Chapter 16
"If I start to snore, ye can just give me a pinch, and I'll stop," Aaron said, keeping his eyes locked on the ceiling.
He didn't dare look at Izzy. Just knowing she was within six inches of him was enough to drive him mad.
Pulling in a long deep breath to steady his nerves, Aaron tried to ignore the warmth coming off her body and her floral scent that he'd never get out of his pillow.
"Trying to sleep," she complained and tugged the covers off him. Aaron couldn't help but smirk as he remained still.
"Is it hot in here?" he asked, his voice barely over the crackling of the fire. "It sure does seem that way to me."
"No. It's fine. Go to sleep," Izzy bemoaned as she turned her back to him, claiming her pillow in the process. How Aaron wished he was that pillow tangled under her body. She held it so tightly, he could only imagine how she would cling to him should he ride her like one of his mares.
"Nay, it's too hot." Aaron didn't pay her any mind as he peeled his shirt off his body and tossed it to the corner of the room. The thin fabric made a thug as it hit the wall, and for a moment, he wondered if it wasn't Izzy sucking in a hard breath.
"Are you comfortable now?" Izzy asked, her voice was muffled by the goose down pillow she spoke into.
"Nae quiet, I think I could lose a bit more clothin', daenae ye?"
"Don't you dare," Izzy said as she shot up. "I'll leave right…"
Her eyes grew to the size of saucers as she gazed on him. He couldn't tell if it was his jagged scars cutting down the left side of his body or something else that stunned her into silence. All he knew was that her gaze rattled him to his core.
"Are ye all right? Ye look as if ye've seen ghost."
"Ha, very funny," she grumbled as she turned her back to him once more. "I'm going to sleep now. So, please stop talking."
"Aye, I can do that."
"Are you sure? Because it doesn't seem like it to me," Izzy huffed, and it sounded as if she was letting her frustration get the better of her.
Aaron wondered if he should push his luck and irk her to her breaking point.
But as he contemplated his choices, he realized how he had no desire to frustrate or annoy her.
She was doing him a favor without even knowing it.
Yet, it would be her life in jeopardy until he produced an heir.
Then the targets would be on him once more.
"Good night. Sleep sound."
Aaron stared at the ceiling, watching the shadows drift across the wooden beams. He pulled in a deep breath.
The scent of wildflowers and heather filled his nostrils.
It reminded him of racing through the glen as he chased the rising sun.
Her scent was beyond intoxicating. Clutching the sheets, he tried to think of something other than Izzy's warm body radiating like the sun against his bare chest. How he wanted to turn toward her to savor everything that she was.
"Sorry," she whimpered as her foot grazed his shin.
The touch was so brief, but it was enough to keep him wide awake.
The fact that she was so close, and he couldn't do anything about it drove him over the edge.
It was more than wanting to kiss every inch of her body, he wanted to gift her a future she didn't know she wanted.
"I daenae mind. It's nae as if I fancy yer feet. I'm sure there might have been some English folk that would have savored the moment, but I prefer sweeter moments."
"Why does that not surprise me?" Izzy's voice was stern with a hint of playfulness that taunted him. She glanced over her shoulder. The ire in her eyes burned brighter than any torch Aaron had seen before. It taunted him as if her gaze held enough clout to drag him down.
"Because ye're English? Or is it because I'm a Scot? Nay, wait, I ken. It's because I daenae have a beard despite bein' a laird. That must be it."
Izzy rolled over to face him. The anger in her eyes amused him more than he wanted to admit. Seeing such a fire in her that could rival any bonfire he could create in the open moors impressed him.
"Is this what our life together is going to be like? I'd like to know if your sole purpose is to annoy me to death. I can do us both a favor and jump from the balcony right now."
Aaron shot up. He grabbed her arm, pulling her to face him. The rage in her eyes pained him. He released her and let her settle next to him. Despite the war raging between his desires and his honor, Aaron focused on steadying his breathing.
"I daenae ever want to hear that come out of yer mouth again. Do ye understand me? Sayin' such things is nae funny, and I'll nae tolerate it."
"I'm sorry," Izzy said as her eyes grew a darker shade of red. "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just…"
"Aye, I ken ye're frustrated with me. But I'm nae the one who invited me in. I was content outside, and I can go back out there."
Aaron threw the covers off and slipped his legs over the side of the bed. Izzy's hand was hotter than a branding iron against his shoulder. Her touch caused him to freeze.
"Please don't. I'm sorry I said anything. Can we just try to get some sleep? I don't know about you, but today was beyond tiring."
Aaron glanced over his shoulder, wishing she'd keep her hand on him for just a moment longer. Yet, the second he made eye contact, Izzy recoiled from him and settled back into her pillow. He glanced to the balcony door before shifting his attention to the fireplace.
"I'll try nae to shift too much," he replied as he settled back into his spot and stared at the ceiling.
It was going to be a long night; he could feel it seeping into his bones like murky water clouding up the loch.
But at least he didn't have to sleep outside alone.
If nothing else, he'd take that as a win.
It didn't take long before the room was filled with the heavy sound of Izzy's breathing.
A peacefulness flowed through the room as if it came off the mountain like a fresh breeze.
He turned to watch her. How lovely she looked with her eyes closed.
The fire danced against her skin, giving her a bronze glow that made her appear celestial to his weary eyes.
"Are ye nae the loveliest thing I've ever seen," he whispered so low he doubted she could even hear him. A faint smile pulled at the corners of his lips as he fiddled with the tips of her hair, ensuring he didn't disturb her sleep in any manner.
