Catrina chuckled. “Alright, then.” She was out the door, and Jane heard that click again. Jane noted that the tub was rather large. Was this a Scottish thing, tubs that could comfortably fit two tall people at the same time? Well, that was just as well, as she moved from side to side, sighing in pleasure. She closed her eyes and let the water wash over her skin.
“Ye are enjoying the hot water, I see.”
Jane jumped. Her eyes flew open. She turned to see Alistair standing to the side. He was wearing nothing but a kilt and holding a towel. Only now did Jane regain her power of speech. “What are you doing here?! Leave this instant!” She went deep into the water in an attempt to hide her breasts.
Alistair grinned. “It’s a little too late fer that, dinnae ye think?” he asked. “What are ye doing here?”
“What areyoudoing here?”
“Well, Jane Marsh,” Alistair said, his hand’s akimbo, “this just happens tae be me bath chamber.”
“Catrina did not tell me that.”
“Catrina daes nae ken about the secret door that leads from the bathroom tae me bedroom.” He motioned towards said door, and Jane could not even recognize it as such. It was all wall.
A true secret door.
“Dinnae blame her. She probably believes that I am still at the meeting with me men.”
“Turn.”
“Pardon, lass?”
“Turn, Alistair, so I can get out of the tub and you can have it to yourself.”
He grinned. “But I dinnae mind sharing it.” True to his word, he reached for the side of his kilt. Jane’s eyes squeezed shut.
“Don’t you dare!” she warned. When she felt motion next to her inside the water, she thought to herself that it could not be.
But Alistair was right beside her. She could feel him.
The audacity almost rendered Jane insensible. Her eyes flew open. She shifted to her end of the bathtub, unwilling to have any contact with Alistair’s body. She brought her knees up to shield her breasts from him, such that she tried to stay in the fetal position while struggling to hang on to the side of the tub.
“Dinnae fret,” he said. ‘I willnae dae anything tae ye. I only wish tae relax.”
“Well, will you look at that: that is exactly what I wanted until you intruded into my space and disturbed my peace.”
“Yer space?” Alistair chuckled. “Might I remind you that this is me bathtub? So, it ismepeace.”
“I will ring the bell and Catrina will come and see just how debauched you are,” she threatened.
Alistair shrugged. “Then you will have to explain why you are alone with me in a bathtub,” he said simply.
Despite her predicament, Jane found herself admiring the male specimen next to her. She found herself staring at his chest like she had in the forest. There was water in his hair and on his chin, and still he looked quite in control. And his blue eyes…
Oh, those eyes…
“Why are you like this?” Jane asked in a huff in an attempt to reel herself back in. “Why do you do the most outlandish things when we are together?”
His smile lit up his eyes. That was one thing she had noticed. When his smiles were genuine, his entire face was involved. This would be an endearing quality in any person other than him. But Jane could not put him and ‘endearing’ in the same statement. Everything about him made her want to turn and run… Or cling to him and never let go.
“Because I like tae see yer green eyes stare at me like they mean tae scorch me,” he replied, looking intently at the objects of his speech. “They are like green fires. Potent. Ravaging. Ravishing. Scorch me, Jane Marsh.”
Jane’s throat grew dry. She struggled to articulate a thought, but suddenly, there was a knock at the door. “Jane?” It was Catrina’s voice. Jane’s eyes widened in alarm.
“I ken ye asked fer a much longer time in here,” Catrina said from behind the door, “but it appears that the laird’s meeting with his men took less than expected. We need tae get ye ready fer dinner.”
Jane’s power of speech seemed to have been extinguished. She looked helplessly at the door. She turned to look helplessly at Alistair.
