Colin spoke energetically, bowing his head quickly in greeting. “Lady Ruth, ye were the most beautiful dancer of the group this year. I have voted for ye for May Queen.”
Ruth laughed. “Thank you, Colin. I did not realize there was such a vote? Is this a tradition as well?”
Colin nodded furiously. “Aye. Every year we choose the most beautiful of the ladies of the village tae be our May Queen. She will rule the year and provide us with a bountiful harvest.”
Ruth smiled again. “Well, I am honored, then, for your vote. But I’m certain one of the other girls will win. It would be most unusual for a foreigner to be chosen, do you not think?”
“Nae, I’ve heard many of the others talkin’ about votin’ for ye as well. Ye’ll be sure tae win.” Colin’s smile was bright and eager, like a little boy’s, despite being in his twenties.
Ruth glanced over at Troy, who stood nearby, his expression stony. “Colin, I need to go and see how my sister fares this evening. Thank you so much for the compliment.”
Colin opened his mouth to protest, “But, me Lady. I would like tae ask ye tae come and have a drink with me.”
Ruth wavered, unsure of how to let Colin down gently. Troy stood so close, she could feel him without his even touching her. She knew she needed to speak to him. Ruth began, “Well...”
Suddenly, she felt a warmth in her hand. Troy had moved beside her and grabbed her hand, pushing it behind her back away from Colin’s view. And he interlaced their fingers, his rough skin moving over her smooth fingertips. Ruth’s body filled with heat. The ache began anew, stronger this time at such an intimate gesture. She looked at Troy briefly in surprise, her mouth slightly open, when Troy spoke.
“Hello, Colin. I’m sorry tae interrupt, but Lady Ruth is correct. Her sister has dispatched me tae come and fetch her as she’s feeling poorly.” Ruth looked at Troy with slight concern, and he winked at her. She blushed and turned away, the corners of her mouth fighting to not turn up into a broad smile.
Colin looked disappointed, but he bowed his head in understanding. “Aye, o’ course, Miss. Please do not let me disturb ye. I hope yer sister feels better.” Then he rushed away, and Ruth stayed still but looked at Troy. He did not let go of her hand.
“A minister, lying? My goodness, you are full of surprises.”
Troy began rubbing the palm of her hand with his fingertips. They both continued to stare straight forward into the crowd. “Aye. God wouldnae reproach me for my deception when he knows the reason. And yes, ye are showing me that women are full of surprises too. Ye...ye were a beautiful dancer, lass.”
Ruth’s heart flipped at his last words. She squeezed his hand and took a deep breath. But then, Jamie approached them both, and they released each other’s hands quickly. His eyebrow raised in question. “And what are ye two lovebirds doing over here away from the crowds?”
Ruth responded hastily, pushing her hair behind her ear, feeling tingly all over. “We’re hardly away from the crowds. Besides, one can’t breathe in there, with everyone jostling for the treats and drinks.”
Jamie laughed. “‘Tis true, lass, but I came tae find ye for a reason. Everyone has voted, and ye are the new May Queen.”
Ruth smiled, surprised at such an honor. It was the perfect ending to a perfect time in Brechin. Well, there was one more way it could be more perfect, and that was still to be determined.
“Jamie, I’m so surprised. I’m an Englishwoman. I shouldn’t be receiving this traditional honor.” She glanced at Troy who was grinning.
Jamie replied kindly, “Never let it be said that Scottish people dinnae have room in their hearts for a foreigner who has been so kind tae them. Come, lass, and claim yer prize.”
Jamie took Ruth’s arm, and she glanced back at a smiling Troy one more time Troy nodded in understanding. She felt so elated; it was like she was floating along as Jamie walked her to a slight hillock so that they could see above the crowd. Amelia was standing there as well, beaming, holding up a flowered wreath covered in ribbons.
