Even more startling, it made him feel good.
Almost giddy enough to shout with the joy of it.
He did tighten his arms around her, but when an unblinking canine stare from the direction of the hearth fire caught and latched onto him, he let go of her.
“Stay here.” He put a hand to the small of her back and guided her into the shelter of the window embrasure. “I’ll be back in a wink.”
Then, he spun around and crossed the room before his wits left him. He cracked the door just enough to peer into the darkened passage beyond.
“Guard!” he called, knowing one would be lurking somewhere.
Sure enough, the Dragon soon appeared. “Aye, sir?” The young man stood erect, the light of a handheld rush torch illuminating his pockmarked face.
Ronan stepped closer to the door, making sure he blocked the guard’s view into the room. Then he leaned forward to whisper into the Dragon’s ear.
“As you wish, sir.” The guard couldn’t quite hide his surprise. “I’ll be back with it anon.”
Ronan kept his back to the room as he waited. Primed as he was, even one quick over-the-shoulder glance at the temptation behind him was too great a risk.
It’d been too long since he’d lain in lust with a woman.
And — he now knew — he’d never before lain in love with one.
“Sir, I have it.” The Dragon’s voice came through the crack in the door.
Ronan thrust a hand into the shadows, seizing the meat-bone. “I thank you — now see that my lady and I are no’ disturbed.”
Before the guard could respond, he shut and bolted the door. Then he drew a great breath, put back his shoulders, and marched over to the hearth fire.
“For you,” he announced, giving Buckie the bone. “Consider it a bribe.”
“A bribe?”Shestepped out of the window alcove. “For Buckie?”
“ O-o-oh, aye, something to keep him occupied.” He started forward, pulling off his shirt as he went. “I’ll no’ have him watching what I’m about to do to you.”
Chapter Seventeen
And what is that?”
The sweet huskiness of his lady’s voice slid through Ronan like honeyed wine. He stepped closer to her, letting his gaze rake her up and down.
He almost envied his plaid.
Its soft woolen folds clung seductively to her lush, curvaceous body, the tartan — his very own — molding the generous swells of her breasts and the ripe sweep of her well-rounded hips in ways that were dangerous for a man.
Especially a Highlander.
“ So-o-o?” She tossed back her hair. “What are you going to do to me?”
Ronan didn’t trust himself to speak.
Not that she needed his answer anyway. The flash in her eyes and the way she bit her lower lip revealed that she already knew.
She stood before him glowing and unafraid, her plaid-wrapped body gilded by firelight. His heart caught and the air around him ignited, his need to have her beneath him almost bringing him to his knees.
“I do have an idea.” She pressed him, this time moistening her lips, letting him catch a quick look at the tip of her sweet, pink tongue. “Can it be what I hope?”
Her eagerness pushed him over the edge and he tossed his shirt to the rushes, closing the space between them with three long strides.
