“King Edgar has fallen,” Adlin declared.
She and Alexander turned. Only Adlin, Shamus and the MacLomain warriors remained. Innis and his men were gone.
Her brother’s voice grew stronger and echoed over the great hall. “Long live King Alexander, rightful King of Scotland in the year of our Lord, 1107. Though you are of our future we honor you here this eve. May you always rule wisely.”
Adlin included, the MacLomains and Shamus dropped to their knee and lowered their heads.
Iosbail had never seen her brother bow before anyone. It was humbling and would prove to be the most powerful moment of her life. Not only because of the honor shown the Sinclair but because he never let go of her. When he nodded and gave thanks it was with her still in his arms as though she were his queen.
“Why does he say 1107 and not 1093?” she whispered.
“Because I willnae be returning to the time I left but a new one. Did you not notice that Edgar had aged? Methinks it took him awhile to find us here.”
Iosbail had been far too busy to pay much attention to the devil’s face.
When all rose to their feet and started the long, hard process of cleaning the hall, he looked at her. “If I am to be king allow me to help them. ‘Twould not feel right otherwise.”
“You need not ask me,” she whispered and looked around, still chilled. “What can I do to help?”
“Allow me to help, my lady.”
Iosbail’s eyes rounded when a beautiful woman made her way across the dead bodies.
Caitriona? But it couldn’t be.
The Norman stopped in front of her. “’Tis all right, my lady. Adlin gave me this time with you.”
“Did he then?” she said as she took Caitriona’s hand. When she looked at Alexander he nodded.
When at last she was back in Adlin’s chambers she allowed Caitriona to help her into a bath.
“’Tis wrong, all of this,” she said.
The lass gave a small smile. “Not a moment of any of this has been wrong.”
Iosbail tried not to groan as she sank into the warm water. Fighting made for sore muscles.
“Nay,” Caitriona said. “I’m on a verra good path.”
“I only just left you yesterday,” Iosbail reminded her.
“You left me several months ago as time passes for me. And that time has not been all that bad.”
Iosbail looked at her. “So you’re happy?”
“As can be.” Caitriona shrugged. “The Stewart is not always such an easy man.”
“Does he beat you?” Iosbail frowned.
“Nay! Nothing like that, just stubborn. It seems he thinks I’m too Christian. Somehow that makes me dangerous.”
Iosbail couldn’t help but laugh. “But you’re a healer!”
“Imagine that,” Caitriona murmured as she ran some soap through Iosbail’s hair. “A God fearing woman who can heal, to these pagans it’s as good as saying you’re the devil come to make their dreams come true.”
Though she wanted to laugh, Iosbail worked at a scowl. After all, one must protect their own.
“Oh no, I meant no ill by that, m’lady, just that the pagans are an odd bunch.”
Iosbail offered a small smile. “Nay, lassie. You’ve not a thing to worry about. We pagans bend to all beliefs.” Her eyes met Caitriona’s. “You believe in the new God. ‘Twill be an enigma to those such as Alan for some time. But if you’re meant to be together ‘twill not matter in the end. Only love will.”
If she wasn’t mistaken by the sound, Caitriona snorted but kept a cool face when Iosbail looked her way. “Well, is there love betwixt you then?”
The girl’s eyes looked lost for several moments before she said, “There’s no way to tell. It seems there’s little room for a healer such as me with the Stewarts.”
Iosbail took her hand and said, “Remember, there wasn’t much room for the persuasion of a Broun lass but here I am with the man I love. May God and the gods be as kind to you, my friend. Though you may not believe in the old gods they watch over you as well. ‘Tis no small thing possessing the power of a Highland mystic.”
“I know not what you mean. ‘Tis only a small unknown gift to me,” Caitriona said.
“Aye, but it will reveal itself more and more. Take pride lassie and dinnae let the Stewarts see you as anything other than the wonder that you are. My guess is you’re the first of your kind they’ve ever seen. And my guess is Lord Alan doesnae quite know what to make of you yet. But he will.”
