“Well, same goes for you then. But, it seems that we both did anyway, so let’s exchange them.”
I didn’t wait for him to give me mine before extending the two folded pieces of cloth I held in my hands. He took them, and after unfolding them, stared down at the odd pieces quizzically. “Thank ye, lass, but what exactly is it that I’m holding?”
I bent down and snatched up my puppy who snuggled next to his brother near the fire. Reaching out, I took one of the pieces from him and gently slipped it over the puppy’s head, pushing each leg through the tiny holes.
He laughed loudly. “Did ye truly make a shirt for the pups? Is this a common thing where ye come from?”
I smiled. I knew he would find it silly, but there was no denying how precious both of them would look in their small, wool onesies. “Yes, I surely did. Not all that common, but a few crazy people like me do sometimes dress their dogs. You can’t deny how cute they look.”
He grinned picking up the other pup as he slipped the small creation over the animal. “Nay, lass, I canna deny it. They shall be the bonniest, most ridiculous-looking pups anywhere. It seems that our gifts will compliment one another.”
“Oh yeah? How?”
He placed the box inside my hands. “Open it and see, lass. I hope that ye like them. It has been some time since I have carved anything.”
I lifted the top of the wooden box gently. The box itself was exquisite, crafted by fine hands. I could only imagine how magnificent the contents inside the box would be. I lifted the small piece of cloth covering the items, and I had to choke back tears when I saw what lay inside.
Two wooden ornaments lay nestled within, each dangling from crimson ribbons, carved perfectly into the shape of dogs, puppies to be exact. Their resemblance to the pups snuggling at our feet was striking.
I’d not had a gift so touching in many years. It wasn’t the ornaments themselves, although they were certainly impressive. The attention and thought that had gone into such a gift touched me deeply. He’d listened to me the night we’d decorated the cottage together and taken special note of my love for such objects.
His voice startled me from my gaze. “Do ye no like them, lass? I’m no so good at crafting wood as I once was. I’m a bit out of practice.”
“No.” I reached out to grab him firmly by the hand. “They’re amazing, Hew, truly. I love them. It’s only that I’m a little disappointed.” I grinned flirtatiously at the concern he showed on his face.
“Disappointed, lass?”
“Yes, disappointed, I was hoping that as my gift you were going to finish that kiss you started yesterday.”
He laughed, ripping the box from my hands as he tossed it onto the bed across the room and pulled me tightly against him. “Aye, I’ll finish it, lass, and then I’ll begin another and another.”
This kiss held nothing of the shyness that had shown in his kiss the night before. His lips moved confidently against my own as one hand at the lower half of my back pulled me flush against him, his other hand winding its way into my hair.
I moaned as he pulled my lower lip deep into his mouth. He pulled away to speak breathlessly into my ear, the tickle of it causing me to squirm against him.
“Ach, lass. Doona make such a sound unless ye want me to take ye in that bed right there.” He nudged his head in that direction.
While my body wanted nothing more than for him to do just that, something with Hew felt different. The feeling within me while in his presence was special, life-changing. It seemed that such a hasty act would cheapen my feelings for him. I laughed, his breath tickling my neck and back. “I’m sorry but I can hardly help it when you kiss me so.”
“Do ye wish me to stop, lass?”
“No, not at all. I like your kisses very much.” I kissed him, lightly allowing my tongue to slip inside before pulling away and was rewarded with him crushing me against him once more.
He devoured me, causing my head to grow light as we breathed each other’s breaths as our own. If I didn’t pull away and change the subject quickly, I would allow him to take me, and something in my mind screamed that this man needed to be different.
Slowly, I closed my mouth, giving him a small kiss before pulling away. “I just thought of something.”
His green eyes were hazy, nearly blurred with the lust that I was certain mirrored my own eyes. “Aye? What is that, lass? Do ye think perhaps, ye could tell me later?”
I laughed and tried to step away, but he held me close to him. “No, it’s very important. We have yet to name our puppies. We found them together. I think we should name them together.”
He remained quiet for a moment. I suspected he was giving himself a minute to pull himself out of the thralls of his lustful thoughts. Slowly, he lessened the grip on my back and stepped away just slightly. “Aye, lass, ye are quite right. We should. I know what I wish to name the dark one.”