by Ava Stone
Lady Elspeth sat back with a huff, folding her arms across her chest, silently shooting daggers in her brother’s direction.
“Everything all right?” Fin asked.
Lord Ericht shrugged. “Everything’s fine. She just hasn’t been home in a very long time and recently realized she missed the place. Or something like that.”
Lissy never missed home. If it hadn’t been for Luke’s summons, she wouldn’t be headed there now. She might not ever go there again if she could avoid it. The halls of Prestwick Chase offered nothing but haunting memories and a lifetime of unfortunate events. “I hope you’ll find your home in good spirits,” she said because someone had to say something.
Lady Elspeth unfolded her arms, worrying her skirts between her fingers as though sitting still might be the death of her. “Thank ye.”
Whatever was going on with the girl, it wasn’t a sudden desire to see her home, no matter what the earl said. Had something happened to Lady Elspeth in London? Was she escaping something by fleeing back to Scotland? Normally, Lissy would ponder about the girl’s obvious anxiety, her brother’s cryptic comment. Normally, she would inquire about it even. But not now, not with Fin sitting across from her, not with his gaze still heating her skin, not with the memory of his kiss so fresh in her mind.
“We can leave the ladies at the inn,” Lord Ericht said. “Then we can go back for yer driver and carriage.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Fin replied. “We do appreciate it.”
“Not a problem at all. Glad to be of assistance.”
Lady Elspeth muttered something under her breath and Fin and Lord Ericht exchanged more pleasantries; but Lissy couldn’t focus on any of it. Her mind kept returning to Fin’s kiss, the softness of his hand on her cheek and the warmth and strength of his body, pressed against hers. Oh, she was in trouble, and she didn’t have a clue what to do about it.
When the coach finally came to a stop, Lissy was a bundle of nerves and she couldn’t wait to escape the confines of the carriage and the swarming thoughts in her head. Lord Ericht opened the door and lifted his hand to Lissy, helping her alight from the coach, and Lady Elspeth was right behind her.
“We’ll get our rooms and then head back for Carraway’s coach,” the Scotsman said to his sister.
Her back to the coach, Lissy stared up at the Tudor-era inn before them. She’d escaped the carriage, but her thoughts about Fin still plagued her. There would be no escaping that, probably not ever.
A warm hand squeezed her shoulder and she knew it was him. The gentle pressure of his grasp, the soft scent of sandalwood, the heat that shot straight to her core.
“Lissy.” His voice rumbled and his warm breath against her neck made her shiver from want.
She closed her eyes. What a mess she’d made of her life. She’d like nothing better than throw her arms around his neck and beg him to kiss her once again, to make her feel as carefree as she’d felt in the middle of the road when it was just the two of them. But her life was a mess and she couldn’t travel down that particular path, and certainly not with him. He deserved better.
Lissy stepped away from Fin, not able to look at him for fear that her resolve would melt away. “Please do hurry, Uncle Fin,” she said. “Poor Annie is probably terrified.” Then she started for the taproom entrance without so much as a glance back over her shoulder.
Uncle Fin. Why the devil had she called him that? To torture him? To vex him to no end? To put some distance between them? Fin was most concerned it was that last one. Damn it all, he didn’t want there to be distance between them. The first time he’d felt right with the world in a very long time had been with her in his arms, alongside the road. He didn’t want to go back to how things had been before. He wanted to pull her into his arms and make the world feel right once more. He wanted to kiss every inch of her skin. He wanted her in his bed, waiting for him. He wanted…
“…that interesting, am I?” Lord Ericht’s voice broke Fin from his reverie.
He glanced up at the Scot across the carriage from him and said, “I beg your pardon.”
“I don’t think ye’ve heard one thing I said since we left the inn.”
The man would be most certainly correct about that. “I—uh—I’m…” He sighed. “I do apologize, Ericht. Just concerned about Lady Juliet’s condition, is all,” he lied. “I’m afraid I’ve been lost in my thoughts.”
