Chapter Eight
Scarlett smiled stiffly and replied, “Uncle.”
Alastair motioned for her to sit and she followed, settling on the couch and waiting for someone to say something.
Alastair cleared his throat and asked, “What can we do for you, Art?”
Art sighed and then looked at Scarlett, then back at Alastair.
“You know why I am here,” he said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes at them.
“I want to know what you have discovered about the abduction. I know that you have found something.”
Alastair sighed and looked directly at Art.
“We have nothing. We do, however, have a man who is helping us with trying to gain any information. I know that he will find who is behind this. His associate Ragan has been here helping us as well. If you would like, you are welcome to speak with him.”
Alastair’s gaze never wavered from Art’s as he waited for a reply.
“I would like to speak to him. Alone. Then I need an audience with my niece, also alone.”
Alastair looked at Scarlett and she gave a small nod.
“That is fine. I will ask Ragan to join us.”
Art inclined his head as a sign of his agreement and Alastair headed to the door of the parlor, calling for Bard.
When Bard arrived, Alastair asked him to go get Ragan and have him come to the parlor.
“Anything else you need, sir?” Bard asked.
Alastair shook his head. “That will be all. Just make sure to ask Ragan to keep the sitting room business to himself. If Art found out about that, he would remove Scarlett from the castle and she would be locked away,” he whispered.
“I will make sure the implications are known, My Lord,” he whispered back.
“Thank you, Bard; that will be all,” Alastair said, back to his normal tone.
Bard bowed at the waist and then went to do as he was asked while Alastair waited outside the drawing room so Art could speak privately with Scarlett. He did make sure to listen at the door, however, in case Scarlett got into trouble and needed him.
Scarlett watched as Alastair spoke to Bard and then left the room, turning her head to look back at her uncle, her eyes regarding him warily.
Clearing her throat, her voice was hoarse when she asked, “What did you need to speak with me about?”
He coolly regarded her and said, “I wanted to warn you about the threat against your life I have been receiving.”
Scarlett could almost feel her face pale at his words.
“Threats against me? Why?”
“You are the queen now. It is obvious that since there is a new ruler, they would need to get rid of you as well. And as you have no siblings, and Catriona has no siblings, there would be no one to take over should something happen to you.”
She shook her head, standing up to pace across the floor. Scarlett knew she was letting him get to her, but that was not what she was worried about.
“I am not the queen. I don’t even act like the queen. I am not a threat, and anyone who would think so is clearly misguided.”
“You are considered the queen because Catriona has disappeared. You are investigating her abduction, which adds another target to your back since the people who made her disappear do not want her to be found.” He scowled at her. “There are some rocks better left unturned.”
“I will not leave any stone unturned if it means finding Catriona, alive, and bringing her back.” Her face turned a deep red, her anger rising in her chest. “How could you not want your daughter back? Isn’t Aunt Olivia worried about her? Doesn’t she care what happened to her daughter?”
Art’s scowl flushed red.
“Of course, she is worried, but she knows that Catriona is caught in the middle of a political war.”
Scarlett growled deep in her throat.
“Policies or not, she is caught alone somewhere, and she needs our help. She never would have been kidnapped if she had not been made queen and you had stayed king.”
For the first time in a long time, Scarlett saw her uncle with a shocked look on his face. If it was even possible, Art’s face got even redder, turning from a bright color to an almost ruddy hue.
He reached her in two steps and got in her face, grabbing her roughly by the arms.
His voice was low and harsh when he whispered, “You will put an end to your search for your cousin, or so help me God, I will stop it for you.”
Scarlett struggled against his hands, trying to get free.
“I will not,” she stated firmly, loud enough for Alastair to hear.
“Scarlett, is everything all right?” he asked through the door.
When she didn’t answer, Alastair pushed open the door, Ragan standing beside him, both men ready for a fight.
Art let her go and took a step back, composing himself once more.
“I will put your investigation to an end once and for all. I am already working on getting the Counsel of Electors to overturn the law so that I can be king once more.”
“Why do you want to be king again? You left the post eagerly once before. Is that because you knew something would happen to you if you did not? Is there not a threat to you now?” Alastair asked, drawing Art’s angry gaze to him.
Art’s calm demeanor slipped and he sneered at them both.
“I never heard anything about any trouble. I left the post so my daughter could learn to be a true leader of the people.” He stopped. “I don’t need to explain myself. I will become king again if the Counsel votes to overturn the law. I also have been able to gather support for my return to the throne.”
Alastair and Scarlett looked at one another and then asked, “Who would support your return to the throne?”