Izzy let out a long heavy sigh and rolled to face him.
Aaron pulled back, hoping not to get tangled in her arms as she shifted.
He watched as she snuggled and kissed her goose down pillow.
Never in his life had he been so jealous of a pillow.
It was as if even in her sleep she was tormenting him with her sultry ways.
Swallowing hard, Aaron rolled over to face the fire.
If he was going to survive the night and keep his word not to touch her, he was going to have to try harder.
Yet, Izzy was making it impossible for him to live up to his word.
Every little moan that escaped from her sent chills coursing through Aaron's body.
Every shift, she'd pull the covers off him and swim in them.
She taunted him with every passing moment.
"My Laird," Izzy mumbled sheepishly in her sleep.
Aaron glanced over to look at her. A smile played at the corner of her lips as she reached for him.
Aaron froze as her arm snaked over his ribs.
She snuggled into his back and let out a heavy sigh the rippled through him with such pleasure that it stirred the longing in his loins.
Aaron's chest tightened as the air whistled through his dried cracked lips.
His eyes rolled back in pleasure as the scent of wildflowers and moss filled his head.
In a blink of an eye, Aaron was no longer in his chambers but in the bales of hay.
And just as quickly as the memory skipped into his thoughts, it was gone.
The memory rattled him to his senses. He glanced at Izzy's arm dangling over his body.
Carefully, he grabbed her by the wrist and drew her arm off him.
Trying not to disturb her too much, Aaron slipped off the bed and drew the blankets over her.
Izzy's face scrunched with irritation that was all too fleeting.
Aaron exhaled the second her face relaxed.
Moving with purpose, he snatched his shirt from the corner of the room and slipped it over his head as he marched for the door.
The empty hallway was eerily quiet, and only his footsteps accompanied him. A soft melody filled the silence, and as much as Aaron wanted to see who all remained in the great hall, he turned for his study instead. Sealed within the somber room, Aaron noticed a shadow lurking in the corner.
"If ye value yer life, ye'll come out," Aaron announced as his mind skipped over the different weapons he had stashed within his study.
"Easy now, nay need to be all up in arms. I take it if ye're here, the night daenae go as ye planned?" Ryan asked as he stepped into the light of the room.
"Why must that lass vex me so?" Aaron grumbled as he ran his fingers through his hair. "One minute she has me tied up in knots, and the next I cannae get far enough away from her."
"Welcome to the wonderful world of marriage," Ryan chuckled whole-heartedly.
"As if ye have any clue what ye're talkin' about. 'Tis nae as if ye've lived through such things."
"Out of the two of us, I'm the only one smart enough nae to get married."
"Ye speak as if I had some say in the matter," Aaron huffed as his frustration only grew. "The King made the decree, and all I can do is see it through. And the sooner Izzy is with child, the sooner I can stop worryin' about her and focus on other things."
As he rubbed his temples trying to come up with some way to woo his wife, Aaron watched Ryan move to the small table and pour two drams of whiskey from a bottle that had arrived earlier in the day as a wedding gift.
An odd aroma wafted from the uncorked bottle that unnerved Aaron.
It was something he'd smelled before, a vile stench he was certain would only bring death.
Aaron's attention shot to Ryan as he watched Ryan lifted one to drink.
The color was wrong, a bit too amber. Without hesitation, Aaron darted to Ryan's side, and slapped the dram from Ryan's hand.
"Daenae drink that," Aaron barked as the whiskey dropped to the ground. A ribbon of white smoke rose from the bear skin rug as a foul stench filled the room. "Poison."
"This is getting' too close. This was meant to send a message," Ryan said as he looked at Aaron with terror flashing through his gaze.
"Izzy." Panic shot through Aaron as he started for the door.
He charged for his chambers as worry pummeled him.
His footsteps echoed through the empty hallway like thunder rumbling through the valley.
Holding his breath, he pushed open the door.
His ears rang as he tried to listen for any unusual sounds.
The only thing he heard was the soft snore escaping Izzy with each exhale.
"Is she in danger?" Ryan asked with his hand on the hilt of his blade. Aaron shook his head as he pressed a finger to his lips.
"She sleeps," Aaron answered as he closed the door. "But I daenae think it's safe for her to be in the castle."
"Aye," Ryan said with a sharp nod. "Tonight was a warnin'."
"I need to take her somewhere she'll be safe. Somewhere I can keep an eye on her while ye look into who sent the poison," Aaron said.
"There's always the gardens. Ye ken the flowers will be bloomin'. The lasses always love that spot," Ryan said with a smug smile that made Aaron cringe.
"Nay, I need someplace nay one will be lookin' for us. A place that's strategic yet nae too far…" Aaron snapped his fingers as the idea popped into his head. "The loch."
"Are ye sure? Ye'll be on yer own if anythin' happens."
"Have someone on the watchtower. They'll be able to hear if I blow a horn and send help. But I think Izzy will enjoy the peacefulness of the place. And there's a mineral spring right there she might like. I want ye to stay here and get to the bottom of who sent the whiskey."
"I'll have someone in the dungeons before ye get back," Ryan said with such conviction that Aaron couldn't help but believe him.
"Daenae let me down. Whoever it is, is gettin' bolder, and I willnae have Izzy put in the middle of my troubles. It's nae fair the king dragged her into this, but I'll be damned if I daenae do everythin' in me power to keep her safe."