Page 66 of Bound to a Scot
Maddox had been solely focused on her pleasure. It was almost as if pleasing her had somehow brought himself pleasure as well, so he had worked extra hard to make her feel good. She recalled the way his hands had felt on her body. The way his kiss had stolen her breath. The way his tongue had felt on her most intimate parts. And of course, the way he’d felt buried deep within her. Despite the seriousness of the situation she was in at the moment, she had to fight to keep the smile off her face as she thought back on the night before.
“It was me idea tae have Laird MacLachlan go and look for Emmeline when I noticed she was overdue tae return from that village,” Lorn said suddenly.
Lorn stepped into the light of the fire, hands clasped behind his back, his face still stony and unreadable. Burchard looked at him with a deepening frown.
“Ye sent him?” he asked.
“Aye, me laird. I had matters here than needed tae be attended tae,” Lorn replied. “I didnae expect anythin’ tae be amiss, certainly nae that the Lady Emmeline had been set upon, but she is normally very punctual and when she didnae return when she said she would, I was mildly concerned. Since Laird MacLachlan had naethin’ tae dae, I thought he wouldnae mind goin’ tae collect her.”
“And once the storm hit, I didnae want tae risk returnin’ tae the castle kennin’ the men I killed might have had friends out there waitin’, so we hunkered down and waited it out,” Maddox explained. “The lady was wounded so I cleaned the cut and stitched it up best I could. I didnae want tae take the risk of ridin’ through a storm in the dark. Nae without kennin’ who or what was out there.”
Burchard turned toward the fire, his face troubled. Emmeline could see his mind spinning but she couldn’t for the life of her, understand what it was he was thinking. What didn’t seem to be bothering him though was that his wife was almost murdered.
“Who were these men?” he asked without turning around.
“If I had tae guess, I’d say they were cutpurses,” Maddox said.
She cut a glance at him, and he subtly shook his head, silently cautioning her to remain silent. Emmeline wasn’t sure why he wanted her to be quiet, but she nodded and said nothing.
“Cutpurses, eh?” Burchard asked.
“’Tis me best guess, aye. They looked rough.”
“Aye. All right,” he said softly, the wind seemingly having been taken out of his sails. “Well. Thank ye fer savin’ me wife’s life then, Laird MacLachlan. I am in yer debt.”
“Just glad tae have been in the right place at the right time,” Maddox said.
“Indeed. Well… good night then.”
Without another word, Burchard turned and stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him. Emmeline didn’t think he sounded grateful, but that could have simply been her. She knew she tended to view her husband and everything he said and did through an inherently negative prism. She, Maddox, and Lorn remained where they were for a long, silent moment, all of them feeling the relief washing through the chamber as the tension subsided.
Maddox got to his feet and nodded to them both, his eyes lingering on hers for a moment. They sparkled, setting her insides ablaze with memories… and desire. She turned away, trying to fight off the flush of warmth that was rising to her cheeks.
“I think I’ll take me leave as well,” he finally said. “Good night tae that both of ye.”
“Good night, Laird MacLachlan,” she said without looking at him.
Emmeline waited until she heard the door close before she finally raised her head, only to find Lorn staring at her, a knowing look on his face. He knew her better than anybody and seemed able to see through her. She had no doubt he already knew something had happened between she and Maddox and although the downward curl of his lips suggested he didn’t approve, his eyes told Emmeline that he understood, that he didn’t blame her for seeking comfort in the arms of another man.
Trying to hide the quiver in her body, Emmeline got to her feet. “I should go as well,” she said. “I’d like tae take a bath before I retire fer the night.”
“Aye, me lady. ‘Tis a good idea.”
“Thank ye,” she said whispering. “Fer helpin’ us.”
“Of course. As I told ye, I always have yer back,” he said. “But if I may offer ye one piece of unsolicited advice?”
She nodded. “Please.”
“Be discreet,” he said. “Somethin’s afoot. I dinnae ken what it is just yet, but I can feel the wheels of somethin’ turnin’ and they’re only speedin’ up. Practice caution and take care ye dinnae get ground up in the gears.”
“I will. Thank ye, Lorn.”
He inclined his head as she walked out of the room and made her way toward her bedchamber, wanting a hot bath more than anything, hoping the warm water would soothe her mind and wash away the unrelenting sense of dread she’d felt since returning to the castle to find Burchard there waiting for them.
“I was so worried about ye.”
“I’m fine, lass. ‘Twas nothin’ tae worry about,” Emmeline said.
