Plead Forgiveness: Betrayed Twice (Loyalty Series)

by Dobsyn, Aury

  Lady Esme did not take offense. In a maternal, understanding voice, she said, “Take all the time ye need, sweetling.”

  Once the servants finished filling the huge wooden tub and departed the chamber, Ella sank into the soothing bath. Engulfed by the steaming water, she tried to banish all thoughts of Gavin's infidelity. I am a fool for allowing him to invade my heart.

  She suddenly startled by the sound of the door closing and the appearance of an unwelcomed guest within her chamber.

  “What do you want, Alice?”

  With mock innocence, she said, “I have only come to help.”

  Ella frowned with cold fury and prepared to confront the manipulative bitch standing so brazenly before her. “I neither need nor wish your help. Leave!”

  With her hands on her hips, Alice glared down at Ella and said, “I can see why yer husband dinna seek yer bed. Nae man would want a wife whose body will be forever marred by those hideous scars that cover yer back. Do ye honestly think a man would want to look, let alone touch-”

  Ella jumped out of the tub, threw on a robe, and then screamed, “Leave now before I kill you.”

  Alice stood frozen for a moment, unprepared for the threat that came with a malevolent expression. However, when she turned to leave, Thea confronted her in the doorway.

  “Get out of my way, brat.”

  “Ye canna talk to Ella that way. I’m gonna tell-”

  Before Thea could finish her sentence, Alice slapped her across the face, sending her sprawling to the floor. Fighting through pain and tears, she covered her cheek with her hand, then scrambled to her feet and took flight. Despite her fear for Ella, the little girl race down the corridor to her parent’s chamber, then dove under their bed.

  Seeing Alice hit Thea, Ella’s rage exploded. She lunged at the harlot, knocking her into the wall of the corridor. Then with a closed fist, she punched Alice in the face. Ella felt no remorse throwing the whore to the ground and digging a knee into her back.

  Twisting Alice’s red locks in her hand, Ella snarled, “If you ever touch that child again, I swear only God will recognize your face after I’m through with you. I will not stop there. Think a man will want a woman who has stumps instead of hands?”

  “What is the meaning of this,” Gavin bellowed as he ripped Ella off Alice.

  Ella continued to scowl at the vile creature, even as her husband tightened his grip on her upper arms.

  “She attacked me,” Alice cried out. “I came to offer my assistance, and when I commented that her scars were nae so bad, she lashed out. Ye must punish her.”

  “Is this true, wife, did ye attack Alice?”

  “Aye.”

  Gavin dragged Ella into her chamber, slammed the door behind him, than growled, “Explain.”

  When she ignored him, he roughly pushed her away, then stated, “Ye will stay in this chamber until ye obey me and explain why ye attacked Alice.”

  “I will never obey you,” Ella retorted defiantly. “I will never obey a man who proves continuously that he is without honor. Go back to your leman, for I will never accept you as my husband.”

  His wife may have learned that Alice had been his leman, but there is no excuse for her jealous tirade.

  “So be it,” he stated before he slammed the door, leaving her alone in the chamber.

  18

  Ella stayed locked in her chamber throughout the day and long into the night. Even though Maeve brought her food and drink, due to her confrontation with Gavin, she did not eat.

  Maeve had no doubt that Alice deserved the beating. Yet, despite her eagerness to hear the reason for the fight, the younger woman remained stubbornly silent.

  Hurt by her husband’s betrayal, Ella adamantly refused to give into his demands. Images of Alice and Gavin ran wild in her mind, solidifying her decision to remain quiet.

  By the time the sky darkened, beset with thousands of stars, she ceased crying over the loss of her husband to another woman. She changed into her knee length, sleeping gown, but instead of seeking her bed, she sat on the floor. Alone with her thoughts for what seemed like hours, she realized that the harder she ignored the truth, the harder it persisted.

  She could no longer blame Gavin for the death of her aunt and uncle. Colban and Bowen had made her recognize the truth, that he had done everything possible to save them from the inevitable.

