“No.” Actually I had kissed first, but now wasn’t the time to point that out. I inhaled deeply in an attempt to clear my head. His clean warrior scent, leather saddles and sunshine, filled my senses and attempted to undermine my resolve. “But we need to talk.”
“Talking’s for later.”
His crooked grin upended rational thought. Hypnotized by the motion of his tantalizing lips, I leaned toward them for another taste. “Later …”
Instantly, his mouth was on mine. After another searing kiss, he pulled back just enough to speak. Against my lips, he breathed, “Tell me you’ll stay.”
What? In a delayed reaction, my head shook back and forth mid-kiss. “No.”
Duncan’s mouth hesitated over mine. His full lips parted in anticipation as they paused. His body went still. Finally, he straightened so that we could properly see one another. “Won’t ye have me?”
“You’re asking me to choose. To give up one dream for another.” It didn’t help that a part of me—and I wasn’t willing to examine how large a part—wanted Duncan MacCrae as much, if not more, than the stage.
I stared into his compelling brown eyes and willed him to understand. “It’s always been my dream to become a professional actress. I have this fabulous theater internship in Chicago, with a phenomenal director—” Weston Ballard flitted across my mind, but compared with the amazing boy in front of me, the young director held zero appeal.
Duncan took my hands in his and tipped his forehead down until it rested against mine. “I’ll build ye a theatre here. Anything your heart desires.”
Anything? The temptation to stay—for him—suddenly overwhelmed me. “What if I stay and it doesn’t work out between us? I don’t want to grow to regret that decision or you.”
“I’ll spend every day making sure you don’t.”
“What if you experience a Calling? Then I’d be stuck here—”
“Shhh.” Gently, he touched his finger to my lips. “You’re worrying over things that may never come to pass. If you stay, I’ll give you my heart and never ask for it back.”
It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard. Just when I thought my feelings for Duncan couldn’t get any deeper, he rocked me to a whole new level. I kissed him again, like the world was coming to an end, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough.
The realization hit me like an avalanche, freezing me to my core. I wrenched myself out of Duncan’s arms and scrambled away before he could change my mind. No amount of lip locking could change the fact we lived in two different worlds.
As Duncan came up behind me, I fixed my eyes on the palace as if for the very last time. Although he didn’t touch me, he stood close enough to ward off the chill. “You’re not staying, are ye?”
Unshed tears caused the image of Castle MacCrae to swim in front of me. If I stayed, I would always be afraid of losing him to a Calling and to regrets of choosing him over my ambition. Not trusting my voice, I shook my head back and forth.
“Then take me with you.” Duncan bridged the distance between us by wrapping his arms around me. He pressed his lips against my shoulder and proceeded to kiss a trail up the sensitive skin on my neck. His teeth softly nipped at my earlobe and then he whispered, “Promise you won’t leave without me.”
My world shifted yet again. Was he asking what I thought he was asking? To leave Doon for me like Uncle Cameron had eventually done for Aunt Gracie? I twisted in his arms to search his face. “What about Doon?”
“It doesn’t matter.” As if sensing my skepticism, he placed his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
Could that be true? Could I really have both—the boy I cared for and my dreams of glory? It almost seemed too good to be true. With a flutter of his lashes and a flash of crooked smile, Duncan banished any lingering doubts. “I’m in agony, here. Please say yes to me, woman.”