Page 40 of Sins of a Scot
“And ye are a maid now, are ye?” she countered.
Owen allowed his gaze to linger just a few seconds more before finally turning back to look out of the window. Watching her undress had been wrong, but it was as though his eyes had been glued to her body. He had simply been unable to look away. She truly was a beautiful woman, and a part of him wondered why she was not yet betrothed or wed.
“I ken plenty o’ maids,” he smiled, “but indeed, I am nae one.”
He could hear her snort at him, and while he could no longer see her, for he had moved across the room and away from the temptation to look at her again, he could imagine her shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
“Ye’re intolerable,” she hissed.
“And yet, ye are stuck with me,” he countered, not caring a wit for her judgement. “Tell me, Lady Iseabail, why are ye nae yet wed?”
“What?” she gasped.
He frowned at her reply. It was a simple question.
“Married, me lady. Why are ye nae yet married?”
“I hardly think that’s any o’ yer business,” she retorted.
“Ye’re right, it isnae. I was just curious.”
She didn’t reply to that, which left Owen wondering about it. Not just the fact that she wasn’t yet married, but also her seemingly affronted reply. Most ladies might reply that they had not yet found the right suitor, or that they were betrothed to another but were not yet married. Iseabail’s reaction seemed far more abrasive.
Clearly, she’s still mad at me.
He was still a little mad at her, if he was honest. And with that conclusion, Owen moved across the room and laid himself down onto the bed, trying to push the images he had witnessed moments before from his mind.
He closed his eyes and thought about home, wondering if any of the men who were chasing him had turned up at the castle yet?
It has only been a day. They were nowhere near close when ye left.
No, but it was only time before they were. They had already made it across the country. No doubt, they would be asking around for a man who fitted his description. Someone was going to say something. They always did, even in innocence. They would arrive at the castle eventually, and then Daire would have no choice but to tell Madigan everything.
CHAPTER TWELVE
He listened to the dripping water in the tub, imagining it trickling across Iseabail’s body. He could see it in his mind’s eye, goosebumps rising on her arms, droplets trickling down her throat, her breasts floating in the water, her pert nipples hard from the cold air.
Slipping into a dreamlike state, he imagined kneeling beside her while she remained in the tub. A cloth appeared in his hand, and delicately, he used it to wipe across her pale skin. He grazed it across her shoulders and down the front of her chest. The cloth then fell from his hand as his fingers continued dancing over her bosoms. Catching a nipple with his finger, he heard her gasp as he struck it, over and over again. She arched her back, pressing her chest into his hands, aching for him to caress her, over and over…
The sound of creaking floorboards brought him out of his reverie, and as his eyes flew open, he realized his cock was rock hard and clearly visible, sticking up from beneath his clothes. Iseabail moved from behind the screen, and just as she roundedit, now fully dressed again, he threw himself onto his stomach, stifling an agonizing groan as his full weight landed on his stiff member.
He heard her move across the room, but with his face still in the pillow, he couldn’t quite decipher where she was. Then the room filled with the sound of the chair scraping across the wooden floorboards.
She’s at the dresser, nay doubt about tae brush her hair.
After another minute, and now knowing his arousal had settled itself, Owen pushed himself up off the bed.
“I will sleep on the floor tonight.”
It was the chivalrous thing to do, and besides, perhaps after his daydream, it was probably also wise.
Iseabail spun in her chair and stared at him with her eyebrows high. “Ye will dae nay such thing. The bed is large enough fer the two o’ us.”
He was surprised at her suggestion, and smiled.
“Dinnae get any ideas,” she growled. “It’s only that I need ye well rested fer the morrow. We got little rest last night, and one night on the floor is more than enough.”
He flicked his eyebrows and nodded. “O’ course.”
