Page 112 of Dark Seduction

He no longer smiled. If he had to expose the queen’s infidelity, so be it. He’d lose his head, but she would never recover her lost power.

“If you were not such a great lover,” she managed, “I would kill you with my own hand.”

“I want to fuck ye, woman. Hurry up.”

She turned to the door, parted it. “Release Malcolm of Dunroch. He is free to leave the court tonight.”

Royce began to smile, very pleased. He strode up to her as she closed the door and before she could face him, he put his arms around her, clasping her between her thighs. He lifted her higher. She went still, convulsively, eagerly, and he felt his arousal grow to a fever pitch. “Who be master now? Who be the slave?”

Red need blinded him; he drove deep.

The queen wept in her release.

CLAIRE COULDN’T SLEEP. The moon was high and she stared through her window at it. She had dreamed of trying to find Malcolm, and she was very tempted to try to do so now, in the dead of the night. On the other hand, she knew he would be under guard and she was fairly certain she would not be able to charm the guards into letting her see him. And then there was Moray.

The last thing she wanted to do was run into him in the middle of the black night while alone in the palace.

She turned away from the shining moon to stare at the fire. What was going to happen to Malcolm and his uncle now? Would they be charged for assaulting Sibylla? Did Sibylla live? And how were they going to deal with Moray?

And Claire felt Malcolm.

Confused, she glanced toward the chamber door, which was closed. And then the door was thrust open and Malcolm strode into the room. Claire cried out, rushing into his arms. He held her tight.

“Is this a dream?” she gasped, aware of his heat, his strength.

He smiled tenderly at her. “’Tis no dream. Royce is with the Queen. They be lovers. I imagine he has used his powers o’ persuasion to order my release and his.”

Claire could not think about Royce now. She touched Malcolm’s cheek, and to her surprise he clasped her hand there. His eyes shimmered the way they had in her dream. Claire tensed. She would give anything to hear him say those three words.

“I be free to go.”

He dropped his hand, only to let it settle on her shoulder. “You are?”

“Aye, but Claire, how can I leave my uncle now? As long as he beds the Queen, he be in jeopardy.” He looked slowly around the chamber.

Claire hesitated, realizing what Royce’s affair could cost him. “Malcolm, if Royce’s affair is discovered, no one can help him. Only a leap will save him.”

An anguished expression crossed Malcolm’s face and he turned away from her.

“What is it?”

He shook his head. “He won’t leap, Claire. I dinna think he cares much fer this world anymore.”

What did that mean? She went to Malcolm, but he gave her a dark look.

Claire did not like it and she tensed.

“What happened in this chamber t’ night, Claire?”

She recognized his dangerous jealousy, but she had not been thinking about that terrible encounter with Aidan. “Nothing,” she began.

He looked at the bed. “I dreamed about ye a few hours ago. I dreamed ye were on the run from Moray,” Malcolm said softly. He finally looked at her. “Then I dreamed we were in bed. I can sense ye had pleasure tonight, Claire.”

“I was dreaming of you, too,” she whispered, stunned. “It was so real.”

“Why can I scent Aidan in yer chamber?”

Claire tensed. No good was going to come of this.