Her heart flipped. “God!”
She scrambled back, tumbling to the side of the bed, nearly losing her balance.
“What in Christ’s name are ye doing in here?” she demanded, her voice sharp with shock.
CHAPTER 9
“Calm down,”he said, his voice low, almost teasing.
“What do ye mean,calm down?” she shot back, as her hands balled into fists. “Ye snuck into me bed before me! What kind of person does that?”
“Do ye think I wanted to do this?”
“Oh, I would never put it past ye,Laird MacRay,” she snapped. “Ye have practically done everything possible to make sure I am yers again, have ye nae? Including snatching me away without me permission.”
She could see the slight shift of his shoulders and the faint dip of his head. He was rolling his eyes, even if the dark covered most of it.
“Och, this again,” he muttered.
“Of course I have to keep bringing it up, when ye do things like this,” she said, her voice rising. “Hiding in me bed until I arrive.”
The thought hit her with a jolt, and she stumbled back a step, her hand flying to her mouth. “God… did ye watch me change, ye bastard?”
“Watch yer language,” he warned, his voice sharp enough to cut the air between them. “And I had nay idea ye’d be in here. I was already asleep. I only woke up when I felt ye on the bed.”
“It doesnae make it any better.”
“Well, it’s still the truth.”
Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths. “And I daenae believe ye. Are ye really that desperate to have me as yer wife that ye have to get in bed with me on me first day in the castle?”
“Will ye let me talk, for the love of God, Lily!”
The room fell into heavy silence, broken only by the rhythm of their breathing. Outside, the moon crept from behind its blanket of clouds and shone directly into the window. It outlined him there. He was broad-shouldered, bare-chested, still and watchful.
Lily swallowed.
He moved, sitting forward with his forearms resting on his knees, his eyes still fixed on her. “I suppose the maids arranged this without askin’. They probably didnae think we’d want to sleep in separate rooms, seeing as we are husband and wife.”
“For the last time, Alasdair, I am nae yer wife. Ye need to stop sayin’ that.”
“We were handfasted.”
“Aye, and ye ran away. It has been ten years. For the love of God, stop thinkin’ that still binds me to ye.”
“‘Tis nae that simple.”
“‘Tis as simple as anythin’ to me.”
“Nay,” he said, his voice a low growl. “Believe me, it isnae.”
He stood now, the moonlight illuminating his figure. She saw the slope of his shoulders and the lines of muscle across his chest. Her eyes settled on the faint dusting of hair there. The sight alone caught her off guard and made her knees weaken for the briefest of moments.
She swallowed again and immediately tore her eyes away.
“Ye daenae think I could’ve had ye on the journey?” he asked, his voice quiet but edged. “In the forest, after yestabbedme in the thigh?”
“If ye’re expecting me to apologize for that?—”
