Ahoarse cry escaped Ruari, and he grabbed her beneath the arms, pulling her uphis body. She laughed softly, her voice husky and low, as she eased theirbodies together. For a moment she straddled him, making no move to continue thelovemaking, and taking enormous pleasure in the feeling of his body fillinghers. When he tightly grasped her by the hips and moved her, she gave him noargument, swiftly retaking control as she took them both to the sweet oblivionthey had sought almost continuously through the night.
Shestretched languorously and made no effort to hide herself as Ruari cleaned themboth off. When he returned to the bed and took her into his arms, she curled upagainst him contentedly. She did not yet have all she wanted, but everything hehad done and said during the night gave her more hope than she had had in manymonths.
“Ishall be staggering about Gartmhor all day today, too weary to do my work,”Ruari said as he brushed a kiss over the top of her head.
Shegrimaced as she realized that his men would all know why he was heavy-eyed yetnot ill-tempered. “I hope your men arenae too free with their jests andteasings. I dinnae wish to spend my day trying fruitlessly to hide my blushes.”
“Theyshall probably wish to bury ye in praise and gifts for they have had to sufferbeneath the yoke of my ill temper for too many months.”
“Ah,I see. Celibacy doesnae make ye feel cheerful and pious.”
Ruarichuckled and shook his head. “Nay. I snarl like a vicious dog at everyone andeverything.”
“Ishall confess that I wasnae the sweetest of company either.”
Justas Ruari was about to reply, Sorcha gasped softly and yanked the covers overher, clutching them tightly beneath her chin. She was acting as if someone hadjust walked into the room, but he could see no one. Then his sleepy and satedmind cleared enough for him to realize what she was doing. She thought one ofher spirits was in the room. He was surprised when he did not immediately growannoyed and demand she cease to play that game. Instead he looked around,seeing nothing.
“Isone of your spirits in the room?” he asked as he tucked his arm around hersheet-wrapped body and drew her close to his side.
“Ifear Ivor has come to visit,” she replied. “I thought ye agreed that ye wouldrespect my privacy,” she said to Ivor who was little more than a dim shadow inthe far corner of the room.
“Ihave just arrived,” Ivor said as he neared the foot of the bed and frowned atRuari. “I hope the lad didnae seduce ye back into his bed.”
“Nay,he didnae, and I dinnae ken why ye are looking so angry and suspicious. Ye werethe one who said I should listen to him.”
“Ah,so he has confessed to loving you, has he?”
“Weel,nay, not exactly. That is none of your concern anyway. Now, I believe I had astern talk with ye about infringing upon my privacy. Could ye please leave now?”
“Idinnae ken why ye are acting so shocked. Ye have covered your nakedness.”
“Aye,but I am in bed with a mon,” she said, failing to completely subdue herblushes. “I dinnae want ye seeing that.”
“Suchmodesty.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to speak. “Dinnae scoldme, I shall leave. Ye had best put some clothes on anyway, lass.”
“Why?‘Tis barely dawn.”
“Afew of Ruari’s men are headed to rouse him. When they dinnae find him in hisown bedchamber, I dinnae think it will take them long to ken where he is.”
“Willye leave, ye old lecher,” Ruari called out, a little irritated with lying nextto Sorcha as she talked with another man. “Did he go?” he asked after a moment.
“Aye,he has disappeared,” she answered as she slipped free of Ruari’s light grip andgot up to dress herself.
“Ifhe is gone, why are ye out of bed and dressing? There is no work ye must hieto.”
“Nay,but Ivor says a few of your men will soon come here looking for ye.”
Ruariwas up and in his braies before he realized what he had done. He had yelled ata ghost. He had ordered from the room something he could neither hear nor see.A soft curse escaped him as he continued to dress and wondered just when he hadbegun to believe Sorcha’s claims that she could hear and see the spirits thathaunted too many keeps.
Hehad no chance to complain about how Sorcha was making him believe in things hehad no proof of and would not wish to confront even if they did exist. A momentlater, a loud rapping sounded at the door, and he jumped. Ruari did not wishsuch proof of all he was denying. Ivor had said his men were coming and,hearing Rosse call to him through the door, Ruari felt himself edge a littlecloser to belief.
“M’lord,”called Rosse. “I think ye had best come with us for a moment.”
“Why?”Ruari demanded the moment he opened the door.
“Wecaught a few Hays creeping into the inner bailey last night,” Rosse explained,nodding to Sorcha in greeting when she crept up behind Ruari.
“Mykinsmen are here?” she asked. “Ye havenae hurt them, have ye?”
