Wedded to the Twisted Highlander (Taming the Kilmartins #3)

Chapter 22

22

“ T his way. Quick,” Olivia hissed as she pulled Astrid deeper into the library.

Astrid’s eyes widened as she noticed just how big the room actually was. There were bookshelves on bookshelves, and the sunlight filtering through the stained-glass windows cast a rainbow over the walls.

She could have sworn she had stepped into a cathedral in Paris.

Sure, she’d been in the room before, but she had never expected that the volumes of lore stretched so far. Olivia dragged her along as she tried to stifle her giggles.

“This is where Olivia and I always hide,” Eileen whispered as she craned her neck to spy over Astrid’s shoulder.

“Since we were knee-high to a grasshopper,” Olivia chimed in. “The window over there will provide us an escape route if someone is spotted in the room.”

“Thomas thinks there’s a trap door here.” Eileen giggled. “One summer, he spent most of his time tryin’ to find it.”

“Of course, he failed,” Olivia snorted.

“Ye ken, I think that’s the only thing he has ever failed at,” Eileen said.

Suddenly, the library door groaned, and they all fell silent.

Astrid shifted and inched toward the far end of the bookshelf to peer around it. A smile tugged at her lips as Melody skipped inside.

“I ken ye’re in here,” Melody called, her voice echoing through the room. “And ye’re nae goin’ to get away this time.”

Astrid glanced back at Olivia and Eileen, who had already decided to tiptoe closer to the window.

Shaking her head, Astrid turned her attention to Melody and watched as she strolled around the first few bookcases.

“Come out. Come out wherever ye are,” Melody called.

The window behind Astrid flew open. There was no hesitation—she darted around the corner, keeping to the shadows as she moved. Only when she was hidden by the couch and shelves did she stop to catch her breath.

Peeking over the furniture, she watched as Thomas climbed into the room through the window. She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter as she watched him struggle to get back up as Melody charged toward Olivia and Eileen to tag them before they could escape.

“How did ye…” Eileen grumbled as she pushed Thomas off her. “We kept that a secret for so long. How did ye ken to go there?”

“Ye have Duncan to thank for that one,” Thomas answered.

Astrid wondered if he had even spotted her. She was surprised she hadn’t been discovered, for her heart was thundering in her chest.

“Found ye,” Melody intoned.

“Aye, ye did. But ye still have to find yer maither,” Thomas said just as Astrid ducked her head.

“Are ye sure she is in here?” Melody asked.

“Yer maither climbed out of the window long before we thought about takin’ that route. In fact, I’m surprised ye didnae find her in the garden,” Eileen said, her voice louder than necessary.

Astrid wondered if Thomas believed what his sister was saying.

Holding her breath, she tried to listen for the sound of heavy footsteps, but there were far too many noises around her. She lowered herself to her hands and knees and slowly crawled to the edge of the couch. If there was any way she was going to be able to escape, she was going to need a route.

“I thought ye said she came in here,” Melody said, her voice cracking just enough to tug at Astrid’s heartstrings.

Pulling in a deep breath, Astrid closed her eyes and crawled toward the door. She didn’t care that she was exposed. What she was hoping for was a distraction. As long as Melody remained confused as to what was going on and did not tag her, she could escape.

“There she is,” Thomas called.

Astrid picked up her pace, scrambling across the floor on her hands and knees until Melody came barreling around the corner.

“Found ye!” the little girl screeched.

Astrid opened her eyes and made a beeline right for Melody. The sound of her delicate laughter filled the room as Astrid’s arms curled around her small frame.

In one fluid motion, Astrid rose with Melody in her arms.

“I’m guessin’ ye found the Laird first,” she said.

“And so I am the seeker,” Thomas proclaimed.

“What about Reid?” Olivia asked, craning her neck toward the door.

“He is of nay concern,” Thomas said dismissively. “For I will find him on this round. Now, go. One…”

Astrid smiled as she lowered Melody to her feet. “Are ye hidin’ wit’ me?”

“Nae this time,” Eileen interjected as Olivia took Melody by the hand. “We ken just the place that our dearest braither would never venture in.”

“Well, it seems ye’ll be in good hands,” Astrid said as Thomas called out the number ten.

Everyone darted out of the library, the sound of their footsteps bouncing off the walls.

Astrid watched as Melody, Olivia, and Eileen darted toward the foyer, no doubt headed outside. With little time to decide, she darted up the stairs and into the first room on the left.

Scanning the room, she found it was filled with all sorts of paintings and statues. She rushed through the room, gawking at the art as she made for the door at the far corner. She slipped behind the door, closed it, and whirled around… only to collide with a maid.

“Oh my,” she gasped, reaching for the jug in the maid’s arms before it could fall. “I’m so sorry.”

“Me Lady,” the maid gasped and then bowed.

Astrid flashed her a smile. “Tell me where to hide. Me husband is lookin’ for me, but I cannae let him find me,” she whispered as she heard the sound of heavy footsteps charging up the stairs.

Had the time really come to an end so soon?

Panic shot through her, and before the maid could give her an answer, two strong arms the size of logs wrapped around her from behind.

“Found ye,” Thomas said as she squealed.

There was no stopping him as he pulled her out of the nook as if she were nothing but a feather.

“The maid… she must think the absolute worst right now.” Astrid giggled as Thomas carried her away, much to the maid’s shock.

