"Please." Dazed, she didn't know if she was asking him to continue or stop.
"I can make it all come together, Maggie. That's when we explode with pleasure, fly to heaven and back. That's when you know what it means to be a woman."
"I don't know, Bold." She nipped at his shoulder, unable to stop herself.
"Aye, you do, you just don't want to."
"I've never felt like this."
"No, you saved it for me."
She gulped, her hands gripped fiercely on his arms. She was beginning to think she'd gone too far to turn back.
"If we stop now?" She didn't even know what she was asking, but he seemed to understand.
"No, Maggie, that only makes the wanting worse."
Eyes widened against the dim light of the barn. "It couldna' be worse!"
"Aye. Why do you think you melted so quick? From the morning, you were still ready from the morning. And next time . . ."
"No." she stopped him. "If there's an answer to the torment, answer it, Talorc."
He didn't move.
The man was an oaf! She finally makes her decision and he just holds himself above her, still, watchful. "Now, Bold," she pushed at his shoulders.
He reached down and stroked her, in that spot between her legs that only made it worse. A shiver of blissful agony coursed through her. She couldn't stand any more.
Desperate, she cried, "Do it then, Bold. Make me a woman. Now."
"Now?"
She shook him. "Now!"
"You'll be my wife?"
"I'll give you my body."
He sucked in air. "With my body, I thee cherish," he improvised the Scots marriage vows.
Suddenly her breath hitched, came far too fast as she realized she may be asking for more than she meant to. She wasn’t ready, had plans before that commitment was made.
"Just for now, Bold. You can have what you want, but just for now." And what she wanted. She was in a panic, hungry, yet uncertain, afraid she would say yea, when she should say nay.
He shucked off his shirt before she could think. Not that she could think, as he eased her skirts higher. Sense told her to be appalled. She ignored that, raised her hips to help him move her skirt up to her waist, revealing the heart of her to his view. It excited and frightened all in one.
He shifted his plaid. She stared at the tall proud length of him, reached out to stoke it.
"You'll never fit." Forlorn, that's what she felt. Loss before she had even had.
Again, she felt his weight pressed against her, his lips, his hands, stealing all sense from her.
She didn't know what she expected when the blunt tip of him pressed at the base of her. Instinct screamed, that was exactly what she needed. Her eyes rolled and she moaned.
He slid himself along the portal of her passage.
"Forever, Maggie. This is forever, and you can have it any time you like. But if it's for just now," he pulled away, "then it's not for you."
She angled her hips, urgent to keep the contact. "Bold, don't you dare stop."
"Forever."
She lay with legs spread around his, her skirts bunched at her hips, and her breast, bare as the day she was born. So close, his body pressed against hers but he shifted, rose up, bold in the way he looked at her. Hungry and savage. It fueled her desire.
He no longer held all the power. Not by the sight of him, he didn't. His manhood stood, strong and straight and ready to pierce her. She should be quivering with terror, not anticipation. Contrary as ever.
She had to think, licked her lips, fought for reason. "I'm not a sweet thing who will do your bidding."
His smile tilted with amusement. "I like my apples tart."
"You won't be the only Bold one between us."
"Prove it."
She reached down, took him in her hand, and felt it leap with reaction. She pulled away.
"Don't give up so easy lass." He encouraged her to wrap her fingers and slide them along his length.
"You like that, but what do I get?" she teased.
With a devilish smirk, he pulled from her hold and slid down to nuzzle the back of her knees. His suckling kisses rose higher.
"Oh no." she tried to stop him.
"Oh aye." He challenged as his mouth covered her bud of pleasure. She felt his fingers slide inside of her and she screamed with the incredible pulsing that racked through her over and over and over. . . his mouth, all musky and wet, covered her scream and again, the broad tip of him pushed at her.
She had no power left, just a limp shell of a body.
"Forever, Maggie."
"You'll leave me." Of course he would, at the best of times and the worst of times.
"Never, lass, never will I leave you."
"You'll go off to battle and leave me." She would always be second to the fight.
"I'll always be with you, in your heart, by your side, in your thoughts."
"You won't be there to give me this."
He chuckled. "You'll be satisfied aplenty. Too much. You'll be pushing me off of you."
"Never!" she was truly shocked, to think she'd say no to this.
His arms closed about her, pulled her tight. Words whispered through her hair, into her ear. "Be mine forever, Maggie. Be mine, say yes, let me fill you."
"You’re a big man, Bold."
"You're a grand lass, Maggie, mine. Let me fill you."
"You won't leave."
"I’ll be yours forever."
"I'll slay you if you leave."
"I will never desert you lass, I promise to be a part of you, just let me be a part of you. As one, Maggie, we will be as one."
She opened her eyes fully, looked into his. He was so earnest, true. He had promised. She cupped his head, her hands on either side of his face.
"You stay with me, be a husband at my side, then you have all of me, God save you." And she pulled him down to kiss her, a deep, urgent kiss full of all the hunger that had been building.
Slowly, he eased his length inside of her. Maggie rotated her hips, knowing there was more of him, wanting it but terrified. It didn't hurt, which surprised her, he was so large, filled her so full, stretched her so tight. She wiggled, to urge him further but he stopped, held poised on the brink of something, but she didn't know what it was.
