"Come to my room later, two floors up," shewhispered. "I will leave my slipper just outside the door so youcan find me."
Chapter Nine
The next thing Dugald knew, Camille haddisappeared in the crowd of the dance floor and Lady Sarah onceagain stood next to him. 'Slud, he was tired of dancing… at leastthis kind. He was hankering for a different sort of dancealtogether with Camille… betwixt the sheets.
Grinding his teeth, he endured one more dancewith the girl, then moved to the side of the dance floor. He coulduse some whisky, that was a certainty. He noticed MacVay standingbeside the fireplace, drinking with another man. Dugald moved inthat direction.
"Can I offer you a dram of whisky?" MacVayasked.
"Aye, indeed. I thank you."
MacVay poured him a bit in a small glass. Theburning liquid slid down his throat and warmed his vitals. Not thathe needed to be any hotter. Camille had already lit a bonfirewithin him.
Once the other man sauntered off, MacVayturned to him. "How dare you bring your French paramour to ourhome?" he asked in a hushed tone. "My daughter wants to marry you,but now I'm not sure I'll allow it."
"She is not my paramour," Dugald growled.Simply having one carnal encounter did not make a woman hisparamour. Surely that implied a prolonged relationship.
"Come now, MacKerrick. I saw how you'vewatched her all evening. As if you wanted to pounce on her like atasty morsel."
"That's ridiculous," Dugald said, even ifwhat MacVay said was true. Dugald wanted to tell the whoreson off,but if he did, they'd all be kicked out in the rain at midnight. Hewould have to placate him until the morn, at least.
"I think not. My daughter is naïve andinnocent. She wouldn't notice what I do about the two of you."
"Regardless, the lady is not my paramour.I've only just met her. I'm taking her to her cousin's home nearPerth. After that, I'll probably never see her again."
Damnation, why did that realization feel likea massive bull had gored his chest? To never see Camille again? Hecould not fathom it.
"I'm glad to hear it." MacVay sipped hiswhisky. "After you're rid of her, we'll discuss the marriageagreement again."
Like hell, Dugald thought. When he left inthe morn, he was through with MacVay and his daughter. There weremany other young ladies out there hoping for a chief for a husband.Surely, one of them would appeal more than Sarah.
But none of them would fascinate him asCamille did.
MacVay strode away and Dugald was glad. Hescanned the room, searching for Camille but didn't see her. Had shealready gone up to her chamber? Noticing Sarah dancing with someoneelse, Dugald moved along the side of the dance floor away from herand stood for a moment by the spiral stone staircase. Casuallyletting his gaze slide over the room, he didn't notice anyonewatching him. He slipped up the steps to the second floor aboveground level. He believed this was the one Camille had meant.
Thankfully, no one was in the dim corridor.He crept forward and noticed a slipper outside one door. Aye, 'twashers. Excitement racing through him, he knocked lightly.
Moments later, Camille cracked open the doorand smiled at him in the candlelight. A stunning feeling such ashe'd never felt before burst through him. What was it?Happiness?
When she opened the door farther, he saw thatshe wore only her shift. Need rampaged through him, making himinstantly hard as granite.
"What took you so long?" she whispered.Grasping his hand, she pulled him inside and closed the door.Saints, he liked her brazenness.
Taking no chances, he barred the door.
"I think Lady Sarah is smitten with you,monsieur," Camille said in a low tone.
"It matters not." He advanced on her, wantingto plant his lips on hers and silence her.
"She is looking for a wealthy husband."
"Without doubt. Aren't all unmarried ladies?"Not giving her time to answer, he captured her lips. Ah, her sweettaste, silken lips and mischievous tongue! Feeling greedy andhungry, he wanted to devour her. "You drove me to sheer madnessduring supper," he said between kisses. He lifted her and depositedher on the bed, going down with her.
Camille felt scorched by Dugald's passion.This was exactly what she wanted—her own hard, hot-blooded anddelectable Highlander plastered to her in bed. Dugald slid his warmhand up her thigh, pushing the silken shift out of his way, baringher hip, then higher, exposing her breasts.
"I've been craving you," he whispered, thenlocked his lips onto one nipple and drew it into his mouth.Delightful shivers raced over her skin. She gasped, burying herhands in his thick hair and holding him there until he'd ravishedboth breasts with his lips and tongue.
He moaned Gaelic words she couldn'tunderstand and slowly moved down her body, kissing a trail, forcingher to relinquish her hold on him. Lest she go flying into theheavens, she grasped the pillow beneath her head and arched herback.
