One look at Dani and it was clear she suspected as much. Her back facing the door, she cut her eyes in that direction and back to him again as a slow, mischievous smile lifted her lips.
With a waggle of her eyebrows, she lifted her free hand to his neck, twining her fingers in his hair.
“So you’ll be sure not to miss tomorrow’s midday meal, right? I want to surprise you.” Stretching up on tiptoe, she pressed her lips close to his ear. “Dermid, you think?” she whispered.
He could only nod his answer, his body reacting too intensely to having her so close, the scent of fresh flowers filling his senses. His free arm tightened around her, pulling her against him, and he bent to her, his mouth finding hers.
Her lips were soft and pliant, opening to him, her tongue dancing against his. She tasted of mint and cinnamon, like an end-of-meal sweet he found himself desperately craving.
Both his hands were at her back now, sliding down, lower, to capture the perfectly rounded curves of her buttocks, lifting her from her feet and pressing her against his heated, hardened desire.
She groaned into his mouth, and both her hands tangled in the hair at the base of his neck, sending shivers down his spine.
When she lifted one leg, hooking her foot behind his thigh, it was all over. Desire spiraled into a rage of need, beyond his ability to understand.
In two long strides he backed her into the hard slab of wood and pressed against her, crushing her against the heavy oak door.
The partially open heavy oak door.
Clasped together, they stumbled against the solid surface behind them as it gave way, slamming the door shut as their bodies fell against it.
A yelp from the other side hit Malcolm’s ears like a bucket of cold water tossed onto a randy dog.
He stared into Dani’s eyes, huge liquid pools, a languid green he wanted nothing more than to immerse himself in, as he fought to calm his breathing.
A scratching at the wood and he looked down to see a wiggling fold of plaid caught in the closed door.
Dani’s gaze had followed his and a strangled little huffing noise escaped from her as she stared at the twitching material.
Pray Odin he hadn’t made her cry! How he could have so lost control of his actions, he could not say.
Desperation invaded his heart as the noise continued, her whole body trembling with it as she clamped a hand over her mouth.
With a tentative finger, he raised her chin, his desperation washed away with the relief of what he found.
Her eyes sparkled as her lips pressed together in a vain attempt to hold in the sounds she made. No tears. Laughter!
“Lord, Malcolm,” she whispered, even as she fought the giggles that threatened to overcome her. “If you don’t open that door, do you think he’ll just abandon his plaid and make a run for it? I can already picture him. . . .”
Another scratch at the wood and she gave up all pretext, covering her mouth with both her hands as she leaned her head against his chest.
The vision she suggested was enough to bring a smile to his face as well.
One deep breath to regain himself and he was ready. With his hands on her shoulders, he directed her away from the door and pulled it open to greet a red-faced Dermid on the other side.
“There was something you wanted, little brother?”
Dermid opened his mouth and closed it just as quickly, once, twice, his eyes darting every direction except straight ahead.
Their spy had apparently gotten more than he’d bargained for.
“Well, I’m sure you boys have plenty to talk about, so I’ll be leaving you to it.” Dani, having recovered, pushed between them, stopping at the last minute to blind Malcolm with another brilliant smile. “Don’t forget, now. I’m preparing a surprise for you tomorrow.”
Forget? Not likely.
Though he sincerely doubted there was anything she could prepare for tomorrow that would surprise him more than she had here today.
Eighteen
