Her cheeks burned hot with a blush. “It is true. Laird Keith locked that chamber door after having a priest marry us.”
Diarmuid thought her mad. Ailsa saw it in his eyes.
“I realize it sounds quite unreasonable,” she stammered, unable to resist the impulse to try and wiggle out from beneath him again. His cock hardened further, making her mouth go dry. “This is a very awkward position to have a conversation in.”
One corner of his mouth twitched upwards. For just a moment his face was transformed. She’d thought him fair already. But when he wasn’t scowling, he was very handsome.
“Ye must have joined me in this bed, lass,” he muttered. But he rolled to one side. “And ye have already admitted that ye knew I was in the bed.”
“Yes,” she agreed. Her lips were suddenly dry. She rolled them in, only to notice that his gaze was on her mouth.
“I am waiting on an explanation, lass.”
His tone was firm. Without a doubt he was the son of the Laird. Diarmuid was clearly accustomed to having his will obeyed.
Wives obeyed. And they were in bed.
“Just give me the name of the one who lured ye into this scheme,” Diarmuid insisted.
“I am not part of any scheme.”
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “Ye are as nervous as a virgin who has lost her chaperone at sunset.”
Ailsa laughed. She just couldn’t help it. Diarmuid tilted his head to one side. “Ye find it amusing to be in bed with me without the blessing of the church? Tell me who has made ye believe ye have so little worth. I promise I will nae permit yer innocence to be bartered like a mug of mead.”
Ailsa sobered. A feeling fluttered inside of her that she had to contemplate for a moment before she managed to identify it. She felt respected. He was very serious, and it warmed her to see it in his eyes. For the first time since climbing into the bed with him, she relaxed.
He was an honorable man.
Diarmuid read the emotions on her face. He reached out, smoothing some of her unbound hair back from her face. “I should nae be seeing ye like this. Such a privilege should be reserved for the man who shares yer wedding night.”
“We are wed.”
His eyes narrowed. “Ye do nae need to continue with this farce.”
“I wish it was untrue.” Ailsa let out a little huff. “But the woman who was trusted as my chaperone tossed me over the side of the ship I was on. She paid off the captain and he sailed away. I made it to shore through the grace of everything holy where Brom found me. It is a relief in a way to hear you say that you were attacked.”
He grunted. “I will nae be lenient with the man who struck me from behind. There is no honor in it.”
The bed ropes creaked. That was all the warning Ailsa got before Diarmuid was once again pressing her onto her back, his body hard and immovable. “Tell me his name.”
The relief she’d felt had been a mistake. Diarmuid had wanted her to lower her guard, but he still believed her guilty of wrongdoing.
“I do not know.” She tried to buck him off her, but he remained solidly in place. Every inch of her body was exploding with new, powerful sensations. Truthfully, she had never realized her body could even experience such extreme feelings.
“Why are ye in my bed if you are nae desperate?” Diarmuid demanded softly. “Ye are too fetching to do something like this unless ye are desperate. I will offer ye my protection.”
He was so close; she felt his breath against her lips. A shudder shook her when the delicate surface of her lips tingled with anticipation. It was the strangest reaction she’d ever had to another human being.
No, reaction wasn’t the correct word. What she felt was a yearning. But his look was harsh, condemning her and she could not stand it. The need to be worthy in his eyes filled her full of indignant rage.
“But a single day ago I was on a ship bound for my marriage. I was betrayed by those my father trusted. But I did not give up, I made it to the shore where Brom found me. Your father said that if I fail to wake you, he will entomb me here with you,” she reiterated hoping he’d understand.
“That makes no sense,” Diarmuid argued.
“Your father believes there is a ghost in this tower.”
His expression eased. “Aye, he is nae alone in that.”
