Page 19 of Treachery in the Highlands
Rachel traces lazy patterns on my chest with one finger, then flicks her fingernail over my nipple, making me gasp."Perhaps we should untie you now, hmm?"
I grin, tugging at the ropes."As much as I enjoyed being at your mercy, I'd love to get my hands on you."
She giggles and reaches up to loosen the knots.As soon as my hands are free, I wrap my arms around her, dragging her in for a deep, hot kiss.Rachel melts against me.
When we finally break apart, I cup her face gently."You are the sexiest woman I've ever been with, Rach."
She smiles shyly."I like that you've begun to call me Rach.I've never had a nickname before."
"Well, it's about damn time you got one."
"Now that you're free, what do you plan to do with me, Mr.Finnegan?"
I growl playfully, flipping us over so she's pinned beneath me."Oh, I've got lots of ideas.And every single one is filthy."
She grins.
I'm just about to lean in and claim those lips when a loud pounding on the door makes us both freeze.Whoever that is, they seem like they want to kick the door down.
"Rachel!Are ye in there?"A man's gruff voice booms from the other side.
"Shite," Rachel hisses, her eyes wide."It's my father!"
We scramble to disentangle ourselves, frantically searching for our discarded clothes.I've barely managed to pull on my funky looking trousers---the ones Rachel called "trews"---when the door handle starts to rattle.With her help, I just barely manage to pull on everything including my medieval boots.
But we forgot about my modern clothes.Shit.It's too late to worry about that, though.
"Rachel!Open this door right now!"
She throws me a desperate look, then her gaze darts around the room frantically.She shoves me toward a large wooden wardrobe and whispers, "Quick, hide!"
I stumble toward the wardrobe, still dizzy from our passionate encounter.As I try to cram myself inside the tight space, the aroma of musty furs and old leather engulfs me.Rachel tosses my modern clothes and boots in after me and slams the wardrobe doors shut.I hug my clothes to my chest.
"One moment,Athairich!I am in a state of undress."
At last, the pounding ceases.Big Daddy's voice is softer now, almost apologetic."Oh, I see.I will wait here until you have covered yourself."
Through a tiny crack, I watch her hastily pull on a chemise and smooth down her hair.Rachel then digs through a wooden chest until she finds the dress she wants and hastily pulls it on over her head.As she smooths out the dress, she takes a deep breath to compose herself before she opens the heavy chamber door.
"Father, what a surprise," she says, her voice unnaturally high."I was...asleep."
Kieran MacTaggart stomps into the room, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the room.Even from my hiding spot, I can feel the intensity of his anger radiating off him.
Big Daddy squints at his daughter."Resting?That's what ye were doing, eh?"
Rachel stands her ground, chin lifted defiantly."Aye, 'twas what I was doing.Is that a crime now, Father?"
Kieran's gaze narrows as he surveys the room."I heard voices.Yours and a man's voice."
"You must be mistaken," Rachel says, but I can see her hands trembling slightly."Perhaps 'twas the wind playing tricks on your ears."
Kieran grunts, clearly unconvinced.He stalks around the room, his gaze roving over every surface.My heart pounds so loudly I'm certain he'll hear it.Hiding in a wardrobe reminds me of all the times I got stealing trinkets when I was a boy, and I'd have to hide in a closet until my foster mom number whatever gave up on trying to find and punish me.
"And what of these?"Kieran snatches up my discarded T-shirt, jeans, and leather jacket from the floor."Ne'er have I seen such garments, and I'm fair certain they dinnae belong to you."
Oh, damn.In our haste, we'd forgotten about my modern threads.
Rachel pales visibly."Well, you see, I...found them.In the forest.I brought them back to examine them more closely."
