Page 29 of The Lion

The rest of the Ross family emerged from the direction of the dining room and Cairn took notice of the women. One, in particular, the younger of the sisters stood out. She was a beauty that drew everyone’s attention.

The laird did not seem immune as he tracked their progress as they went with his mother to stand by the hearth.

“If ye will excuse me,” Darach stood and went to the group.

Cairn pretended to listen to the droning of the old man, who continued to spew nonsense about the change in customs, while keeping an eye on the group.

Speaking to the group, probably wishing them a good night’s rest, Darach stood next to the younger sister. The conversation continued, the women seeming to ask the laird several questions.

Despite the nearness of the lass, the laird did not touch her, nor did he seem to pay her extra attention.

Cairn blew out a breath. So, the chit would not be a weakness he could explore. Then again, male pride was something that could definitely be used against a man such as Darach Ross, who prided himself for his masculinity.

The question was how.

As the women walked off, Cairn looked back to his tablemates for a moment. When he looked back to the laird, his lips curved.

The laird leaned forward and whispered something into the older sister’s ear. The woman, who upon closer inspection, was indeed striking, shook her head. When she turned and looked to the laird, her cheeks had turned bright pink.

It could be that despite marrying the younger sister, Darach Ross was already grooming the older one to be his lover.

Interesting.

“Excuse me, please,” Cairn said, interrupting the man’s boring dribble. “I am late to meet someone.”

“Laird,” he said, nearing Darach. “Would ye mind if I sleep here tonight? It is getting quite late.”

After the laird’s nod, he pretended to go toward where the guards were but at the last minute hurried up the stairs. At the end of the corridor, he peered around the wall.

The women dispersed, Lady Ross and Miss Ella heading toward their bedchambers, Lady Macdonald bid her daughters good night and walked through a doorway. The sisters entered a bedchamber across the hall from their mother.

Cairn turned back to head down the stairs as a guard walked up.

The young man gave him a quizzical look but said nothing.

“I am looking for an empty room,” Cairn said by way of explanation and hurried away.

Down the stairs, across the great hall to the back, was another corridor. The rooms there were smaller and with little or no view of the outdoors.

Lilia appeared just as Cairn turned the corner, and she attempted to hurry past.

He pushed her against the wall and held her in place, both hands on her waist. “Heading to warm the laird’s bed?”

“Release me,” she said in a low voice.

Cairn pressed his mouth to the side of her neck. “Ye may warm my bed. It has been too long.”

“No.”

He trailed his mouth from the racing pulse at her throat to cover her mouth. Lilia did not resist.

“Would ye deny me what I’ve had many times? I know ye enjoy what we do.”

Lilia’s eyes narrowed. “I said let me go.”

“Is he as giving with his body as I am? Do to ye what I know ye like?”

Her breath quickened, but she pushed him away. “Ye can never give me what I want.”