Her hips moved wantonly but she could not stop them. He turned her so that her back was to him more. With her derriere pressed against his shaft and her legs spread wide, he held her tight, his hand caressing her.
He kissed her neck, then urged her to turn her head toward him. He locked his mouth to hers and rubbed her more firmly and persistently. She cried out at the intensifying sensations, but he caught the sounds with his mouth. She found herself arching her back, yearning for something more.
A strange, otherworldly feeling overwhelmed her—shivers hurtling through her body and converging on her center. Primal pleasure seized her. She could not breathe, or think. “What…?” she gasped. Keegan’s mouth covered hers, and she felt she was leaving the earth, shooting straight up into the stars. Every muscle in her body contracted over and over, wishing to clutch onto Keegan, but she couldn’t. She yanked at his clothing, trying to show him what she needed, but he was in the wrong place. She could only arch her back and grind her derriere against his stone-hard shaft.
He groaned in her ear. “Aye, Seona, lass. That’s it.”
Near suffocating, she gasped for breath, trying to regain her reasoning abilities. What had happened? Her whole weakened body trembled in the wake of that storm of sensation.
A fist banged at the door, breaking through the sensual fog in her brain.
Chapter Fourteen
Another knock sounded at the storeroom door. Keegan froze, his body pressed close to Seona’s. “Shh,” he hissed in her ear, then lowered her smock. He was unable to see her in the absolute darkness of the storeroom, but he knew she had to be horrified that someone was pounding at the door not five seconds after he’d brought her to climax. How could someone interrupt one of the most amazing experiences of his life?
“’Twill be all right,” he whispered, then directed her behind the door. He felt her struggling to adjust her smock and arisaid into place. He’d love to help her, if only he could see, but everything had to be done by touch in this windowless room.
He felt to make sure his own clothes were still straight and in place, then he cracked the door open.
Fraser stood outside. His frown shifted to a mischievous lopsided grin. “What in blazes are you doing in there, Keegan?” he asked, keeping his voice quiet.
“Drinking ale.” Or maybe mulled wine would’ve been a better lie.
“In the dark?” Fraser snorted. “I don’t think ’tis ale you’re drinking.”
Heat washed over Keegan. Aye, he’d been caught, and he’d never been able to lie his way out of anything. “How did you know I was in here?”
“One of the kitchen servants came down to start baking bread and heard a noise. I was talking to the guard when she reported it.” He grinned. “Which maid do you have in there with you?”
“Damnation,” Keegan muttered. “You must not tell anyone. Promise me.” He hoped his worried gaze communicated the seriousness of the matter.
Fraser sobered. “Of course I won’t. I ken well how awkward it is to be caught with a lass.”
Keegan gave a brief nod. His stomach clenched for he knew not whether he could trust Fraser. He had only known him a couple of days. He seemed like an honest and trustworthy man, about a year younger than himself. But Fraser was a rogue who thought of little beyond finding another lass to bed.
“No one can know she is down here with me.”
“Very well. I’ll help you slip her out. Just a minute.” Fraser turned and moved toward the stairs again. “’Tis two huge rats,” he called up to someone waiting at the top.
“Oh heavens!” the female said. “I shan’t go down there until they’re gone.”
“I’ll get them, Mary. You go back to your chamber for about a half hour.” He then told the guard to return to his post. “I’ll be right back,” Fraser whispered to Keegan, then disappeared up the steps. He returned a couple of minutes later. “All clear up to the second floor.” His eyes narrowed as he looked over Keegan’s shoulder. But of course, he could see naught. “Why do I get the feeling ’tis not one of the servants you’ve seduced?”
“I didn’t seduce anyone.” Keegan frowned, hating that Fraser would think the worst of Seona once he learned she was behind the door.
“Not enough time, aye? That can be damned frustrating.”
Keegan’s face heated, though he knew not why. He was not one easily embarrassed. Although he didn’t have a reputation as a gallant or a rogue, he had bedded a few lasses over the past few years. Even then, he would not say he’d seduced anyone. Usually it was the lasses who’d seduced him, in a manner of speaking.
Aside from that, he had not planned to take Seona, anyway. Indeed, he would like to but… he could not endanger her uncertain future.
Fraser chuckled. “Come on, man. Bring her out so she can return to her sleeping quarters. She must be exhausted since you’ve kept her up half the night.”
“Can you hand me that candle?” Keegan motioned to the one sitting on the cook’s table.
“Aye.” Fraser retrieved it for him.
“I thank you.” Keegan closed the door, set the candle on the floor, and turned back to Seona. Finding her wide-eyed and pale, he took her hands. “I’m sure you heard, ’tis only Fraser,” he whispered. “He’s promised he won’t tell anyone and that he’ll help get you back to your room. I never meant to endanger your reputation. I simply wanted—”
She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed his lips briefly. Arousal riveted him along with a generous helping of affection.
“Och, Seona, lass.” How he wanted her in every way. But this might be their last private moment together. He leaned down, claiming her lips again. Though the kiss started out soft and slow, it quickly grew to burning and volatile. Arousal demanded that he press her against the wall and have his way with her… but he couldn’t do that.
Forcing himself to pull back, he cursed and clenched his teeth. How passionate she was. She had to be his, always.
After taking her hand, he led her to the doorway. As soon as he opened it, Fraser turned toward them.
“I thought you were—” His words stalled when his gaze landed on Seona. He smiled and shook his head. “I should’ve guessed.” He shoved Keegan’s shoulder as he emerged from the tiny room. “You dog. Defiling ladies?”
“Well, I wasn’t… exactly.” He couldn’t tell Fraser how much Seona meant to him.
“Aye, indeed. Not to worry. I’ve defiled a few myself.” He chuckled.
“Fraser,” Keegan chided between his teeth and sent him a meaningful frown, trying to convince him not to embarrass Seona any more than she already was. Her face was dark red, even in the dimness of the kitchen.
“Very well. I’ll behave myself.” At the base of the stairs, Fraser said, “Wait here.” He ran up the steps, then returned seconds later and motioned. “All clear.”
Keegan climbed the steps first, holding Seona’s hand and pulling her up behind. That way, if they ran into someone, he could conceal her.
“Are you well?” he whispered back to her as they moved along a corridor.
“Aye.” Her response was barely above a breath.
Fortunately, they reached the upper corridor where her bedchamber was without meeting anyone. Of course, Dirk’s guard was still on duty, but once he recognized them, he again pretended not to see Seona.
“Have a good night’s sleep, m’lady,” Keegan whispered.
Seona gave a brief curtsy and hastened down the corridor and into her room. If Fraser and the guard hadn’t been there, she might have allowed him another kiss. But that was impossible now. With regret, he turned to leave. He doubted he could sleep much after that, even though ’twas past midnight.
“Come, let’s go have a wee dram,” Fraser said. “I’m thinking you need it. Or another lass.”