He felt as if he had ached to taste her full lips for most of his life.
    A heartbeat after Payton pressed his lips against her, Kirstie wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. When he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips, she readily parted them. Roderick had kissed her a few times on their wedding night and, when he had stuck his tongue in her mouth, she had nearly gagged. Payton’s kiss was beyond words, each stroke of his tongue making her feel hot and desperately needy. So many strong feelings were tearing through her, she was surprised she did not swoon. As he moved his hands over her body, she felt the urge to throw off her clothes so she could feel them against her skin.
    When he placed a hand against her backside, holding his groin firm against her, Kirstie heard herself moan softly. She realized she ached to rub herself against him in a blindly wanton fashion, and she was so shocked she was able to finally grasp a few shards of control. There were a hundred reasons why she should not take what Payton offered. The fact that she could not think of a single one at the moment showed her just how much danger she was in. She quickly pulled free of his hold, staring at him as she struggled to calm her breathing. She was pleased to see that he was breathing as hard as she was.
    “That must ne’er happen again,” she said, wishing she did not sound quite so unconvinced and breathless.
    “Ye want me.” He reached for her.
    Kirstie started backing up toward the door. “I want a lot of things, but that doesnae mean I can or should have them.”
    “Ye could have this.” Payton wondered what had happened to his renowned skill with words, then decided that, when every bone and sinew in his body cried out to possess her, it was no wonder his lust-crazed mind could not conjure up any practiced words of seduction.
    “Nay. I willnae just be one of the multitude,” she said, grasping the latch on the door.
    “Ye wouldnae be.”
    “And, I think ’tis wise to cling to my virginity. After all, if all else fails, I could still seek an annulment.”
    She fled before he could argue that. She could not possibly