“And I’m the Loch Ericht Kelpie.” The earl snorted. “It’s none of my concern, Carraway. And ye can tell me to go hang, but that look ye’re sporting, I’d wager my blunt that the reason for yer expression is that pretty blonde back at the inn with my sister.”
The last person Fin was about to bare his soul for was the Earl of Ericht, gambling scoundrel that he was. “You can go hang,” he said, though there was no heat in his voice. The Scot was, after all, helping him retrieve his coach, driver and Lissy’s maid.
“Fair enough.” Ericht laughed, a warm sound that made Fin feel the slightest bit guilty for his uncomplimentary thoughts about the man. “It’s just that I’ve seen that very expression on the face my oldest friend this last month. And if ye’re as tortured as he’s been, then I’m quite sorry for ye.”
Perhaps Fin had been harsh in his judgment about the earl. He shrugged a bit and said, “Tortured might be a slight exaggeration.”
Ericht nodded. “Aye, my friend would say the same, I’m sure. God keep me from falling under whatever spell that bit the two of ye. I’m rather happy keeping my own hours and my own council.”
A fortnight ago, Fin would have said the same. But that was before everything changed. Before his life stopped making sense. Before he truly saw Felicity Pierce for who she was, heart and soul. Before he realized she beckoned to him, that he loved her. Before that kiss…
Lissy. Lissy. Lissy.
Had Fin moved too quickly for her with that kiss? Was she truly as terrified of men as Lieutenant Avery had suggested? Or was he reading too much into her response back at the inn? Was she simply trying to vex him? Uncle Fin, indeed. If she ever called him that again…
The coach slowed to a stop and out the window, Fin spotted Annie and Chivers, the coachman’s leg propped up atop one of Lissy’s portmanteaus, sitting along the side of the darkened road. He’d focus on Lissy just as soon as he got back to the inn, but now he had other tasks that demanded his attention.
A knock sounded at Lissy’s door and she frowned towards the threshold, wishing she could see through the dratted door. It couldn’t be Fin on the other side, could it? The knock hadn’t sounded quite as determined as his usually did. Then again her world had just been turned upside down. She might not be the best judge of usual things.
The knock came again, a little louder this time.
Blast it all. There was only one way to find out. “Yes?” she called from her spot in the middle of her rented bed.
“Ye are there.” Lady Elspeth’s voice filtered into the room. “I thought ye might like a bit of company.”
The Scottish girl had thought most wrongly, not that Lissy could say as much. She’d have to play the role of pleasant host, even if it was the last thing she wanted to do. “Door’s open,” she called more brightly than she felt. Much more brightly.
A second later, Lady Elspeth poked her flaxen curled head inside Lissy’s room. “I hope ye don’t mind me barging in on ye. Being alone, I find I’m nearly climbing the walls.”
“Not at all,” Lissy lied, though she did pat a space on the bed beside her for the Scottish girl to join her.
Lady Elspeth hardly needed the invitation, however, as she dropped onto the bed, facing Lissy, a most anxious expression upon her face. “Have ye ever felt so incredibly helpless that ye didn’t know what to do with yerself?”
The first few months of her marriage, Lissy felt nothing but helplessness, but she wasn’t about to admit as much. “Are you all right?” she asked instead.
Lady Elspeth shook her head, making her blonde curls bounce about her shou
lders. “That’s just it. I don’t know. And I won’t know, not until I reach Loch Ericht. And I can’t get there any faster than we’re going. I think I’ll be half-mad by the time I do get home.”
“What is the hurry?” Lissy couldn’t help but ask, though she had a fairly good idea it had something to do with a gentleman. Lady Elspeth had that lovesick look about herself. A look Lissy desperately hoped she didn’t sport herself. She’d have to examine herself in the mirror once the Scottish girl left to see if any telltale signs were obvious upon her countenance.
Lady Elspeth sighed. “I’m afraid I’ve been blind and kept in the dark about something rather important. And if I don’t get home before he leaves for parts unknown…”
It was a he. Lissy’d been right about that, not that the fact made her terribly happy. One more naive girl, thinking the sun rose and set because of some man. “I’m sure all will be fine. If the gentleman is worth his salt…”
“He’s worth everything,” Lady Elspeth insisted. “He’s prefect.”
