Allie swallowed. The intensity in his gaze pulled her toward him, gripped her and refused to let go. “I do not.”
“Why?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “For taunting your sister that way.”
“Telling her you bedded a tavern maid, you mean?”
He winced.
“You know how I feel about my sister’s approval. Why would you say such a thing?”
“Because I was angry.”
“You cannot lash out every time someone makes you angry. Will you do that with me?”
Though she was clearly making him uncomfortable, Allie did not relent. “And how will you act when it does not work? When I refuse to be pushed away?”
Reid did not answer.
“We need to make this right.” Were they really having this conversation as she sat naked in a tub of water? At least the sheen on top hid her body.
“That’s why I am here, Allie. I should not have said what I did, but your sister . . .”
“Is proving stubborn,” she said. “But this afternoon changes nothing. We cannot begin our lives together in such a way.”
“I know.”
Allie could not have been more surprised. “You do?”
“Aye, lass. I understand the bond between siblings. And neither do I want our clans to have a reason to fight each other. We have enough enemies to the south without creating more from former allies.”
“What do you propose?”
Allie reached into the water below to look for the soap she’d dropped.
“I will speak to her—”
“Nay, that is not enough.” Where was that soap? She hesitated to move around more, lest she disturb the water and reveal all to Reid.
“What else can I do?” he asked.
“Honor her wishes,” she said, meeting his eyes. He was not going to like this, but Allie knew her sister. Though she could be quite docile and hesitant, a product of their parents’ tutelage, when it came to her, Gillian turned fiercely protective. Until recently, her sister had always obeyed their father in all things. Remain within the castle walls? Gillian did not stray. Marry an old man with a more-than-questionable reputation? Gillian obeyed.
But when she found Allie in the gardens one day crying, begging to go on an adventure—just one—Gillian had risked their father’s wrath to take her away from Lyndwood for the day. Despite his forbidding it, they rode well beyond the castle walls to the eastern edge of their property, a spot well-known by all for its beauty. And the moment she learned Allie had been betrothed to that same horrid man, Gillian had left Highgate End in haste in the hopes of stopping it.
If Gillian believed Reid Kerr was bad for her, she would do everything possible to ensure he stayed away. If not for the severity of the situation at the border, he would have likely already been asked to leave Highgate End. But thankfully, doing so would not allow Clan Kerr a voice in what would be a pivotal decision for border relations. Her sister was protective, not foolish.
There was only one way to get her blessing . . .
“Prove to her that you are a man of honor.”
“You ask me to honor her wishes . . . what are they?”
Ah, there it was. But the soap was slippery, and as soon as Allie gripped it, the little bar flew back out of her fingers. “That you stay away from me.”
As she suspected, Reid was not pleased by the idea. “That will not—”
“Reid, please. Let me speak to her. Give her some time—”
“We do not have time.”
“Has there been an agreement between the clans?”
Reid shook his head. “Nay, but the council will not last forever.”
“Just a few days,” she said. “Give her a chance to become accustomed to the idea, and let me handle her. Before others, act as if you’ve heeded her words. Deferred to her wishes. Please?”
She had pushed too far. Reid’s eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched so tight it had to hurt. She wasn’t sure the man was capable of deference.
“Reid?” Abandoning her search for the soap, Allie gripped the cloth underwater and watched Reid’s expression soften.
As it always seemed to do with her.
“Very well,” he said finally. “We will try this your way.” He leaned in toward the tub. “On one condition . . .”
“Anything.”
He gripped the side of the tub. When he gave her a wicked smile, Allie knew she’d responded much too quickly.
“Then you won’t mind if I recover your soap.”
It took her a moment to understand, but by then it was too late. His hand had already slipped into the tub.
“Reid, my maid—”
“Will be quite surprised if she returns now.” He paused in his search, and she found she did not want him to stop. “Are we agreed?”
Allie’s heart thudded in her chest, though she could not feel his hand. Yet.
“Agreed.”
The word no sooner left her lips than she felt the lightest brush of his fingertips along her waist. The taunting touch became more pronounced as those fingers moved along her hip. When his hand continued its exploration and finally settled on her breast, Allie leaned into it as his thumb and forefinger came together to caress her nipple. She could see the top of his hand as it dipped beneath the water and then resurfaced. Mesmerized by the motion, Allie felt an unexpected tingling between her legs.
“I do not believe you will find the soap there,” she managed, chancing a glance up at his face.
Allie wished she hadn’t done that.
Reid’s eyes, hooded and intense, held her own in their thrall. His hand glided down, away from her breast and toward her stomach, as Reid leaned closer toward the tub.
“Is it here, perhaps?” Pretending to search for the errant item, he explored and teased, his hand moving lower still.
“I do not believe so,” she said, the words coming out in a strange, throaty voice that sounded unlike her own.
Then he smiled.
Allie sucked in a breath, her heart beating wildly in anticipation of . . . she wasn’t sure. She only knew he was planning something.
