Page 55 of Rescued By the Highland Warrior
“All will be well, son, ye just have tae trust yerself tae ken what’s right,” Isobel said, and then left the room with one last, concerned, look at her son.
Roderick sat in silence after she left. He felt he owed her an apology, but even more he felt he needed to talk to Moira.
He left his study, walking swiftly and purposefully to her chambers, his body pumped with adrenaline and full of determination. Roderick knew his anger wasn’t useful, but time was of the essence.
Roderick knocked on Moira’s door a few times, and despite there being no response, he opened it slowly.
“Moira?” He asked, walking through. The chambers were dark, but as he looked around, he noticed a slither of light coming from behind a screen in the far corner.
He walked toward it without thinking before he noticed what it was.
“Roderick!” Moira exclaimed, clutching her breasts in a tub as Roderick took in her naked body. His stomach clenched and his manhood hardened almost immediately, as his mind involuntarily recalled the night before.
“Apologies,” he said, swiftly turning his back to her, his jaw tightening as he forced himself to focus on anything else. “I will return at a more convenient time.”
“Nae,” she said, the silkiness to her voice both soothing and exciting. “Dinnae leave, just give me a moment tae get out o’ the tub, an’ we’ll talk.”
“Aye,” Roderick said, his voice low, rougher than he intended. He turned his back, his shoulders tense as he tried to focus on the stone walls, on anything really, other than the feelings he was desperately trying to suppress.
As he heard the soft slosh of water, his resolve wavered. He clenched his fists at his sides, steeling himself against the pull that made his gut tighten. It was maddening how his body reacted to her. Why couldn’t he just show some semblance of control?
Against his better judgment, Roderick turned his head just enough to steal a quick glance.
It was a mere glimpse, but it struck him and weakened him at the same time. He needed her and it drove him mad.
After a few moments, Moira came out, her silky hair dripping down her neck. She was dressed in a robe that did little to hide her full curves and her contrastingly small waist.
“Why are ye here, Roderick?” She asked, her lips parted. “I thought ye had a lot tae attend tae?”
For a moment, Roderick was completely distracted by the way she looked and how she made him feel. But he quickly snapped himself out of it. This was not the time or place.
“We need tae discuss the case,” he said shortly. “And what happened on the ride back from the lodge.”
“I agree,” Moira said, pacing toward the bed. She sat there, looking up at him with her arms crossed and a determined expression swept across her face.
Roderick forcibly snapped his mind back into focus after it lazily wandered to thoughts of her curves.
Moira—calmly sitting before him—on the bed, wasn’t helping.
“We dae need tae talk about it,” she said. “But honestly, it is a little difficult tae dae so if ye refuse tae give me all o’ the information. How am I supposed tae solve the case like this?”
“What dae ye mean?” He demanded, all his frustrations fueling together, matching hers.
“I mean that ye need tae tell me what those letters said, it could be crucial tae the case.”
“It is not yer concern what was in those letters,” Roderick said firmly, his jaw tightening as he met her gaze.
Moira opened her mouth to protest, Roderick was sure of it, and whatever she was going to say, he knew that he’d find it difficult to refute.
Being near to her again was already driving him crazy. It weakened him—so much so that he hardly wanted to discuss the case. Maybe he had thought he could, but he had been wrong. Not when she was looking at him like that.
He needed to get away, back to the privacy of his study, so that he could reallythink.
Before she had a chance to speak, he turned on his heels and headed for the door.
“Roderick,” she hissed. “Will ye wait?”
But he couldn’t.
