A Hint of Rapture

by Miriam Minger

  "She told me why you began raiding, to keep your people from starving," Garrett related, his voice very low, "and she explained how you managed sneak from the house without anyone noticing, through the secret tunnel." He smiled wryly, glancing at the drawing room closet behind her chair. "I could scarcely believe it when she told me you were the one who nailed me on the head."

  Madeleine said nothing, still staring into the distance. She remained silent even as Garrett gently tilted her chin upward so she was looking into his eyes.

  "Glenis said she could not return to Mhor Manor, Maddie," he said quietly. "She thought you wouldn't want her around because she'd betrayed you. I wanted to argue with her and tell her it wasn't so, that you wouldn't think she was a traitor since she had saved your life—"

  "Ah, but ye're wrong, Garrett," Madeleine interrupted him vehemently. "Glenis Simpson is a traitor. I never want to see her again." She jerked her head back, and his hand fell away from her chin. "Are ye finished? If so, I'd like to retire to my room."

  Garrett seemed stunned by her bitter words. As he moved away from the chair, she stood up and walked woodenly to the archway. She leaned on the wall, needing the support.

  "If ye were thinking ye might fetch Glenis from Tullich, save yerself the trip, Garrett," Madeleine barely managed, tears threatening to overwhelm her at any moment. "She's never to set foot in this house again. Not if ye want to have any peace at all." She started toward the stairway, then paused, meeting his gaze once more. "I take it I'm restricted to Mhor Manor 'til yer soldiers arrive, if I heard ye correctly?"

  Garrett nodded. "It's for your own safety, Madeleine. I don't trust Hawley's men. My soldiers should be here within a few days, Sergeant Fletcher and the others, the same men who were here before, except for Rob Tyler. Then you may go where you wish—within reason."

  Madeleine smiled weakly. "Funny," she said. "Ye dinna trust yer own kind and I dinna trust you and Glenis . . ." She paused, nearly choking. "Glenis betrayed my trust." Her voice fell to a ragged whisper, her eyes misting over. "There seems to be a dearth of trust these days, wouldna ye say, Garrett? And there doesna seem to be any help for it."

  She turned and fled up the stairs, barely making it inside her room before she doubled over, her body wracked by silent sobs. She slammed the door shut and sank to the floor with the corner of her shawl over her mouth, crying as if her heart was breaking.

  Her world was so completely torn apart, so upside down, she didn't know if she would ever make sense of it again.

  First she had lost her father, now Glenis. Her final bond with the past was irretrievably broken. Her future loomed before her, bleak and bereft of any hope for happiness. All she had left was Garrett, a man who had usurped her land, a man who saved her life and married her because she was useful to him. And she had once believed she loved him.

  The sad songs were true, she thought dazedly when her tears were finally spent and she lay exhausted on the floor, wrapped in her shawl.

  Love, even at its most fleeting, brought nothing but heartbreak and sorrow. She must have been mad to think Garrett Marshall ever cared.

  ***

  Madeleine awoke hours later to the sensation of being lifted from the floor where she had fallen asleep. Her eyes fluttered open, but she could see nothing in the pitch darkness. She tensed as powerful arms enveloped her, holding her close with aching familiarity, and she knew at once that it was Garrett.

  "Wh—what do ye think ye're doing? Where are ye taking me?" she cried frantically, the mists of slumber still clinging to her thoughts as he carried her down the hallway.

  "Our room," Garrett said, hugging her tightly to his chest. "I'll not have my wife sleeping on the floor, nor will you sleep any longer in a bed other than mine."

  His words chased the haze from her mind as if he had slapped her.

  "No! Ye canna force me to share yer bed!" she exclaimed shrilly, wriggling in his arms.

  "In this you have no choice," he replied firmly. "We are husband and wife, Madeleine. From this night on, we sleep together."

  Garrett kicked the door open and strode into the firelit room, where he set her down so abruptly she almost lost her footing. He turned and shut the door, drawing the bolt into place, then faced her once more.

  "I took the liberty of bringing some of your things in here," he began, walking toward her. "You can move the rest of your belongings tomorrow."