“Relax,” he said.
Allie had thought she was relaxed. In fact, she couldn’t ever remember feeling this relaxed before. But when his hand slipped toward her curls, Allie understood. He would touch that most private place. A man who was not yet her husband, who should not be in her bedchamber and should certainly not be touching her.
“Trust me.”
She did. It was impossible to account for, the trust she had in this man, but she did trust him. And when his finger dipped even lower, between her legs, she nearly burst out of the tub. “Oh!”
She had not been expecting that.
The smile never left his face, and as Reid moved a finger inside her, she continued to watch him. When she arched up toward his hand, the water moved with them. And though she should probably be considering the consequences of being caught in such a compromising position, Allie concentrated instead on the feel of his strong, powerful hand so delicately caressing her very core.
“Reid, I—”
She spoke even though she had no words.
“I know,” he said.
What did he know? What was happening?
She moved her hips to the rhythm he set, slow at first and then faster and faster.
Part of her wanted to close her eyes, but she could not stop looking at Reid’s secret smile, the one that told her she was close to something wonderful.
“That’s it,” he said. “Come for me, sweet Allie.”
The words meant nothing.
And everything.
She could no longer control her eyes and they slammed shut just as she tightened and shuddered against him. As she gripped the side of the tub with one hand and his arm with another, Allie’s world changed forever. The glorious sensations continued to roll through her until she finally opened her eyes, her heart s
welling as warmth spread through her entire body. Reid appeared as pleased to have given her pleasure as she was to be reveling in it.
“Alas,” he said. “I do believe your soap is lost forever.”
He began to pull his hand away, but when she felt her hip knock against something solid, Allie grabbed it and placed the bar in his hand.
“Perhaps not.”
He took it from her and glided it across her waist, her chest. His hand dipped underwater and up again as he traced her body with the soap.
Allie closed her eyes and laid her head back against the tub’s rim, giving herself over to Reid completely. Her eyes flew open when a groan—a deep, guttural sound—met her ears.
Pulling his hand out from the tub, Reid offered the soap to her. “More of this, and I will be joining you in there, maid or no.”
The thought of Reid bathing alongside her in the small tub made her giggle. “I’m sure you would not fit in here with me.”
“Tempt me to find out, and Gillian will find her sister’s wedding as hastily planned as her own.”
Allie shivered. The thought of being found like this and forcibly wed to Reid was . . . oddly exciting.
“The lady thinks I jest.”
Reid flicked his fingers, splashing water on her cheek. She answered with a much larger splash of water that forced him away from the tub.
“I concede,” he said, standing. “Will you come down tonight?”
“Nay, I—”
“Not even to see me?” he said, clutching his heart as if she wounded him.
Allie smiled.
“Come,” Reid said. “I will not make any advances. But know, when I look at you”—his wicked grin warned her of the naughtiness of his next words—“I will be remembering the feel of you beneath my fingers.”
And so it was that she found herself dressing for the meal not long after Reid left her chamber. The power of that man’s persuasive skills would lead her to trouble yet.
13
“Kerr.”
Gillian had already warned him away, again, at the entrance to the hall, but it would appear her husband wished to issue another warning as well. Would he have to face the entire household before he took a seat?
“You did not forbid me to speak with her,” he said.
“Speak?” Graeme’s laugh was not one of joy.
Another man might not have known the man was angry. He appeared calm, his expression neutral, but Reid was not fooled. De Sowlis was furious, just as he’d expected him to be.
“It is my understanding you were not caught speaking to her.”
Reid wanted to remind the man of the reason he and Gillian were now married, but such a thing would hardly fit Allie’s plan. So instead, Reid said nothing.
“I thought we understood each other.”
When a maid offered them each a mug, Reid took one from her. It occurred to him belatedly that rather than encouraging Allie to attend the meal, he should have stayed away himself. Though hiding from a fight was not his usual course, he should have allowed the lord and lady of Highgate End time to cool.
“I understood that you did not wish for me to do Lady Allie any injury. And I have no intention to harm her in any way.”
Graeme’s scowl deepened. “What are your intentions, then?”
He’d promised Allie none would know of their agreement until Gillian approved of the match. Keeping that promise would make things more difficult.
“I don’t know.”
“Not the right answer, Kerr.”
He had given his word to de Sowlis as well, and he’d do his best to honor both that and the one of his intended.
“The situation is delicate,” he began, aware of Graeme’s intense gaze. “But know this as a man of honor. My intentions are pure, my word, unwavering. Lady Allie is an extraordinary woman, and I will do right by her by following her lead in this.”
Lady Gillian had arrived at the high table. She watched them from on high, and when her hand lifted, Graeme nodded, taking a step toward the dais. He then turned to Reid one last time.
“I will rely on your reputation as an honorable man, like your brothers, in this. But know well, Reid, if you hurt her, there will be repercussions.”
Reid nodded, for he did not intend to do so even knowing, for this night at least, he must distance himself from her.