Jamie called out to the crowd. “All right ye Kinnairds! Ye have voted, and before the true merriment begins, as there is plenty tae go around, we must give honor where it is due. Lady Ruth Browne has been voted tae be yer new May Queen!”
Everyone yelled and cheered, and Jamie held his glass up. “Slainte!” he cried out, and everyone followed suit, drinking the remaining contents of their glasses and cups.
Amelia kissed Ruth on the cheek. “Look at us Londoners turning into quite the merry Scotswomen. I’m so happy for you, Ruth. I don’t suppose you would consider staying?”
She handed Ruth her flowered wreath, and Ruth clasped onto it, hesitating to reply. “Well…” she glanced over at Troy in the crowd, whose eyes had not left her. She did not notice an angry Dougal also standing in the crowd, watching and brooding.
Amelia saw the look that went between the two of them, and she smiled, laying a hand on her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I see, Ruth. Well, you have plenty of time to decide.” She leaned in to whisper in Ruth’s ear. “Do not be afraid to follow your heart. Wherever it may lead.” Ruth smiled and walked back towards the crowd, not sure what to do next. As she walked down the hill, Troy disappeared into the crowd. Amelia’s words had spurred her on even more in her pursuit to forget everything else and pursue her own pleasure today. There was only today.
She walked away from everyone, not quite sure where she was going, but she knew she needed to breathe. She felt so many emotions at once. Excitement, nervousness, desire. What did it all mean? The sun was slowly setting, and she took a deep breath. Could she really stay here? Forever? Did she even want to?
Before she could answer her own questions, Ruth felt a warm touch on her hand again. She looked up to see Troy standing there, and he pulled her hand to his lips, without taking his eyes from her. The sound of the crowd seemed to fade away entirely at his arrival.
“Troy,” she said breathlessly, feeling the air leaving the space and struggling to catch her breath.
“Ruth Browne,” he whispered back. “What is it ye are doing tae me, lass?”
Ruth’s eyebrows went up, and a flush crept over her face once more. “Me?” she said quietly.
“Aye,” Troy’s voice was now a sensual timbre, and he grabbed her hand to pull her along closer to the trees. “Come with me. That is if ye want tae. I know women have their own minds and can make their own choices.” He watched her out of the corner of his eye, hoping that she would hear his words and let them sink in.
Ruth smiled and followed. On the edge of the crowd, Dougal watched as the two slipped away into the forest, thinking they were going unseen, but no. He smiled to himself. Now she would be even harder to convince to go with him, but they would both now be even easier to manipulate. He was defeated for now, and he was even angrier that his pride had been hurt, but Troy Ferguson would pay surely enough. It would take a little bit more time and effort, but he would pay.
Chapter Seventeen
The woods were bathed in an orange glow as the sun began its descent below the Brechin hills. Troy pulled Ruth down and placed her back against a large ash tree. He had let go of her hand and was now looking down, seemingly nervous.
Ruth’s heart skipped. Was this the moment? The moment for whatever revelation he had in mind? When Troy looked up, his brow was furrowed, and Ruth began to fear whatever it was he might say.
“Ruth,” he began. “Ye must know. I am sorry for the words I said tae ye in the meadow. ‘Twas only surprise and pleasure at the sight of a woman reading such things.”
Ruth swallowed, unable to believe what she was hearing. It was like a dream.
“I dinnae have any sort of notion that women are not capable of such things. I am angry at the fact that they dinnae have the opportunities tae do the same as men, for they are just as capable, in mind, and in spirit. I hated that ye misunderstood me. Do forgive me. I am not that kind of man.”
Ruth only nodded, she w
as unable to reply just yet. She felt like she was on tenterhooks, awaiting each word as it fell from his lips. He continued, “And I am sorry for the way I treated ye. When ye first arrived, I avoided ye, and then I acted like a devil tae ye once ye began tae be angry at me. And... I rejected yer kiss.”
