She nodded, but still he hesitated. Then, reaching between them, he touched her again, his fingers gentle as they slid across her velvet skin.

Biting her lip, Iliana met his gaze, wishing he would kiss her, but he did not. Instead, he watched her as he rekindled the fires he had started earlier, watching her eyes glaze, passion pulling her face taut as she began to shift beneath his touch. His movements became quicker as she bit her lip and moaned, and he shifted his hips as well, intensifying the sensations she was experiencing. It was only moments later that they both cried out and Iliana experienced that satisfaction of which he had spoken.

Chapter Twelve

“My lady!”

“Mmmm?” Opening her eyes, Iliana peered toward the door, frowning when her husband’s bulk blocked her view. Then, as memories of how he had come to be there ran through her head, she smiled and pushed herself onto an elbow to peer at the woman who stood in the doorway. To say that Ebba looked shocked as she took in the state of the room and her lord and lady abed together, was an understatement. It was only then that Iliana noticed that there now appeared to be more water on the floor than in the tub. ’Twas a horrible mess. And Iliana didn’t particularly care at that moment. She’d had far too much fun putting it there to care.

Pushing the hair out of her eyes, she smiled widely. “What is it, Ebba?”

“What? Oh! Your mother, my lady. She is approaching the keep.”

“Mother?” Leaping from the bed, Iliana rushed for the chests containing her clothes. Sliding the last few feet in a puddle of water, she jarred her knee against the wooden chest and cursed, then threw it open and grabbed the first undertunic she came across. Pausing then, she whirled suddenly. “You are sure?”

“Aye, my lady. Johnny-Boy arrived at the keep but a few moments ago with the news of where she is. He’s waiting to take you back to her.”

“Johnny-Boy?” Iliana murmured the name as she tugged the undertunic on over her head. He was the son of her mother’s maid. “Why did she not simply ride up to the keep herself?”

Ebba shrugged as Iliana pulled a gown out of the chest and tugged it on. “Lord Angus sent me to fetch ye soon as Johnny-Boy spit that part out. I didn’t hear the rest.”

“Tell his lordship I shall be down directly I am finished dressing.”