Page 64 of In the Highlander's Bed

Pulling her down in his lap, he asked, “Are you surprised?”

“Yes,” she admitted.

“I had my hands full planning this behind your back,” he said.

Constance frowned. “Planning what?”

“The bath,” he said, as if it were obvious.

She glanced around and only then noticed the washtub full of steaming water.

“I thought it would please you,” he said. “You said you liked to bathe. This way, you won’t be jumping in the loch for your bath.”

Constance was so touched by his thoughtfulness, she could barely speak. “I didn’t take a dip last night to bathe,” she answered.

His teeth flashed in a heart-rending smile. “I believe we are both tired of ever stepping foot in frigid water again.”

She laughed and heartily agreed by kissing him.

He picked up a bar of soap. “There isn’tenough room for us to take a bath together. What do you say that you use the tub first and I’ll do the scrubbing?”

It was an excellent idea.

Of course, this “bath” took hours.

Constance hadn’t ever thought of laughter in connection with lovemaking, but Gordon taught her differently. He teased her and tickled her and loved her.

Then, when they were both “scrubbed” clean and relaxed, he made love to her on the pallet. Afterward, he pulled his tartan over their satisfied bodies and held her close.

She smiled drowsily. “I never want to leave this tent.”

His hold on her tightened.

She opened her eyes. “What is it?” she asked, sensing his tension.

He reached for her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. He kissed her where her thumb met her wrist, his teeth skimming the skin.

She waited, refusing to let him ignore her.

“Don’t want to think of the future,” he said. “Right now, you give me peace, and that is enough.”

Peace.Constance rolled on her side toward him. Placing her hand along his jaw, she asked, “Could there not be another way?”

“Not for me,” he answered. “Too much has gone on.”

“You could leave Scotland,” she suggested.

“You know I can’t,” he said. “I won’t leave them the way MacKenna did.”

Of course not. And yet, she couldn’t help but say wistfully, “I wish we could take everyone here to the Ohio Valley. A man can be what he is there. He makes his own rules.”

“It would still be running away,” Gordon answered.

He nuzzled her neck. He was hard and ready, again. She shook her head. “Gordon, there must be a way.”

His gaze met hers. He reached out and ran a finger over her lower lip. “I won’t desert them, Constance.”

“Would you desertme,then?”