AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Thespellsbook, I corrected.
“Um…” I said, my eyes wide. Munroe caught my shoulders, pulling me to a stop.
“Hey, Lia. Look at me. Focus on your breathing,” Munroe crooned, his voice lilting with the highlands. “That’s a good lass. In and out. In and out.”
My vision darkened for a moment, and I realized I truly had been quite close to freaking out, but Munroe’s voice kept me focused, and soon I’d tamped down on the worst of the anxiety that had threatened. Not a full panic attack, so that was something at least.
“In and out,” Munroe continued, and I lost myself in his eyes, unconsciously licking my lips as my ladyparts reminded me of another activity that required in and out motions. “Not now, darling. Although I’d dearly love to sort out this powerful need I have for you, it’s not the best time.”
I snapped my eyes away from his and realized that I’d been subconsciously rubbing my free hand up and down his chest like a deranged woman.
“Sorry,” I said, pulling my hand away from his very muscular chest.Get a grip, Lia. You can’t go around groping men.
“Totally fine and not at all unwelcome. It’s just that you’re about to start something that I have every intention of finishing, at great length and with considerable attention to detail, so unless you’re ready for me to haul you over my shoulder and lock us away in that turret up there, I suggest we take a step back.”
My mouth rounded, but no sound came out as, I kid you not, I almost took a step forward so hewouldtake me up to the turret. I mean, could you imagine? For all I knew, turrets were probably full of pigeons and whatever else haunted this castle, and yet somehow, all I could think about now was Munroe pinning me to a wall, high above the castle grounds, his strong hands wringing pleasure from my body.
A sharp bark brought my head around, and I pulled my mind away from the gutter, er, the turret that is, and waved at where Hilda stood on the steps, a grocery sack tucked under her arm, the dogs bouncing at her feet.
“Here, let me help you with that.” Munroe hurried forward, but she only nodded to the parking lot.
“Another bag in the car. What…happened to you both?” Hilda’s sharp look took in our appearances, and I remembered that we were both covered in scone batter.
“Um, food fight?” I suggested, my cheeks heating.
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Hilda raised an eyebrow at me.
“I’ll get the bag if you can get Archie? We need to talk,” Munroe said, neatly sidestepping the question.
“Is something wrong?” Hilda asked, and I held the door for her and the two dogs that followed hopefully at her feet.
“No. Yes. I don’t know.” I sighed and scrubbed a hand over my face. “Do I have time for a quick shower? I can feel the batter congealing in my hair.”
“Aye, by the time I get the shopping put away and we call Archie in, you’ll have more than enough time to shower. On you go.” Hilda made a nodding motion with her chin, and I hustled upstairs toward my apartment, more than grateful for a moment alone to just breathe.
“Mooo–”
“Nope! Not now, Clyde,” I barked, snapping my fingers in the air.
Silence filled the hallway, and I skidded to a stop outside my door, guilt filling me.
“Sorry, Clyde. Didn’t mean to take it out on you,” I said and then shook my head at myself. Here I was talking to an empty hallway like a lunatic.
“Moo!” Clyde appeared from out of the wall by my head, bouncing joyfully forward, and I slammed against the door, my hand at my heart. Clyde looked at me, his head tilting, his big eyes full of mischief.
“Oh, right. You think you’re so funny, don’t you, big guy?” I wagged a finger at him. “You’re cute though, I’ll give you that.” Turning, I opened the door to my room and ducked inside, hoping Clyde knew enough to respect my personal privacy. Granted, I wasn’t sure what a cow would know about privacy, but at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if he waltzed through the door and made me a pot of tea.
My apartment still startled me every time I walked into it. It was just so…decadent. The door opened directly into a large sitting area with stone walls, high arched ceilings, a small kitchenette, and two narrow hallways on either side of the room leading to separate sleeping quarters. A door on the other side of the room led to a small en suite bath, which Hilda had apologized for the size explaining that renovating for indoor plumbing and baths had to be done with a careful mind to the historical nature of the building.
It was the biggest bathroomI’dever had.
Slipping off my shoes by the door, I padded across pretty woven rugs in shades of green and gold and went to the bedroom I’d chosen. Even though it was the smaller of the two rooms, it was the one that made me feel the most comfortable. Here the ceiling was lower, and the stone walls seemed to curve around the bed, cocooning it. I’d learned that if I left the curtains open, I could just prop myself up on my pillows and look out the window to Loch Mirren far below. I’d also learned that the Kelpies screamed in the early hours of the morning.
The first night, I had jolted awake, a fine tremor working through my body as I tried to figure out where I was and what sound had awoken me. Then, I’d crept to the window, wondering if I could catch a glimpse of the creatures. Instead, I’d found both Lachlan and Sophie, walking the…I wasn’t sure what they called the big wall that ran the perimeter of the castle, but they looked like soldiers pacing, waiting for battle. There was something comforting to me about Sophie being out there as well, and if this plucky American could handle facing down a Kelpie, well, I guess I would have to as well. I couldn’t let a West Coast girl best me.
I made a mental note to ask her if she’d liked 2Pac or Biggie better, and quickly grabbed a fresh change of clothes, before hightailing it to the bathroom. I took a quick enough shower to get the sticky batter out of my hair, but not long enough to work the tension from my shoulders, and fifteen minutes later, I was back downstairs in time to see Sophie at the door of the library. I’d towel-dried my wet hair the best that I could and had pulled on a thick Red Sox sweatshirt to ward off the chill in the air.
“2Pac or Biggie?” I asked Sophie and she paused, tilting her head at me, her lips quirking in a smile.
