Alistair lifted his head, his breaths coming hard and fast.
Thump thump thump.
“God in heaven, Alistair,” she panted, arching against him. “I need…”
Thump thump thump.
‘Twas the way he was staring at the stone wall which made her realize something was wrong.
Her heartbeat was louder now, and so was his.
Except…
‘Twas not a heartbeat, was it?
Forcing her breathing to slow, and her lust under control, Lara slowly slid down his body. Still pressed against him, she turned her head to stare at the stone wall.
Thump thump thump.
Part of her wanted to ignore the pounding, to pull Alistair’s lips back down to hers, to continue what they’d started. But another part of her knew what was behind that wall and knew they wouldn’t have any peace as long as the damn drumming continued.
“The ghostly drummer,” breathed Alistair. “I’ve never heard him so close.”
“Really?” Despite his obvious arousal, ‘twas clear he was completely distracted by what was going on behind the walls. “I would think ye would’ve heard it here in particular.”
He shook his head, straightening away from her, his attention still on the blue and green tapestry with the convenient sight-hole. “I’ve spent the last several years in this room, and I dinnae recall the drumming being so loud, or so close.”
Accepting the moment was past, and that she would have to wait to find fulfillment—Treenis would oblige, for certes, if Alistair didnae—Lara straightened, trying to right her clothing. “The passage which runs behind that wall runs directly to—”
She snapped her lips closed when he jerked his gaze back to her.
“Passage?” he barked.
“Aye.” She blinked. “The secret passage behind that wall.” Now that she could stand on her own two feet, she pointed. “It runs from the lower floors toward the bedchambers on this level.”
“We have secret passages?”
‘Twas the incredulity and the wonder in his tone which made her smile. She knew something Alistair didn’t about Oliphant Castle? “Aye,” she drawled.
Then he was holding her hand, tugging her toward the wall. “Show me!”
And ‘twas one command she was happy to obey.
Chapter 10
Alistair found himself holding his breath as he led Lara to the stone wall. She reached the faded blue-and-green tapestry—the one which had hung there as long as he could recall—and lifted it out of the way.
The section of the wall behind it looked exactly the same as the rest of the walls…until she pressed on it. When it popped open with a faint click, he realized what he was looking at was cleverly painted wood instead of stone.
“By St. Elzear’s blessed big toe,” he breathed, running his fingertips along the lookalike stone. “ ’Tis remarkable.”
Remarkable enough he almost forgot about his erection, which was hard enough to pass as one of the actual stones in the castle walls.
Having Lara back in his arms had been divine, but he couldn’t deny that this mystery—and the revelation of a secret passageway behind his wall!—was distracting.
Tugging her behind him, he pulled the entrance open wider and stuck his head into the passage. ‘Twas musty and dry, but with surprisingly little dust. And no ghost.
“ ’Tis empty,” he murmured back to her.
Lara poked him in the back. “Dinnae sound so disappointed,” she teased.
“I wanted to catch the ghost,” he confessed, straightening and turning back to her. “Ye were the one who suggested the ghost must be in the passageway. Mayhap the poor spirit recalls a time when the passageway was a regularly used part of the castle?” He peered down at her. “And how did ye ken of it, anyhow?”
She shrugged, her lips bruised from his kisses, but her changeable eyes twinkling. “My mother is the housekeeper. We ken things.”
“Like secret passageways,” he stated blandly, studying her. “Ye kenned there was an entrance to my solar?”
She spun away from him, grabbing the lit candle from the desk.
When she turned back to him, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and shifted his weight so he was blocking the door to the passage, then frowned at her. He had a feeling she meant to avoid answering his question.
“What?” She held up the candle. “I ken my way through them in the dark, usually, but I figured ye’d want a light.”
“Lara, how did ye ken there was an entrance to my solar?”
She dropped her gaze to his chest. When she started chewing on her lower lip, he knew she was waging war with herself. So, with a sigh, he reached for her, taking the candle in one hand and pulling her against him with the other.
“Love,” he murmured against her hair, “ye can trust me.”
Mayhap ‘twas easier to confess with her face pressed against his chest. He heard her mumble, “I told ye I’ve loved ye for a long while, aye?”
“Aye.”
She shifted her weight. “Well, sometimes—no’ often, ye understand—but sometimes…” She pushed away just far enough to sigh and look up into his eyes. “I’d come here and watch ye. I dinnae mean to be creepy about it, but…I loved watching ye.”
A cold feeling crept through his veins at the things she might’ve seen. “What did ye watch me do?”
“Work, mostly.” She sighed again and lowered her cheek to his chest. He wasn’t sure how he felt about being spied on, but he dropped his chin to her head. “ ’Tis how I kenned ye worked too hard, Alistair. I watched ye. Ye mutter when ye’re doing maths, did ye ken that?”
Nay, he didn’t. “What else?”
She shifted. “I’ve seen ye doing yer calisthenics.”
St. Elzear’s elbows, he did those naked! “I only do that when I cannae get out to training,” he quickly explained. “I’m no’ some kind of—of—”
“Of overworked stand-in laird?” She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I ken I should be sorry for spying on ye, Alistair. And I never wanted to make ye feel uncomfortable. But…”
He glanced from the woman in his arms to the empty, beckoning passage. “But?”
“But I cannae be sorry, no’ really. I loved seeing ye try to do something to relax.”
“And naked?” he
