Page 129 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

For a moment, she walked around the tiny cabinet that was attached to the end of the chamber. Glancing about, she viewed it with great interest, taking in the heavy mahogany writing bureau at its center.

"What is this place?" she asked, the light coming into her eyes. In fact, it was dark in there, but just enough light to see by.

William glanced up, smiling. "Och, this wee hidey-hole? 'Tis my father's auld cabinet 'cept he used to call it his library."

William's eyes arched upward. Following him, Nora took in the rolls of shelves etched into the shadows. Seeing all the books and manuscripts, she gasped.

"Jings!" she said, moving about in wonder. "I haven't seen a place like this afore."

William watched as Nora wandered about, glancing at the manuscripts and darkened corners of the tiny room.

"Nay library in Castle Douglas?" he asked, curious.

Nora almost laughed out loud. "Nay," she said. "My father can barely read." She turned to him as if searching for something, but obviously, she had been distracted.

"It took me ages to find ye!" she said in amazement. "I didnae even ken it was here."

Sliding his hand into hers, William sat her down at the bureau. There was a single candlestick between them, lighting the way. It flickered crazily as she gazed at him.

William felt his heart surge. And then something else, too. He had to look away. Suddenly, he was hot.

"Well, aye, nae many people ken it's here," he said, with a wink. "It's a wee bit private, if ye get me."

His look seemed to rouse something. Nora lost her edge and appeared to settle. For the first time, she grinned.

"A man needs somewhere o' his own to read in private, away from the distractions o' all his womenfolk," added William. A slow smile crept around his face. He had been genuinely surprised by her presence, but now that she was here, he wanted to take full advantage of it.

"I see," she said, with a beam.

Walking around, she cast a finger over the ledge where the manuscripts were, and a thick wedge of dust came snowing down. Nora looked at him wryly.

"Do a lot o' reading, do ye?" she asked, by now distracted, if not completely calmed.

William cast her a glance. "Sometimes," he said with a wink. "Sometimes it's just a wee bit o' respite from clan business, an' ye ken, the hordes o' comely maids who come beating mah door doon in the wee hours."

Nora blushed. "It wasnae the wee hours when I came in search o' ye," she said, composing herself to stand up. She fixed him brightly with her eyes, then, rearranging the hair around one side of her head, smiled. "I have been everywhere; yer chamber, the hall, the training grounds, the gardens, the woodlands..."

Coming closer, Nora put her fingers on his cheek. It pulsated there, sending twinges shooting all over William's body. She smelled sweet, sensual—ready for the taking…

"Come here." William could not wait. Taking her firmly, he delivered a fulsome kiss, one so sweet it totally silenced her. The sensation of her skin against his was electric. Desperately, William fought the instinct to lift her and go to his bedchamber.

"William, I…" began Nora, before drifting into silence.

The scent of her hair wafted over. It was meadow flowers on a summer day. Running his fingers through it greedily, William wondered what she had used on it.

"Wheesht," said William, lifting his finger to her. He laid down on top of her, caressing her with his other hand.

"Shh," warned Nora, as the sound of manuscripts being crushed echoed over the chamber. They were on the bureau, but there was not enough space, so William guided her onto the floor.

With a magnificent scrunching, papers fell to the floor, lining it fully. Her eyes lifted, Nora looked around.

"Dinnae ye want all this back up?" she asked, but William stopped her. Kissing her hard, he pulled her to the floor, where, giggling, she hugged him.

"Nay," he said, finally, but by then it was too late for the parchments underneath. Nora rolled around, covered in documents; inventories, letters, accounts, receipts, all of them flying about. "I dinnae care about it. Noo come here, ye wee strumpet."

He caressed her slowly at first, his hand exploring the tops of her shoulders. Touching them sent a rush down his spine. Although he still had not seen them—or any of her naked flesh—he could guess them.

But her houppelande was long and voluminous. Heaven knew what it was made from. It might have been a suit of armor for the effect it had. And the fastenings! William was not too sure how she had even gotten into it. Presumably, she had been sewn in for the luck he was having getting inside it.