Though her eyes turned moist, Caitriona quickly blinked away the sentiment and nodded. “Aye, my lady.”
When more of her ladies entered, the Norman stood and curtsied. “’Tis time for me to go. Thank you so much for all you’ve done.”
“I’d do it again and again,” Iosbail said and meant it. “Stay safe and travel well.”
Caitriona nodded and turned to leave.
“My friend.”
The lass turned back.
“Dinnae be afraid to take chances. It can make all the difference.”
A tight smile lit Caitriona’s face but nerves made it vanish. Before she fled she said, “I already did by coming here.”
Then she was gone out the door.
Iosbail’s heart warmed. Her brother had given her a wonderful gift bringing the lass back even if for such a small amount of time. It seemed the battle she felt existed betwixt she and Adlin was at a simmer…at least for now.
“I’d like to be alone,” she said to the new ladies as they frittered about. When they lagged as if they honestly didn’t know better she repeated in a sterner voice, “Alone. Now.”
When the last had left, Iosbail leaned her head back against the tub. Two torches had been left burning as well as the fire. The animal skin hiding the window blew in on the wind. A late night storm brewed as if it meant to clean the bloodshed that’d happened this eve. She closed her eyes and ran her hands over the edge of the tub.
So much had happened. Every last minute of it had made her feel different, alive and aware. All were emotions in which she was for the most part unfamiliar. But all had been so needed. All made her feel grateful. She’d lived her life so selfishly until this point, uselessly almost.
Thunder boomed and she sat forward, startled by the sound.
It seemed even the gods meant to keep her on her toes.
When she went to lean back, hands came under her arms, lifted her sharply and spun her.
Iosbail tried to gain foot but couldn’t
His wild eyes drilled into hers, his deep brogue rumbled. “Did you think for a moment that you wouldnae be mine this eve?”
Chapter Fourteen
When her wet body hit the furs on the bed Iosbail shook her head but whispered, “aye,” as she lay back, eyes wide.
He’d got her through but the Sinclair still had the bloodlust, the wild rage.
How well he’d suppressed it for her.
It was impossible not to watch as he pulled free his tunic, leaving nothing but a mess of his tartan around his slim waist. Iosbail wanted to touch that terribly muscular area where his abs met his hip bones but Alexander had fire in his eyes…a fire that had something to do with lust but more to do with being enraged.
The man was tortured… by his own mind.
She well understood.
When he came onto the bed and spread her thighs Iosbail said nothing. As if caught in a strange dream he ran his hand over one of her breasts and stared at it, enthralled. It only then occurred to her that he’d never touched her when wholly nude. And by the gods, she’d never touched him that way either.
Iosbail wasted no time but began to tear at the rest of his plaid.
His hips thrust in response as though he envisioned himself already inside her.
“I have lusted after you since I was a boy,” he said, pained, as his lips locked over her nipple and his hand scooped around her buttock and squeezed.
“Alexander,” she whispered. Though she push
ed his hand away she thrust up, more eager than she’d ever been. He was in the throes of a madness he needed to release but for all she’d conquered fear a new one erupted.
His calloused fingers grabbed her hip then smoothed over her lower back as his other hand manipulated the back of her delicate neck. “You are everything I have ever desired in the flesh and so much more.”
He lifted just enough to rip his plaid away entirely. For the first time their flesh was whole. There was nothing to bar them. Iosbail lost her breath as his arm scooped beneath her lower back and his hips spread hers wider. An odd combination of panic and lust made her dig her nails into his shoulders.
“I’m so sorry!” she cried out.
The Sinclair thrust her legs up until they were over his shoulders.
“Alexander,” she groaned feeling the cool air below and seeing the mad lust in his eyes. If he took her now, at this moment, it would be out of revenge. He might have thought he’d let it all go but she knew he hadn’t.
