Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

T he evening was nothing like Sophia had expected.

Her morning had been an emotional struggle. Her afternoon had been pleasant thanks to the mountain ride and the beautiful sights that ignited her soul, but the evening was the best of it all.

Even the stars in the sky could not compare to the brightness she was feeling.

Kendrick was there, right in front of her, not ignoring her or waving her off; not squeezing her heart in his hands. He was talking to her with his voice as gentle as the warmest summer breeze. His clear blue eyes were gazing at her warmly, like soft velvet. The universe must have been giving her a gift, one she did not believe she would ever be granted a few moments earlier.

She gave herself a pinch. She had to be certain it was not some sort of dream.

Of course, it was not.

"I must first apologize, Sophia," Kendrick said. "I must've surprised ye with my behavior."

"Aye, milaird, ye did."

"I shouldn't have ever spoken to ye that harshly." He turned to sit more comfortably. "I had no right to raise my voice at ye."

Sophia could see him fighting back the urge to sob. "Aye, ye did nae. Ye must tell me the truth before I try to forgive ye." She gathered his right hand in her own and held it tightly. "What really is the matter?"

"I saw my Ma, ye ken, in her last night in this world. I saw her dead," Kendrick admitted, and she was stunned.

What does his mother have to do with us?

"I'd just woken up that night. I came to my da's study, and she… she was there. I have nae been the same person since."

His pause revealed that he was struggling. Sophia already knew what he was going to say. Nonetheless, she let him speak and share his heart's truth. That was the only way he could relieve himself of the burden, she reasoned.

"Her neck was… broken," he continued. "Her torso was terribly disfigured. There was blood…"

It made sense—why he had been shaken by the little boy's injury the day of the Highland games. It must have reminded him of his mother. Yet, she didn't know enough to comfort him. She could not hold him and relieve him of his thoughts.

He was not Laird MacNeil now, not anymore. He was the friend whom she had grown up with, and she felt at ease giving her childhood companion a drop of comfort.

"I am sorry, Kendrick." She knelt on the bed and touched his arm gently. "I did nae ken how much ye suffered."

"Tis nae yer fault—how could ye ken?" Kendrick said low. "I did nae tell ye, yet I behaved as if ye have done something to me."

"Still, I was yer friend. I should've ken… I should have done anything I could have to take away your sorrow."

"I am so sorry, Sophia," Kendrick whimpered.

His soft wail crushed her heart. She had known him in childhood. She had known him more than anyone else. Kendrick was never one to show vulnerability; not even when his favorite stallion had died when he was thirteen; not even when he injured himself digging the horse's grave. Even a whimper was not heard from him.

Yet, he was now before her, expressing his anguish so freely. She understood in that moment that despite the years they had spent apart, a part of him still trusted her enough to share something so painful, something that had marked him so deeply.

She did not stop his talking—she would let him be vulnerable before her for as long as he wanted, stroking his hand gently as if it would soothe everything that caused him pain.

When he looked her in the eyes, he smiled. It was a small smile but it was there.

"Ye ken," Sophia saw him flush lightly as he spoke. "I did nae like it when Reed touched ye."

"Ye did nae?" she asked.

"Aye." Kendrick nodded. "I felt terribly, too."

"Ye had nae right to feel that way." The words pinched Sophia's heart. "Nae after ye acted that way with me… and tis nae something new—ye have behaved like this for years . Yer coldness is hurting me, Kendrick."

"I ken." He hung his head low. "I dinnae even deserve to be sitting here with ye. I am apologizing for what I've put ye through."

"I kept wondering if I did something wrong. I feared that I may have hurt ye in some way without realizing." Tears colored her voice. "Other times, I thought ye hated me for whatever reason."

"Ye did naething wrong, Sophia." He reached for her hand, but she pulled away. "It was my foolishness—I did nae want to hurt ye."

"But ye ended up hurting me for years."

"I am sorry. I am truly sorry. I would earn yer forgiveness in any way ye ask."

Sophia sniffed and patted her hands on her face. "Ye must promise me—promise me ye will never keep anything from me again."

"I promise ye… I'll never keep anything from ye."

"Then I must ask—what of the maid?"

"I've naething to do with her anymore. I swear it."

"Swearing is nae enough, milaird. I cannae share ye with another lass, nae if we're to wed tomorrow."

