“I need you closer,” he said, his voice husky. He shifted onto his elbows, kissing his way up her torso, until he sat upright with her in his lap. “You're never close enough. ” He rubbed his hands up and down her back, and then eased her backward so that he could taste each breast. She writhed over him, and he pumped and ground her closer, until she flung back her head, crying out. Raking his hand in her hair, he kissed her, the thrust of his tongue echoing the rhythm of his cock, until his climax pulsed deep inside her.
They collapsed sideways, lying in a tangle on the bed. Marjorie idly traced the damp hair from Cormac's cooling brow, until their heartbeats gradually slowed. “I know what we must do now,” she said at last.
“Am I permitted to guess?” He playfully swept his hand down to fondle her backside. But he quickly grew intent, kissing along her neck, down to her breasts, his body stirring again already. “If you must have it again just now, love, we'd best get started. ”
But she remained serious, and Cormac grew serious, too, sensing her resolve. He pulled away and sighed, meeting her gaze. “Out with it, Ree. What is it we must do now?”
“The ship. ” She gave a slight nod, and the distant look in her eye worried him. “We must destroy the Oliphant. ” Chapter 29
“We?” He disentangled himself from her, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. “We must destroy the ship?”
“Of course we. I can't very well do it by myself. ” Marjorie extracted the sheet from the rumple of bed linens and covered herself, her body chilled without him. “Have I upset you?” He appeared to give the question thorough consideration, and then, inexplicably, he began to laugh. His easy, lopsided grin put her at her ease. “Not in the slightest, actually,” he said, standing up. “I'm feeling difficult to upset. ”
She sat straight up. “Where are you going?”
“Don't fash yourself, Ree. I'll not leave the premises. ” He stepped into his trews and then strolled to the side table. “Unless you wish me to race down to the docks immediately and set fire to the ship. Or were you of a mind for something more along the lines of, say, an explosion? With black powder perhaps?”
“I hadn't considered something so spectacular as all that. Where would someone even get black powder?” He gave her an amazed look.
The man was joking. She pouted back at him. “Cormac, be serious. ”
“Oh, I am. ” He retrieved a chipped white and blue basin. “We have terribly serious business to attend. ” His body was taut, and she stared, enthralled by the minute flex of muscles in his back and arms as he walked to the door. She regretted mentioning the ship. She should've held her tongue and kept him in her bed a while longer.
Though he couldn't get far with his shirt trapped beneath her leg. “What business? What are you doing?” He paused in the doorway. “Earlier, you'd asked for a bath. Before we pursue any nonsense pertaining to ships or smugglers, I'd honor your request. ”
“But Humphrey doesn't know you're here. You can't just—”
He opened the door, and somebody gasped and stumbled backward. Marjorie swiftly pulled her sheet higher, covering her shoulders, and craned her neck to peek. It was one of the girls Fiona kept about to help with the washing, a young dark-haired wisp of a thing, and she'd been listening in the doorway. How Cormac knew the girl would be standing there, she had no idea.
His body altered slightly, and Marjorie was mesmerized to watch his metamorphosis from lover into threat. “You work for Fiona?”
Cowering, the girl gave a panicked nod. The poor creature was likely no older than twelve. Marjorie rolled her eyes — it was a young age at which to be exposed to the full force of Cormac MacAlpin.
“And you value this work, do you not?”
She gave him another fretful nod, this time accompanied by a curtsy.
“Then you'll fetch us water. Warm, mind. ” He handed her the basin. She reached for it, but he held it in place as he added, “And if anyone becomes aware of my presence here, I'll know it was you who told them. Just as I knew you were listening outside this door. ”
Nodding frantically now, she edged backward before spinning and dashing down the hallway.
He shut the door, saying with a smile, “You'll have your bath directly. Well, not a full bath, but I've my ideas. ” Stalking to the bed, he peeled the sheet from her torso and ran a possessive hand down her body. “I assure you, it will be a thorough one, at the very least. ”
She spied the thick bulge in his trews, and goose bumps rippled across her skin. All thoughts of the Oliphant fled to the back of her mind.
By the time the girl returned, Cormac had found a linen washcloth, a new cake of Marjorie's favorite rose soap, and he had her spread across the bed like a holiday meal on the table. Before the maid had a chance to knock, he opened the door, just a crack this time.
“Put the bowl down. Aye, that's the way,” Cormac said in a low voice. His body blocked the door, and Marjorie could only imagine the terror on the poor girl's face. “I've told you what'll happen if folk find out I'm here, but would you like to know what will happen if they don't?”
There was a rustling, a pause, and then he continued, “Your mistress Marjorie is a good woman. I'm only here because she needs help. She's done no wrong, and you do no wrong if you choose to help her, too. If you mind me, I've a thruppence in my sporran, and it'll be just for you. ”
Marjorie heard a childlike gasp.
“But heed this,” he added sternly. “If I catch you listening at this door one more time, the thruppence is mine. ”
There was the pattering of bare feet as the girl dashed away.
“Your touch with children is magical,” Marjorie said with a laugh. “All glowering and bribes. How'd I not think of it myself?”