"Hang on, lassie." His breath came in deep draughts. "Hang on tight." He pulled out, then slammed back into the core of her.
She bucked, once, he rode it, and stilled.
"You hurt me, Bold."
"Aye, just this once, never again."
"I think you lie to me Bold."
"No, Maggie, mine, I wouldn't lie, but I can't . . ." he pressed into her, even deeper. "Stop," he pulled out only to push again, urgently, "moving," and, he did move, hard, fast, beyond his control until he shuddered above her, shouting her name.
With a groan, he collapsed on top of her. "Oh, Maggie, I couldna' stop myself. You have that much power over me."
She was still restless, shifted her breasts beneath him, to feel her nipples tugged by the hair of his chest.
"Oh lassie," it was a sigh. He reached between them, to pluck at that sensitive bud he had found earlier.
"Oh, oh, oh . . . " her back arched like a bow, he suckled a nipple, and continued to play. She bucked again, but not in pain, and again. He was still hard inside of her. "Och, Talorc," she screamed.
"That's it, my sweet." He barely had breath enough to whisper, but she was beyond hearing. She was soaring into heaven, flying with the clouds, floating back to earth.
Bliss, contentment, it was everything and more than Talorc had promised. Even the pain, from the breach of her maidenhead, was no more than an edge of ecstasy.
She stroked his hair, wet with the effort they'd shared. He'd not lied. The hunger was gone. Profoundly gone. He had pushed, coerced, but he was right. They had joined and were one, would share forever more.
Talorc shifted to his side, pulled Maggie along, to lie belly to belly, chest to ch
est, legs entwined.
Maggie smiled at the irony of it. "You know, we have Seonaid to thank for this."
"Seonaid? She has nothing to do with us."
"She's the reason I came back in the barn."
Talorc chuckled. "I'll have to be thanking her, then."
"You'll not be talking to her." Maggie punched his shoulder.
"She's in the clan, Maggie, I'll be having to speak to her. But you can stand by my side when I do, to make certain I'm safe."
"Safe?" she shuddered.
"Maggie," Talorc braced himself on one arm to better look at her.
"Do you think she's a danger?"
He leaned over her. "Not to us, Maggie. You’re the woman for me."
"No, not that way," she brushed his words aside. "It's just that . . . when you said that about safe, it ran down my spine."
"We're not as secure as we were, here at Glen Toric. But you're not to worry."
"You have a traitor."
"Aye. That's the only explanation for Micheil. No one outside the clan should have known where he was, or what he does."
"Seonaid?"
"No." he shook his head, as if he had already thought of it and discarded the notion. "She may not like your being here, but she'd not turn traitor. She's as much a part of this clan as I am. Her da was a great warrior, my father's closest man. She learned from her father's side."
"Then who?"
"I don't know, Maggie. But now, maybe, I can finally think of something other than your backside!" He gave it a smack.
"You brutish troll!" she rolled him over, braced herself on his shoulders.
The door rattled, a fist pounded on it. "Bold."
Maggie sank down, her head on his shoulder. "Tell them to go away."
"Go away." Talorc shouted, and laughed.
"Bold, you have to come. The Gunns have come out of hiding on our land. Jesse’s place is burning."
In the space of a breath, Maggie was on her own, in the hay. Even before he had his clothes to rights Talorc barked, "We'll ride to fight. Call the men to arms!"
"You're leaving?" He had promised, only moments before, crucial moments before, that he would stay by her side.
He looked at her as if she were crazy. "You expect me to stay when the Gunns are riding against our own?"
Of course he was leaving, he would always be going. "You promised." She accused, even as she realized the impossibility of it. Passion had clouded her thoughts, made her believe the unbelievable. Of course he would go, had to go. She would think less of him if he didn’t.
He was a fighting man, therefore he would leave.
"I'm not leaving you." He claimed, as he headed toward the door.
She knew that. But if he wasn’t here, and her brothers came back who would keep her from going? She hadn’t meant to say it out loud but she did. "You pushed me too far, Bold. I wasn’t ready and now you’ll be gone."
He stopped, looked back at her. "The Gunns are on our land. If I don't ride, then who will keep us safe? Who will protect you?"
"My father stopped following the battles.” It was a foolish argument, but she was desperate. “You could as well. Send your men."
"You'd have me do that? Ask others to do what I would not?"
Only this once, she thought but said. "You promised."
He moved closer, knelt down to listen, acknowledge her complaint. "I promised not to leave you Maggie, but where does that stop? I can't be by your side every moment, nor would you want that. I must do what I must do. Never doubt, I will always be your husband. I'll not leave you for another, or to another."
To him, she was his. She was his, and he was his, which left her with nothing. No power, no strength, no say. He could come and go at will, while she was left to follow his instructions.
Like hell.
"You're leaving then." It was all she could think to say. It was a fact to be acknowledged.
"Aye, I'm going to do the work of a man. And you can trust I will hunger to be back to you. You are in me," he clasped his fist at his chest, "Here Maggie, you hold my heart, my future."
