Chapter Eight
Malcolm knew thatthe lass was only trying to make idle conversation and that she wasn’t really prying into his history and personal life.
But when she sat in front of him in her night robe, the material much too thin to be proper, he had a hard time not reacting to the lass. He could see the swell of her breasts, the hard peaks of her nipples poking the fabric.
His cock jumped to attention as if it were answering a battle cry and it was taking all of his self-control to not pull her up from her chair, wrap her in his arms, and capture her mouth like an invading army.
Over and over in his mind he had to remind himself she wasn’t some lass he picked up on the street. She was potentially a criminal. A thief who had stolen items from some of the biggest estates across Scotland.
“Malcolm?”
His name on her lips was a sweet song and he wondered what it would sound like for her to say it with her voice husky with passion.
He rubbed his hands across his face, trying to erase the erotic imagery trampling through his mind.
“Aye?”
She stood and brought the mug over to the basin of water to wash it before taking a towel to dry it before replacing it back in the cupboard.
“I feel much better and would like to return to my room.”
“Of course.” He grabbed the lantern and waved his hand for her to exit the kitchen. It was selfish of him, but he wanted to watch her arse rock from side to side as she ascended the stairs in front of him. And when he did, he had to swallow the groan that wanted to escape him at the sight.
Mayhap he should look for a wench to get lost in for the night. But just the thought soured his stomach. Nay, a wench wouldn’t do. It wasn’t that he just needed the release. There was only one person that could cure what he was longing for, and it was someone he could not touch.
At the door to her room, she spun and pierced him with a serious look. “Are ye going to sleep in the hall for the rest of the night.”
“Aye.”
Her brows furrowed. “Go sleep in your bed. I promise ye that Mary and I will still be here in the morn.”
“That is what a thief would say,” he jested with a wink.
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Ye tease.”
“I do,” he chuckled. “I shall think about where I will sleep. Rest well, Lass.”
She paused for a moment longer and he didn’t think she was going to enter the room, but finally she nodded.
“Good night, my lord,” she whispered before disappearing inside.
He leaned against his own door, staring at the door she’d just shut quietly behind her, clenching his jaw. There was no question that she and her maid would be there in the morn. He had no doubt that she wouldn’t run. She was quite genuine when she’d made the proclamation.
But he couldn’t protect her if he was sleeping in his room.
Out here, he could see everyone that walked down the corridor. No one in their right mind would attempt to enter the ladies’ room whilst he was here so once again, he sat down and leaned his back against the door to his room.
The lasses would be safe. He would make certain of it.
The rest of the night passed with no events of note. As the sun rose and weak rays filtered in through the window at the end of the hall, Malcolm stood and groaned at the pain that shot through his back. These days his body much preferred sleeping on a soft mattress instead of the hard floor. The aches would only be more pronounced after another day stuck crammed into a carriage as they continued their journey to Stonehaven.
He listened at the door of Lizzie’s room and could hear shuffling inside. The hum of the rustle of the inn coming to life reached his ears, and satisfied that no one would attempt any harm to the lasses in the light of day with people milling about, he ducked inside his own room.
The bed was soft as he sat on it, his body begging him to lie down for just a bit. He fought the urge to just close his eyes for a minute. Instead, he walked over to the basin and splashed the cool water on his face to chase the tiredness away.
He quickly changed into fresh clothes and was buttoning his jacket when a soft knock sounded on his door.
Kenning it was Lizzie, he answered curious as to what she wanted. Mayhap something had happened.
