Page 95 of Highland Renegade
“In the Highlands, an empty cottage always has a welcome sign. We will leave it as we found it, but there is a bed and hot water to be had for a bath first.” He tilted his head. “What say ye?”
“I say yes.” Emily smiled at him. “I mean…aye.”
…
The fright—and very real peril—of the danger that had just passed should have exhausted her, but Emily felt exhilarated. Perhaps it was one of those nonsensical reactions like laughing hysterically when you want to cry. Or, perhaps, it was anticipation of what was to come. Either way, the bog incident seemed a distant memory. At least, for now.
The cottage was dark when they arrived, but unlocked, and they removed their muddied boots and socks before entering. Gwendolyn had left several small logs in the hearth, kindling already stuck between them. Ian soon had a fire blazing and kettles hanging from an iron pole placed between yokes above it, heating water.
Emily pulled a large copper tub out from its corner niche and found two linen towels that she remembered the healer spreading over some bushes to dry that morning. They still smelled of fresh air. A cake of heather soap lay in a pewter dish near a wash basin. Within minutes, steam was rising as Ian poured the water into the tub.
He turned toward the door. “I will leave ye to your bath.”
“You will need one, too,” Emily said, “since I spattered mud all over you.”
“I’ll use the water when ye are through.”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “It will be cold by then, not to mention dirty.”
He paused with his hand on the doorknob and lifted an eyebrow. “What are ye suggesting?”
She swallowed hard and looked at the floor. She’d never been in the position of seducing a man before. She’d neverwantedto. Goodness, she’d always waited to take her bath until her husband had been well in his opium haze and even then had locked her door to thwart his unwelcome intrusion.
And now, all she could think of was that she wanted Ian to stay. She swallowed again and looked up. “Since we’re both filthy, we could share the bath.”
His mouth quirked at that. “Is that the only reason? Because we’re both dirty?”
She felt herself blush, hoping he’d mistake it for the heat in the room. Her reasoning sounded inane, even to her. More like suggesting two children get cleaned up rather than being seductive. “I…do not know…”
“I ken.” In three strides he was at her side, cradling her face in his hands. “Do ye trust me?”
She looked into his eyes. “Yes.”
“Then let me show ye what else a bath can be used for.”
With those words, he tugged at the bedraggled ribbons lacing up the front of her gown. It was a simple garment meant for working in and didn’t require petticoats or stays. It took only a moment or two for his deft fingers to undo the ties, and he slid the gown off her shoulders, letting it fall to the ground. That left only her chemise, which, as water-soaked as it was, clung to her, leaving little to the imagination.
Ian’s eyes widened as he looked down, and she felt her nipples harden under his gaze. He brushed his fingers lightly over one breast and a sound, suspiciously like a growl, came from him.
“I want to see ye naked.”
He gave her a quick glance, then took both hands and ripped the chemise in half. Instinctively, she raised both arms to cover herself, but he stayed her. “Doona.”
She dropped her hands, feeling a moment of mortification at standing completely nude in front of him, but the feeling turned to something else when she noticed the large bulge in his breeches that strained for release even as it grew. An odd tingling sensation began in her belly.
“Ye are beautiful,” he said and quickly stripped off his own clothing.
She barely had time to register how very large his member was—Good heavens! He was at least twice the size of Albert!—before Ian was lifting her and placing her in the tub. Water lapped over the side as he climbed in beside her. His broad shoulders nearly touched the edges of the tub, and she saw a dusting of dark hair across his hard chest, a thin line of which ran down his belly and below the surface of the water.
Ian pushed his legs under hers, and his biceps flexed as he lifted her thighs to spread them around his hips. It was an intimate position, and she wondered if he’d simply impale her. He certainly looked ready. Instead, he traced her cheek with his thumb.
“Lie back and let me wash ye.”
She gave him a startled look, but he was already pressing her down gently. As small as the tub was—at least with both of them in it—she could lean her head against the rim quite easily. She was quite comfortably inclined as well, although her position had her breasts poking up from the surface. Ian’s golden eyes darkened at the sight, and she suddenly felt quite wanton.
“I like when you look at me like that.”
He grinned. “I am planning to do more than look, lass.”