"And you hold mine through trickery. That's how you got me here, and that's how you mean to keep me."
He held her still, his hands a heavy weight on her shoulders.
The door rattled, "Bold," it was William, "We need horses and your’s is in the barn . . . Oh shite! There goes Seonaid! Can't anybody keep her here when we're off to fight?"
Talorc's hands tightened their hold.
"Go!" she shoved him off, rose herself, straightening her clothes. "And I'll be going to." She stormed past him. He grabbed her arm, spun her back to him.
"You'll be going nowhere."
"Don’t push me, Laird." she shot back. "I'll be going to the keep, to prepare the hall, for those who'll want to stay when the Gunns are in their world."
"You'll stay at Glen Toric." It was an order.
"I'll be leaving the barn," she hedged, "Or they won't be able to saddle your mount."
He flushed, or she thought he did despite the meager light. She left him to it, to his horse, to his battles, to his leaving her.
CHAPTER 11 – LEAVING
It had taken more than a fortnight, but her brothers had come. And it wasn't Jamie or Douglas but her oldest brother, Feargus the younger and Nigel. Serious business, if her mother had sent those two.
Maggie waited at the top of the keep steps. She didn't run down to jump into their arms, to be tossed about like a caber. It would not be fitting, when they rode so tall and straight and somber. As acting Lady of Glen Toric, she would match their stoicism.
They did not dismount.
Maggie frowned. Men had moved in to take their reigns, to hold their mounts and take them off to the stables, but her brothers refused the act of hospitality.
A grave insult.
"Our mother’s ailing, Maggie. She's asking for you."
Maggie would have toppled if Una hadn't been so close beside her, eager for anything new to gossip about.
Was her mother truly ill, or was this in response to her letter?
She must be ailing, for her brothers to be so stern, to refuse the friendly help offered by the MacKays. Still, Maggie could not believe it. "Ill?"
"Aye, and asking for you." Nigel answered.
"You'll come in and warm yourselves, while I prepare . . ."
"You'll come now, Maggie. There's no’ much time before the snows come."
She looked up, only to see what she had noted first thing this morning. The day was gray and heavy. Snow for certain and no light sprinkling at that. No matter how fast she moved, they'd still be caught in it.
"I'll get my great plaid. Rest your horses, feed them, while mine is saddled. I'll have food sent out to you." She nodded to Domnall, to take care of these tasks, then turned to flee indoors.
"Maggie!" Feargus stopped her. "Where's the Bold. He should have been out here to greet us."
There was challenge in his tone. If they had come because her mother was truly ill, they would be somber, but not picking for a fight. Right now, they looked to make trouble.
"The Gunns are on MacKay land, to the east and south. They were burning the cottages. He's ridden out to stop them."
"You're not wearing a kerchief?"
Guiltily, her hand went to her head. She dared not look to a single face, embarrassed that someone, anyone, might know what happened in the barn. It was no great secret that they were in there long enough for any manner of mischief to happen.
And mischief did happen.
But she'd not stand alone for all to know. If Talorc had stayed, she would have had him there with the admission. But he hadn't. He left her. She'd not want the world to know what a fool she had been.
"I'm free to leave." She lied and wondered if anyone would contradict her. The MacKays who stood near, shifted, turned away from her gaze, but didn't say anything.
Her brothers nodded, and, finally dismounted.
"You have time
for a warm toddy, anyway." She told them and left to prepare herself for traveling, her heart sinking with worry over her ma, with concern at the coldness of her brothers and the overwhelming ache, that she was leaving Talorc.
For the winter, anyway.
The snow that threatened was no meager danger. It would be heavy, deep, she could feel it in her bones. He'd have trouble enough returning from his battles, let alone trying to follow her.
There was the whole of the winter to sort out just how she felt, and assure her people that there was no need for revenge against the Bold. Which there would be, if Feargus and Nigel's hostility was any indication.
It only took a few moments to gather her meager possessions. The pieces that were part of her dowry had yet to be sent to Glen Toric. That would wait until she was truly wed, if she were ever truly wed.
Which she wasn't, or at least, she didn't think she was. There was the year and a day to consider and Maggie knew of enough women who had bedded without a wedding. Certainly, this was no different than another woman whose passion ran deeper than sense.
It would not be the first time that Maggie had acted the fool. At least it had only been the once. A person couldn't be with child from one mating. If that were the case, there would be far more children about.
"Oh, lass." Ealasaid patted the small bundle that Maggie would take with her, "you've barely settled in, and now I fear you won't make it back until spring."
"The weather could clear," They both knew it was not likely.
"You've been such a dear. The whole clan was hoping . . . " the older woman looked away, toward the bed. Her sheen of tears changed to the dull of grimness. "The laird will not like this. I can promise you that."
"My mother needs me."
"Aye, your mother needs you." There was no conviction in Ealasaid's words.
"She's never needed me before."
"Your brothers were loath to step on MacKay land."
"It's the snow. They're that worried that we'll be lost in it."
Ealasaid frowned. "You're not telling the whole of it, lass, but I don't think I'm the one who will get you to tell it. The one who could is not here."
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