Free The Handfasting by Jenna Stone Page B

reached out at took Emma’s hand.  He brought her fingers to
his lips and kissed her knuckles gently, closing his eyes and drinking in her
sweet, feminine scent.
    Emma
struggled to breathe as Gavin’s lips brushed over her skin.  His faint touch
sent shivers racing down her spine all the way to her toes.  Feeling Gavin
touch her so intimately caused such conflicting feelings.  She wanted to throw
herself into his arms, to kiss him and hold him tight, but she remained still
while her heart beat erratically in her chest in answer to his kiss. 
    Gavin
did not love her.
    His
warm lips lingered on her skin for a moment longer than necessary.  Gavin’s
green eyes flashed up to Emma’s blue as he slowly drew his lips away from her
hand.
    “Let
me fall in love with ye again, Emma,” he asked tenderly as he held Emma’s gaze.
    Emma
closed her eyes and fought to remain in control.  A single tear slid down her
cheek.  There was nothing that she wanted more on this Earth.

Chapter Seven
     
    “Tell me about how
we fell in love the first time,” Gavin whispered into Emma’s ear as they sat
together at a table that had been brought out into the field below Mackinnon
keep.  The clan had gathered outside to celebrate Beltane, the festival for
spring, fertility and new life.
    “Now?” Emma asked,
her face flushing with color as her eyes darted towards Gavin’s mother, who sat
just to Gavin’s left.  Lady Mackinnon pretended to ignore them but somehow Emma
knew that she was listening.  Her eyes were fixed on the warriors that were
sparring for their entertainment, but Emma knew that Gavin’s mother was working
very hard at looking interested in the swordplay.
    “Aye.  Now,” Gavin
coaxed as his breath warmed Emma’s ear deliciously.  He brushed his fingers
lightly over the back of Emma’s hand.
    Her spine
straightened in response to his touch.  How could such an innocent touch affect
her so much?
    “I need tae ken
what I did right the first time,” he chuckled as his stubble tickled the
sensitive skin of Emma’s neck.
    Emma squirmed in
her seat, and worked hard to pretend that she was watching the Mackinnon men
display their skill at warfare. 
    Lady MacKinnon
cleared her throat abruptly and rose from her seat.  Gavin made no move to
distance himself from Emma, but looked towards his mother.
    “I’ve had enough
sun for today,” Lady Mackinnon said with a knowing smile.  She pushed in her
chair and dismissed herself without further explanation, leaving her son alone
with his wife.
    Emma giggled
softly.  “See what you did?” she said teasingly.
    Gavin smiled wryly
and said a silent thank you for his mother’s forethought.  “Now ye have nae
excuse.  Tell me, Emma,” Gavin asked softly as he reached over and captured
Emma’s hand beneath his own. He brushed his thumb over the back of her hand
encouragingly.
    “I think that
mayhap there are some things that it’s better that you don’t remember!” Emma
teased, smiling broadly at Gavin.
    “That bad, was
it?” Gavin winced, a lump of anticipation building in his throat.  He suddenly
began to wonder what exactly he had done.
    Emma’s face turned
bright red, and she looked away.
    “I kicked you…in…um,
in a very sensitive place,” she said sheepishly, now unable to make eye contact
with Gavin.  Her eyes darted up experimentally, and when she saw the look of
absolute shock that had overtaken his face, she began to giggle as she
remembered their first encounter.
    “Ye have my full
attention now.  What did I do tae deserve that?” he asked as he gritted his
teeth together with dread.
    “You didn’t
deserve it!” Emma said, still giggling as she watched Gavin’s reaction to her
story.  “We first met at my mother’s wedding, when she married your uncle. 
Rabbie MacAurthur was plaguing me at the celebration that followed the
wedding.  He was all drunk and had just tried to kiss me.  I slapped him and
turned to walk away and then