“Cyrus Gray, and his attendants fully support my bid to return to the throne.”
“I have to admit I am surprised by Cyrus’ support of you, as he did not always care for you,” Alastair said, arching his brow as he and Ragan came fully into the room.
Alastair came immediately to Scarlett’s side and Ragan taking a spot near to them as protection should they need it. Art had a multitude of guards scattered around the parlor, and it would be a hell of a fight to get out of.
Art shrugged his shoulders.
Instead of replying, he took a deep breath and a calm settled over his face.
“Mark my words, girl. I will not protect you anymore. If those death threats come to fruition, you will blame no one but yourself.”
Scarlett scowled again at him, clasping her hands together so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Alastair put his arm around her waist and said, almost laughing at the surprised look on Art’s face, “I will protect her. Don’t worry about that. If someone tries to hurt Scarlett, they will have to get through me to do it.”
Art smiled. “I’m sure no one would mind.”
Scarlett gasped and Alastair scowled at him.
“Get out,” Alastair growled.
A scowl came to Art’s face and he opened his mouth to say something, but Alastair interrupted him.
“I said get out.”
With one last cold look around, Art stormed out of the parlor and the castle, yelling for his things to be brought back to the carriage. The front door slammed shut behind him and Scarlett collapsed against Alastair, grateful for his warmth and strength.
He drew them together down to the couch and slipped his other arm around her, his heat warming the chill that filled her.
“Everything will be all right,” he whispered, pressing kisses to her head.
“How can you be sure?” she asked, watching as Ragan left the room and shut the door behind him.
“As long as I live and breathe, I will make sure you are safe. I promise you.”
She sighed against his chest and closed her eyes, her breathing soon evening out as she slipped into slumber.
Alastair called for Ragan to come back in. When he slipped quietly in, Alastair whispered harshly, “I want you at her side anytime I am not. You will be moved across the hall from her so that you can be near her.”
Ragan nodded.
“I will let Bard know that I am moving and will get my things together.”
Alastair nodded and picked up Scarlett, settling her into his arms and walking over to the door.
Ragan held it open and Alastair slowly left the room, careful not to bump Scarlett and then headed upstairs to her room. Ragan followed him to the room, waiting outside as Alastair made sure Scarlett was tucked comfortably in to rest.
“Stay here and I will work as fast as we can to move everything and will relieve you when we have everything done.”
Alastair nodded and turned to go back into the room, shutting the door behind him as Ragan took off down the stairs. Alastair went ahead and sat at the vanity on the stool, looking around the bedroom at the small personal items that Scarlett kept there.
They had been able to retrieve the carriage with all of her and Catriona’s things so that had at least been a good thing. At least she was able to have a few of her things from home while she stayed with them.
When they had recovered their belongings, he had asked if Scarlett wanted Catriona’s trunk as well and she had agreed. Scarlett kept her trunk against the window and Catriona’s sat right next to it, unopened. He could tell it had never been opened—the lock was still on it.
At least he assumed it had not been opened for that reason.
Alastair could not imagine going through what Scarlett dealt with. Losing someone one loved was difficult to deal with and she didn’t actually know if Catriona were alive or dead.
Catriona could still be alive and Scarlett was absolutely determined to find her.
Alastair looked at Scarlett lying in the bed, her face gaining some color back; her lips no longer a light pink but instead a dark red.
Unbidden, he stood, walking over to the bed and going to sit on the edge of the bed. He pressed his palm against her face, the warmth of her cheek burning his palm. Scarlett unconsciously pressed her cheek against his hand, scooting her body closer to the source of warmth.
His mind reeled and a small warning bell went off in his head, telling him that he should get up and walk away before anything happened or Ragan came back. Alastair blocked the warning bell out of his mind and slid down onto the bed, pulling her close to him.
She sighed and her lips turned up into a smile, happiness filling his heart. Dropping a kiss on her forehead, he relaxed next to her, eventually falling asleep himself.
Scarlett woke up to a knock on her door, opening her eyes and looking around.
“Your Highness, are you all right?” Ragan called, knocking again.
She went to get up and was stalled by an arm around her waist. Shocked, she looked down at the arm thrown across her waist. When she saw that it was Alastair, her jaw dropped.
She heard the door handle jiggle and jumped out of the bed, calling out, “I am all right, Ragan! Thank you for checking on me.”
Scurrying to the door, she opened it, smiling when she saw him standing there looking concerned.
“I apologize, My Lady. I wanted to double check and make sure you were all right. I will go ahead and finish moving my things.”