  She shook her head slowly from side to side, retreating backward as he advanced closer and closer. "No, I dinna want to stay here," she objected nervously, flustered by the way he was looking at her. "Ye've no right."

  "I've made it my right," he insisted quietly. When she took another step backward, he suddenly reached out to her, grabbing for her arm. "Madeleine, stop, there's a tub just behind—"

  "No! Dinna touch me!" She jerked away from him and spun around, screaming as she toppled into an enormous wooden tub filled with steaming water. In the next instant Garrett leaned into the tub, catching her about the waist and lifting her to her feet as she sputtered and coughed, her wet hair hanging down over her face, her gown plastered to her body.

  "Ye—ye bastard!" Madeleine gasped, parting her hair to glare at him.

  "I tried to stop you, Maddie," he said with a low chuckle, appraising her sodden appearance. "I thought you might want to bathe tonight, so I brought up the tub for your use."

  Madeleine swept her hair back from her forehead, wringing some of the water out with her fingers. She had never felt so foolish before, standing fully clothed in a tub. She glanced down, surprised by its wide dimensions.

  "I bought it in Edinburgh," Garrett said, as if he read her thoughts. "I wasn't sure if you had a tub here at the manor house or not."

  "Aye, but not as large," Madeleine said almost to herself. " 'Tis big enough for two." She blushed suddenly and looked up to find him studying her most intently.

  "Exactly," he said.

  Madeleine inhaled sharply, acutely aware of the desire flaring in those startling gray-green eyes and even more aware of her own racing senses. She heaved up her soaked skirt and was out of the tub in a flash.

  "Good night to ye, Garrett," she said angrily as she sloshed and squished her way to the door. "Enjoy yer fine tub. I'll not be swimming in it with ye, if that's what ye were thinking."

  "Touch that latch and I promise you will find yourself back in this tub, but with me," Garrett threatened softly. "I mean that, Madeleine. This is now your room as much as mine. Ours. We will share it together. Do you understand me?"

  Madeleine flinched at his tone and drew back her hand from the bolt. She turned away slowly and met his steely gaze. "As always, Garrett, ye must threaten to have yer way."

  He did not reply. He began to undo the buttons of his shirt, revealing the golden hair on his chest.

  "What are ye doing?" she asked shakily, her eyes widening.

  "Undressing. If you have no plans for this bath, then I'd like to avail myself of its comfort while the water is still hot." He stripped off the shirt, baring his muscular upper body to her stunned gaze. "I've set up a screen over there for your privacy, Madeleine," he said dryly, nodding to the far corner of the room. "You'll find your travel trunk behind it." His belt fell to the floor with a thud. "Oh, yes. There's some food and mulled wine on the bedside table. Help yourself."

  "I'm not hungry," she said. She glanced over to the screen, delicately painted with vines and flowers, and back to Garrett, who was pulling off his breeches. At the sight of his lean buttocks, she gasped and scurried to the other side of the room, ducking behind the screen. She plopped down on the trunk, her heart pounding furiously. She heard a splash as Garrett stepped into the tub, then his long, contented sigh as he settled himself in the water.

  Madeleine's teeth began to chatter, and she felt chilled to the bone in her sopping wet gown. She was so far away from the fireplace there was little warmth in this corner.

  "Ye'll surely catch yer death if ye sit here like this," s
he muttered under her breath, shivering uncontrollably.

  "Did you say something?"

  "No!" she responded tartly, his deep voice eliciting a tremor of excitement within her. She jumped off the trunk and threw open the lid, rummaging through the neatly folded clothes until she found her apricot robe. She quickly changed out of her wet things and gratefully donned the padded robe and a pair of down-lined slippers. She felt warmed immediately.

  "There are some towels on the bed if you care to dry your hair," Garrett called out.

  Madeleine wanted to ignore his offer, hoping there were some towels in her trunk, but after a quick search she found none. She sighed with exasperation. If she didn't dry her hair, the back of her robe would soon be soaked.

  She drew a deep breath as she tied the sash securely around her waist, then stepped from behind the screen. She kept her eyes lowered as she hurried over to the bed, where she grabbed a towel and whisked it around her head.