Perfect. No man was perfect. Well, no man other than Phineas Granard, but Lissy pushed that thought from her mind. “And does he think you’re perfect, Lady Elspeth? I find that would be the true test of the man.”
“Probably not.” The Scottish girl frowned. “But I’ve bungled everything. Ian says a blind simpleton sees things more clearly than I do.” She shook her head quite despondently. “And, in this, I’m afraid he might be right, which is rather frustrating, to be honest.”
At that, a laugh escaped Lissy. “Oh, I know that feeling better than most. There was never anything more frustrating than when my sister Georgie was correct about something. The look she’d wear, always so filled with the most acute disappointment, was something to be avoided at all costs. No matter what.”
Lady Elspeth laughed as well. “Fortunately, Ian’s not right most of the time.”
“Then you are more fortunate than me.” Lissy squeezed the Scottish girl’s hand. “My sister was always right about everything, which was quite maddening, let me assure you.”
“I didn’t know her.” Lady Elspeth smiled sadly.
Lissy returned the gesture. “She was the most wonderful lady. I could try all of my days, but I would never match her grace or wisdom.”
“I’m sure—” the Scottish girl began, but stopped when a firm knock sounded at the door.
That was a knock that had a familiar determination to it and Lissy gulped. She glanced towards the door. How she’d love to clamp her lips shut and not utter a sound, simply wait for Fin to tire of standing at her door; but with Lady Elspeth sitting just a few feet away, her eyes boring into Lissy, that was most definitely not an option.
“Yes?” she called, since she didn’t have a choice.
“Lissy?” Fin’s voice hit her ears. “Annie and Chivers are settling into their rooms and the innkeeper’s sent for a doctor.”
Lissy scrambled off the bed, Lady Elspeth quick on her heels. She opened the door and her gaze locked with Fin’s. Heavens! The intensity of his brown eyes, focused on her, made Lissy’s breath catch in her throat. Never in a million years had she ever imagined having Fin look at her like that.
“Well,” Lady Elspeth said rather awkwardly, as no one else was saying anything. “I suppose I should find Ian. Do excuse me.” Then she quickly brushed past the two of them, though neither Lissy nor Fin gave her the least bit of attention.
After a moment, Lissy cleared her throat. “I should check on Annie.”
But Fin shook his head. “Annie’s fine,” he said, stepping over the threshold into the small room, which seemed quite a bit smaller now with him taking up most of the space with his large frame. “But we should talk.” He kicked the door closed behind him.
Heavens! The last thing Lissy wanted to do was talk. What was there to say? Couldn’t they just forget about everything? Pretend that kiss along the side of the road hadn’t happened? “I don’t think there’s anything to say,” she began.
But he gently cupped the side of her jaw before she could say more. “Then let’s not say anything.” And a second later, he pressed his lips against hers. That delicious swirling feeling that encompassed her earlier that evening washed across her once more, and Lissy had to grasp the lapel of his jacket to keep from melting to the floor in a heap.
She knew she shouldn’t kiss him back, but…Well, she couldn’t help it. Kissing Fin, being held by him, was like nothing she’d ever experienced and wasn’t likely to ever experience again.
Her tongue tangled with his, sending desire racing to her core. One of Fin’s arms snaked around her back and secured her against the wall of his chest, and Lissy nearly sighed. She’d never felt so desired, so loved, so…safe. She was safe. She was always safe with Fin.
He growled slightly across her lips as his hand on her back drifted lower and lower. When he squeezed her bottom, Lissy gasped in surprise and she reared back just a bit.
Oh, they shouldn’t be doing this. What were they thinking? “Fin,” she began, trying to catch her breath and think clearly all at the same time, which was more than difficult.
His warm, passion-filled eyes peered down at her, and he shook his head. “Don’t, Lissy. Whatever you’re about to say, don’t say it.”
