“I can see why,” she observed, grimacing at the cobwebs festooning the junction of wall and ceiling overhead as they passed.
At last Malcolm stopped beside what appeared to be an ordinary section of wall. “Watch closely and remember,” he instructed. She did as he said, taking careful note when he applied firm pressure with his palm against one particular stone.
A soft grinding sound followed. Then, part of the wall shifted inward. Her eyes widened as she looked from him to the recess that had been revealed.
“’Tis just like the hidden entrance tae the tunnels when I escaped from the priory,” she said, marveling at the cleverness of the hidden mechanism.
“Aye, ’tis a secret passage,” he said quietly. “One of several built intae the old keep generations ago. Come on, ’tis quite safe.” He guided her inside and pressed the same stone. The false wall swung closed behind them. Light entered from a single grating set high on the wall
The hidden chamber beyond was small and shadowed, barely large enough for two or three people. Dust lingered thickly in the corners, though the passage itself remained clear enough to walk through.
“There’s an exit leading beyond the outer walls,” Malcolm explained. “Most clansfolk alive today dinnae even ken this place exists.”
Catriona stared around in astonishment.
“When I was a lad, me braithers and I used tae hide here tae avoid lessons,” he admitted with the ghost of a smile. “Maither could never understand where we vanished tae.”
The tenderness in his expression faded quickly though. His voice lowered. “If anythin’ happens durin’ an attack, this is where ye’ll come.”
Immediately she stiffened. “But Malcolm?—”
“Follow the passage and ye’ll come out near the loch. Hide there. I’ll come tae find ye?—”
She shook her head vehemently. “Nay. I willnae flee and hide while ye remain behind in danger.”
His jaw tightened. “Cat, this isnae negotiable.”
“It is tae me.” She stepped closer to him, determined now. “Malcolm, I spent five years hidden away while others risked themselves tae keep me safe. I’ll nae run again while the people I love stand and fight tae defend me.”
Her declaration hung in the air like the tolling of a bell. Malcolm stared down at her with raw intensity. Then, very gently, he reached down and brushed a strand of hair back from her face.
“I should ken what a brave, stubborn lass ye are,” he murmured softly, his gaze caressing every curve of her face. “But like before, if I’m tae protect ye, ye must dae as I say. Imagine if one of us gets hurt protectin’ ye and ye get taken anyway? I ken these are harsh words, but ye need tae protect yerself fer ye tae be able tae help us. We cannae be worryin’ about ye in battle.”
Emotion tightened painfully in Cat’s throat, her fear for his safety growing apace. But how could she refuse? To do so would be putting him in more danger.
“Aye, I will, I promise.”
“We’ll pray it daesnae come tae that.”
Silence settled over them as they stood close, Malcolm looming over her small frame, his dark gaze locked with hers. Her eyes roved over his hard, chiseled features, tracing the outline of his lips. Her breathing quickened, she felt the warmth of his body burning through the front of her gown. Beneath her shift, her nipples rose to hard points.
The next moment, she was reaching up to hug his neck, her lips opening willingly to the savage slant of his mouth on hers. He let out a low growl as he kissed her hungrily, one large hand twined in her hair, cradling her head, the other locked about her waist, pressing her to his hardness.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Och, Malcolm,” she sighed against his lips, opening hers beneath them, answering his searching kiss with all the heat of the unleashed desire pent up within her. Without breaking the kiss, Malcolm cupped her behind in his large hands and lifted her up, carrying her over to the wall in a couple of strides.
“I’ve missed ye, Cat, I ken ’tis wrong, but I cannae help mesel’, I want ye so much,” he whispered heatedly, his warm breath and passionate words making her pulse race as he pinned her there against the wall, his hungry mouth ravaging hers.
Driven by the aching need growing between her thighs, Catriona wrapped her legs about his waist, her arms about his neck, marveling at the immense power in his shoulders and arms as he held her against the wall easily, as though she weighed nothing.
“I want ye too, Malcom,” she gasped, her tongue joining his in a sensual dance fueled by urgent want. “Och, God, how I want ye,” she moaned, her fingers tangling in his dark curls, writhing withexcitement as his hands roved freely over her body, squeezing her breasts, tracing the curve of her waist, the flare of her hips.
“Och, I need tae touch ye, Cat,” he murmured, his teeth grazing her nipples, biting softly at the rounded flesh, while his hands delved beneath her skirts, pushing them up and aside to aid his exploration.
“I need yer touch, Malcolm, I need it so much,” she gasped, opening her legs widely as he pressed his hips into her, his hardness grinding tantalizingly against her exposed sex, stoking the fire already there with the promise of ecstasy.
He let out a deep groan as his palms slid up the outside of her legs to cup her naked behind, his thick fingers brushing the folds of her already wet sex teasingly, eliciting small moans of pleasure from her lips, leaving a trail of fire on her skin.
