Page 70 of The Laird’s Wrong Wife

Oscar removed his hand from between Ceana’s thighs and placed it on her waist. His body stayed between her and the entrance.

“Remain still,” he whispered.

Her fingers were still tangled in his hair. She released him and smoothed the front of her dress, trying to ignore the throb between her legs. His collar had creased in her fist, so she straightened it and flattened one lapel over his chest.

His gaze dropped to her swollen lips. “They are movin’ away.”

Ness’s hooves scraped near the stairs. Tommy tried to coax her toward the gallery, and Paisley laughed when the goat resisted.

“One last spot,” Paisley said. “Then we concede.”

Ceana had wanted to hear that laugh when she agreed to the game. If she revealed their hiding place, Paisley could finish the game with a clean victory.

She met Oscar’s eyes. “The bairns should win.”

Oscar’s eyes narrowed. “Ceana…”

Before he could say anything else, she coughed, and the sound carried through the hanging.

There was a pause.

“I heard someone,” Paisley noted.

The sound of boots rushed toward them. Oscar’s hand tightened once on Ceana’s waist before he stepped back as far as the recess permitted. The hanging was swept aside, and Paisley appeared with Tommy close behind her.

“I found them!” she cried.

“We found them,” Tommy corrected. Ness thrust her head between the children and nosed Oscar’s boot. “Ness showed us this place before.”

Ceana stepped out into the passage and offered Paisley her hand with due ceremony. “The victory is yers, captain.”

Paisley took it, smiling as she lifted her chin.

Oscar emerged behind Ceana and adjusted one cuff. He kept his attention on Tommy while his hand settled briefly against Ceana’s back. Her lips were still tingling, and each step recalled the feel of his palm between her thighs.

“Another round,” Tommy demanded. “This hidin’ place is forbidden. Da has an unfair advantage because he kens the holes inside the walls.”

“The adults must seek now,” Paisley suggested. “They can count by the old stairs while we hide.”

“Aye,” Ceana agreed. Paisley’s color had returned, her attention already fixed on possible hiding places. “Choose where we should count.”

Before anyone else could speak, another set of footsteps sounded from the opposite end of the passage.

Lennan rounded the corner at a pace too swift for a casual walk. A line of road dust marked his boots, and one hand remained closed at his side. Tommy’s next protest died as Oscar looked past him.

Lennan’s gaze moved once between them before landing on the stone beyond Ceana’s shoulder. The look on his face made Oscar drop his hand to his side.

“A word, me Laird.”

CHAPTER 18

Oscar studied Lennan before answering. His man-at-arms held himself rigid, with one hand clenched at his side and his breathing carefully level.

Whatever had brought him to the upper passage was critical.

Oscar could still feel the ghost of Ceana’s kiss on his lips. He closed the hand that had held her, opened it again, then straightened the front of his coat. A deliberate step put space between them. Paisley and Tommy watched him, their excitement fading with each passing second.

“The next round must wait,” he said. “Paisley, take Tommy downstairs.”