“All right. Thank you again.”
With one last look at him, she shut the door, turning back to the man laid out in her bed. She walked over to the bed and checked on him, making sure that he was still breathing. When she was certain of his health, she reached out and shook him roughly, jolting him awake.
He stared at her in shock, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
“Scarlett?” he whispered, looking around in confusion.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “If I had not woken up, Ragan would have come in here and found us together.”
He shook his head and forced himself to sit up.
“I was here to protect you until Ragan came back. I appear to be doing a shoddy job though.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes, unable to be truly upset when he looked so adorably befuddled.
“Well, Ragan is now safely across the hall and nearby to protect me if needed. Would you like me to assist you in making yourself look presentable?”
He laughed and shook his head.
“I think I can manage. If you would help me up from this bed though, I would appreciate it. I had forgotten how plush this mattress was.”
It was her turn to laugh, but she reached out a hand to him and pulled, surprised just how much he actually weighed. She tried twice to pull him up but he would not budge.
“My Lord, you do need to assist me so that I can assist you,” she said, looking at him with a scolding look.
He growled and said, “I am trying but this bed is so plush it truly is not helping for me to press against it.”
Scarlett grabbed his hand with both of hers and pulled, lifting with all the strength she could muster. Alastair planted his hand firmly on the bed, pushing as hard as he could. Just as he felt himself lift off the bed, his hand slipped out from under him, dropping him back on to the bed and bringing Scarlett tumbling down on top of him. She squealed as she fell, landing roughly on his chest, her face hitting his broad shoulder. He looked down at Scarlett just as she looked up at him, the heat of their breaths mingling.
Scarlett look into his green eyes as lush as the grass outside and shifted, very aware of how hard his body was against her softness. Alastair reached up and brushed a lock of hair from her face that fell, looking into her amber eyes so full of unknown desire. He leaned up and pressed his lips to hers, unable to stop himself. Her lips were so smooth and luscious and just begged to be kissed. Scarlett resisted at first, making him chase her as she attempted to get up.
Unable to find purchase, she put her hands on his chest, scoring him with her nails as she dug in to push. He groaned loudly and the sound reverberated through her body, pressed so tightly to him. The sound made a primal rush flow through her, making her want to do more to him, give him even more pleasure.
That thought was a shock to her system, making her back off as far as she could go. She mentally shook her head to clear it but found herself unable to do so, Alastair chasing her with even more kisses and becoming more persistent. Finally, she gave in, her mind too clouded to think clearly.
Alastair sensed her acquiescence and almost groaned in victory. He slipped his hands from where they were on the bed to her shoulders, squeezing and kneading as he rested them there. As his desire increased, his kneading became stronger, the massage making Scarlett relax against him. He moved his hands down her sides, kneading along the way.
When he reached her hips, he stopped, pulling back and breaking the kiss long enough to roll them both over, pinning her beneath him. Scarlett gasped as he settled his weight on her, his full arousal heavy against her thigh. Alastair leaned down and kissed her again, running his hands over her body and coming to rest on her breasts.
He squeezed the firm globes in his hands; she squeaked, the unfamiliar touch startling her.
Shivers trailed down her spine as he thumbed her nipples through the soft fabric, making her nipples harden beneath his fingers. He pulled back for a moment to try to slow his beating heart, looking down at her flushed swollen lips and her heavy desire-laden eyes. Leaning down, he pressed soft kisses to her cheeks and eyelids, tracing every feature with his lips, building the suspense with his delightful torture.
Scarlett groaned beneath him, the sound low and soft, letting him know she was weakening.
With excitement, he nipped at her chin, pressing soft nips to her jawline as he moved to her ear. He wrapped his teeth around her earlobe and tugged, grazing it slowly and it made her shiver even more, goosebumps of sensation spreading over her skin.
“Alastair,” she whispered, overcome by all the sensations she felt at once.
“Yes, my love?” he asked, taking her earlobe in his teeth again and sending more shivers everywhere.
“What… what are you doing to me?”
He chuckled low and ran his teeth over her neck, pulling a sigh from her.
“I am making you feel good,” he said, quite matter-of-factly.
Slowly, he kissed a path down to the top of her breasts, her heart racing beneath his lips as he burned the path into her skin.
He waited for a response but when he didn’t get one, he just continued, pulling what he could of her bodice down. Frustration rose up when he could not pull the gown down any lower because of the laces in the back.
Spreading her legs, he rested his knees between them and sat up, pulling her up with him as he kneeled between her legs and undid her dress, loosening the already lowered bodice and growling with satisfaction as it slipped down to reveal her flesh to him but pinning her arms to her sides.
