happier.”
He’s happy about it, I’m miserably obligated. She excused herself, then wandered outside. A light breeze cooled her face as she walked across the stone courtyard. Gray tiles were set in an intricate circular pattern surrounded by raised flower beds. Her father had personally designed this place for her mother. She headed for a stone bench on the far side of the garden and made herself comfortable. How could she get Aaron alone before he left? She wanted to make her feelings known. In no way had she meant to tease or disappoint him. Quite the opposite. Her whole body ached for him. She shook her head in disbelief. What tricks were the gods playing?
Chapter 5
Reckless
When Marteinn entered the courtyard, Kara sprang to her feet. She must get the inevitable over with.
“The sun is good for you, Kara.” He smiled.
She held out her hands. He received them, holding onto her tightly. “Twirl about, send me away with a pleasant memory of you.”
She humored him. There was a reason she had dressed so carefully this morning. Most assuredly, it wasn’t for Marteinn’s benefit. He didn’t need to know she wore one of her best gowns, the pale yellow silk with silver lace edging the tight bodice, so her age couldn’t be mistaken. Jarl McNally would be forced to admire her. Half his age. How could the numb-minded fool mistake her for a shapeless child? Kara better understood what her father had been trying to teach her all along after she’d kissed Aaron, savagery existed in every man. His unrestrained passion confirmed it. As did her own feelings. She wanted more.
“Shall we walk about the house? Or do you wish to explore the forest?” Marteinn asked.
She didn’t want to look at him any longer—she desired to see only one man. Guilt racked her mind and heart. Marteinn openly adored her, loved her unselfishly. Her father would approve of a match between them. She couldn’t. No conscionable reason existed to deny him. Women flung themselves at him, stalked him like hounds follow a bitch in heat. It made no difference to her. He lacked something she couldn’t quite name. When he touched her, she didn’t feel a spark of lust. The world didn’t cease moving when he gazed into her eyes. As ridiculous as it sounded, she knew there was more to marriage than simple friendship. She grimaced, bedding Marteinn would feel incestuous.
They rounded the southwest corner of the keep, the island coming into view. Odin curse that grey-eyed interloper. Without warning, she grabbed Marteinn by the shoulders. She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. His body tightened in her grasp. When they broke apart, she stared at the ground, ashamed of her action.
“Kara,” he said, his voice a ragged rasp. “What is this about?”
How could she answer? She scuffed at the dirt with the tip of her slipper.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“I know when something isn’t right with you. I’ve been trying to get you to kiss me for three years. Now, because I’m leaving, you decide to throw yourself at me?”
She couldn’t bear to look at him and lie at the same time. The truth would destroy him and dishonesty would blacken her soul. She couldn’t hurt him. “I cannot deny it.”
“It is not the right time to explore our feelings,” he advised. “Wait for me until I return.”
She shook her head. Wait? Never. “I’ll try.”
He lifted her chin and gave her a sad smile. “You’ll try ?”
“Please, Marteinn . . .” Leave me alone you beautiful man. I’ll never admit why I cannot love you the way you need me to. “Let me think about it, alone .”
Anxious, she waited for his reply. He eyed the pathway around the keep. “It appears safe . . . stay close.” He planted a firm kiss on her lips. “Don’t mistake my hesitation as rejection. I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember. A man knows the woman destined to be his wife.” He left her in peace.
The second kiss infuriated Aaron. His body
He’s happy about it, I’m miserably obligated. She excused herself, then wandered outside. A light breeze cooled her face as she walked across the stone courtyard. Gray tiles were set in an intricate circular pattern surrounded by raised flower beds. Her father had personally designed this place for her mother. She headed for a stone bench on the far side of the garden and made herself comfortable. How could she get Aaron alone before he left? She wanted to make her feelings known. In no way had she meant to tease or disappoint him. Quite the opposite. Her whole body ached for him. She shook her head in disbelief. What tricks were the gods playing?
Chapter 5
Reckless
When Marteinn entered the courtyard, Kara sprang to her feet. She must get the inevitable over with.
“The sun is good for you, Kara.” He smiled.
She held out her hands. He received them, holding onto her tightly. “Twirl about, send me away with a pleasant memory of you.”
She humored him. There was a reason she had dressed so carefully this morning. Most assuredly, it wasn’t for Marteinn’s benefit. He didn’t need to know she wore one of her best gowns, the pale yellow silk with silver lace edging the tight bodice, so her age couldn’t be mistaken. Jarl McNally would be forced to admire her. Half his age. How could the numb-minded fool mistake her for a shapeless child? Kara better understood what her father had been trying to teach her all along after she’d kissed Aaron, savagery existed in every man. His unrestrained passion confirmed it. As did her own feelings. She wanted more.
“Shall we walk about the house? Or do you wish to explore the forest?” Marteinn asked.
She didn’t want to look at him any longer—she desired to see only one man. Guilt racked her mind and heart. Marteinn openly adored her, loved her unselfishly. Her father would approve of a match between them. She couldn’t. No conscionable reason existed to deny him. Women flung themselves at him, stalked him like hounds follow a bitch in heat. It made no difference to her. He lacked something she couldn’t quite name. When he touched her, she didn’t feel a spark of lust. The world didn’t cease moving when he gazed into her eyes. As ridiculous as it sounded, she knew there was more to marriage than simple friendship. She grimaced, bedding Marteinn would feel incestuous.
They rounded the southwest corner of the keep, the island coming into view. Odin curse that grey-eyed interloper. Without warning, she grabbed Marteinn by the shoulders. She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. His body tightened in her grasp. When they broke apart, she stared at the ground, ashamed of her action.
“Kara,” he said, his voice a ragged rasp. “What is this about?”
How could she answer? She scuffed at the dirt with the tip of her slipper.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“I know when something isn’t right with you. I’ve been trying to get you to kiss me for three years. Now, because I’m leaving, you decide to throw yourself at me?”
She couldn’t bear to look at him and lie at the same time. The truth would destroy him and dishonesty would blacken her soul. She couldn’t hurt him. “I cannot deny it.”
“It is not the right time to explore our feelings,” he advised. “Wait for me until I return.”
She shook her head. Wait? Never. “I’ll try.”
He lifted her chin and gave her a sad smile. “You’ll try ?”
“Please, Marteinn . . .” Leave me alone you beautiful man. I’ll never admit why I cannot love you the way you need me to. “Let me think about it, alone .”
Anxious, she waited for his reply. He eyed the pathway around the keep. “It appears safe . . . stay close.” He planted a firm kiss on her lips. “Don’t mistake my hesitation as rejection. I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember. A man knows the woman destined to be his wife.” He left her in peace.
The second kiss infuriated Aaron. His body
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