Well, indeed, the idea of spending some time alone with him did tempt her. She might have little time left with him if Barclay and his wife decided to leave tomorrow and take Elena home. As Elena's companion, Calla would be obligated to accompany them. Even though Rebbie had said he would take her to see Jamie, she might not get to visit with him after all. In fact, that might be best if Rebbie never set eyes upon her son.
"Are you well?" Angelique asked with a wee frown. "If you don't wish…."
"I'm fine." Hiding her anxiety, Calla attempted to give her friend a reassuring smile. "I thank you." She headed toward the door Angelique had indicated and once beside it, turned to glance back at her.
With an encouraging grin, Angelique nodded.
Calla lightly tapped her knuckle at the door. A moment later, it opened and Rebbie waited there, a dark form in the candlelight. His hair appeared damp from a bath and he looked mouthwatering.
"Come in," he murmured, stepping back. When she did, he closed the door. "How is your head?"
"Better.'Tisnot paining now."
He took her hand in his warm one and kissed her knuckles, sending shivers up her arms. "Good. I hope you didn't mind that I asked Angelique to relay my message."
"Nay. What did you tell her?" Calla was still embarrassed that Angelique might know the details of their intimacy.
"Naught."
She frowned. "What did you tell Lachlan?"
Rebbie tensed and glanced away for a few seconds. "Well… Lachlan saw us emerge from the wood that day near Tummel and guessed what we'd been doing. He's canny. I was never able to keep a secret from him."
"And Lachlan keeps no secrets from Angelique. So they ken everything." Mortification burned through her. How could she ever look her friend in the eye again?
"Not everything."Rebbie'sdark gaze fastened intently upon hers.
"What don't they know, then?" she challenged.
"We can trust them," he said calmly. "They're good friends. They'll tell no one else."
She didn't like the way he'd evaded her question. But at the same time, she felt he was right. She knew Angelique well enough to trust her.
"I had to see you," Rebbie said. "I broke the betrothal contract."
"I know. Elena was crying in our room."
"She's overreacting. We didn't truly even know each other."
Calla nodded. "She'll recover soon."
"I couldn't come to your chamber to see you, but I'd hoped to spend some time with you." In the soft, golden light of the fireplace and the lone candle, his gaze burned into her with a spark of the passion they'd shared in the wood that day. "We've had no time alone since we left Tummel Castle."
"Aye." Suddenly, she missed Tummel, the coziness of the small tower house and the privacy they'd had before his friends and the garrison arrived. Kissing in the garden, making love in the wood.'Twaslike they'd been in a different world—the wild Highlands, away from the towns and cities.
Rebbie stepped closer, tipped her chin up and stroked his fingers along her cheek. With fathomless eyes, he watched her beneath lowered black lashes. With a simple touch and a look, he could strip away her resistance… not that she'd ever had much where he was concerned. Nay, the first time she'd seen him, she'd set out to seduce him. Though she'd been terrified at the time, it had turned into the most enjoyable task of her life.
When he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers, she drew in a sharp breath of his delectable scent—clean soap and man—and kissed him back. All the nerve endings in her body tingled and yearned for him. There was no way in hades she could resist him. Her body was so sensitized to his kiss, his touch, she already ached for him.
The kiss deepened and she opened for him, savoring the spicy, mulled wine flavor of his kiss. Eager for more, she wound her arms around his neck. His moan vibrated against her lips. After tossing aside her cloak, he cupped her derriere in his strong hands, and lifted her against his hard body.
Oh, heavens.Naught had ever felt better than his body pressed tightly to hers. Mindless in her need for him, she wrapped her legs around his waist, and he ground his hard length against her, making her crave him.
Next thing she knew, they were lying on the bed, his delicious weight pressing into her. She squirmed. "Rebbie," she whispered.
"Aye,aghràidh."
What did that word mean? She knew not, nor did she have time to contemplate it or ask him. He tugged at the lacings on her smock until he'd bared one breast.
