With one last thrust, heaven found them both, releasing the tension that had built between them in a powerful burst of passion. Two souls tumbling together over the waterfall of tingling sensation. The emotions that ripped through her were so divine that Meg couldn’t believe she had once thought she could live without love.
Gasping with wonder, she clutched Alex to her, her breathing short and shallow. His arms gathered her up in his protective hold, cuddling her body close to his. When their breathing returned to normal, he rolled to the side, one arm still resting across her naked chest.
He reached over and gently removed a strand of hair caught in her lashes. A look of pure adoration lightened his features almost beyond recognition.
He stroked her cheek with his finger, and his expression grew tender. He seemed poised to say something. Meg wanted to believe that it would be significant to their future.
Her heart clenched, waiting.
But she would never find out what it was that Alex was going to say, important or not.
Because at that incredibly promising moment, when anything and everything seemed possible, the door burst open and Meg’s life changed forever.
Chapter 16
“You bastard!” Jamie swore savagely. “I should kill you for this.”
Alex immediately moved to block Meg from Jamie’s view. Meg was only a second behind with the coverlet, lifting it up to hide her nakedness.
Alex’s face hardened as he stared down his former friend. “You could try,” he said with deadly calm. “But I wouldn’t advise it. Especially after you’ve just barged into my room without invitation or without the courtesy of a knock.”
“I was looking for Meg, and when her maidservant told me where she’d gone…” Jamie looked purposefully at the bed with a sneer. “Well, it seems I was too late.”
“Have care, Campbell. Before you say something that I cannot overlook.”
Some of Jamie’s righteous indignation faded under the barely harnessed threat of Alex’s rage. Alex should be the one issuing challenges, and if he hadn’t felt guilty over the other man’s jealous plight, he might have done so. He was furious at Jamie for bursting in on them and embarrassing Meg. His mere presence seemed to turn what they’d shared into something shameful and sordid. But most of all, Alex was angry at being forced to confront the reality of what he’d done before he’d even had a chance to savor the moment of contentment and bliss.
“Unless you want to bring the whole court down on top of us, you’ll lower your voice and close the door.”
Jamie looked as though he wanted to refuse, if just on principle, but after a quick glance at Meg’s pallid face, he shut the now broken door.
In the same hard tone, Alex ordered, “Now, if you’ll turn around for a moment, you can save Meg from further embarrassment.”
Jamie did as instructed, turning away stiffly, giving them both time to dress. Alex slid off the bed, picked up his trews and shirt from the heap of clothing on the ground, and quickly clothed himself. When he’d finished, he handed Meg her garments, allowing her a moment to pull on her sark, then helping her as best he could with the laces of her stays and gown.
When her clothing had reached some semblance of order, Alex indicated to Jamie that he could turn back around. The quiet in the small room was deafening as they took turns staring at one another. Silent recriminations darted back and forth.
Jamie broke the silence. “So, it appears you’ve changed your mind. You’ll be asking for her now?”
Everything went still.
Alex felt the consequences of his decision crashing down on him. Consequences that he’d been aware of but had hoped to work out on his own.
He knew what he had to do. Honor demanded it. The moment he’d taken her to his bed, the decision had been made. Even taken away by passion, he’d recognized it. Jamie’s ill-timed arrival had only hastened his decision. But it didn’t make it any easier to say the words. Nor did he know what this would mean for his plans to go to Lewis. He didn’t want to put Meg in danger, and how could he be the husband she needed if he was fighting on Lewis?
How could he have jeopardized all that he’d worked for these past five years? He thought of the hours spent on the battlefield honing his skills, the years away from his family and home, living in conditions not fit for a dog. But most of all, he thought of his cousins and the ill-fated decision that had led to their deaths. Must he choose between Meg and his conscience?
This was exactly what he’d wanted to avoid. Alex cared for Meg more than he’d ever cared about another woman in his life. More than he wanted to think about. Enough to know that marrying him would create problems for her. But there was no choice. He couldn’t leave her to face ruin, to face the disappointment of her father.
He blamed no one but himself, but he didn’t like being forced into anything, and certainly not like this.
Meg couldn’t believe this was happening. One moment she was luxuriating in the single most beautiful moment of her life, the next Jamie burst through the door, discovering them in flagrante delicto. It all felt suddenly…wrong.
For a second, she thought they might come to blows. These two strong men she cared so much about squared off at each other with violent undercurrents running between them. Meg hated to see them at each other’s throats because of her.
She wanted to say something to Jamie, to try to explain, but the words seemed to tangle in her mouth. He wouldn’t even look at her. Meg felt ill. She’d never meant to hurt him. She cared for Jamie; he’d always been like a brother to her.
She knew what she’d risked in coming here, but she’d certainly never contemplated a nightmarish situation like this. A situation that had gotten that much worse when Jamie forced the answer to the question she’d most wanted to hear. But she wanted it from Alex. Freely given and without coercion.
