The original castle builder had created this gap for his assignations with the lord’s wife at the time. That did not end well for either of them, but the sad story of their ending did not stop him from enjoying this place with his wife whenever he could coax her here. No matter that all knew what happened here when the guards were directed elsewhere. It was the Beast’s lair where no one would trespass.
Now, she reached the top of the stairs and motioned the guards away. He could not see her face yet, but her manner did not bode well for his hoped-for seduction this day.
‘Connor,’ she said.
‘Jocelyn,’ he replied. When the expected kiss did not happen, he took her by the shoulders and pulled her to him. ‘Wife,’ he growled, possessing her mouth until she melted against him.
And still he did not cease tasting her, dipping deep and fast and hard into her mouth with his tongue, hoping to spur her on to take of him. Several minutes of very pleasing kissing happened before he gave up his efforts. Placing her back on her feet, he held on to her until she steadied. At least he knew she was affected by him.
‘Husband,’ she said, putting her hands on her hips in a stance he knew well. ‘We must discuss Aidan.’
‘You went to speak to his leman.’
He did not ask, for he knew she had. His mate did not leave his presence without him knowing where she was. He would never cease protecting her whether she knew it or not. Connor owed her his very soul and so she would always be under his protection and observation.
‘Certainly I did,’ she snapped back at him. ‘We have a problem.’
Though love had come to him in the most unexpected way—in a marriage brought about by threats and blackmail—it did not mean he could not see it. Aidan was maturing from a callous, randy young man into a young man worthy to be his heir. And much of it had been brought about by his attraction to Catriona MacKenzie. His actions had caused harm and he’d done the right thing in trying to sort through the consequences of it.
And he’d fallen in love in the process.
Even Connor could see it.
‘What problem is that, Jocelyn?’ he asked the woman who held his heart in hers.
Their love had developed after their marriage—in spite of it, he sometimes thought—and had grown deeper as they faced the adversities and challenges of life. He did not doubt that his son could do the same thing, once he married the right woman.
‘What do you know about this woman? Surely your spies have reported to you about her marriage with Gowan? And before that? I know you are careful about your son.’
‘Spies, Jocelyn?’
He preferred to call them by other names, but as long as they provided him with what he needed, he cared not the name. And provide they did. Whether important information or small bits he tucked away for future need, his sources kept him well informed about everything and everyone who lived under his control—and those who might affect him or his interests.
So far, they’d said nothing alarming about the woman his son had chosen as his leman...and more.
‘She said something about Gowan saving her. I was curious and thought you would know by now. And, aye, spies, Husband. You have your creatures everywhere.’
‘And the matter you think is a problem?’ he prodded her. He tucked away that bit about Gowan and would have someone look into it further, for it might prove valuable.
‘They are in love.’
He let out a frustrated breath. ‘I know. It has no significance to our plans. You know that. He will marry an appropriate bride and they will find happiness. Hopefully, as we did.’
‘Connor! How can you say that?’
‘You spoke to Catriona. How did you find her to be?’ he asked, knowing the answer already, for he’d observed the woman his son had taken under his protection.
‘She is circumspect and loyal and does not overstep like that last one,’ she said, shivering at the memories of the histrionics of Aidan’s last lover, one he’d kept, thankfully, for a very brief time.
‘Then she understands that she cannot stand in the way of our plans for his marriage?’
‘Aye, she understands, but—’ she began to argue.
‘She understands, Jocelyn. Let it go.’
The fire in her eyes that he wanted to see was, instead, replaced by anger that said he was not going to get the chance to seduce his wife after all. She screamed out her anger then, stamped her foot and walked away from him, cursing and muttering under her breath as she went down the stairs and through the yard to the keep.
Those who witnessed the exchange turned back to their tasks when the door slammed behind her. She was soft-hearted and, no matter how much she claimed to understand the necessities of life as it involved her son, Jocelyn would never give up hope now.
