Page 16 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
The water was hot, and for the time she was in it, Elsie relished the feeling of soothing it brought her. It was also the first time since her capture that she had managed to be alone. Only now,as she slowly relaxed, did she realize how tense and wound up she had been. Hardly a surprise under the circumstances. More so because she needed to be on her guard mentally at all times when around the laird, for his onslaughts were non-stop.
But now, I must stop thinking about him. I need tae grasp this opportunity o’ peace and quiet while I have it.
And with that thought, she closed her eyes and pretended she was back in her own bedchamber, in her father’s castle, safe, secure, and single.
It was as she was replacing her last item of clothing, an hour later, that she heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. After that, she heard the muffled sound of voices on the other side of the door.
Gazing at the door handle, she waited for it to move, for she knew the voices came from the laird and Alisdair. The door remained locked, and a sudden thought flew through her mind.
It could remain locked. I dinnae have tae let him in.
But then fear got the better of her, and she shook her head.
He would make me life a living hell if I forced him tae sleep in the same room as his men or Alisdair.
And a moment later, the door handle did rattle. When the door didn’t open, the laird knocked on it. “Let me in, Elspeth.”
She hesitated for just a second more, and then, losing her nerve, she moved the small distance across the room and turned the key.
When he strolled in, he looked down at her, a smile dancing at the corner of his mouth. “I’ll bet ye thought about it, didnae ye?” he sneered.
“Thought about what?” she asked, pretending she didn’t have a clue what he was talking about.
“Locking me out.”
“Nae at all,” she lied.
He looked at her for a long moment, and under his gaze, Elsie felt the heat rushing to her cheeks.
“Did anyone tell ye, ye’re are terrible liar?”
“Nay, they havenae,” she replied sharply. “Because I never have need tae lie. Now,” she said, turning toward the bed, “if I am tae share this with ye, we need some rules.”
“Rules?” he balked. “It’s a suffering bed, woman.”
“Indeed, it is,” she said, walking down one side of it. “And I will remain on this side, and ye will remain on that.” She jerked her head, inferring the other side of the bed.
“Fer the love o’ God,” he huffed, tugging at his plaid.
“What are ye doing?” she gasped.
“I’m getting undressed. What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Absolutely nae!” she cried, terror rising up in her.
Clearly, by the scowling way in which he looked at her, he was frustrated at her reaction and demands, but after a long moment, he seemed to relent.
“Fine. I will remove only me plaid.” He paused a second. “And me boots.” He then looked at her. “Is it all right if I remove me boots, yer majesty?” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Elsie nodded, and then, before she had to watch him remove anything, she hurriedly slipped beneath the blankets fully dressed, and turned her face to the wall.
Keane did a lot of huffing and puffing, and then, she felt the bed dip as he clambered into it. A second later, she heard him blow out the candle, and the room went dark.
For a long time, she lay there, perfectly still, hardly breathing while gripping the blankets around her chin. So far, he was keeping to his word. Whether he would remain doing so, she was too terrified to think about.
CHAPTER SIX
Still half asleep, Keane wrapped his arms around the woman beside him and snuggled in, the heat from her body warming him and making him feel incredibly comfortable. The last few days had been exhausting, and while he knew he had to wake fully soon, he just needed a little while longer.