And she didn’t blame him.
She’d done a terrible thing.
Iosbail kept her eyes locked with his, not surprised to see a tear roll down his cheek.
“Alexander, I am not that lass anymore.” She shook her head. “Nay, that was wrong, maybe I am. But I’ve not the vengeance or the need to hurt.” Iosbail cupped his cheeks and stroked his face. “Please dinnae lay with me with bad thoughts in your mind. Please.”
His member strong against her belly he seemed to relax slightly, his voice soft when he said, “I let you go this eve. I gave you away to the MacLeon. I didnae fight for you.”
“’Tis not how it is now though,” she said.
“Nay,” he whispered, his eyes covering her face. “When I saw you in the bath it became something entirely different. An old desire, one that I knew… know you’ll let me fulfill.”
Iosbail felt her throat tighten. “I cannae if ‘tis be an old need.”
His jaw tightened and he ground his cock deeper against her belly. “’Tis a very old need indeed.”
“Then you choose your battle. Because now ‘tis your decision whether or not it be wisely,” she said, keeping her eyes locked with his.
Iosbail hated to see the battle in his eyes, to know she’d created that battle. But as all battles tended to do, either a good or bad man would be made of them. As she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, willing, she hoped he’d find the good at the end of his own battle.
Alexander leaned down and smelled her hair, his hands slowly releasing her legs to let them fall so he could run them alongside her torso. For a long time he breathed and felt her but never grabbed her again. When he fell to his back beside her, Iosbail released a choppy breath of relief.
He’d conquered his own demons.
The Sinclair had not taken her against her will to appease his old desires.
Little time passed before Iosbail knew she could take no more. She swung her legs over him, looked down and whispered, “Thank you.”
To say another word would be impossible as he pulled her lips quickly to his. Their tongues twirled and explored. They were as eager and curious as they’d been the very first time. The light layer of hair on his chest rubbed against her nipples and Iosbail burst to life. She couldn’t touch his hard skin enough, couldn’t kiss him enough. The feeling of his muscles rippling beneath her fingers made every nerve ending come alive. Teeth bared, she trailed down his chest while running her hands over his broad shoulders. Hot and burning, his body seemed to reach out and welcome.
With a quick movement, he had her beneath him again.
This time the battle was gone.
Now a war raged.
But a war made of here and now and all they’d gained.
A whimper and groan escaped her as his lips met the sensitive area beneath her breast and his fingers curved down over her center. When he curled a finger up and nipped then suckled her breast, Iosbail jerked up.
“I love you, lass,” he whispered as his lips trailed up her neck then covered her mouth.
Their lips molded, formed, suctioned, leaving her without a response as he pushed up and slowly filled her. To grasp him would be impossible. Her fingers curled. Pleasure made her hands flex and try to hold thin air. When he pushed forward until he could go no further, an indescribable sound escaped her lips.
When he began to move, Iosbail closed her eyes and cherished. She wrapped her near numb arms around his shoulders and her legs around his torso.
Nothing had ever felt as perfect as having this man inside her.
Now.
Here.
Tomorrow.
Forever.
When his lips found hers again, Iosbail lost herself.
They began to move, slowly at first then much faster, both eager and hungry.
It happened so quickly, neither saw it coming.
Alexander pulled back suddenly; his eyes wide open to hers before they quivered shut. Unprepared for the feeling connected to the emotion she cried out and bucked. The Sinclair cried out as well, pulling her body tight against his as they throbbed and exploded simultaneously.
The world seemed to rip apart in that moment. It was if she was cold and hot all at once. As though she’d found the greatest thrill and then gone far over the edge. Everything had sensation but was numb. To hold onto him any longer was impossible. Nothing existed but pure feeling.
They stayed that way, caught in what seemed a never-ending mutual release.
Eventually, Alexander didn’t leave but rolled them to their sides and stroked her hair.
