Chapter 8

Jane decided on the bath that Catarina had mentioned and she rang the bell. In mere minutes, Catrina came through the door. She gave her some soap, which smelt like a wonderful flower that Jane knew but could not quite remember, and then she accompanied her to the bathroom and helped Jane prepare a bath. Jane hated the idea of Catrina waiting on her, but Catrina did not mind one bit. She seemed even to enjoy it. She really was a kind woman, the complete opposite of the notion that had been impressed upon her about Scottish women.

"I will lock the door," Catrina said as Jane stepped into the bath, "so that ye can stay here as long as ye want, undisturbed. I shall check in on you in twenty minutes or so. Is that amenable tae ye?"

"Make that thirty," Jane said, and luxuriated in the feel of the warm, fragrant water.

Catrina chuckled. "Alright, then." She was out the door, and Jane heard that click again. Jane noted that the tub was rather large. Was this a Scottish thing, tubs that could comfortably fit two tall people at the same time? Well, that was just as well, as she moved from side to side, sighing in pleasure. She closed her eyes and let the water wash over her skin.

"Ye are enjoying the hot water, I see."

Jane jumped. Her eyes flew open. She turned to see Alistair standing to the side. He was wearing nothing but a kilt and holding a towel. Only now did Jane regain her power of speech. "What are you doing here?! Leave this instant!" She went deep into the water in an attempt to hide her breasts.

Alistair grinned. "It's a little too late fer that, dinnae ye think?" he asked. "What are ye doing here?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, Jane Marsh," Alistair said, his hand's akimbo, "this just happens tae be me bath chamber."

"Catrina did not tell me that."

"Catrina daes nae ken about the secret door that leads from the bathroom tae me bedroom." He motioned towards said door, and Jane could not even recognize it as such. It was all wall.

A true secret door.

"Dinnae blame her. She probably believes that I am still at the meeting with me men."

"Turn."

"Pardon, lass?"

"Turn, Alistair, so I can get out of the tub and you can have it to yourself."

He grinned. "But I dinnae mind sharing it." True to his word, he reached for the side of his kilt. Jane's eyes squeezed shut.

"Don't you dare!" she warned. When she felt motion next to her inside the water, she thought to herself that it could not be.

But Alistair was right beside her. She could feel him.

The audacity almost rendered Jane insensible. Her eyes flew open. She shifted to her end of the bathtub, unwilling to have any contact with Alistair's body. She brought her knees up to shield her breasts from him, such that she tried to stay in the fetal position while struggling to hang on to the side of the tub.

"Dinnae fret," he said. ‘I willnae dae anything tae ye. I only wish tae relax."

"Well, will you look at that: that is exactly what I wanted until you intruded into my space and disturbed my peace."

"Yer space?" Alistair chuckled. "Might I remind you that this is me bathtub? So, it is me peace."

"I will ring the bell and Catrina will come and see just how debauched you are," she threatened.

Alistair shrugged. "Then you will have to explain why you are alone with me in a bathtub," he said simply.

Despite her predicament, Jane found herself admiring the male specimen next to her. She found herself staring at his chest like she had in the forest. There was water in his hair and on his chin, and still he looked quite in control. And his blue eyes…

Oh, those eyes…

"Why are you like this?" Jane asked in a huff in an attempt to reel herself back in. "Why do you do the most outlandish things when we are together?"

His smile lit up his eyes. That was one thing she had noticed. When his smiles were genuine, his entire face was involved. This would be an endearing quality in any person other than him. But Jane could not put him and ‘endearing' in the same statement. Everything about him made her want to turn and run… Or cling to him and never let go.

"Because I like tae see yer green eyes stare at me like they mean tae scorch me," he replied, looking intently at the objects of his speech. "They are like green fires. Potent. Ravaging. Ravishing. Scorch me, Jane Marsh."

Jane's throat grew dry. She struggled to articulate a thought, but suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Jane?" It was Catrina's voice. Jane's eyes widened in alarm.

"I ken ye asked fer a much longer time in here," Catrina said from behind the door, "but it appears that the laird's meeting with his men took less than expected. We need tae get ye ready fer dinner."

Jane's power of speech seemed to have been extinguished. She looked helplessly at the door. She turned to look helplessly at Alistair.

"Alright, then, I am coming in," Catrina said. Jane heard the key moving in the lock.

