Devil of the Highlands by Jackson Melanie

Author:Jackson, Melanie [Jackson, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amazon, Romance, historical
Publisher: Brian Jackson
Published: 2011-07-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Lona made an effort to calm herself. After Niall departed her chamber, she followed her usual evening ritual of combing out and then plaiting her hair. But though she pretended absorption with the task, her inner thoughts were not deceived by her busy fingers. She had for a moment—unbelievably— forgotten that Niall had multifarious reasons for coming to the isle; none of which included taking a wife or even a lover. Her overwhelming attraction for this man had subdued her senses. The inattentive slip left her shaken.

The important question was, Had it been a ruse? Had he guessed her feelings and used them to persuade her to his purpose?

She couldn't answer dispassionately when her mind's eye still saw Niall's gaze glittering down at her. She felt the lingering print of his hands on her skin, and she had to admit that she would have gladly assented to his lovemaking if he had not pulled back when he did.

Why had he pulled back? Had he concluded that it was risk that would, in the long run, turn her against him? Or might he not have truly suffered from a sudden, and unexpected, gentlemanly impulse?

She didn't know, and might never know. The only sensible course to follow was to err on the side of caution.

Lona stifled a sigh and crawled beneath her coverlet. To err was human. So, she had been momentarily weak and taken a few offered kisses from a very charming man. She would simply draw a lesson from this unfortunate incident and see to it that Niall did not share any more intemperate kisses with her.

She frowned when her stupid heart laughed at this wise resolution.

Lona worried her lower lip and finally admitted that the task might prove an impossible one if Niall began an earnest wooing. He was sly and audacious, and quite adept at getting what he wanted. And her earlier, inexplicable jealousy of the unknown women that had shared his life told her that her heart had not waited for logic's consent before caring. She was now vulnerable to him in a manner that had never troubled her before.

She was, in point of fact, in imminent hazard of surrendering caution in spite of the apprehensions that his presence awoke in her mind. Such was the tenacity of the heart's hope for a better life.

"Niall," she sighed. "Why did you have to be a MacKay? And a charming one at that. It makes trusting very hard. And without trust, what hope has love?"

Would he ever speak of love? she wondered whimsically, settling under the covers. And if he did, could she risk his kisses then?

And when they were married? The sensible question killed whimsy. Would she be able to resist his siren call? She'd have no right to refuse his kisses then. No, nor anything else he desired as long as he remained with her.

Lona rolled onto her side and pulled the linens over her head. She was feeling harried. She needed to detach from her troubles and consider them one at a time.

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