Page 26 of Deception

“I heard tell ye are perfect.”

He looked at her, eyes gleaming with laughter and said in a conspiratorial voice, “I do have one huge fault.”

She cocked a brow. “Only one?”

“We will begin with the one. I do no’ share this with many people,” he whispered so quietly she found herself leaning slightly toward him. “I snore. Terribly.”

Linnae blinked, then narrowed her eyes and shoved his shoulder.

“ ‘Tis the truth,” he said with a laugh. “I can wake the entire castle.”

The heavens opened up and rain showered down on them.

Linnae cried out. Jacob hugged her close to his side as they raced the twenty feet to the keep. They reached the postern door. Jacob yanked it open and she hurried inside. A gust of wind whipped around her as he slammed the door shut.

“Good Lord,” she said with a laugh. “Ye are drenched.” Raindrops clung to his dark locks. Her stomach made a strange flip. “Ye are drenched,” she said.

“So are you, love,” he said. “You must change.”

A shiver raced down her arms. “The rain was cold,” she admitted.

“Cold?” He lifted a brow. “We cannae have that.” He grasped her arms and yanked her against him.

“Jacob,” she squealed in the instant before his mouth covered hers.

She flushed warm. His tongue touched her mouth and she opened for him. He slid his tongue inside her mouth and Linnae melted against him. He may have been soaked, but he was certainly not cold. His warmth penetrated the fabric of her dress and even her nipples warmed.

Linnae slid her arms around his neck and rose on tiptoe. He crushed her closer and groaned. The juncture between her legs tightened. When he broke the kiss, the room spun slightly and she buried her face in his shirt. That kiss was certainly perfect.

She drew back and stepped from his embrace. “I will go and change.”

“I could come with ye.”

Linnae blinked. “You mean—Oh, we have the ceremony this afternoon, and I must--that is, I should visit Lyel.”

He nodded. “As ye wish, lass.”

“You aren’t angry?” she asked. “If you wish to come up, of course, you can. ‘Tis your chambers, after all.”

He gave her a wry grin. “If I come up, we will most certainly miss the ceremony, and you should spend time with Lyel. It will please him.”

She nodded, then hesitated before turning and heading toward the stairs. All reminded quiet behind her and she was certain he watched until she disappeared up the stairs.

* * *

By the timethe wedding celebration in the great hall was in full swing, Linnae began to grow fatigued. They’d gotten little sleep last night while standing vigil for Lyel, and she’d had not more than a moment to herself all day. In truth, she’d rather be with Lyel. But he’d insisted she and Jacob spend the evening at the feast, where they hoped Malcolm Donald would make an appearance.

“Isn’t the minstrel handsome?” Lady Innis said with a giggle.

Linnae glanced at Innis, who sat to her right at the dais table.

“Not as handsome as Jacob,” Sophie said loud enough to be heard over the din.

“Of course,” Lady Innis quickly added. “Ye are a very fortunate woman, Lady Linnae.”

Linnae grimaced. She would never grow accustomed to being called ‘Lady.’

“It really was wicked of you not to tell us who you were,” Lady Innes said. “Don’t you agree, Sophie?”