“Let her think what she wants. Ye’re mine now,” Thomas growled as he carried her back to the art room.

“Put me down, ye brute,” she huffed as she tapped him on the shoulder.

Thomas stopped, and as he set her down carefully, she couldn’t help but wish to stay close to him. The heat radiating from his body was like a blanket that comforted the darkest, coldest bits of her being.

“Is this better for ye?” he asked.

Had his voice always been so husky? So sultry?

“Aye,” Astrid managed to say as she met his gaze.

She didn’t know what to do. All she knew was that her body yearned for him. Her gaze flicked to his lips as she swallowed past the lump of uncertainty in her throat.

Licking her dry lips, Astrid wrestled with her desires. How she wanted him to be the one to show her what intimacy could be like.

Her fingers brushed his chest and trailed over his broad shoulders until she found the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Me—”

Thomas’s lips were on hers immediately, ravishing her with such passion that it threatened to pull her under. The world around her fogged and faded away as if it were some distant island to be forgotten forever.

Thomas curled his fingers into the fabric around her hips as if he wanted to rip it apart at the seams. Every inch of her body tingled as his hunger fueled her longing.

She clutched at him, pulling him closer. A growl rumbled in his chest as she twisted her fingers into his hair.

“Lady McFair?”

Astrid pulled away, her cheeks flushed red with desire. She stared at Thomas for a moment, bewildered by what had just transpired. The shock on his face seemed to match her own.

“This had better be good,” he hissed, refusing to release her.

“Old Lady McFair is askin’ for the healer,” the maid relayed. There was no hiding the intimidation and worry in her voice.

Astrid could only imagine the punishment Thomas would have meted out for any other reason.

“Ye should go,” Thomas urged, his grip on her waist tightening before loosening. “Me faither’s needs are much greater than mine.”

Astrid didn’t know what to say. Her duty was to the family first and foremost.

Hesitating, she took a step back from Thomas and then another. She wanted to stay in the room and just be lost in there with him.

“Master Tavish is havin’ a spell, Me Lady” the maid whispered in Astrid’s ear.

“Another one?” Astrid asked as she followed her through the castle to Tavish’s chambers.

The silence inside was unsettling. Astrid feared the worst as she pushed the door open.

“Och, Lady McFair,” Alba greeted her, her tone laced with shock.

Astrid looked around, noting that nothing was amiss.

Alba moved swiftly to the door, preventing Astrid from walking in any further. The bashful apology etched on her face piqued Astrid’s interest.

Craning her neck, Astrid peered around Alba to find Tavish lying on the bed, sound asleep.

“I was told that he was havin’ another spell,” Astrid said, returning her attention to Alba.

“As ye can see, he tuckered himself out rather quickly this time. I’m sorry that ye were called here. If I had kenned he was just goin’ to pass out, I never would have bothered ye.”

“So, I’m nae needed?” Astrid asked, her thoughts jumping straight to Thomas.

Absentmindedly, she brushed the tip of her finger over where his lips just were, and a smile tugged at her mouth.

“I think ye might have other plans, aye?” Alba teased as Astrid turned on her heel and rushed back to the game.

Astrid wondered if anyone had noticed that she was missing, or if they had moved on to something else already.

Rounding the corner, she paused in the foyer and scanned each hallway. If she turned left, she’d wind through the bowels of the castle and end up in the kitchen. Going straight would lead her to the sitting room and Thomas’s study, as well as the drawing room and library.

“Where are ye?” she muttered, just as a hot breath fanned the back of her neck.

Her body tingled the instant she realized she was no longer alone. With her heart thumping wildly, she turned to find Thomas towering over her, the same longing burning in his eyes.

“Right here,” he answered as he inched closer.

She didn’t recoil as his hand slipped around her waist. Air rushed through her parted lips as he pulled her closer to him.

“And the others?” Astrid asked breathlessly as her breasts pressed against his chest.

She looked at his lips, desperate for another chance to taste and touch him.

“They’re around here somewhere,” he answered as raised his hand and brushed her braid over her shoulder.

“I take it ye’re no longer the seeker then?” she asked, her voice dropping as she felt a pang of disappointment.

She had hoped that he would run a hand over her side, or maybe kiss her the way he had earlier.

“Do ye even ken how to play the game?” Eileen’s voice cut through the tension, causing her to step back.

Astrid glanced over at Eileen as she burst into the foyer, hunting for more players. “Ye’re supposed to hide. Nae unless there is something else ye wanted to do.”

“I believe I’m the next seeker, again,” Thomas said as he stared at Astrid with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

“Now, wait a minute. Eileen still needs to find Melody and Olivia.”

“And Reid. I still havenae found him since the first round,” Eileen grumbled, pulling back the curtain to expose Melody.

“Were ye really hidin’ there the whole time?” Astrid asked as she realized why Thomas had hesitated to touch her.

“Didnae see me, did ye?” Melody giggled as she rocked back on her heels, beaming with pride.

“I believe it’s me turn to seek, again,” Thomas said as his playful smirk faded into a sultry look.

“Come wit’ us, Astrid,” Eileen said, grabbing Astrid by the arm. “We’ve got the spot for ye.”

“Wherever ye go, I will find ye,” Thomas called, the warning in his voice like kindling to a fire.