Page 13 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

P anic rushed through him. Her scream was so loud it would alert the guards. In no time at all, there would be an almighty rush of action. The last thing Edward needed was a group of guards seeing his wife naked in the bathtub. He didn’t think Evelyn would be too enamored with that circumstance either.

Launching himself across the room, he reached her in seconds, and dropping to his knees, he pressed his hand across her mouth.

“Quiet! Ye must be quiet,” he barked, his hand muffling her cries. “Yer shrieks will have the guards at the door in seconds.”

Those words seemed to have the desired effect, for Evelyn immediately stopped screaming. Her eyes were still wide though, staring at Edward in terror. She had been taken completely unaware and her fright was genuine. He could see that. But she had nothing to fear, he would never hurt her.

“Will ye be quiet now?” he asked, his hand still pressing against her soft lips.

She nodded, her eyes locked onto his.

“All right.” Only then, did he remove his hand. Pushing himself to a stand, he moved away from the tub to maintain her dignity.

“What are ye daeing in here?” she gasped.

“This is me bedchamber too, Evelyn,” he replied. “Craig, James and I have just finished training. I came tae freshen up and change me clothes. I didnae think that would be a problem fer ye.”

“Well, it is,” she hissed.

She was huddling down against the side of the tub, but that did not hide the soft glistening skin of her shoulders. Behind her, the fire crackled. She seemed to glow in the flickering of the flames.

“And now, I cannae get out of the tub until ye leave,” she continued.

Edward turned his back to her. “There. I will remain here until ye’re out and dressed.”

For a second, Evelyn did not reply. Edward remained where he was and waited.

“Ye are positive ye willnae turn around?” she said, still clearly in the tub.

“Ye have me word,” Edward confirmed. “Though in truth, I am yer husband. I shouldnae have tae turn around.”

“Swear ye willnae,” she gasped, now clearly doubting him.

Lifting his right hand in the air, he said, “I swear, Evelyn.”

Still, there seemed to be no movement. Edward waited. And waited. Eventually, he heard the splash of water, and imagined she was now standing up. He had never seen her in a state of undress, but his imagination had. A picture began forming in his mind’s eye.

Water droplets would be trickling down her body, trailing over her breasts, over her pert nipples as they grew cold. The trail would continue over her slender stomach, down to the apex of her thighs. Behind her, the fire would be lighting her from the back, the flickering flames highlighting every curve and crevice. The roundness of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the curve of her hips, the gap between her thighs.

More splashing reached his ears. She was stepping out of the tub in all her beautiful, naked glory. The water from her body would be dripping onto the stone floor underfoot. He imagined her skin pebbling from the change of temperature, the cold air of the room dancing against her hot skin. Her nipples would pucker and tighten, a shiver might run across her body.

As the picture became clear in his mind, Edward found himself hardening. In fact, it was the most aroused he had felt ever. There had been times he had admired her and he had fantasized what it might be like to make love to her. But those daydreams had never aroused him. Not like this.

Nor had they ever been in such a circumstance together. Usually, both of them were dressed, or, if the one was in a state of undress, the other was nowhere to be seen.

This was the closest they had been to what a husband and wife ought to be. In that moment, the tension in the room crackled as intensely as the logs on the fire. More than ever before, he wanted her. So much was his arousal affecting him, that Edward found himself struggling to breath as the tightening in his groin became nearly unbearable.

“I am ready,” Evelyn declared. “Ye can turn around now.”

She might be ready, but Edward certainly wasn’t. Clenching his fists, he tried to calm himself, but his arousal was overpowering. He took in long breaths, fighting the frustration and excitement he had allowed to build within him.

“What is the matter with ye?” Evelyn asked. “Are ye ill? Are ye injured?” Her last question was spoken with worry, and he heard her take a step toward him.

“Nay!” he said sharply, thrusting a hand out for her to remain where she was. “I’m nae injured.”

“Then, what is it?” she pressed. “What’s wrong?”

“Naething is wrong,” he breathed. “I’m fine. I will gather me things and leave.”

Hardly able to look at her, he tried his best to keep his back to her as he moved across the bedchamber to the dresser. There was not a chance he wanted to linger in the room a moment longer than necessary. He still had to clean up, but he would find somewhere else to do it. Hurriedly pulling at a drawer, he grabbed at a shirt.

“What has gotten intae ye?” Evelyn asked. “Why are ye avoiding me all o’ sudden? Something is wrong, and ye’re nae telling me.”

“I’m nae avoiding ye,” Edward lied, his head so low, it was nearly inside the drawer he peered into.

“Ye are. Since our wedding day, I’ve asked ye, nae, begged ye tae leave me be. But this is the first time ye’ve actually done it. Has someone said something tae ye? Is it James?” Her tone was now mocking. “Has he been giving ye advice on how dae deal with a difficult wife?”

His groin still ached, though her words and mockery were slowing helping to calm him. Not enough that he trusted himself though. He had to get out of that room, and he had to do it quickly. Ignoring her, he grabbed his clothes, slamming the drawer shut.

He was about to reach the door, when Evelyn did something that took him completely by surprise. She actually stood in front of him and blocked his way. Her eyes locked onto his, forcing him to look at her. It was a mistake. A huge mistake.

The thin robe she had wrapped around herself was damp and clung to her body. Water still clung to the skin on her collar bone, the dips and shadows of which were prominent. Beads of water sat on the pebbled skin of her bosom and the plunge of her cleavage. The round shape of her breasts was clear to see through the wet material, as were her hardened nipples.

Oh, God!

“Tell me what is going on?” Evelyn said.

Edward took another unsteady breath in. “I… just…”

“What?” Evelyn lifted her arms questioningly. “Ye just…?”

“I cannae be around ye right now,” he growled.

Evelyn frowned at that reply. “Around me? Why?”

“I just need space, Evelyn. That’s all.”

She snorted. “Space. From what?”

“From ye,” he said firmly. “I need space from ye. I dinnae trust mesel’ right now.”

Her eyes danced as she stared up at him. He could see her mind working, trying to comprehend his words. And then, there it was, a flash in her eyes. Suddenly, she understood his meaning perfectly. Her eyes popped a little wider, her brows lifted, and she took in a small gasp of breath.

Now that she knew, Edward was certain she would move aside, or scurry away in terror. Instead, she remained exactly where she was standing. The tension once again rose in the room, only this time, Edward was certain he wasn’t the only one feeling it.

The next time she spoke, her words were soft, her voice low. “Why dinnae ye trust yersel’?”

Her sultry tone only made the circumstances, and Edward, even harder. God, he just wanted grab this woman and kiss her. Dare he tell her that? Would he completely terrify her if he did so?

“I’m afraid o’ what I might dae,” he replied, hoping that would be enough information.

Her voice was now barely a whisper, her eyes wide as she gazed up at him. “What might ye dae?”

Fixing his gaze upon her, Edward replied, “Dae ye truly want tae ken?”