Page 9 of The Thief
They reached the double doors leading back inside the castle at the same time, the nearness of him unnerving her.
Her heart started racing as he stepped close and whispered, “I am. Although I am still wondering if it is true.”
Scarlett felt shivers running up and down her spine and spreading through her whole body.
Alastair pulled away from her ear but his face was still close to hers, a heat in his green eyes she had never seen before.
Scarlett let out a small sigh as Alastair leaned down and sealed her lips with his, putting his hands at her waist and stepping closer to her. Scarlett’s heart stopped as his lips melded and played with hers, the tender play heating her blood to boiling. Her amber eyes drifted shut and she rested her hands on his forearms, not pulling or pushing.
Alastair groaned as his mind screamed at him to let go and walk away.
His body wasn’t listening to his heart and instead, stepped closer to her, bringing them in full contact with one another, his arousal pressed against her thigh.
The faint sound of the door handle being opened penetrated Alastair’s lustful fog surrounding his brain. With a curse he let go, breaking the kiss as he stepped away.
The doors opened and Bard stood there, a look of surprise on his face when he found them both standing in front of the door.
“I’m sorry, My Lord; did I interrupt you?” he asked.
Scarlett blushed and looked away, her lips as red as her cheeks.
“Just a debate on the fickleness of women, Bard,” he said, looking around at nothing.
“Yes, sir. I do apologize but there is an urgent matter at Elfyre Hospital that needs to be attended to,” he said, stepping back out of the way.
Alastair nodded. “Yes, well, that means I need to be going.” He looked at Scarlett and smiled. “I enjoyed our debate. We must do it again. My Lady, please excuse me.”
With that, he bowed quickly and took off, Bard following a short distance behind him and leaving Scarlett all alone in the courtyard.
Scarlett stood standing in the doorway after Bard and Alastair left, wondering what had just happened. She looked at the door and then around at the castle surrounding her and sighed.
Scarlett jumped when a maid opened the door in front of her. She blushed and ducked her head down and rushed inside and up to her room. She slammed the door behind her and leaned against the door, her heart racing from her exertions.
Leaning her head back against the door, she sighed, then looked up when someone cleared her throat. She looked up at the voice and saw Melody standing next to the armoire with a handful of ribbons.
“Your Grace, are you all right?” she asked, setting the ribbons down and walking over to her. She rested her hands-on Scarlett’s shoulder and looked her straight in the eyes.
Next to Catriona, Melody was the only other person she could tell everything to.
Scarlett took a deep breath and said, “Lord Alastair… he kissed me.”
Melody’s jaw dropped open and Scarlett smiled.
“He kissed you? What was it like?” she asked, grabbing her hand and dragging her over to the bed and plopping them down on it.
She had such an excited look on her face that Scarlett almost didn’t tell her, just to make her more impatient.
“It was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I got warm and my legs went weak. I don’t know what would have happened had we not been interrupted.”
Scarlett looked down at her hands and Melody put hers over Scarlett’s.
“It’s a good thing that someone did interrupt you. You don’t know what could have happened. He is a prince and you are acting queen.”
Scarlett looked up at Melody and she smiled. “I may be acting queen, but I am still a woman,” she said, making Melody laugh.
“That is true, but right now is not the time to be one. Now is the time to be queen.”
Scarlett stood up and started to pace, her frustration overflowing.