  Their morning rides together through his lavish land allowed them time to bridge the gap that had formed the day they became man and wife. It became increasingly more difficult to deny the attraction she felt for him. She enjoyed his bantering, sarcastic ways as much as his earnest, stubborn debates. Most of all, she like the way his eyes locked with hers as he listened to her words. It made her feel beautiful and wanted. It made her fall in love with him.

  Unfortunately, like so many times before, she had been a fool to hope for happiness and a future. When would she learn to give up those impossible dreams of someone loving her, of being part of a family again? Even if Gavin had not gone back to his leman, their marriage is destined to end just the way it began, in ruin.

  Ella’s father would return soon from seeking an audience with the King, and then Gavin would learn the identity of the woman he wed. He would banished her and then annul their marriage. Her spirits sank even lower, bringing forth the fatigue that came with desolation.

  Gavin’s chamber door opened, then closed, starling Ella from her dismal state. Horrific thoughts hit full force, imagining her husband with his whore and hearing their passionate cries as they made love.

  To Ella’s profound relief, she heard only crickets chirping for the next hour. Then, once again, Gavin’s chamber door creaked open and shut. She stood from the bed with a groan, then went o listen more intently. He is probably going to her chamber.

  With her ear against the thick stones on the wall, she gasped, surprised to hear him yelling at someone other than herself. She crept along the wall that separated their chambers, seeking out an area to hear his words more clearly. Moving the tapestry aside, she stood stunned by the sight of a door. Her husband must have used this door to enter her chamber the night he consummated their vows.

  Pushing aside the disturbing memory, Ella cautiously opened the door and stepped into the narrow space between the two chambers. Ironically, guilt did not hinder her from gingerly lifting the latch. She opened the door slightly, just enough to hear the conversation within his chamber.

  *

  “I have been waiting for ye, my love,” Alice said seductively.

  The entire castle had been searching for Alice since Leif discovered Thea quaking with fear in their parent’s bedchamber. Leif saw the bruise on his sister’s face moments before learning the horrific details. He carried her into the hall to inform their parents and Laird Gavin the reason Lady Ella attacked Alice.

  Still livid with rage, Gavin barley noticed that Alice lay naked on his bed. He stood in the middle of the chamber with scalding fury lit in his eyes, knowing exactly what this woman said to his wife and did to Thea.

  He repeated his earlier statement. “Why the hell are ye here, in my chamber?”

  Moving to kneel on the bed, Alice said, “I think my intention is quite obvious.”

  “When I returned from England with Ella, I informed ye that I will nae longer take ye to my bed.”

  “Yer scarred, unwilling wife will nae have ye, but I will,” she taunted.

  Hearing the vile insult, his control snapped. He lunged forward, ruthlessly yanking her off the bed by her arm. In a harsh voice that forbade any questions, he stated, “Listen, well, ye selfish bitch. My wife is the only woman I want in my bed, will ever want in my bed, and I will wait for as long as it takes to be with her. In my eyes, those scars only confirm what I already ken about her. There is nae a woman alive whose beauty compares to that of my wife. In forty years, she will still be the most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes upon.”

  “Ye dinna mean that, ye-”

  “Silence!
For what yer actions against my wife as well as Thea, ye are hereby banished from the Macleod clan.”

  “Nae, nae-”

  “I warn ye now, if ye ever step foot on my land again I will lock ye in the dungeon for the remainder of yer days.”

  “How can ye do this, treat me like I dinna even matter? I gave my body and heart to ye, for I ken we are destined to be together.”

  “I took what ye eagerly offered and what many others sampled afore me. I made ye nae promises of marriage. As for destiny, mine lies in that chamber,” Gavin said, pointing in the direction of Ella’s chamber.

  “Only because I dinna have a dowry, but then ye took her as yer wife. She brought naught to ye or our clan,” Alice cried as her dreams crumbled around her.

  “She brings more to me and my clan than any other woman possibly could,” he stated, then grabbed her clothing and hauled her to the chamber door.

