“Aye, well, I’ve yet to see the day when yer that fou,” she agreed with dry amusement, then gave him a gentle push that sent him dropping back onto the bed.

Smiling at the surprise on his face, she tugged the neckline of her gown down so that her breasts popped out, her smile deepening at the hunger that immediately lit his eyes. “Let us see if ye can still ride the night out, or if that English wife o’ yers has ruined ye,” she murmured, yanking the skirt of her plaid up to her thighs and crawling atop him on the bed.

Duncan had just opened his mouth to deride that possibility when the woman leaned forward and plopped her breast into it. Eyes widening, he began to suckle automatically, only to pause as the acrid scent of sweat intruded on his senses. Frowning, he caught the woman by the arms, ending her efforts at tugging up his own plaid, and pushed her away.

Sighing, Iliana rolled onto her back once more and glared into the darkened room. It was impossible for her to gain her sleep when her mind kept racing over the fact that Duncan was right this minute thrusting himself into another woman’s body. The pig, she thought irritably. Was it so much to ask that he take a bath? Even if he would just wash himself down, she would be pleased to remove the belt.

Muttering under her breath, she shifted onto her side away from the door, then stiffened at the soft click of it opening. She heard it shut softly, then the rustle of rushes as he crossed the room, and anger immediately began to burn within her. So, he had pleasured himself elsewhere, then thought to join her in this bed? If that was the case, he had another think coming.

Rolling abruptly onto her back, Iliana opened her mouth to blister him with her tongue. The words that would have bubbled forward were replaced with a shriek of horror, however, when she saw the dark form poised over the bed, a knife upraised to plunge into her. If she was startled at the sight, her attacker was equally taken aback by the fact that she was obviously not asleep. A blessing that; it made him hesitate for a moment. Just long enough for Iliana to gather her senses and start to roll quickly away from him.

Her attacker regained himself at her movement and lunged forward, bringing the knife down as she moved. Iliana felt heat emanate suddenly from her side; then she crashed onto the floor with a thud. She screamed again as she found her legs tangled up in the bed linens, hampering her efforts to get as far from the bed and the attacker as possible.