"Let's have the full tour first." He was still reluctant to let her out of his arms. He carried her over to the window. Her fingers parted the lace curtains and they both peeped out at their view. Below the window a tranquil garden was laid out in symmetrical quadrants lined with topiary.
"It's not really haunted, is it?" she asked, when he laid her gently on the bed and removed her sandals.
He smiled. "Oh yes, indeed it is."
He felt her start to tense. He put one finger against her lips when she went to ask again. "The story goes that there is a lonely love-lorn soul who haunts the stables, but he never wanders from there, so we are safely outside his radar."
Amy gave a nervous laugh. "Are you winding me up again?"
"No, I'm telling you what the legend and the brochure says, but if you want to go down to the stables at midnight and check it out…"
"No." She clutched at him, laughing at herself.
He kissed her gently and eased her back onto the pillows. "I've seen the episode of Ghost Hunter that was filmed here. The kids were down and they were excited with it being set in Yorkshire and all."
He kicked off his shoes and lay next to her on the bed.
She looked at him, her eyes searching his face. "Does your sister drive them down?"
"We used to take it in turns to collect and deliver, but now they are old enough to travel by train without causing too much disruption."
"I haven't intruded on your time with them, have I?"
"No, you missed them by a week." He smoothed her hair back from her face. "Now, are you going to let Dr. Armitage check you out for damage?"
She nodded, her hands flattening against the bed, a sparkle of anticipation in her eyes. He reached for the waistband of those naughty tight little trousers she had on. They hung so low on her waist he could touch the top of her panties when he slid his fingers beneath the waistband. He swiped his finger from side to side.
"Hey, no tickling."
He undid the slim zipper and peeled the trousers down, sighing when she lifted her hips to assist. Beneath the trousers she wore a scrap of vivid pink thong, matching the vivid pink top stretched across her beautiful breasts.
"How was I supposed to concentrate, with you dressed like this," he murmured, half to himself.
"It was my intention…to capture your attention," she confessed, seductively.
"It was?"
She nodded.
He slipped one finger down the side of her panties and over her pussy, possessively. She took a deep intake of breath, her arms still outstretched on the bed. Her nipples were taut under the tight enclosing fabric of the top.
"Well that's very naughty of you, Ms. Norton, but should I take this as an indication that you have forgiven me for any wrongdoing on my behalf?"
"Oh, yes." She was breathing heavily. "I soon realized I can't be angry with you for long. Do you forgive me for being upset about it?"
"There is nothing to forgive. You were justified, and I should have come clean much earlier."
She looked deep into his eyes, her expression thoughtful. "Promise me there won't be any more secrets from now on, and if you want to chip in, you will. I think we'd make a good team, don't you?"
She gave a tentative smile and he could see what it had meant for her to be brave and put her feelings on the line, and he felt humbled.
"We'd make an excellent team, oh yes." In so many ways. They would make the best team in the world. "I'm sorry you found out the way you did."
"It doesn't matter now. I just want us to enjoy every moment we have together."
He smiled at her remark and touched her hair with his free hand, running his fingers down its shimmering length, the simple gesture felt somehow incredibly intimate. "I want that too. Christ, I missed you so much last night…" He swallowed the unbidden, rash words. "I wanted you. I can't go long without thinking about you, is it a crime?" He lifted her chin as he spoke and looked deep into her eyes.
She shook her head.