Her eyes opened, then widened in feigned horror. She was a great actress. Her chest quivered as she gulped in air, and her eyes darted around the room, pretending to make sense of reality.
“What are ye doing in me room?”
William released her, and she pulled the covers over her chest. He gritted his teeth as he backed away from her.
She sat up, pulling the covers along with her. Beneath, her hands worked on tying her robe. At least, she still had some sense of decency.
A maelstrom of emotions rose in William’s chest—annoyance, anger, irritation, and most especially confusion at the woman holding back a grin. He was used to women, and none had ever been like her.
“I heard screams.”
The room was dark, and her hair blended with the shadows. He decided he must have seen an emotion other than mischief flashing across her face.
“I am truly sorry to have woken ye. Ye see…” She coyly inched away from him, pulling her slender legs into her chest like a child suffering from a melancholic bout. “I was having a nightmare about me husband.” She looked at him from beneath thick lashes. “Yer uncle.”
Had it been any other woman, he would have thought she intended to seduce him. This recalcitrant was very much waiting for the vein to pop in his forehead.
He decided to take the bait. Show her the dangers of summoning a man into her chambers in the middle of the night. His uncle never got the chance to enjoy her, so he would feel no guilt.
“I see. I heard ye found his body. It must be hard for a woman of yer delicate nature.”
“Thank ye for yer understanding.” Then she lay back down. “And thank ye for coming to check if I was in any danger, but ye may leave now. Please close the door on yer way out.”
William gritted his teeth as he watched her pretend to sleep. He was even more irritated when her lashes fluttered so she could discreetly watch his exit.
Too bad. He considered leaving the door ajar. If he were lucky, the cold would get to her. Or slamming the door and giving her a fright.
He shook his head. He refused to stoop to her level.
He had barely stepped past the third lamp when another scream sounded.
This time, he did not run to her. He walked, his pace brisk and purposeful. Her wails did not stop even after he crossed into her room. He stormed to her and clapped a hand over her mouth.
She did not feign fear. “I didnae mean to make ye come back.” Her breath was hot against his palm.
He groaned as her tongue darted out and licked him. “Ye’re going to rouse the castle. Perhaps ye should sleep outside if it would do better for yer constitution.”
He found his breath after a moment. By then, his anger had subsided into something more carnal. He lowered his nose to hers, smelling her musky scent, and swallowed thickly.
Eventually, after a few minutes of staring at her, he withdrew his hand. He realized it had been burning. Around her lips, perspiration caught the light. Sorcha scooted away, putting distance between them.
He could not decide if she was merely uncomfortable or if his grip had traumatized her.
“I’m sorry. I’m nae usually such a bother.” He found that hard to believe. “I would forgo this evening’s sleep if it meant ye could get some beauty sleep.”
“Do that, then.”
Sorcha walked out of the room and then returned with a lit taper. She wrapped her hand around the candleholder in a way he found arousing.
At that moment, William decided it was time to get some well-deserved sleep. He left her room for the second time that evening.
Once in his room, he took off his shirt and boots, but left his trousers on.
He sank into the bed with the intention to sleep and not be woken until sunlight hit his eyes, but he could not get the sight of her beneath him out of his mind. He groaned loudly, rubbing a hand down his face.
Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.
His mind quieted, then he recalled how her breasts had jiggled when she moved. Worse, he had felt her soft skin beneath his palm.