Alistair chuckled. That pulled Jane out of her dazed state. In a panic, she pushed Alistair down, below the water's surface. Catrina came in just then, bearing a towel and a robe. "Oh, I am sorry, Jane," she said, "perhaps ye couldnae hear me. I underestimated the thickness of the door. Let me help ye get out."

"Oh, no, thank you," Jane said hurriedly. "I can do that myself. I could not have you do that. Please just leave the towel and the robe. I'll get out and meet you outside."

Catrina grinned. "Is that the way of the English? Jane, there is nothing tae be ashamed of. We are women alike. But if it will make ye more comfortable, then of course." She gently placed the towel and robe on the bench attached to the wall for that purpose, and then turned to leave.

And leave she would have if Alistair had not reached for Jane's inner thigh at that moment. As soon as Catrina had come in, he had begun tracing up Jane's leg with his hand. Jane had ignored it, but she could not ignore his finger on her inner thigh. No amount of self-control would work. She shrieked.

Catrina turned in alarm. "Are you alright?" she asked. Jane noticed bubbles in the water, and her heart began to race. It became faster when she saw that Catrina had noticed it, too. "Jane?"

"I… I have a… a bad case of constipation," Jane blurted.

"Oh." Catrina replied in relief, "that is easy tae fix. I have an excellent tea fer that. I'll head tae the kitchen and put it on tae boil. Ye will be fine in nae time!" Catrina walked out of the door. This time, there was no turning of the key in the lock.

Jane breathed a deep sigh of relief. Just then, Alistair's head came up in a fit of laughing and coughing. "Be silent or Catrina will come again!" Jane hissed at him. He ignored her. When he was done, he rested against the bathtub, apparently pleased with himself.

"You are the most insufferable man I have ever met," Jane said, her hand on her head in exasperation. She had forgotten to guard her breasts, and now, even though she did not know it, the tops of them were visible above the water.

"Perhaps this is why ye are so constipated," he said. "All the hate that you are keeping inside you."

That was more than Jane could take. Her face burned bright red, and her eyes smoldered. Alistair seemed to notice, for his smile died. He reached for her and cradled her face with his palm. "I will be a gentleman tae ye from now on," he said, his blue eyes earnest. He then let go of her. Jane was discomfited by his sudden change.

Jane shook her head. "I am tired of your mood swings," she said. "One moment you are dark and brooding. The next you are considerate and kind. Kind-seeming," she amended. "It is confusing, and frankly, it is unfair."

"Ye are right," he said, and Jane stared at him blankly. She had not expected him to own up to his fault. "The truth is, Jane Marsh, ye awaken something in me which I cannot name, and which I have yet tae learn tae tame. I am just as confused as ye are."

His eyes were as innocent as a child's, and somehow, deep within her, Jane knew that he was telling the truth. The space between them seemed to constrict, and Jane felt the urge to plant her lips on his and throw her hands around his shoulders. An image of the both of them tumbling to the bottom of the tub and kissing underwater flashed in her mind. It was almost potent enough to make her give in to her impulse.

But he moved before her. He tucked a tendril of hair behind her left ear and then put a hand over his eyes. "I will nae look," he said. "Ye have me word." Jane stared at him for a moment, and then gingerly, she rose to her feet and got out of the tub. The hand stayed over his eyes while she toweled herself dry and put on the robe. She threw one last look at him before she walked out of the door and closed it behind her.

* * *

Alistair heard the door close and took his hand off his eyes. She was gone. The only thing left of her was the towel which she had used. She had spread it neatly on the bench. He remembered the feel of her close to him, the sight of the top of her breasts above the water, the feel of her legs when he stroked them.

His member was engorged with desire. It had been that way since he had joined her in the water. It had taken all his willpower not to plunder her mouth whenever she had lighted those green orbs on him. Not to reach below the water and find her wet, secret places.

She was the enemy.

This singular thought brought him back to reality. She was engaged to be married to the commander of the troop at Loch Lomond, his brother's captor. He had to see her as a tool of exchange and nothing else. If he let his manhood lead the way, chances were that he would put the fate of his clan, of his family, on the line. They looked to him for direction and preservation. It would not do for him to make decisions, spurred on by lust, that would put them in danger.

And nothing was worth that.

Nothing.

That thought should have put an end to every iota of lust in his system, but strangely, it did not. He still saw those smoldering eyes staring back at him, still saw those hillocks of soft white flesh that were wont to drive him mad.

He groaned and reached between his legs.