So she said nothing. She just blinked up at him, wondering what in the world had changed between them. Never in a million years would she have ever thought Phineas Granard, the starched and proper Viscount Carraway, would have inserted himself into her chambers and kissed her for all he was worth. Never in a million years would she have imagined that kissing him would shake her to her very core. And never in a million years would she have ever thought that she’d do just about anything for him to kiss her again, but they couldn’t.
“You shouldn’t be in here, Fin.”
“I probably shouldn’t,” he agreed, smiling rakishly in return. Heavens! Who would have ever guessed that Fin knew how to smile that way? “And I shouldn’t—” his fingers trailed from her jaw, down her neck, stopping right above her décolletage “—do this either.” His hand slipped beneath her bodice and chemise until he held the weight of one of her breasts in his palm.
Lissy sucked in a breath. It felt so wonderful, his touch, like nothing she’d ever experienced before. She closed her eyes, trying to recompose her thoughts, trying to block out the sensation of Fin’s gentle fingers caressing her flesh, hoping to—
“Or this.” He rolled her straining nipple between his thumb and forefinger and every semblance of rational thought fled her mind.
Her eyes flew open. Fin pinched her just a little bit harder and she nearly leapt into his arms right there.
As though he was a master seducer, one confident brow lifted, silently challenging her to beg him to stop…or maybe to never stop, she wasn’t certain which. With his free hand, he tugged the edge of her bodice lower until he freed both of her breasts from their confines. Then he caressed her most reverently as his gaze dropped to her exposed flesh. “So beautiful, Lissy,” he said, his voice a mere whisper.
Then he dipped his head down and captured one peaked nipple in his mouth. Heavens, she had to grasp his shoulders to remain upright. Even still it was difficult. He suckled her so sweetly, his tongue flicking across her sensitive flesh, his teeth tugging ever so slightly, and Lissy wasn’t certain how long she could stand there before her weak knees buckled beneath her.
He moaned against her skin and Lissy clutched his shoulders even tighter, willing herself not to fall. Fin must have noticed because he slowly released her nipple from his lips and rose back to his full height before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her the very short distance to her bed.
He deposited her in the middle of the bed and began pulling at his cravat until the knot came undone and he let the silk flutter to the floor somewhere behind him. Lissy couldn’t move. She could only stare up at him as he ripped his jacket and waistcoat off, then yanked his shirt over his head.
She gulped at the sig
ht of a half-naked Fin. Heavens, he was a sight. All muscled and handsome with a light smattering of dark hair across his chest. At once, however, terror reached up and grasped her heart. She’d once thought Aaron to be quite the Adonis, though not after their wedding night and never again.
She tried to shake the terrible memories of that first night from her mind. Fin wasn’t like Aaron in the least. He’d already taken much more care with her than Aaron ever had.
“Are you all right?” he asked softly, and Lissy almost burst into tears.
Was she all right? She had no idea how to answer that, not with the awful memories swirling about her mind, not with the sudden confusion about her feelings for Fin.
“Lissy.” He dropped onto the bed beside her. “I want you most desperately, but—” his warm, brown eyes locked with hers “—are you all right?”
And with those words, she knew she’d be all right with him. Though, honestly, she’d known that before he’d spoken. But his words were just what she needed to hear, a reassurance that he cared for her, that her well-being was important to him.
Her heart expanded in her chest and she nodded quickly. “I’m all right.”
A relived smile spread across his face, then he pressed her back against the pillows and settled right beside her. Fin kissed her once more, kneading her breast with one hand and sending frissons of desire and anticipation racing to her core.
Dear God, she was so soft to the touch, softer than he’d imagined. He could kiss her, run his hands over her naked flesh all day, and never tire of it. But right now, with his cock straining against his trousers, what he wanted more than anything in the world, was to sink into her, to become one with her for now and always.
He deepened his kiss, relishing in the slight mew that escaped her. He moved his hand to her belly and began tugging her dress northward until the hem reached his fingers. Then he smoothed his hand across the tie of her drawers. So close. He was so close to having everything he wanted.
