Free Highland Champion by Hannah Howell Page B

your wee self up in all the rest.” He pulled the cover over himself and closed his eyes.
    Keira hesitated only a few moments before shedding her robe and climbing into bed. Her knight could be ill-tempered and very ungallant, she mused. This was probably the best proof of how much his leg must ache. There was also the fact that he had never touched her in any overtly seductive way in all the time they had been together. Keira doubted any man could hold to any guise for so long without some brief glimpse of his true self slipping by his guard. Therefore, it was painfully evident that she did not rouse his lechery, even though it was becoming increasingly evident that Liam Cameron was very free with his favors. Tightly closing her eyes, she fought back the pain caused by that hard, cold truth and settled herself more comfortably upon what was a surprisingly comfortable, clean bed. She was almost grateful for the exhaustion that seemed to have settled into her very bones for it meant even her troubled thoughts and foolish, aching heart would not be able to rob her of much sleep.
    “So, all your kinsmen were virgins ere they wed, were they?” Liam asked quietly as soon as he felt her relax beside him.
    Now that was definitely a growl, he thought and grinned, not surprised when that furious noise was her only reply. Although he was willing to admit that he could have used a little more restraint in the past, he was not about to meekly accept being treated like a leper simply because he had not held himself inviolate until marriage. He had taken only what was offered, had made no woman any empty promises just to draw her into his bed, had never stolen a woman’s virginity, and had never touched a woman who wasbetrothed or married to another. That last rule was going to be the one he would make Keira understand and believe in. In the confrontation he was pushing for, he would finally have a chance to explain all of that, and he knew a confrontation was coming.
    Keira was definitely smoldering, and he found some hope for himself in her anger. It seemed impossible to him that a woman could be so angry over his past amours if she had no feeling for him beyond kindness or friendship. He would feed that anger, pile fuel upon that fire every chance he got until she popped like a roasting chestnut and all those words she was holding in flowed out. As he felt his exhaustion pull him into the comforting realm of sleep, he also decided that when she did pop, he would make sure no sharp weapons were close at hand.

CHAPTER 6
    Smooth, warm skin heated the palms of her hands, and Keira murmured with pleasure. Liam did have a lovely chest. She had seen men’s chests before. In her capacity as a healer, she had even touched a few. Yet she could not think of a one that was as fine as Liam Cameron’s. It was the first time she had ever felt it so clearly in her dreams, however. Despite the nagging voice in her head that said it was time to wake up, she decided she would linger in this dream for a little while longer.
    She pressed her cheek against his taut skin and smiled faintly as she heard the pace of his heartbeat increase. At least in her dreams she could stir his interest. In her dreams, she was always sultry and tempting, the sort of seductress that made men pant. To hear Liam’s breathing grow louder and unsteadier was sweet music to her ears. She ignored the whisper that flitted through her mind, saying that Liam was a man who panted after anything in a petticoat. It might be true, but in her dream, all she cared about was that he panted after her.
    Since this was a dream, she gave into the temptation to kiss, and then lick, that warm skin. A softly hissed curse tickled her ears. Keira smiled against his skin and murmured his name. It made her almost light-headed with delight to know she could stir the blood of such a handsome man.
    Long fingers threaded through her hair. She sighed with pleasure. When those lightly calloused hands