Page 29 of Scot of Seduction

“What!?” Catreena muttered, staring wide eyed at Ilyssa’s green eyes.

“Dinnae give me that innocent look, I ken what I saw –”

“What’s going on in here?” Bran’s voice made them suddenly both go rigid.

Catreena turned to see Bran standing in the doorway nearby. He was covered in ash, but alive and well. His eyes turned with concern to Tad.

“He needs rest, ye two.”

“Aye, Faither Bran,” Catreena said with a roll of her eyes. “We’re nae yer children. I’m yer sister.”

“And I’m his wife,” Ilyssa said with no small degree of mischief in her voice. The two of them exchanged a look which made Catreena turn away. “Have ye managed tae put out the fire?”

“Aye,” Bran nodded. “Tad’s scouts are on the tails of the arsonists too. Soon, we’ll ken who did this.” His lips pressed together in a firm line as he looked at Tad. “Catreena, will he be all right?”

“Aye.” Catreena reached toward Tad on the bed, sliding her fingers across the covers, stopping just short of touching him. She was all too aware of how Ilyssa was watching. “Ye should rest too, Bran.”

Her brother nodded. He said nothing more but parted from the room, allowing the door to swing shut behind him. The moment he was gone, Ilyssa grabbed Catreena’s arm again.

“I thought his interruption would have stopped this nonsense,” Catreena muttered.

“Nay chance of that.” Ilyssa shook her head. “Look at ye.” She waved her hand at how close Catreena’s fingers were to touching Tad.

Catreena bit her lip, thinking of this same bed and what she and Tad had done on this bed just hours ago, before the fire. The way he had touched her had brought her pleasures she had not known existed, still making her gut writhe in excitement.

What I would give tae be back in that moment?

She could still picture it with ease, the way her fingers had gripped to the bed sheets as his fingers had entered her from behind. He’d rocked her back onto his hand, a perfect mirror of what more their bodies could be doing. She shivered with delight at the mere though, then her eyes traced Tad’s still figure.

Please wake up soon, Tad.

“Tell me all or I will tell Bran what I suspect,” Ilyssa declared with sudden authority.

“Ye wouldnae.”

“Try me.” Ilyssa folded her arms. “Ye two have been avoiding each other since ye traveled here together. That cannae be fer nay reason. Come on, out with it.”

Catreena looked toward Tad another time. It was not the moment for talking of anything like this, but she wished to remain at Tad’s side. She had a feeling the only way Ilyssa would allow her to stay here was if she knew the truth.

“I have nay idea what he feels, but…” She paused. “I care fer yer braither. Much more so than I ever thought possible.” Catreena wriggled in her seat. To see Tad so injured now was making her realize that it was not just a matter of attraction to Tad, though that fire had been consuming her for some time now. No, she cared for him much more than that. “Please, dinnae make me leave his side.”

Ilyssa smiled in a sad sort of way.

“I thought Tad someday might have tae prove himself worthy of ye,” Ilyssa whispered.

“Wh-what?” Catreena repeated in surprise.

“Well, he saved yer life today, didnae he?” Ilyssa reminded her and stood. She laid a hand comfortingly on Catreena’s shoulder. “I always thought ye might marry someday. As soon as he finished with his ladies and ye would forgive him for it.” She squeezed Catreena’s shoulder. “Ye have yer wish. I willnae make ye leave his side. Though dae me a favor if ye are tae court me braither. Tease him mercilessly fer his rakish ways. He shouldnae be forgiven straight away fer that. And dinnae worry, I willnae tell Bran. But ye should.” Ilyssa released her and parted from the room.

Catreena stared after Ilyssa in wonder, struggling to make sense of the conversation they had just shared. She wasn’t sure what baffled her more, the realization that Ilyssa had thought there was something between Catreena and Tad after all, or the fact that she had mentioned courtship.

Tad would never court me. Would he?

Catreena looked around and reached for the cloth again. She wrung it out, leaving it damp, but as she reached to place it on Tad’s arm, she found his gray eyes staring back at her.

“Tad!” she exclaimed, dropping the cloth on the bed. She snatched it up quickly, returning it to the basin with a splash, then dragged her stool as close as she could possibly get it to the bed. “How are ye feeling?”

He was already pushing himself up on the bed. Evidently, the draught she had given him was wearing off. He stretched out his bandaged arm, staring at the neat job she had made with the linen.