Chapter 13

"Well, this is unexpected!"

William opened the door to his cabinet quickly. The noise Nora had been making was enough to wake half the castle. As soon as the door was opened, Nora almost fell on top of him.

"William!"

Her arms grasped him, hugging him securely around the midriff. Then, she repositioned, squeezing him around the neck. Before he had a chance to express his surprise, she had kissed him. The breath almost came out of his lungs, it was so tight.

A strange burn singed him, but it was not as strange as the sight of her then. Nora was wild. Her bright red curls strewn madly around her head, she was more animal than woman.

Clearly affected, she held him tight for what felt like an age. Eventually, William was forced to cough.

"Come in," he said, for she was still standing at the entrance to the door. "We do a lot o" this, dinnae we?" he said, trying to make a jest, but Nora did not hear.

In fact, she seemed in a strange sort of mood altogether. Finally, William succeeded in closing the cabinet door behind them. Hopefully, no one was watching, but right then, he had bigger problems.

Like an almost hysterical Nora braying him with her fists. Taking her wrists, he held her tight.

"Are ye alright hen?" he asked. She was actually tearful. Wondering what the matter was, Nora buried her head in his chest. Giving a deep sob, she held him again.

Women are curious creatures, but even so, this is odd, thought William.

"Lass?"

Nora looked up. Slowly, she composed herself. "Och," she said, straightening herself. Quickly, she wiped her face with her hand. Now, she looked slightly sheepish.

For a moment, she walked around the tiny cabinet that was attached to the end of the chamber. Glancing about, she viewed it with great interest, taking in the heavy mahogany writing bureau at its center.

"What is this place?" she asked, the light coming into her eyes. In fact, it was dark in there, but just enough light to see by.

William glanced up, smiling. "Och, this wee hidey-hole? "Tis my father"s auld cabinet "cept he used to call it his library."

William"s eyes arched upward. Following him, Nora took in the rolls of shelves etched into the shadows. Seeing all the books and manuscripts, she gasped.

"Jings!" she said, moving about in wonder. "I haven"t seen a place like this afore."

William watched as Nora wandered about, glancing at the manuscripts and darkened corners of the tiny room.

"Nay library in Castle Douglas?" he asked, curious.

Nora almost laughed out loud. "Nay," she said. "My father can barely read." She turned to him as if searching for something, but obviously, she had been distracted.

"It took me ages to find ye!" she said in amazement. "I didnae even ken it was here."

Sliding his hand into hers, William sat her down at the bureau. There was a single candlestick between them, lighting the way. It flickered crazily as she gazed at him.

William felt his heart surge. And then something else, too. He had to look away. Suddenly, he was hot.

"Well, aye, nae many people ken it"s here," he said, with a wink. "It"s a wee bit private, if ye get me."

His look seemed to rouse something. Nora lost her edge and appeared to settle. For the first time, she grinned.

"A man needs somewhere o" his own to read in private, away from the distractions o" all his womenfolk," added William. A slow smile crept around his face. He had been genuinely surprised by her presence, but now that she was here, he wanted to take full advantage of it.

"I see," she said, with a beam.

Walking around, she cast a finger over the ledge where the manuscripts were, and a thick wedge of dust came snowing down. Nora looked at him wryly.

"Do a lot o" reading, do ye?" she asked, by now distracted, if not completely calmed.

William cast her a glance. "Sometimes," he said with a wink. "Sometimes it"s just a wee bit o" respite from clan business, an" ye ken, the hordes o" comely maids who come beating mah door doon in the wee hours."

Nora blushed. "It wasnae the wee hours when I came in search o" ye," she said, composing herself to stand up. She fixed him brightly with her eyes, then, rearranging the hair around one side of her head, smiled. "I have been everywhere; yer chamber, the hall, the training grounds, the gardens, the woodlands..."

Coming closer, Nora put her fingers on his cheek. It pulsated there, sending twinges shooting all over William"s body. She smelled sweet, sensual—ready for the taking…

"Come here." William could not wait. Taking her firmly, he delivered a fulsome kiss, one so sweet it totally silenced her. The sensation of her skin against his was electric. Desperately, William fought the instinct to lift her and go to his bedchamber.

"William, I…" began Nora, before drifting into silence.

The scent of her hair wafted over. It was meadow flowers on a summer day. Running his fingers through it greedily, William wondered what she had used on it.

"Wheesht," said William, lifting his finger to her. He laid down on top of her, caressing her with his other hand.

"Shh," warned Nora, as the sound of manuscripts being crushed echoed over the chamber. They were on the bureau, but there was not enough space, so William guided her onto the floor.

With a magnificent scrunching, papers fell to the floor, lining it fully. Her eyes lifted, Nora looked around.

"Dinnae ye want all this back up?" she asked, but William stopped her. Kissing her hard, he pulled her to the floor, where, giggling, she hugged him.

