Page 75 of Tempting the Highland Devil
Lily and Killian reunited with a warm embrace, and Yvaine ordered the servants she saw once she got into the keep. “Prepare a bath and warm food for the laird and his men. Send word to the councilmen and inform his man-at-arms that he will receive nay visitors until the morrow.”
“Yvaine…I still need to meet with James and discuss all that I learnt. We must strategize and…”
“Enough strategizin’,” she interrupted in a steadier voice, and the echo of her words stopped everyone from taking another step. “I worried about ye the entire time ye were away. All I do is worry about ye, and I cannae take it anymore. Just for one night, ye can rest, and plan on the morrow. It willnae hurt ye, will it?”
Her outburst made everyone in the hallway fall silent, then Arran cleared his throat, and she heard her mother’s chuckle.
Elspeth gave Yvaine an encouraging smile before she walked away, and Yvaine led Arran over to his chamber. His bath water arrived, and she helped him pour soothing oils in the water.
Yvaine took off her dress as Arran soaked himself in the water, and she stood before him as she let her undergarments fall to the ground at her feet.
His sharp intake of breath proved that she had his attention. His eyes stayed on hers before they slowly drifted down her body to caress her skin.
“Would ye rather be with James right now discussin’ matters which can be discussed tomorrow, or will ye be here with me?”
Arran still stayed silent, but the hungry look in his eyes gave Yvaine courage and she walked closer to his bath then climbed in with him.
They sat still for a long time before Arran sighed and motioned for her to come closer. “I want ye here next to me.”
She moved closer again till she straddled his thighs then wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his lips to hers for a kiss.
Yvaine poured her heart into the kiss and cast every other thought from her mind. She could worry about them tomorrow.
* * *
Arran and Yvaine shared breakfast in his chambers that morning, and he told her about the meeting with Laird Macmicking.
“Do ye really believe he has nay hand in this?” she questioned as she popped a cherry into her mouth and suckled on its juice. Yvaine’s smile widened when she saw him staring at her lips.
They could not get enough of each other just yet, and they had spent the night renewing their passion just as she had wanted. Arran sat without his leine on their bedding, and he seemed more relaxed than she had ever seen him.
He combed his fingers through his hair, closed his eyes for a little bit, and sighed. “I dinnae trust Laird Macmicking just yet,” he answered her.
The reflection of sunlight bathing into the chamber glistened over his skin and made him look even more handsome to her. She allowed her eyes to roam down his body, so she could admire him, and their eyes met when she looked up again.
“Is there somethin’ on yer mind, me lady? Somethin’ ye wish to tell me? Or perhaps do to me?”
Yvaine flushed beet red and nibbled on her lower lips before he scooted closer to her on the bed and drew her closer to him. She giggled as he rolled her onto the bed.
“I like it when ye call me, me lady,” she said breathlessly as he began kissing his way down her neck.
“I love it when ye look at me like that…It makes me forget everythin’ else.” The huskiness in his tone made her want to bury herself in the moment and never look back. She gave in to the kiss and let his tongue stroke hers till they were both breathless and hungry for more.
“Ye will make me late for my council meetin’ woman,” Arran joked when he freed her lips a moment later but still stroked her arms down to her waist. “Ye want the councilmen to think me incompetent?” he joked with a brilliant gleam in his eyes.
“Nay one will ever,” she teased back with laughter then allowed him to break free from her and leave the bed.
Arran got dressed as Yvaine combed her fingers through her hair, then pulled her night robe over her body. The sudden rich clanging of the castle’s warning bells tore through the skies and echoed around the grounds.
It made Yvaine stiffen, and she glanced around to see Arran’s eyes widen also.
“What is…”
“Come with me, now,” he ordered, grabbed a cloak from the rack in his chamber, and flung it over her body.
Just like that, the light-heartedness in the moment vanished, and Arran’s features hardened to show he was ready for battle.
Yvaine did not object as he led her out of the chamber and handed her over to the first guard she saw. “Take her to the crypts beneath the castle grounds at once.”
