Page 35 of Bound to a Scot
“Again, I’m sorry fer walkin’ up on ye like that.”
“’Tis all right. ‘Tis nae yer fault.”
“Keep workin’ on movin’ deeper intae the pool,” he said. “Ye’ll be over that fear before ye ken it. I promise.”
“I will. Goodnight, Maddox.”
“Goodnight.”
He watched her walk away, his gaze fixed on her until she rounded the stone outcropping and disappeared from sight. When she was gone, he let out a long breath and leaned against the stone and covered his face with his hands, trying to shut out the images of her naked form. Try as he might though, he couldn’t stop seeing her. Couldn’t stop wanting her.
“Bleedin’ hell,” he muttered.
More aroused than he’d ever been in his life, Maddox stripped out of his clothing and entered the pool, both to enjoy the warm,relaxing waters, and knowing he would never have Emmeline anywhere but in his own mind, to handle his arousal on his own.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Where did ye go last night?” Adair asked.
“Just out fer a walk. Needed tae clear me head.”
Adair had been asleep when Maddox had returned to their chambers from the hot spring last night. Thankfully, the man could sleep through a thunderstorm and hadn’t heard him come in. The last thing he wanted to do was tell Adair what had transpired between him and Emmeline. Being able to sleep on it and give himself a bit of distance from it had taken away a little of the raw emotion of the event. Adair was famous for being able to see through Maddox and having that distance made it a bit easier to keep it off his face.
“So, what dae ye think this is about? Why dae ye think the laird has summoned us so bleedin’ early?” Adair asked.
“I dinnae ken. I’m hopin’ we can wrap up these negotiations though,” Maddox replied as his heart quivered with concern. “I’m ready tae go home.”
He and Adair had been woken early by one of the household servants telling them Laird Macfie had requested their presence in his salon. Not wanting to keep the laird waiting, they had quickly washed and dressed, then headed out of their bedchamber. The first thought that had passed through his mind was that Macfie had somehow learned about the hot spring last night. That maybe Emmeline had mentioned it for some reason—although he found that very unlikely—or that one of his men had followed Maddox and had seen them together.
He didn’t recall getting the idea he was being followed, but then again he hadn’t exactly been looking for anybody either. Even though nothing had happened between them, Maddox thought that if Macfie knew he’d seen her unclothed, he would not take it kindly. He was a petty, jealous man and Maddox knew it would likely enrage him. Perhaps enough to summon a headsman. The thought they were walking into a trap and possible execution sent a cold chill sweeping through him.
“Are ye all right?” Adair asked.
“I’m fine,” he grunted.
“What’s goin on with ye?”
“Naethin’,” Maddox replied. “Just ready fer this whole thing tae be done.”
“Aye. Me too.”
As they strode through the hallways of the castle together, Maddox couldn’t get the night before out of his mind. He couldn’t stop seeing Emmeline’s naked body in his mind, as hard as he tried. He recalled the way the beads of water had glimmered upon soft, supple skin that seemed to glow beneath the silvery light of the moon. The memory of it still sent a shudder through him and stirred his arousal once more. Maddox bit the inside of his cheek to keep from hardening again and tried to focus on the task that had been set before them.
As they approached the door to Macfie’s salon, a servant opened it for them. Maddox gave the man a short nod as they walked through the door to find Macfie and his advisor, Laith, sitting on before the fire. They held cups of warm honeyed mead and laughed together as if he and Adair had walked in after the man had told a joke. Macfie’s eyes, cold and reptilian, slid over to Maddox and regarded him quietly for a moment.
“Thank ye fer comin’ so early,” he finally said.
“Of course, Laird Macfie.”
The man gestured to the table against the far wall. “Please, eat.”
The table had been laid with platters of food for the morning meal, filling the room with pleasing aromas that made Maddox’s stomach rumble. He nodded to Adair who walked over and began filling a plate. Maddox stood where he was a momentlonger and eyed Macfie closely, trying to get a sense of the man’s mood. His face was blank though, giving nothing away.
Laith sat in the chair beside Macfie, eying Maddox over the rim of his cup as he took a long drink. Tall and thin, with shoulder-length hair that was iron gray and a long beard to match, the man had reminded Maddox of a wizard from the old stories he’d loved as a child. But there was something dark and sinister about him that hadn’t sat right with Maddox from the start. There was just something off about the man. He couldn’t have said what it was, but Maddox just had a bad feeling about him from their first meeting. That opinion hadn’t changed.
“Thank ye, me Laird,” Maddox finally said as they returned with their filled plates to the chairs that sat across from Macfie and Laith, balancing them on their laps as they tucked into their meals.
“I apologize fer nae havin’ a proper table this mornin’,” Macfie said. “I just thought speakin’ somewhere more casual and private was in order.”