  As she began to retreat toward the screen, she hazarded a glance in Garrett's direction. Her heart stopped at the striking picture he made, his bronzed shoulders and chest gleaming wet, his dark blond hair slicked back. He looked her over as if he could see right through her satin robe.

  "Are you sure you won't join me?" he asked softly, smiling at her with open invitation.

  "Quite sure!" she snapped, though inside she wasn't so sure anymore. She turned away, blotting her hair with trembling hands.

  "Then could I ask you a favor, Madeleine?"

  She swung around, looking at him suspiciously. "What favor?"

  "Would you mind handing me the soap? It's there on the mantel, a bit out of my reach, unless I stand up—"

  "No, no! I'll get it for ye," she said uncomfortably. Taking a wide path around the tub, she snatched the thick bar from the mantelpiece. "Here." She handed it to him, his wet fingers caressing hers. She pulled her hand away as if stung and darted away from him, taking refuge behind the screen, amazed at what his simple touch could do to her.

  She chewed her lip as she dried her hair, attempting in vain to blot out the sounds of Garrett bathing. She was startled by his sudden groan of pain. She dropped the towel and quickly peeked out at him. He was attempting to soap his back, but he grimaced, groaning again as he slowly eased his right arm into the water.

  "What's wrong?" she asked, feeling more than a twinge of concern at his evident discomfort.

  "It's nothing. I pulled something in my shoulder today. It was rolling this blasted tub up the stairs, I think. "

  She absorbed this, watching as he lifted his arm again and sought to scrub his back. He sighed irritably, his efforts thwarted.

  "If—if ye'd like, I can help ye with that," she offered, venturing out from the screen. She shrugged slightly at his stunned expression. " 'Tis plain to see ye're hurt, Garrett. I dinna mind, unless ye'd rather not. "

  "No, I mean yes, that would be nice," he said, watching her as she walked to the tub. "That's very kind of you, Madeleine."

  She said nothing and avoided his eyes as she took the soap from him. She lathered it between her hands, then dropped the bar into the water with a plunk and bent over him, massaging the rugged breadth of his shoulders. She could feel him tense beneath her touch, but gradually he relaxed, leaning forward.

  Madeleine concentrated on her task, inwardly thrilled by the rippling muscles beneath her fingertips. She could feel the overwhelming strength of his body in his slightest movement, and she felt her skin tingle with fiery warmth, not knowing if it came from the rising steam or her aroused senses. Her soapy hands plied his neck, then slid down his broad back, following the curve of his spine to just below the water's surface.

  "Garrett," she murmured, "could ye pull away from the side a bit more so I might reach yer lower back?" He did as she bade him and came up on his haunches, his arms braced against the wooden rim as she washed him.

  She sharply drew in her breath, mesmerized by the powerful lines of his body and oblivious to her wandering hands which had strayed from his back. She caressed his tapered hips and sinewed upper thighs, then his taut buttocks, closing her eyes as she delighted in the smooth texture of his skin. She felt him shudder and heard him groan, but this time it was not a cry of pain.

  She started at the sound, becoming aware of what she was doing at the same moment he stood up in a spray of warm water and faced her, his body wet and glistening in the firelight. She stepped back, her gaze falling upon his full arousal, and she gasped aloud, thinking only to flee.

  Garrett was too fast for her. As she spun on her heel, he grabbed her around the waist and in one easy movement swept her into the tub with him. His arms locked around her, imprisoning her. She was so shocked she could only stare at him, her hands braced against his chest. She could feel his heart thundering beneath her fingertips, matching her own rampant heartbeat.

  "You have sorely tempted me, Madeleine," he whispered hoarsely, nibbling her soft earlobe while he deftly untied her sash with one hand and slipped the satin robe from her shoulders. He nuzzled her neck as he tossed the wet garment onto the floor. "You have gone too far, I fear."

  "What do ye mean? What are ye going to do?" she said breathlessly, her knees weak from the sensation of his mouth upon her skin.