Ruth looked down, embarrassed at the memory. Her fingertips fell to the bark, and she felt the roughness underneath her hands, desperate to think of words to say in reply.
Troy placed his thumb and forefinger on Ruth’s chin and pushed up gently so that she was looking up at him. Troy hesitated, looking at her lips in the fading sunlight, before returning to her eyes again. “Ye must know. ‘Twas not a rejection, Ruth. And neither was the way I acted. I was afraid of what was happening inside of me when I got close tae ye. That kiss…” He pulled away and rubbed his beard.
He chuckled. “That kiss was the best I have ever experienced. Ye filled me with a fire that I have not been able to let go of.”
He paused looking down at her mouth again. Ruth’s joy was complete. He wanted to kiss her again, and it had not been a rejection of her advances when he had pulled away. She did not have to berate herself as she had done, worrying about why. She smiled up at him.
It made Troy grin in response. “Miss Browne, there ye go again giving me that knowing look of yorn.”
“Knowing look?” She lifted an eyebrow, while maintaining her smile.
“Aye,” he grumbled. “Ye always look as if ye know something I dinnae. ‘Tis enough tae drive a man mad.”
“Well,” she placed a fingertip on one of Troy’s hands that hung at his side, feeling her confidence grow after all of Troy’s declarations. “I believe I do know something. But you may already know it and are unsure of what to do about it.”
“Is that so?” Troy couldn’t help but move ever so slightly closer. “I would love tae know what it is that I am meant tae be knowing.”
“You have already told me how you felt about our kiss. And... now I know that you would like to do so again.” Her heart was beating quickly as she said the words, hoping that she was correct and that he would not run away again.
Troy paused for a moment, looking a little taken aback by her words, but then he smiled and moved his hands around her waist again. He moved his lips close to her mouth and spoke, “Even more than that consumes my mind, me Lady,” and he laid his lips on hers.
Ruth felt as if the final breath of air had been pushed out of her. The feeling of his mouth on hers once more was as if a craving she had been unable to fill for so long had finally been sated. She placed her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to his kiss. It was slow and deep, each of them opening their lips, so that their tongues flicked against each other, tasting, exploring. Even though they had kissed passionately once before, this time felt different.
There was no awkwardness now. The words that had been unspoken between them had been said, and Troy had even hinted that even more was consuming his mind. What had he meant? She felt a wave of pleasure as Troy continued kissing her, and his hands began moving, up and down her back, and then down, below her waist, over her backside. She had moved away from the tree to give him better access, and she moaned as she felt him squeeze her there.
Ruth pulled away, her breath coming fast. “I forgive you, Troy Ferguson.”
Troy smiled and began to kiss down her neck, and she moved her head to the side. “Troy, what did you mean more? What is consuming your mind?”
Troy stopped and looked at her. He placed a kiss upon her lips and said, “There is more than kissing which has filled my mind these many months. I wish tae explore every inch of ye.”
Ruth opened her eyes in surprise. She had never experienced more than kissing, and this new element, which she had known existed, was now open before her. “With your mouth?”
Troy chuckled and nodded. “Aye, but with other things too.” He pulled her against him, and Ruth felt even more sharply the hardness between his legs.
“That as well?” she said breathlessly.
“Aye, if it is something ye would like. I dinnae want tae force ye.”
Ruth placed her hand on his chest, feeling her confidence return. “It sounds rather enticing, the idea of being explored. It sounds quite like an adventure, does it not?” That same knowing smile played across her lips again, now reddened and swollen from his kiss.
“Yes, it does.” Then Troy lowered his head to hers, pushing her lips open again with his, deepening the kiss until Ruth felt like she was in a daze, ready to fall to the ground if he let her go. She moved her hands over his shoulders and into his hair, wanting to feel every part of him. She knew the muscle that lay beneath his clothing, but she wanted to touch it with her fingertips, lips, and tongue.