"Then I shall make it a promise, too." Kendrick lowered himself to his knees. "I promise with my life, Sophia, I shall never have to make ye share me with any other lass."

Sophia looked at him, a part of her relieved and the other part still doubtful. She pondered on asking him about why he had chosen Lorena instead of her, but she decided it wasn't important. He was with her now and they were getting married in a day. It did not matter how they had gotten to that point and why everything happened the way it did. It was over, and Sophia was sure that mulling over the past would not make her happy.

"Kendrick, may I ask you something?" When he nodded, she felt her cheeks coloring with treacherous red, but she made herself continue. "Did ye ever miss me when we were wee bairns and we stopped playing together?"

She turned her gaze away from him, staring at the tallest candle in her room. The flame was quivering as if a little wind alone would quench it—the same for her heart.

"What do ye think?" Kendrick replied. He used two of his fingers to redirect her gaze back to him. She felt a tingle that lasted for a while, her nerves jolting.

Why in God's name is my body misbehaving?

Even breathing became so hard that she had to make a great deal of effort not to die on the spot. "I-I don't suppose ye did," she stammered.

Kendrick leaned closer to her. Moving his fingers to her lips. "I did," he whispered. "Very badly."

The warmth of his lips had pressed against hers before she could even blink. She initially froze, unsure of what to do. But she gradually eased herself into reciprocating. Hishands caressed her body, and a burning sensation spread throughout her. She was trembling with desire for something unknown, but she was certain Kendrick could give it to her.

He withdrew just as she was beginning to learn the teasing of his tongue, and she felt cheated. At least his hands stayed tangled in her hair.

"Do ye want this?" he asked in a sultry, tempting whisper. Sophia agreed with a quick nod, not knowing exactly what she was agreeing to.

It didn't matter since it came from him.

Kendrick leaned back in and parted her mouth with his tongue, diving in like a laird on the frontlines of a battle. He was soft and slow first… then rough and more demanding.

His hands trailed the back of her gown, undoing every button steadily as he kissed her, until he pulled it off from the shoulder. Kissing her ever so sweetly, lavishing each new expanse of skin that he discovered, worshiping every part of her that he could touch. Sophia felt her heart sing. Every caress he placed on her skin sent shivers down her spine. Every warm breath he took as he trailed her arms with his lips forced her to crave more.

Kendrick removed her cotton gown and moved to her corset and chemise. This time, not with his fingers… no, his hands were rather too distracted on her bosom, rubbing, trailing, fondling while his teeth undid the bindings of her corset.

Soon, he took away the corset, and Sophia was sitting bare in front of him. She could not help but try to hide away her nakedness, yet he was looking at her as if she were the most curious thing in the world.

What if he thinks I'm nae bonny enough?

Kendrick gently removed her hands from her breasts and he cupped them in his. "Sophia, ye are so beautiful," he whispered into her ear, as if he heard her thoughts. The way his pupils dilated showed his admiration. It was obvious he was filled with the same lustful thoughts that she was.

He grabbed her left breast, flicking and twitching the nipple on it while using his tongue to tease the nipple on her right breast. And the feeling… heaven help her! It was nothing like she had ever felt. All her nerves were awakening; rushes of arousal started to dominate her.

"Kendrick," she murmured. "I want ye."

He gazed up at her, his eyes had the look a predator gives its prey before devouring it.

"Not so quickly," he whispered back to her. "We're just getting started."

Kendrick's words made her melt in desire. It made her want him. Need him. Desperately .

He lay her down on the bed, and sucked at her breasts again, paying equal attention to both of them, pinningboth of her hands to the bed. Not that she had any intention of resisting him.

His mouth traced down her stomach, then in between her thighs. "Yer ready for me," he gasped.

Sophia smiled at him and felt her cheeks blushing. She wondered if being ready was a good thing. Just then, as she was wondering, the feel of something moist, warm, and soft drew her attention back to him.

It was his tongue, and he was running it against her petals. It felt like a tickle, not one that made her laugh, though. One that aroused all her senses, made her moan so loudly that she heard herself, and feared others may hear her… yet she craved more.

"Kendrick?" Sophia murmured under her breath. " Kendrick ."

He pulled his head away from between her legs and kissed her thighs softly. "Do ye like it?"

"Yes," she answered in a gasp. "It feels, it feels like I will explode."

