Page 113 of Scotch on the Rocks

“Maybe.” That’s exactly what I was doing.

“Damn. Now I definitely can’t say it back.”

“Minx.” I bit her neck and she laughed throatily. “Say it.”

“Nope.”

“Say it.” I punctuated the point with a flick of the bar through her nipple.

She gasped but still managed to lift a single perfect brow in challenge. “Make me.”

Oh, fucking gladly.

Rising first, I dragged her after me, delivering a swift slap to her perfect behind. “In the shower. Now.”

Turning on the spot, she curled her arms around my neck, pressing a kiss to my lips that swept me away. I would never get enough of her. My hands fell back to her thighs, half lifting her as I stumbled through the dark to the bathroom door.

Reaching around her, I flipped on the light, laughing into her mouth when she cried out at the cold tile on her bare toes. “It’s bloody freezing.”

“Aye.” It was, now that she mentioned it. Our body temperatures must have dropped some. “Get in, I’ll warm you up.”

She barely had the shower door open when a crash sounded from the other room. We frowned at each other. “It’s probably Shakespeare destroying my shoe collection again,” she said.

I flipped on the water as another crash followed.Bloody cat.

Staring at Juniper’s very naked, very wet body, I could have wept. “Warm up, I’ll be back in a second.” I kissed her forehead and closed the shower door, walking back into the open-plan space. Clothes and shoes were scattered from the bed to the living room, like a reverse treasure hunt.

I flipped on the wardrobe light, shifting the clothes on the lower rails, searching for Shakespeare. Nothing. Retracing my steps, I tried the kitchen next. She liked to sit on top of the refrigerator sometimes, she might have fallen down the back.

Crash.

I halted, head tilting to the front door. My feet were already moving down the narrow hallway, growing colder with every step. I found the front door ajar, creaking in the frame as the wind blew it back and forth.

Giving zero fucks for my current state of undress, I poked my head out, glancing over the small, sleepy front garden. Finding all well, I closed and latched it then hurried back to the bathroom. Juniper was washing suds from her hair when I slid the fogged glass back. I followed the trail all the way down to her toes.

“Everything all right?”

Hands immediately seeking the closest scrap of her skin, I crowded her into the far corner, joining her under the hot spray. “The front door was ajar, we must have forgotten to close it earlier.”

She nodded contentedly. Then wide eyes flew to mine. “Shakespeare! Did you see her?”

I shook my head. “She doesn’t go outside?”

“No.” Scrambling around me, she flung herself from the shower, almost slipping as she snatched a towel from the hook. “Kelly advised against it until she was fully settled.”

“Shit.” I followed right on her heels. “Don’t worry, we’ll find her.” Drying myself off with quick, rough swipes, I had little choice but to re-don my kilt and shirt or waste time going next door to change. Maybe I should move a few belongings over here, or Juniper could move her stuff into my place …Not the time.

Juniper disappeared inside her wardrobe while I dressed, cursing and banging as she hurried. Worry strained her face when she returned, suds-soaked hair dripping onto her knitted jumper. I went to her side, cupping her

shoulders.

“You can’t go out there like that, you’ll freeze to death.” She didn’t even have matching shoes on. It didn’t feel like the time to point it out.

“I have to.” She clutched my shirt. Tears lined her eyes as she screwed the fabric between desperate hands. “She could be anywhere by now. She must be so scared; I have to find her.”

“Sweetheart, cats are resourceful, she’s going to be fine.” I squeezed the ends of her hair to get rid of some of the moisture then tucked it behind her ears. “At least put a hat on so I don’t need to worry about you too.”

“Fine.” She grabbed the beanie I’d bought for her while I dug out a couple of torches. Then hand in hand, we went out into the night.

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