"Nay," he said, finally, but by then it was too late for the parchments underneath. Nora rolled around, covered in documents; inventories, letters, accounts, receipts, all of them flying about. "I dinnae care about it. Noo come here, ye wee strumpet."

He caressed her slowly at first, his hand exploring the tops of her shoulders. Touching them sent a rush down his spine. Although he still had not seen them—or any of her naked flesh—he could guess them.

But her houppelande was long and voluminous. Heaven knew what it was made from. It might have been a suit of armor for the effect it had. And the fastenings! William was not too sure how she had even gotten into it. Presumably, she had been sewn in for the luck he was having getting inside it.

Watching him, Nora laughed. "Here," she said, sliding his arm under layers of fabric.

There. Finally, William touched her flesh. When he did, he almost expired.

"As sweet as a flower, as fresh as a daisy," he murmured, as Nora batted him away.

"Wheesht!" she hissed, but there was laughter in her eyes.

Suddenly, William felt very gay. "Noo see what lies beneath."

Nora squealed as William touched her, turning her around in wonder. Her skin was sleek and warm, but so far, he had only felt it. With a few impatient tugs, he succeeded in almost ripping her dress fabric.

Startled, Nora looked up. "Och!"

Delicately, she unbuttoned her frock. William watched, entranced, as her fine, tapering fingers unpicked the tiny fasteners. He stared, awed, as coquettishly, she cast it aside, pulling down the shoulders and casting off her long, bagged sleeves.

For the first time, he saw her shoulders and arms. She was shivering.

"Cold?" he asked, covering her with his arms. "Nae for long, my wee lass. I will keep ye warm."

He kissed her, tasting her deeply.

She shivered, but then groaned. "Och," she moaned, replete with pleasure. "Could ye do that again?"

William laughed. It hadn"t been the reaction he had been expecting, although it had definitely been the one he was hoping for.

"With pleasure," he said.

Nora smiled, leaning backward, and almost purred. William felt his heartbeat race. The texture of her skin was soft and comely. Her flesh seemed exceptionally warm. Fingers tingling, William continued downward, this time probing her armpits gently. Nora shivered all over, then she shifted.

"Och," she moaned.

William smiled. He could stay like this forever, just watching. She did not even have to do anything; just the act of touching her was enough. But then, Nora turned around.

"Ye dinnae get away," she growled, pulling him near and almost devouring him whole. William felt his temperature shoot up. Before he noticed it, she had her hands all over his chest. Somehow, she had no trouble getting beneath his clothing and buttoning!

"Ye"ve done this before," he murmured, as she just laughed and slapped him hard. "Och!" he cried.

Next, he was ripping at her clothing. He didn"t care; the acres and acres of material had to go. With a cry, he succeeded in getting her bare to the waist. With a triumphant yelp, he leaped on top of her, massaging her back. Her skin was so smooth.

William was so elated, he almost drifted into a dream. This was what it was all about. Why had he waited so long to get her clothes off? Oh yes, tedious convention. Well, he vowed not to waste another single moment.

Spreading his hands all over her flesh, he sighed, then breathed deep. Nora murmured as he luxuriated in her. Everything came rushing at him, her skin, her hair, the lot. Overwhelmed, William sank into her skin and groaned.

Nora tilted her head. "Ye alright?"

William just laughed and pushed her head back. Then, he ran his tongue up and down the length of her spine. Everything about this girl"s body was perfect. He couldn"t believe it. Tracing every little mark and groove with his finger, he slid down to the base of her spine.

Nora squealed, but William continued. He was all over her, kissing and touching. In an instant, Nora had turned around, baring her front to him in a hot show of passion.

She kissed him, a flame spreading from the side of her cheek. He could taste her sweat and suddenly, he was on fire. Unable to stop, he kissed her neck, then worked his way down until he happened upon her bosom. For the first time, he realized that her breasts were there; just open, completely free.

Giving a low whistle, he caressed the tender skin around her nipples as Nora moaned. This was hot. This was way too much for William to deal with without letting go.

Instantly, he fell to his knees, suckling her softly. The shape of her nipples, the soft, sensuous nature of them. Curiously, he ran his hand over their soft peaks. They were small but perfectly shapely. In awe, William ran his finger around them softly.

"Nora, I think I—" William stopped dead. His heart beat hard. He was smitten, and it was not just lust…although lust was definitely in the riding seat right then. Nuzzling her breast with his lips, William knew they were going too far, but he just couldn"t stop.

And it did not seem as if Nora was about to stop him until she looked up, mid-embrace.

"William," she said urgently.

William looked around, distracted. "Aye," he said, languorously feeling her smooth skin and wishing he could be inside her.

"William, we have got to stop. There"s something ye really need to ken."