Page 9 of Scot of Desire
“Come, Bran, let’s go.” As Tad swept back toward the door, Bran hesitated.
Catreena was already heading toward a staircase nearby, heading up to the room they had for the night, but Ilyssa had not followed. She stayed at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes on Bran as she fidgeted with the wolf furs wrapped around her shoulders.
“I can stay, if ye wish me tae,” he whispered. For some reason, he wished she would ask it of him.
“I have nay need.” She suddenly smiled, and he suspected it was rather forced. She turned away and hurried up the stairs after Catreena. “Enjoy the drink, Bran.”
Bran reluctantly followed Tad out of the door, but not before hesitating. His eyes traced Ilyssa at the top of the stairs, then she was gone.
CHAPTER THREE
“This is ridiculous.” Ilyssa marched up and down the bedchamber.
Catreena, in contrast, laid back peacefully on the bed nearest the fire. Her blonde hair was tangled around her head, and she smiled to herself as the fire warmed her.
“What is?” Catreena asked through a yawn.
Ilyssa stopped pacing and turned to her friend. “Catreena, dae ye nae think it mad how often our brothers go drinking in taverns and we’re made tae sit at home?”
“I suppose they think we’re dutiful women,” Catreena scoffed and made a gagging sound.
“Or they think we’re meek as mice. Nay tonight, Cat, nay tonight.” Ilyssa moved toward the bed, looking at her friend with her hands on her hips.
“I ken that look. Oh nay.” Catreena raised her hands and covered her face. “What is it ye are plotting now?”
“Who said I was plotting anything?”
“I ken ye.” Catreena lowered her hands. “Last time ye had that look in yer eyes, ye and I and Kira stole out of the castle and went swimming. I dinnae think I’ll ever forget Bran’s face when he saw ye climbing out of that loch in nothing but yer chemise.”
“Cat!” Ilyssa swatted her friend’s arm. “How can ye talk that way?”
“Ye shocked him.” Catreena sat up. “That’s all.”
Ilyssa had to calm her suddenly racing heartbeat. For a second, she had thought Catreena meant Bran had looked at her with something likelustin his eyes. Abruptly dizzy, she sat down on the bed behind her.
She pictured that day again as she and Kira had walked out of the water, drenched to the bone, with Bran moving toward her. His handsome face was turned to hers. Now that she thought about it, he had not looked anywhere else. He hadn’t even searched for Kira or Catreena. His eyes had been on her, but she could not recall anything curious in them, certainly nothing that amounted to heat.
She felt suddenly frustrated.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“What!?” Catreena sat up so fast that she nearly fell off the bed and into the fire. They both yelped in fear then exchanged an amused look. “Are ye wanting tae run away? Ilyssa, they said they would sort it. That ye wouldnae have tae marry this man –”
“I ken all of that.” Ilyssa waved her hands impatiently. “But I dinnae have tae wait here like a mild mouse as they saunter off and have all the fun.”
“I am nae sure I want the sort of fun yer braither has.” Catreena wrinkled her nose.
“I dinnae ken.” Ilyssa couldn’t help smiling. “That sort of fun could be interesting. Have ye never wondered what it is like? Tae lay with a man?”
“I’m certainly nae up fer finding out tonight!” Catreena threw herself back down on the bed and pulled the blankets over her head. “Dae me a favor and dinnae mention such things and yer braither in the same breath. I dinnae want tae think of him like that.”
Ilyssa stood and reached for the covers, tearing them off Catreena to look at her friend’s face.
“I’m talking of just going out fer a drink. Bran and Tad have gone tae one tavern, but there’s another in town. We passed it on ourway in. Let’s go there fer a drink. Why can we nae have a little fun, Cat?”
Catreena bit her lip in the way that was all too familiar to Ilyssa.
She’s tempted…
