Page 31 of Deception

Chapter 9

When Jacobfinally climbed the stairs to his bedchambers, he was more tired than he ever remembered being. Malcolm Donald was dead. Michael was in the dungeon awaiting his fate. Jacob’s chest tightened at memory of Lyel’s grim expression when Michael begged Lyel to understand that he hadn’t known Malcolm would kill Lady Alison.

Lyel had adopted Linnae and married her to Jacob because, as he’d told Linnae, life goes on. But his murmured command to throw Michael into the dungeon and build a gallows had been heavy with sorrow.

The alliance between MacKinnon and MacKenzie was now more important than ever. The next in line to take Lyel’s place was Robert MacKenzie, a lad of eighteen. Barely old enough to lead, he would need good and strong friends. Jacob suspected that the moment Lyel had learned who Linnae was, he’d known that Michael would never leave Eilean Donan Castle alive, and Robert would become Lyel’s heir.

Jacob reached his chambers and entered. He stopped three paces into the room. Linnae slept curled on the bed, wearing nothing but a thin nightrail.

She’d begged to stay with him and Lyel, but Lyel had commanded his granddaughter to bed. Tears had glistened in her eyes when she’d kissed Lyel’s cheek, and Jacob had been sure he glimpsed moisture in Lyel’s eyes when he patted her cheek with a gnarled hand.

Desire swept through Jacob. Desire to hold his wife close. To tell her his secrets, his dreams. To take her home and show her the misty hills and clear blue lochs around Dunakin Castle. His chest tightened. Would she love his home as much as he did?

Quietly, he added more wood to the fire, then removed his shirt and plaid. At the bed, he paused and drank in the sight of her. His cock hardened uncomfortably.

He pulled the blanket back, then lay on the mattress and pulled her close. She jerked awake as he yanked the blankets over them.

She tried to sit up.

Jacob tightened his hold on her. “Go back to sleep, lass.”

“Jacob?” she said, her voice sleepy. “You are back.” Again, she tried to sit up.

Again, he held tight.

“Jacob.” She wriggled and bumped his cock.

He drew in a sharp breath.

She froze. “What is amiss?”

“You are driving me wild. Now, lay still and sleep.”

A long moment of silence passed before he realized he didn’t detect any even breathing from her. Was she holding her breath?

“Breathe, lass.”

No reply.

“Linnae?”

“You are angry with me.”

“Angry?” He leaned aside so he could see her face.

She kept her face angled toward his chest. “Ye said I’m driving you wild.”

Jacob laughed and hugged her close. “I mean, I want you, lass, and when you move as you did, it makes me want you more.”

“Do you want to consummate our marriage?”

He wanted that so badly it hurt. “I dinnae want to rush you.”

“I am ready if you are.”

His heart thudded. “Are ye sure?”

“I understand it has been a difficult day for ye,” she said. “I will be patient and wait until you’re ready.”