Page 51 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

Her stomach quivered all the more when she reached his hand, trailing her fingers through his own. He suddenly gripped tight, his fingers lacing with her own, making her gasp in surprise.

“Thank ye,” he whispered. Then it was gone, he released her hand again She rinsed both arms carefully with a damp cloth as they could not touch the water.

Her eyes couldn’t help darting into the water, trying to trace more of his bare body beneath the surface. She could have sworn his length was now hard, standing to attention, tall and proud.

She dropped the soap in surprise, and it fell into the tub.

“Thank ye, for that,” he suddenly groaned in pain and shot forward.

“Oh, Gilchrist, I’m so sorry,” she said hurriedly, reaching for him again.

“It doesnae matter.” He laughed, even as he suffered the pain. He’d bent forward in such a way that she could no longer be sure if his length was hardened. Perhaps it was all in her imagination? Did she see what she had wanted to see?

He picked up the soap and tried to place it on the stand again. She ran back around the tub and took it, returning it there for him, then she dropped down onto the stool and leaned on the bathtub.

“Who did this tae ye?” she asked with sudden passion and determination. Despite the strength in her tone, he did not answer. He leaned back on the bath edge, staring at her as he relaxed in the water. “Gilchrist, ye ken something more about this.”

“Ye would nae believe me. Nay one would.”

“How can ye say that? Of course, I would believe ye. I would believe anything ye told me. I trust ye, completely.”

“This is different.” He slowly shook his head. “This is something else, and until I understand it completely…” He paused and raised his hand to her cheek.

Astonished by the intimate touch, she didn’t pull away from him but leaned into him, closing her eyes and feeling his palm as he cupped her cheek.

Things had changed between them now, surely. This intimacy, this flirtation, it was all something new, something she longed for.

“I will tell ye all once I understand it and can be certain of what is happening,” he said in a deep tone. “I give ye me word on that.”

She opened her eyes to see his intense blue gaze upon her.

“Just promise me something in the meantime,” he whispered.

“What?”

“Don’t go anywhere alone,” he suddenly begged, his tone firm. “Always be around people, or around me.”

“Ye think someone wishes tae hurt me?” She shook her head as his fingers slowly left her cheek. “That makes nay sense. Someone attacked ye last night.”

“I ken.” He sank back in the bath again. “But me purpose is tae keep ye safe, Kyven, come what may.”

“Dinnae speak like that.” She leaned forward on the bath edge again. “Yer life isnae summarized by me existence.”

Yet he smiled, still looking at her.

“Is it nae?”

What does that mean?

“Gilchrist,” she whispered. “What dae ye…” She was about to ask what everything meant, what his unashamed flirtation had meant, what this sudden confidence was. She found it so alluring that she didn’t want to leave this room, yet her own courage failed her. She ended up just staring at him, unsure how to finish the question.

She knew how many times they had sat together in that library, how many times he’d had the chance to say something to her about how he felt, and yet he had not. Why now?

“What is it?” he asked, encouraging her on.

“It doesnae matter.” She stood abruptly. “I-I’ll make sure the castle grounds are searched again fer yer attacker. We’ll increase the guard on the walls too. We willnae have another intruder.”

“Kyven?” he called to her as she made her way to the door, but nothing could stop her now. She was in the full throes of action, determined to be free of this room and to keep him safe.