Page 230 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Chapter Sixteen

Rhoslyn slowed her walk across the bailey at Castle Glenbarr and covertly watched St. Claire. He stood near the gate talking with two of his men. Today, he wore no mail shirt as he so often did. Instead, a white linen surcoat woven with gold thread hugged his shoulders and hung to his knees. He laughed at something one of the men said and crossed his arms over his chest. The surcoat went taut over his back, and her knees weakened. Sweet Jesu, she’d lost her mind.

This last week, St. Claire had kept her in a daze. Alec hadn’t demonstrated as veracious an appetite as some husbands she had heard discussed while St. Claire made even the stories she’d heard seem tame.

As if sensing her scrutiny, he shifted his gaze past the man who stood in front of him and caught her eye. She couldn’t pull her gaze away from his. A faint smile played about his full mouth. A satisfied smile. A smile that told her he remembered last night when he laid her down beneath the oak tree under the stars.

The cool grass beneath her and his warm body on top of her, his hard rod—she shut out the memory. To her shame, she broke her gaze from his and hurried away. His gaze seemed to burn her shoulder blades until she entered the castle.

Hand on the castle’s door bolt, the door now safely closed behind her, she allowed herself a moment to regain her senses. What was it about him that made her want to melt like butter on a summer day? He was a beautiful man, but that alone wasn’t the answer. Surely, that wasn’t why the sight of him alone sent a skitter across the insides of her stomach.

Any time now, they would leave for the village, for the games planned for that afternoon. St. Claire said the games were in celebration of their marriage, but she suspected it was an excuse for him to gauge the mettle of the local young men. Either way, she would be spending the afternoon with him. Her traitorous heart skipped a beat at the thought.

The door started to shove open and Rhoslyn jumped aside. St. Claire entered and she nearly bolted for the staircase.

He paused in closing the door, his brow creased in a frown. “Is something amiss?”

She shook her head. “Nay, what could be amiss?” Other than you being here?

“It seems strange you are standing at the door.”

He would notice that. “You have a suspicious mind, St. Claire.”

“Perhaps,” he replied. “But it is still strange.”

“Did you want something?” she demanded.

The smile reappeared with a hint of amusement. “Are you ready to go to the village, or did you forget?” he asked.

“Forget that ye have ended my imprisonment? Nay, I am no’ likely to forget that.”

He closed the door and stepped close to her. “Would you prefer to stay at Castle Glenbarr?” He grasped a lock of hair that had sprung free of her braid and rubbed it between his fingers. “We could find something to do.”

Heat rippled through her.

He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Would you like that?”

She would like it very much. Too much. As he well knew.

He dipped his head and kissed her. Already she had grown too familiar with the way his full mouth molded with hers. He swept his tongue inside her mouth. The way he tasted. He slid his free arm around her. The way he held her so tight it nearly took her breath. The way he made her wish they didn’t have to leave Castle Glenbarr and that the world would never intrude.

He broke the kiss and nuzzled her ear. “What say you, Lady, would you prefer I make love to you?”

A thrill streaked through her. “Everyone will know,” she whispered. As they surely must know after the way she cried out his name last night under the oak. How could anyone not have heard?

He gave a low laugh. “So?”

“Andreana is looking forward to going.” She had difficulty concentrating. He nibbled on her earlobe.

“We could send her with an escort.”

“The men will be disappointed you did not compete in the games.” Sweet Jesu, what was he doing to her earlobe? A shiver traveled down her back.

“They want to beat the Dragon, you mean?”

“Aye,” she breathed.

He pulled back and looked down at her. “Would you tame the Dragon, Lady?”