  "Only what you want me to do, my lady wife," he replied huskily, lifting her in his arms and sinking into the warm water with her. "I told you before I would never force you, though you've tested my limits this night." His lips trailed a searing path down her throat. "I want you to know the pleasure that you just gave me, Madeleine. If you don't soon feel as I do now, I swear I will let you go. Now lean back and close your eyes."

  She did not protest as he turned her around and cradled her in his lap, her slim back against his chest, her head leaning on is shoulder. She was already lost. Any thoughts of defying her body's wanton betrayal had long since vanished. All she knew was Garrett's burning heat and the delicious warmth of the bathwater, like a cocoon enveloping her . . . then she knew no more as his large, soapy hands began to caress her.

  "Do you like this?" he asked softly, cupping her breasts, his fingers gliding over her skin and teasing her slippery nipples.

  "Aye," she breathed, writhing and moaning in his lap.

  "And this?" His hands slid down and stroked her belly, her curved hips, then dipped between her slick thighs, creeping ever higher until his fingers were entwined in her woman's hair. "Does this give you pleasure?"

  "Aye, Garrett!" she cried out hoarsely, parting her legs for him as he plied her secret heart until she was shaking with desire.

  "Tell me, sweet Madeleine," he demanded thickly, lightly biting her shoulder. "Do you want me to stop?"

  "No, dinna stop." Her words died on her parted lips, all conscious thought lost to the liquid sensations rippling over her. Garrett's hands were everywhere, her wet skin ablaze from his caress.

  "How do you like this?" he groaned against her ear as he lifted her up and filled her with his body. Madeleine gave out a cry of intense pleasure, the urgent pressure of his hand, his fingers, too much for her. She bore down upon him even as his deep thrusts heightened to a fever pitch. Their release came so suddenly, so swiftly, she thought for sure she would die from the shuddering force of it.

  She collapsed against him, her head lolling to one side as she fought to catch her breath. She could not have been more startled when he lifted her from him and rose with her from the tub, her body still weak and trembling from her climax.

  He carried her to the bed, taking a brief moment to dry their flushed limbs with the soft towels piled there, then he fell back upon the mattress with her on top of him, her silky thighs straddling his hips. She gasped when he entered her, his body hard and aroused.

  "How?" she asked breathlessly, her eyes wide as he began to move slowly within her, her pleasure building anew.

  Garrett's eyes burned into hers with a passion hardly sated.

  "I will never have enough of you, Maddie Fraser," he said veh
emently. "Never."

  He pulled her to him and seized her lips, pouring out all his inexpressible love for her in his kiss. He would never give up until she believed in him. He would make her believe that he loved her!

  Chapter 29

  When Madeleine awoke the next morning she was alone in the huge bed, and for that she was more than grateful. She sat up slowly, her muscles somewhat sore. Her cheeks fired with shame at the rumpled condition of the bedding. She could not believe how easily she had surrendered to Garrett, their impassioned lovemaking carrying them far into the night.

  "Love had nothing to do with it," she said heatedly, throwing off the heavy tartan bedspread. " 'Twas lust, pure and simple."

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her gaze falling on the large wooden tub and her robe lying crumpled on the floor beside it. The telling scene only heightened her chagrin. She padded over and picked up the robe to shake it out. The apricot satin was stained from its unexpected soaking and probably ruined.

  Serves ye right, she scolded herself, whisking the damp garment about her shoulders and hurrying to the door. All she wanted to do right now was get dressed, and her everyday clothes were in the other room.

  Madeleine held her breath as she peered out into the silent hallway, finding it empty. She dashed to her chamber, her bare feet making little sound, and bolted the door once she was inside. She leaned against it, reveling in her familiar surroundings.

  At least she would have some privacy this morning, she thought with relief. Once her things were moved into Garrett's room, she would no longer have any excuse to seek the refuge of her chamber. And he would be coming and going as he pleased, whether she was dressing or not!

  She jumped at the sudden knock on the door, darting away when the outer latch was rattled.

  "Madeleine, are you in there?" Garrett's deep voice called out to her. "Open the door."

  She swept back her tousled hair and moved reluctantly to the door, unbolting it and lifting the latch. She cracked it, peeking out at him warily.