Warmth spread through her chest because she thought he was trying to tell her he cared about her. Maybe he was even trying to tell her he loved her, but she couldn't be sure. She wouldn't make him feel trapped into anything, not even in expressing his feelings.

"And you are the most important person to me," she said.

He continued watching her, his azure eyes communicating longing, need, desire, happiness and a dozen other things.

Stubborn man, why did he not kiss her?

Impatience winning out, she whispered, "May I kiss you?"

"Isobel," he groaned softly and clenched his teeth. "You ken what happens when we kiss."

"Aye, indeed." A bonfire of need and desire, and that was exactly what she craved at the moment. "I missed you during the past few days. I almost never saw you. I think you were avoiding me."

"I was trying to keep myself under control, and you ken I'll not want to stop with a kiss," he confessed.

"Nor will I."

He frowned, looking even more aroused and frustrated. "We must. There's a hall full of guests out there, part of them your family and clan."

She shrugged. "Cyrus approved our betrothal. What can he say? If he finds out we've shared a bed, he'll merely demand that we marry quicker. Besides, we can bar the door and no one will walk in."

Dirk stepped forward, leaned in and brushed his mouth across hers, sending delicious sensual shivers over her whole body. "Damnation. You crush my willpower," he whispered, then captured her lips in one of those devastating kisses he was so skilled with. His hands encircled her waist, drawing her closer. She slid her arms around his neck and held on. He kissed her thoroughly and deep, his mouth as intoxicating as the spiced, sweet wine he tasted of. After a moment of the carnal indulgence, he pulled back and released her as if trying to rein himself under control.

Finding the bar standing against the doorframe, she lifted it and slid it down into the brackets. No one could enter now.

"What are you doing?" Dirk asked.

"I think you ken." She sent him a mischievous smile. "Ravishing you."

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Ravishing me?" One side of Dirk's lips quirked up. "In the library? You are mad."

"Indeed." Isobel crept forward, enjoying the surprised and amused expression on Dirk's handsome face.

"We cannot," he protested, his eyes still dark blue and heavy-lidded from that scorching kiss.

"I think we can. No one is stopping us, and no one will know of it."

"Listen." He turned his head to stare at the door.

The loud music of the céilidh had started in the great hall and someone was singing a lively tune. Feet were stomping and hands were clapping.

She grinned. "'Twill cover any noise we make."

He blew out a harsh breath and sent her an accusatory look. "I thought I was strong, but I cannot resist you."

"There is no need to now that we are betrothed."

She unclasped the brooch at his shoulder that had been holding his plaid sash in place, then unfastened his doublet. After she deposited them on the table, he yanked the shirt over his head and flung it toward the heap of clothing. She feasted her eyes on the luscious bulging muscles of his torso and his rippled abdomen all the way down to his soft doeskin trews that left little to the imagination. His erection was clearly outlined beneath.

How delectable he looked.

Moving forward, she boldly took hold of the leather string and tugged, untying, then unlacing his trews to reveal the narrow line of hair on his lower abdomen that led downward to fascinating male parts.

"Isobel," he said in a warning tone.

"Aye?" Giving him a playful little grin, she trailed her fingers inside and along his hot, hard shaft.

He groaned and grasped her wrist to draw her hand away. "Wicked lass," he said in a teasing hiss and dragged her to him for a kiss. In one hand, he secured both her wrists behind her back.

"Mmm." Heavens! What was he doing? He had never restrained her like this before, but somehow she found it excited her more. As if he was taking control of her, possessing her.

Keeping her mouth occupied with a scrumptious, erotic kiss, he unclasped the brooch at her chest and then her belt, allowing her arisaid to drop at her feet. After moving aside her other clothing, he untied the string holding her smock in place and dragged it down to expose her breasts.

She gasped at the excitement that raced through her. The cool air in the room teased her skin. Bending her backwards he drew her peaked nipple into his hot mouth. The tonguing and sucking he unleashed on her was so arousing, she couldn't think.

"Oh, Dirk. Aye."

After he'd suckled her other breast and teased it for a few moments, he released her, moved to a chair by the hearth and dropped into it. "Come now, lass. Don't make me wait."

What game was he playing? Grabbing onto a chair at the table, she could scarce stand or find the words to form a coherent sentence while her mind returned to her.

She eyed him and his playful smirk. "Oh, I see. Now that we are betrothed, you think to order me about, do you?" She sashayed toward him.

"Aye."

She loved his faint playful grin.

"Sit on my lap," he said.

She perched sideways on his rock-hard thighs, leaned in and placed an innocent peck on his lips. Threading his fingers into her hair, he drew her closer still and, with his tongue flicking roguishly against hers, turned the kiss into a sinful, steamy delight. She could hardly think after a few seconds. She simply wanted to eat him up.

"Get up for a moment," he murmured against her lips, his hands on her waist. She did, then he slid her petticoats up to her knees and dragged her forward into a different position, straddling his lap. What a wanton and scandalous position. A shockingly enticing position. She scooted closer, feeling his hardened shaft through their clothing.

He dug beneath her smock and petticoats, then slid his hot, calloused hands over her knees and up the outside of her thighs all while his mouth ate at hers.

He moaned. "You are temptation itself."

She tugged again at the leather ties on his trews, loosening them. Gathering her courage and hoping he wouldn't stop her this time, she slipped her hand inside. When she touched his heated, hard flesh, his breath hissed between his teeth.

Wrapping her fingers around his shaft, she squeezed. How silky yet hard as stone he felt.

He groaned. "Are you trying to make me lose control?"

"Aye."

"Not before you do." His fingers stole between her legs and he gently parted her sex lips. Sliding one finger between, he found her moisture and spread it, circling some incredibly sensitive and excited part of her.

"Oh, Dirk," she gasped. He knew the exact magical spot to caress and drive her mad with lust.

"Damn, you feel good," he growled.

She arched her back, trying to push herself closer to him. With his other arm around her low back he drew her closer and stroked her delicate flesh with his wet fingers. Oh heavens, he made her yearn. She wiggled her hips, while squeezing and tugging at his rigid shaft, trying to show him what she wanted.

"Saints, lass!" he muttered behind clenched teeth, then surprised her by lifting her and laying her back onto the hard, wooden floor.

"Aye, take me." She didn't care how or where, she simply wanted him now.