"Dinnae be afraid, Sophia. Are ye scared?"

"Aye, I am. B-but then I want ye to continue," she said with a shy smile.

"Be calm, enjoy the feelings, and let yerself free."

Before she could answer, Kendrick slipped a finger inside of her, sliding it in and out. Back and forth. Then he replaced the finger with his tongue, encircling every part of her core.

Sophia felt like she was going to burst. Her insides were coiling. She screamed, unsure what to do with the lights inside her that were about to explode. She could feel tears streaming down her cheeks, but she was not sad or in pain.

"Kendrick," she groaned. Then she felt a strong surge of release, relieving her of the intensity that had swelled inside of her. Her body was jerking.

Kendrick raised his head and kissed her again. He snuck his way into her mouth until their tongues were dancing to the same beat.

Hethen gave her a wicked grin. She wondered what goodness he would punish her with this time.

"Yer ready for me."

"Ready? What does this mean?"

"Ye'll see," he whispered and kissed her ear.

He took off his shirt and then his kilt, and Sophia couldn't help but raise herself and kiss his shoulder. She wondered if he'd experience the same level of pleasure if she kissed his chest and body. She would discover it herself. She rushedly kissed and bit the warm skin on his chest, and husky moans escaped Kendrick's lips. She could tell he enjoyed her as much as she enjoyed him. Until... something hard pressed against her thigh.

"Kendrick, what is happening?"

He looked down and smiled. "What is it ye refer to?"

"Ye ken…" She touched his enormous-looking manhood.

"This is how we connect, dove," he answered while he caressed her body gently, igniting another fire inside of her. "We will become one when I enter you," he slid again one finger inside of her and she felt desire burning her whole.

Kendrick let out a laugh that fazed her even more than his expression. "Kendrick, this is impossible. I am nae telling a joke."

"Are ye nae?" Kendrick bit his lips as he asked.

This mischievous lad is obviously sent by the devil. His wicked smile is quite too tempting.

"I am nae."

Kendrick grabbed her waist and drew her naked body to him. His skin was as hot as his tongue. Strong, too. And she noticed how small she was next to him. He stole her lips once more. As they kissed, she withdrew her lips from his, her troubled mind rearing its ugly head.

"Does it anger ye?" When she saw his perplexed expression, she continued, "That I am inexperienced."

"Ye dinnae need to be. I prefer ye only mine and nobody else's."

He lowered her to the bed, suckling her breasts once more. Then he gradually eased himself into her, and she felt sharp pain... but it was gone in an instant.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, concern tinging his voice.

"A wee bit," she gasped. "But it feels so good."

"Should I stop?"

"Nae, please, dinnae stop."

He pushed himself completely into her and she left out a loud moan. At that moment, they became one as he had told her. The pain struck her once more, and if she had known what was to come, she would not have encouraged him so.

Kendrick halted immediately. He placed his hand on her chin. "Sophia? Are ye all right?"

When she nodded, asking for more—he obeyed.

The pain diminished with each thrust until it was completely gone. Nothing but pleasure remained.

She wanted more. More of him. The pleasure was nothing she could describe. Before she could stop herself, her fingers were digging deep into Kendrick's back.

Sophia felt a second wave approaching, but this time it didn't frighten her, and she didn't try to stop it. Kendrick pushed harder, and their loud moans of pleasure filled the room. He was moving faster than before, and she could feel her muscles tense.

"Don't stop… please."

"I won't, Sophia. I cannae—"

He increased his pace, and she felt herself coming to an end again. Before she could recover, Kendrick flipped her over and slid himself into her once more, but this time he was calmer. Sweeter. As if he was making love to her.

And then he became rougher, thrusting deeper until he stilled.

She knew, it was the same feeling she had earlier from the way his body was jerking—she was sure. He had lost control of himself.

He threw himself on her and cuddled her so tightly she thought she'd suffocate before he came to. He was out of breath, and she could hear his rapid heartbeat, which was the same as hers. He took her hand in his and kissed the back of her palm for a while. His low snoring was the next thing she heard.

He fell asleep with Sophia in his embrace.

She giggled.

"I will surely tease him with this one in the morning."

Sophia woke just in time to catch Kendrick kiss her forehead. He mumbled some words she was too sleepy to understand before leaving the room. She wanted to call him back, but she was too tired and drowsy. Before she knew it, sleep took her once again.