Page 47 of Captured By the Highland Devil
Stepping in, he came closer and saw her head lift as he was just inside the doorway. The water did not hide her lush, naked curves, how her generous bosom beckoned with each luscious rise and fall, their pomegranate tips calling to his tongue.
“Ruben—” she made to hide herself from him, clapping both hands over her breasts.
“Nay,” he shook his head. “Daenae hide yerself from me, lass.”
Pulling a chair to the side of the tub, he dipped his hand into the water and swirled it around before resting it on her knee. She still looked afraid but bore it bravely.
Reaching for a cloth, he soaped it and drew the cloth over her shoulders then dipped to her nipples, rousing them to taut peaks. He dragged the between her breasts and down her belly.
“How was yer day?” he asked. “Aside from spyin’ on me at the tiltyard, I mean.”
“I w-wasnae spyin’ on ye,” she said. “And it’s hard to think with ye doing that.”
He snorted, “If it’s hard to think now, ye will be lost when we bath together. Now, think back, little bird. What did ye do after I left ye this mornin’ in me bed?”
She took in a long breath. “I went to speak with Elijah. I had to make sure what happened last night was nae some feverish fit where I’d dreamed he was alive.”
“And ye saw he was,” Ruben said.
“Aye, alive and well,” she said. “We talked about why he had run and why he hadnae sent word to me. I understand now why he had to bide his time.”
His eyes flickered to hers. “And ye probably wondered what else yer father lied about.”
“Aye,” she said.
Leaning in, Ruben kissed her. “At least he willnae trick ye again.”
Paige fingered his damp hair, “Did ye take a bath?”
“I went swimmin’,” he said, getting to his feet. “Believe me or nae, it is a soothin’ exercise after a long day on the tiltyard.”
She shook her head. “Seems like more work to me.”
He snorted. “The fair Faither was talkin’ about is arrivin’ in the village two days from bow. Will ye want to go?”
“Aye,” Paige nodded. “I’d love to.”
“Good,” Ruben lifted her from the water, out of the tub and wrapped a waiting towel around her.
She frowned, “Is it custom for the laird to welcome a band of tumblers and jesters to yer village?”
“Nay,” he said. “I want ye to come with me because we’ll be overseein’ the orphans.”
“All the better,” Paige said. “Now, turn around so I can dress.”
His brows flew up. “Lass, I just saw ye naked and now ye want to be proper?”
Her chin went up again. “Aye.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Ruben,” Paige said hesitantly. “I fear I may have done somethin’ to upset Norah and by exchange, ye.”
Peering at her, he asked, “And what on earth could that be?”
She told him the recount of the afternoon and how Norah had reacted to her suggestions. To her slight relief, he did not grow angry and kept his propriety arm around her back as possessive as moments before.
“Daenae worry about it, lass,” he said. “I’ve been tryin’ to get her out as well but she doesnae want to go. It’s been years but the after-effects of her abduction still haunt her to this day.”
