Scot to the Touch (The Hots for Scots #7) - Caroline Lee Page 0,42

level where Liam and Tomas slept with their nursemaid, and Finn and Fiona’s room—which surprisingly held a sleeping couple.

“They must’ve returned after the evening meal,” Kiergan breathed as he pulled the door shut behind their foray.

Together, they traveled from the very bottom level of the castle, up to the top. It took hours, but the time they spent together—even in semi-darkness, keeping their voices as hushed as possible—was as wonderful as the time they’d spent together outside in the sunlight. He made her giggle, and she made him snort with laughter a few times, and in general, their time together made her heart light.

“This is the great hall,” he whispered, digging his fingers into an obviously unused door as she held the candle—the third they’d gone through during their adventure. “It should be to one side of the great hearth. Ah, see?” Stepping aside, he allowed her to peek through into the empty hall.

“Why do ye think this is so dusty, while the others werenae?”

“ ’Tis obvious these passages are well-used. Someone has kept them relatively clean.” He pointed to the hem of her chemise. “Little dust, see? But this door, and the nursery door, havenae been used in a long time.” He shrugged. “I guess nae one has need to sneak into the great hall, when ‘tis more fun to sneak into bedchambers.”

Ignoring his wicked grin, she held the candle higher. “That door over there as well.”

When he hummed in question, she pointed, and he darted forward.

“Ye’re right! Another door, on the other side of the great hearth. How odd.” With a grunt, he got his fingers into the seam and pulled, then flexed the hinges a bit. “I wonder how auld these are?”

She had no answers, but the two of them worked the hinges on both doors until they opened easily, then pushed them closed.

From where he stood before the other door, Kiergan sent her a smile. “Come along. I ken just the place to set our ambush.”

And just like that, she was reminded of their true purpose for being there: To catch Davina in a lie.

“Kiergan,” she began, hurrying after him, hoping he could find his way while she carried the candle, “I have to tell ye something.”

“We’re almost there,” he murmured over his shoulder, as they reached the first of the ladders leading up to the level with the bedchambers. “Ye can tell me while we wait.”

Shite.

So Katlyn held her tongue until he reached a corner in the passageway she thought she recognized. This ran behind the bedchambers on this side of the castle, and the third door there should be the one leading to the room she shared with Davina.

He reached for the candle and used the dripping wax to help stick it onto a little ledge formed by one of the stones.

“There,” he murmured. “The corner will block most of the light from anyone sneaking down that passage, and we’ll hear them easily if we’re no’ too loud.”

Taking her hands, he tugged until she was standing in front of him, then leaned back against the stone wall, bringing her with him. She settled between his legs, part of her weight resting against his thighs, and felt her insides melt as he smiled at her.

“Now, love, what was it ye wanted to tell me?”

Nervous now, she dropped her gaze to his chest.

“Nay, lass,” he whispered, letting go of one of her hands and lifting his fingers to her chin. He tilted her face up until she met his eyes. “Dinnae hide yer gaze from me. I ken yer eyes are different, but ye have nae need to feel shame, no’ here. The Oliphants all love ye just as ye are, and I—”

He pressed his lips together, and she ached to hear what he might’ve said. But instead of asking, she drew her lower lip between her teeth.

“Och, lass…” He groaned, his thumb rubbing across her lower lip until she released it. His gaze had focused on that lip. “Do ye have any idea how arousing that is? Ye have the most beautiful lips I’ve ever seen, all round and delicious and just begging to be kissed. I’ve had to watch ye chew on this poor thing, when ‘tis I who’ve wanted to taste of it myself.”

Her breath caught in her throat as he used his grip on her chin to maneuver her lips to his, and when she whimpered, he caught the sound in his mouth.

Sighing, she pressed herself against his chest and allowed herself