Alastair palmed the beautiful flesh and kissed her as he pressed her back against the bed again, the shock for Scarlett setting in. Alastair broke their kiss and leaned down, taking his first look at her breasts and he was not disappointed.
Her breasts were firm and not perfectly round, the nipples perky and begging for his kiss. Her nipples were a dusty rose, perfectly matched to her lips. They were hard in anticipation, waiting for something they had never experienced before.
Her face flushed as he perused her flesh, the red stain of embarrassment so enticing.
He took a nipple into his mouth and as his warmth wrapped around the turgid flesh, Scarlett gasped, her arms struggling against the fabric that held her captive. Alastair nipped and tickled and teased her nipples with his tongue, making her moan in pleasure as he sucked her nipple deeply into his mouth. He let it go and blew softly on it, the cold air a sharp contrast to the warmth that had just surrounded her flesh.
“Alastair!” she cried, tugging hard at her to reach him.
He chuckled darkly but leaned up, helping her pull her arms from the sleeves. She laid back on the bed and looked up at him, desire and fear mingling in her eyes. Not fear of harm, but of the unknown.
He pressed his lips to hers, giving her a reassuring kiss.
As he kissed her, his hands slid down her body, briefly fondling her luscious breasts, then down through the bunched dress at her waist to the skirt below it. Alastair gathered the skirt in his hand and pulled it up towards her waist, revealing her long legs.
The slight chill in the air hit Scarlett’s naked legs and she broke the kiss, her voice hoarse when she asked, “Alastair, what are you doing?”
Dropping kisses on her flushed cheeks, he whispered, “Trust me.”
He skimmed his nails up the inside of her thigh, sending another cascade of shivers up and down her spine. Scarlett just nodded, her ability to speak gone as his hand moved up to her warmth and then toward her soft hair, making her tense up as his fingers found her warm and wet flesh.
Alastair could feel her body pulsing underneath his fingers, open and vulnerable to him. He had to hold himself completely still so he wouldn’t give into the urge to ravish her completely and make them one.
He heard her breathing heavily, the short breaths matching the rapid beating of her heart. Pinching the swollen flesh beneath his fingers, he stroked it gently, stoking the fire that she had burning inside her. Scarlett was on fire and she felt as if she was burning from the inside out.
Her hands grabbed at the sheets, fighting the urge to cry out in frustration.
Alastair moved his fingers again, this time slipping one finger inside her slick passage, the muscles clenching and grabbing at his finger. Slowly, he inched his finger deeper, bumping into the proof of her virginity. Scarlett waited with bated breath as he slid inside her, her body softly stretching to accommodate the digit.
Alastair drew his finger out and then thrust it back in, his finger pressing gently but firmly on her sensitive nub. She arched against him as he started to thrust his finger into her, slowly at first and then gaining a rhythm and moving a little bit faster. As he thrust into her, he pressed his thumb harder against her, the sensations coming from that most sensitive part of her body almost unexplainable. She could feel her body tensing as she rode the wave higher and higher, Alastair able to feel it too.
He leaned down and kissed her lips roughly, her gasps becoming soft moans.
Breaking the kiss, he bent and took one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking her swollen pearl as hard as he could.
The combination of sensations crashed into Scarlett and swept her over, her climax carrying her away as she cried out against Alastair’s shoulder. He held her as she shivered against him, the pulses of release ebbing after a while. When she finally felt like she had the strength, she opened her eyes, looking into the deep green staring back at her.
“Alastair…” she whispered.
He leaned down and kissed her softly, brushing some hair out of her face. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment when she realized she was almost naked in front of a man, and her cheeks burned even brighter when she thought of what they had done.
He rolled to her side and gathered her close to him, his heart pounding beneath her ear that rested there.
“Are you all right?” he whispered.
She nodded.
“Good.”
He dropped a kiss on her head and snuggled closely to her, pulling the covers over them and sighing softly.
Alastair laid in her bed with her for over an hour, making sure she fell asleep fully before getting out of bed.
He realized that her clothing was still in disarray and settled for trying to fix it up the best he could. He was able to get her to sit up long enough to attempt to do some lacing, but not all of it could be complete. Hopefully Melody would think nothing of it.
With one last kiss, he left the bedroom, leaving a short note behind, with her name scribbled on it. He left it on her nightstand and snuck out of the room, thankful there was no one around to see him.
Unfortunately, he missed one pair of eyes hidden from sight.