Until he saw her.
Allie must have entered the hall while he was talking to Graeme. He told himself not to stare, but it was simply not possible. During training, her hair usually hung down her back in a long braid, and at dinner, she wore it piled atop her head or pulled away from her face.
But not tonight.
Allie had not noticed him yet. She was mid-conversation with someone, one of the few wives in attendance, it appeared, but his eyes were only for her. Her hair cascaded down her back, neither straight nor curly. When she reached up to sweep an errant strand from her front shoulder to her back, he almost crossed the room to her.
She reached out to touch the woman’s arm, a warm gesture he’d seen her use with other people, though never with him. But now . . . now this gorgeous creature would be his for all time. The thought did not terrify him, and Reid found himself caring less and less about the teasing that would certainly accompany the announcement of their betrothal. Toren and Alex would rightfully have much to say about him taking an English bride after he’d pledged never to take a wife, and certainly not an English one.
One woman, forever.
Reid remembered their interlude in her chamber and imagined a similar scene unfolding at Brockburg in the comfort of their own bedchamber. He grew hard thinking of what would happen next.
She looked at him. And though their eyes only met for the briefest moment, Reid’s chest swelled with pleasure. Unfortunately, she was not the only one to pay him any mind. Both Gillian and Graeme were watching him, and neither looked pleased. If he hoped to survive long enough to convince his hosts of his worthiness, he would need to practice greater subtlety.
“You are not doing so well, Kerr.”
He groaned . . . another de Sowlis. “If you are here to warn me away—”
“I’ve already told you that I believe the match is a good one. Why would I warn you away?” Aidan caught the attention of a nearby maid carrying a wooden tray of mugs and raised his hand.
She fairly tripped in her haste to reach them. “A mug of ale, my lord?”
The words were addressed to him, and Reid did not correct the title, though he did ignore the batting of her eyelashes and not-so-subtle advances. “Thank you.”
Each of them took a mug, and when nothing more was said, the woman frowned and turned away.
“No longer interested in pretty blonde maids?” Aidan took a swig of ale.
“No,” Reid confirmed. And although he had promised Allie to keep quiet about their marriage, he found himself saying, “There will be no others, ever.”
When he finally looked at Aidan, the other man was watching him with an unnerving intensity.
“What is it, de Sowlis?”
Aidan raised his mug to him. “A drink,” he said.
“To what do we drink?”
“Love.”
Whatever Aidan saw on his face made him sputter out a laugh as he swallowed his next mouthful of ale.
“Relax, Kerr,” he said. “It’s an affliction others have survived. My brother included.”
Reid could not help but frown as he looked at that very brother. The man looked back, his expression bleak.
“It may not matter,” he said, “if that brother kills me.”
Aidan chuckled like a man who was not being targeted for murder.
“You are enjoying this,” Reid accused, shifting his gaze to the younger de Sowlis.
“It is much more diverting than the council, you will admit.”
Aidan shifted seamlessly to a discussion of the latest council meetings. Reid attempted to listen, but that word caught him up.
&nbs
p; Love.
Aye, he was in love with her. It was the only explanation for the madness that had shaped these past few days. The only reason he’d decided he needed to take her to wife. But how had he fallen in love in such a short time?
“Do you agree?”
Reid stared blankly back at Aidan.
“I’d ask what, or whom, you’re thinking about rather than listening, but I don’t believe such a question is necessary.”
“I never expected this.”
“I doubt any man does.”
They both watched as Allie ascended the dais and took her regular seat next to her sister.
“Allie is an easy woman to love,” Aidan said knowingly.
“Aye. I will be forever in your debt for what you’ve done.”
“Do not thank me yet.” Aidan nodded toward the head table.
Two murderous gazes peered down at Reid.
“If only your reputation were as pristine as mine, you’d have an easier time of it.”
Reid’s bitter laugh was all too real. “Aye, who’d want their sister to marry the arse of the Kerr family?”
Aidan winked and began to walk away. “I think that description may be a bit too kind,” he said, already laughing at his own joke.
Was he really that bad?
* * *
“Sister.”
Allie laughed. “Brother.”
She couldn’t have been happier to see Aidan. The unusual tension between her and Gillian chafed—enough so that she would have snuck out of the hall had her sister not been so carefully watching her. Though their discussion had not even skirted Reid Kerr, the topic had shadowed everything that was said between them.
She’d seen Reid, of course, though she’d pretended not to.
“You’ve arrived just in time,” Allie said, lifting her goblet to Aidan.
“For what?”
“My soundness of mind.”
Though tradition dictated that Aidan should sit on his brother’s left, he’d started sitting next to her after they began their training. She had never been more grateful for the arrangement than she was this evening.
They chatted idly for a few moments, Allie straining to ignore the flash of a royal blue surcoat moving from the hall’s entrance. Best to let Gillian believe she’d heeded her advice for now, until her sister calmed down enough to act more reasonably.
The Rogue’s Redemption Page 9