He said nothing as he curled his body around hers.
As dazed and fulfilled as she was Iosbail knew that it was the first time a man had ever done such a thing for her, not only the spectacular orgasm but the caring afterwards. It was impossible not to curl into the warm alcove of his strong body as it surrounded hers. She tucked his arm beneath her chin and closed her eyes, her nose turned to the smell of his skin.
It seemed mere minutes later that his words whispered in her ear, “Are you awake?”
“Aye.”
“I’ve got to go down. You ken. Not all Sinclair’s were killed last eve. Many chose to hold back and remain loyal. Will you come with me?”
Iosbail smiled. It wasn’t often a lass could say a king asked her to be with him the first time he confronted a clan, even if it was one from his past, even if he truly belonged to a far more powerful one. She knew Alexander would always be a Sinclair at heart. They’d raised and cared for him.
“Where else would I be?”
Alexander turned her beneath him and said, “Spending a few more minutes with the enemy.”
“No longer my enemy,” she murmured before his lips found hers. “We’ve not the time,” she said hoarsely as he came between her thighs, sparking a riot of sensation.
“Something tells me time is what we’ll want to make use of,” he breathed as he pushed forward.
Iosbail bit her lower lip and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He was right about the time. It did not matter.
The Sinclair had only pushed forward three times when she fell apart, ripples skittering and tingling through her already spent body. Alexander held her tight, finding release of his own, body locked, breath harsh and hot against her neck.
Sweat slicked their bodies when she finally lifted her hands to his face.
Alexander’s eyes met hers, intense, still aroused. “You are not as I ever imagined.”
Iosbail tried to swallow but found it impossible so she nodded.
Seeing the pain in her eyes one hand cupped her head. “You dinnae ken, lass. Everything about you is so verra much better.”
Though she wanted to shy away from his gaze she did not. He’d said what he said and meant it. What they shared here and now had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with them. From the moment they’d declared one another enemies to this time here and now, their bodies interlocked.
A w
onderful truce.
Iosbail thought back on all her long years and all the men. Had any other touched her like this? Nay. She’d known it the night before and nothing had changed. Shame on her for thinking it might. Alexander deserved more.
He would always deserve more.
“Nay,” Alexander whispered, tilting her face so that their eyes locked. “You tend to think too deep. When you do you find a reason to lose me from your life.” He kissed her, his lips warm and needy, before he pulled away. “’Tis too late now, even for you.”
His quicksilver eyes sucked her in and made her need more. She opened her lips to meet his. Hungry, forever curious, they explored.
The Sinclair was absolutely right, it was far too late.
She was helplessly in love.
To have their bodies separate seemed so wrong, to part for even an instant would be too much, to consider an existence without him seemed not only ridiculous but… boring?”
Iosbail ran her fingers over his skin, studying every nuance, every mark and curve. If she concentrated hard enough he’d be with her always. Wouldn’t he? Dread filled her heart.
“There’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you already. It has to do with my aging,” she stuttered, unsure.
Alexander put a finger to her lip. “Adlin explained everything to me before he annulled our marriage. When you find true love you begin to age but much slower than we mere mortals.”
“Aye,” she whispered.
“And how do you feel about that?”
“Wonderful,” she burst out then closed her eyes. “What I mean is that I dinnae care anymore.” Iosbail’s eyes met his and she ran her finger over the arch of his eyebrow. “The hardest thing has always been that you’ll age alone. Or should I say you willnae age with me as we should. Something lovers should do together… age that is.”
The Sinclair brought the back of her hand to his lips and kissed softly, eyes never leaving hers. “It doesna matter to me if you stay young while I age, lass. ‘Twill be harder on you than me. My hope is that our love will help us see things clearly as life goes on. All aside, I willnae let you go now that I’ve found you. One way or another, this love will endure.” He cocked a brow and offered a half grin. “Unless, of course, you’ve an issue with me aging?”
Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) Page 18