Troy got bolder. He began to move his hands over her every inch, feeling the cool of the linen material under his skin. The passion of the kiss increased, and so did the energy of their movements. They wanted to taste each other, feel each other, and they acted as if there was no time to waste.
He gripped under her buttocks and pulled her up slightly. She wrapped her legs firmly around his waist with a moan into his mouth. Feeling his hard cock between her thighs, she began to move, allowing it to rub on her center and suffuse her with a fresh heat. This was where the ache originated. She had not known before. She had felt feelings such as these with other men she kissed, but never to such an extent.
Troy groaned, and he pulled away, looking deeply into her eyes as Ruth stared back. He held onto her even tighter, pushing her hips even more against his. Ruth cried out softly and said, “Is this the pleasure to which you refer?”
Troy shook his head, touched by her sweet innocence. “Nae, lass. ‘Tis much more. I need tae go inside of ye. Is that what ye’d like?” Ruth nodded, and Troy grinned, his heart soaring at her agreement. He could not believe he was about to make love to Ruth Browne. He did not want her to be disappointed, and his heart started to beat rapidly with nervous excitement.
Ruth made him dizzy with passion. He knew not where to begin or where to end, but all he knew was that he wanted her more than he had ever wanted anyone. He kissed down her chest and dropped her hips so that she stood again. “I want tae taste ye first, lass.” He said softly into her ear, before returning to the opening of the low bodice of her dress. He placed a kiss between her breasts and thanked her silently that she did not wear a corset.
He pulled on her soft dress, until one of her breasts came out. He used his fingertips to softly move the shift aside that covered it, and drew the tiny pink nipple into his mouth, groaning with the pleasure. He moved to free the other breast and suckled until Ruth began to pant and whimper.
“Ye taste lovely, lass.” Then clutching a breast in one hand, his tongue still on the nipple of the other, Troy moved his hand underneath her dress. Moving aside her undergarments, his warm fingers found her center wet and slick. His cock stood upright.
He knew he would not be able to last long. Ruth was so unbelievably sensual, so desirable, that he could finish from even just feeling her. At his touch, Ruth gasped. “Yes, Troy. That is where the ache comes from. I have been aching for so long. Help it to go away.”
“‘Twould be my pleasure.” He slowly plunged a finger inside. She was so tight, her walls wrapped around his finger, and he moved in and out, stretching her, preparing her. Ruth laid her head back against the bark of the tree, and he captured her mouth in his as she began to moan louder.
Then he pulled his finger out and moved his breeches slightly down, until his cock sprung forward freely. She bit her lip, disappointed he’d pulled his finger out from her, but she looked a little surprised at what would replace it and placed a tentative hand on it. “This will go inside?”
He chuckled. “Aye, ‘tis a tool for yer pleasure, lass. But, ye will have tae wrap yer legs around me and hold tightly tae me.”
She nodded, excited, her mind filled with nothing else but this moment. Troy grabbed her around the waist and slow
ly lifted her up until his cock was lined up with her center. “This may hurt a little, lass, but then it will feel good. Dinnae fash.”
She nodded, trusting him. He then pushed her down onto his cock, and she wrapped her legs around his back, gasping from the impact. He held onto her buttocks and asked, “Are ye all right? Do ye hurt?” He slowly began to move his hips, out and then in, trying to get her used to the feeling, and Ruth’s expression moved from surprise to pleasure. She nodded and gripped her hands on the back of his neck. She smiled when she smelled his familiar, arousing scent of fresh rain and pure man.
He kissed her on the lips once more before beginning to thrust quicker, gripping onto her buttocks to hold her to him. “Ye are so tight, lass,” he whispered into her ear.
“Is that a good thing?” she whispered back.
“Aye,” he growled and pumped into her again to be rewarded with little gasps from her. “‘Tis a very good thing. Ye are even more beautiful than I ever realized, Ruth Browne.”
Capturing The Reluctant Highlander (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 3) Page 14