  Gavin threw open the door while Alice hastily dressed. To Gavin’s surprise, Paen waited patiently in the corridor with his arms folded across his chest.

  With a broad smile arrogantly displayed on his face, he said, “This has been a long time coming, lass.”

  His hatred for Alice ran deep, and had since the day the manipulative bitch sank her claws into Gavin. He saw clearly her black tainted heart and knew she would eventually reveal her nefarious deeds. At present, he stood with eager anticipation to escort her off their land.

  Gavin pushed her into his brother and commanded, “Get her out of my sight. Take her to the dungeon and see that she is removed from our land by first light.”

  “It will be my pleasure to carry out such a wise decision. I believe we will go by way of the hall so Maeve can have a go at her. Come lass, yer true destiny awaits.”

  Gavin heard her piercing screams even after he shut his chamber door. As he walked over to the darken window, he berated himself for bringing that viper into his home, into his bed.

  Due to the recent storm, he allowed Alice to sleep in the servant’s quarters, but only for that night. Unfortunately, the bold woman stayed the following eve, and in her old chamber no less.

  Gavin ran his hand through his hair, furious at the events of late. Leaning against the window frame, he gazed out into the darkness and recalled Ella’s attack on Alice. Although his wild and ferocious little wife filled him with pride, he remained incensed that she did not confide in him the reason she attacked Alice. If she had revealed the truth, he probably would have let her continue beating the bitch. Unfortunately, his misplace anger originated directly from her insult.

  ‘I will never obey a man who proves continuously that he is without honor. Go back to your leman, for I will never accept you as my husband.’

  19

  Ella emerged from behind the tapestry and into the eerie glow of the fire’s flickering light. Wearing only a knee length chemise, she walked slowly over to Gavin with one goal in mind. Seduction

  His bold words to Alice shattered the protective barrier shielding Ella’s heart. The sincerity etched in his tone, moments ago, strengthened her courage to give herself to him, body and soul. Yet, would he accept?

  He stood facing the window, wearing only a plaid that hung low on his hips. The contours of his bare, muscular back glowed bronze, as did his broad shoulders. His thick, dark hair fell loose, and she imagined running her fingers through the wavy strands.

  “So ye have discovered the hidden door between our chambers, have ye? I suggest ye make use of it and return to yer bed.”

  She dismissed his suggestion and continued forward. With gentle fingers, she reached out and touched his shoulder.

  Like a flash of lighting, Gavin turned and grabbed her wrist, then pulled her roughly to him. Face to face, he felt her breath as she gasped in fright.

  Aye, he wanted to scare her, wanted her out of his chamber, out of his mind, out of his heart. Why was she here, to torment him further? He could take no more rejection or insults from the woman he wanted with a fire that burned like an inferno.

  His massive body dwarfed Ella as he growled, “What do ye want?”

  She stood motionless, stunned by his ire, but her determination did not falter. She would offer him her heart and reveal all she kept hidden.

  He suddenly railed, “Why are ye here? What do ye want?”

  Ella whispered only one word. “You.”

  Gavin did not know what game she played, but at that moment, he did not care. His iron grip tightened on her wrist. With his free arm, he encircled her waist and lifted her off the ground, slamming her body into his. Her feet dangled from the floor as he covered her mouth in a punishing, angry kiss meant to frighten her.

  When his brutal kiss evoked a small, feminine whimper, he pulled back and saw her bruised, swollen lips. Although instantly contrite by his rough behavior, he did not loosen his hold. With her lithe form plastered to his and her chemise hiked up to mid thigh, he could feel her scalding heat and the soft skin of her slender legs. Closing his eyes, he took a moment to control his intense desire for the woman in his arms.

  With ardent determination, Ella aimed to end his torment. She tenderly stroked the side of his face, silently asking him to trust her intent. When his eyes opened, filled with uncertainty, she brushed her lips across his. She slightly parted her lips and explored the velvet warmth of his mouth.

  The softness in her expression stunned Gavin, as did the feel of her lips demanding a response. In spite of the delicious sensation, he refused to yield his grip on her wrist or the misgivings he felt in his heart.

