She wondered if he thought of it too, or if he wanted to do it again like she craved.
‘Great… I wanted to enjoy some fresh air.” Isla waited to see if he would come closer to her, and when he didn’t, she asked, “What do you have behind you?”
“I was at the village today, and I saw something that would look bonnie on ye,” he answered.
He brought out his hand and showed her the neck piece he held. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
“You got this for me?” Isla asked in a shaky voice as she stared at the gold neck piece. It was simple, with a heart-shaped pendant, but she loved it anyway.
“Aye, I did,” he replied, then motioned for her to turn around.
Isla lifted her hair out of the way, and he removed the medallion before placing the pendant on her skin. His fingers brushed the back of her neck and stirred heat in her.
Jack walked to her front and stared at the pendant for a while on her neck before he said, “It suits ye.”
“Thank ye,” Isla told him. Her heart swelled with warmth in her chest, and he took her hand, placed the medallion in it, and closed her fingers over it.
“Keep this one safe. Ye will need it when the time comes, but for now ye should wear this.”
“I’ll never take it off,” she said as a tear slid down her cheek.
Isla didn’t understand why either, but it was her first time receiving a gift from anyone other than her parents and it touched her deeply.
Without rethinking her actions, she moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around him for a hug. It didn’t take long before she felt his strong arms tighten around her so his warmth could make her whole.
When they separated, she hooked her arm in his and they started a slow walk together. Jack matched her pace for some time before glancing in her direction and asking, “How do ye enjoy yer stay in the Castle?”
“It’s been amazing,” she replied. “I haven’t felt this free and happy before. I hardly even remember that I am not from this time at all. Except of course when it comes to the food. I’m always reminded of how different it is here.”
He laughed at that, and she looked at him to see how his cheeks widened. Jack put a hand on her back as they walked and the feel of his larger palm on the slender curve of her back sent shivers right through her.
Her skin tingled, and desire started a slow hum in the pit of her stomach.
“I am happy ye can adjust. It’s been a bit silent from my Clansmen since I announced our betrothal. I am sure they will soon find some other request to annoy me with.”
“The pains of being Laird,” she commented, and they both laughed. “Ye do great work anyway. Ye are a great Laird.”
“I wouldn’t call myself that.”
“Why not when it is true? You will lead your people well and provide all that they need to be a strong Clan.” Jack’s smile wavered when she stopped walking and looked at him.
He faced her, then took her hands and held then tightly in his.
“You flatter me,” he said in a soft tone as their gazes met.
The air around them tensed just from their heated gazes, and he used his thumb to stroke her cheeks gently before pressing it over her lower lip.
“I keep thinkin’ about that kiss,” Isla said before she could stop herself. She heard her heartbeat hammering in her chest and swallowed hard while trying to control it.
Jack caressed her lip again before he released a deep breath. “And so do I,” he admitted. “But I cannae do it again. For both our sakes.”
Their heated gazes lasted, but Jack took his finger away from her mouth and turned so they could continue their walk.
She steadied her shaky insides and walked with him while they continued talking about his Clan.
I guess I must forget it too.
15