Rhys placed his face close to his wife’s. “Pitt has never forced a woman. He has no need to. They fall at his feet most willingly. And never ever think to order my men about.”
“I cannot give my word on that, for there may come a time I have no choice. And I would not be able to adhere to your command. So, I cannot in all honesty give you my word when I do not know if I will be able to keep it.”
Rhys stared at her perplexed. How could he fault her when she was being so honest with him? And with the possibility of a spy being in their midst, there was a good chance she might not be able to keep her word, and he would not want her to.
“I mean no disrespect, my lord, I only mean to be honest with you,” Heather said and was surprised to see a slight smile tease at the corner of his mouth.
“Then be honest, wife, and tell me what you were looking for when I found you at the wall of the keep today?”
He had played that hand well and backed her in a corner. Now she had no choice, though she was careful how she answered him. “I was searching for a secret way into the keep.”
Rhys’ brow went up and Pitt said, “There is a secret entrance?”
She sat back in her chair so that she could glance more easily from one man to the other. “Gossiping tongues say there is.” She was not about to implicate Nessa.
“What is it they say?” Pitt asked.
“It seems that the old laird had a secret passage built in case he or his family ever needed to escape unnoticed.”
“But no one knows where the secret entrance is or where it leads to?” Rhys asked.
Heather did not know if the entrance actually led to the upper floor room that had been bolted so she was honest in saying, “I do not believe so.”
“So, you went in search of it?” Rhys asked.
“How could I not, being as curious as I am?”
“And what had caught your eye earlier outside near the keep?” Rhys asked.
“Trampled grass far too close to the keep, though when I went to take another look after speaking with you I saw more spots of trampled grass. So, I wondered if someone else could also be searching for the entrance or if someone was trying to mislead others.”
Rhys looked to Pitt. “Find out what you can.” He shifted his glance to his wife. “You will search no more.”
“It would be far better that more than one person searched for it and I do love solving mysteries,” Heather said, looking at her husband.
“Some mysteries are better left unsolved.”
Heather smiled. “Not to the curious mind.”
Rhys leaned close to whisper in her ear, “Since you are so curious let us retire and see what intimate mysteries we can solve.”
Heather’s breath caught, but she retained her smile and said, “As you wish, my lord.”
Rhys pressed his cheek to hers and his whispered words faintly brushed her ear, sending a shiver through her. “My wish is about to come true, for I intend to strip you naked and taste every inch of you.”
Flutters rushed throughout her entire body and settled between her legs, and she caught the gasp in her throat before it could escape, not that it mattered, for she knew her husband felt it being so close to her.
Rhys stood, taking his wife’s hand and helping her to her feet. “I expect no interruptions, Pitt.”
“Aye, my lord,” Pitt said.
Cheers went up as Rhys escorted his wife from the room and up the stairs to their bedchamber. They no sooner entered the room then Rhys removed the necklace from around her neck and placed it inside a small chest stacked on top of two others near the door.
Heather waited in the middle of the room unsure of what to do and apprehensive of what was to come. She had seen him gentle and not so gentle, a fiery demeanor lurking ever so close to the surface and that gave her reason to pause in worry.
She did not know if his steps were slow or if her concern saw it that way. But whichever it was, it made the wait for him to reach her all the more difficult since he seemed to grow more formidable with each step he took. He moved much like the animals in the forest did, when on alert or stalking, with purpose and strength, every muscle taut and ready to spring if necessary.
He stopped in front of her and brought his hand up to stroke her cheek with the back of his hand. She almost jumped at his touch, not certain if his touch felt hot or cold, though it was gentle.