  However, when she curled her arm around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist, his uncertainty vanished. He responded as a man starved for air.

  Gavin’s lips burned with fiery possession, while his hands cupped the backs of her bare thighs, moving slowly towards the perfectly curved buttocks. Feeling the fabric of her chemise, he growled, “Take it off, now!”

  Passion pounded the blood in Ella’s heart as she complied with his seductive demand, leaving her naked in his embrace. With her arms wrapped about his neck, legs around his waist, she reclaimed his lips and drowned in the heady sensation that consumed her.

  As Gavin carried her to the bed, devouring her mouth, he lovingly massaged her taut bottom and lithe thighs. With gentleness, he lowered her to the bed then proceeded to trail hot, wet kisses down her throat and neck. Aware that she cradled him between her legs only heightened his ravenous need to claim her. Only when her fire equaled his own would he join their bodies to share the cataclysmic end of their mating.

  When his hands caressed her swollen breasts, Ella arched her body, craving his touch and heat. Unexpectedly, brisk air rushed over her feverish body. Opening her eyes, she saw Gavin looking at her as if he had never seen her before.

  Breathtaking. Glorious. Mine. While his eyes worshiped her, his hands slid down her taut body. He drank in the sight and feel of her flat stomach, slender hips and sleek thighs. In a husky voice, he said slowly, “My God, ye are so beautiful.”

  With a smile on her face, Ella sat up and boldly grabbed the back of his neck. “Kiss me, husband.” She did not wait for his reply as she hungrily crushed her lips to his. Their bodies sank slowly into the bed.

  Gavin felt a fierce possessiveness take hold, hearing the woman in his arms call him husband. He kissed her breast, taking each rosy nipple into his mouth and suckling them until they were hard as pebbles. Her encouraging moans heightened his ardor. His mouth moved lower to taste the soft skin of her belly and hips.

  When his head disappeared, Ella thought to protest, but lost all ability to speak. Her fingers curled in his hair as the tremors came faster and harder, reaching for some unknown goal.

  The tension became unbearable and she gasped, “Gavin!”

  “Dinna hold back, nae from me, nae from this.”

  Gavin almost spilled his seed when he felt her scorching heat. Tearing away his kilt, he moved up her body and in a strained voice said, “I canna wait any longer, my love
.”

  “Neither can I,” she moaned and felt his hardness press into her.

  Slowly guiding himself into her, he instantly felt her pulsating warmth. He groaned, knowing one thrust would give her release.

  “Look at me,” he demanded as his whole body stiffened in anticipation of being inside her, watching and feeling her explosive climax.

  When her pleading, passion glazed eyes locked with his, he thrust into her burning core, all the way to the hilt. His control snapped when she cried out his name and he felt her earth shattering release.

  Gavin raised her hands above her head, entwining his fingers with hers, and then began the slow sensual rhythm. He took her fiercely with insatiable desire and all the love in his heart.

  Tightening her legs around his waist, Ella cried, “Don’t stop! Please, Gavin!”

  “I want ye so badly, want to. . . .”

  “Aye.”

  The way she responded to him unleashed his predatory need for the woman who stole his heart. They made love like ravenous wild animals. Her second release came in an eruption of sensation, followed by his last explosive thrust. Clinging to each other as though fearing to be apart, they rode the waves of euphoria, breathless and sated.

  Unable to speak for long moments, Gavin lay in awe of the overpowering passion they shared. When he finally raised himself onto his elbows, their gazes locked and they simultaneously smiled at one another.

  Giving her swollen lips a tender kiss, he asked, “Did I hurt ye, love? Was there any pain?”

  Ella’s heart melted at hearing the endearment as well as the concern in his voice. “Nae, I feel . . . wonderful!”

  Chuckling at her dazed expression, he said, “I must be certain I dinna hurt ye.”

  Before she could ask how he intended to do that, he left her body and the bed, and then walked over to the washbasin to wet a small piece of linen. When he returned, he had to pry the covers away she used to conceal her nudity.