“Mmm hmmm,” she mumbled, nibbling on her bread. “Will I interfere with your eating or bother you?” she asked, half turning to look at him.
“Never. Ye’re right where ye belong.”
He took a chunk of boiled game and handed it to her. She took it and watched as he began eating his mutton stew. The savory smells wafted up to her nose and her mouth salivated. She bit off a piece of rubbery boiled game and chewed the dry meat without enthusiasm. He grinned, looking down at her. She was not cooperative with her recovery. That amused him.
He was bringing some mutton stew to his mouth when she intercepted it.
“Abby!” he said stunned, laughing.
“Mmmm,” she said, her eyes closed, savoring the taste.
She reached to get some cheese and bread, pretending she was about to eat it. Just as another bit of stew was moving towards his open mouth, her mouth closed in on it and she popped the bread and cheese into his open mouth.
She leaned back onto his muscular chest, sighing. She placed her head on his shoulder, chewing slowly.
His chest rumbled behind her as he laughed.
“Alright, so ye want good food, aye?” he said, happiness buzzing through his body. She nodded.
Cameron supported her by keeping his right arm around her waist. She turned into him, expectantly. She wanted the stew and she would have it.
Or else.
He began serving her pieces of the stew. She moaned in pleasure at every mouthful, closing her eyes or rolling her eyes heavenward. He laughed but stopped when she looked up at him with an annoyed expression on her face.
“You attempt to eat that bland, dry meat for a week and let me know how you feel.”
“It’s not so bad, Abby,” he said, laughing.
Her brow quirked but he didn’t see it.
“Everything tastes better with your eyes closed. Do it. Allow me to show you.”
He sighed. “Verra well.”
She waited until he closed his eyes. She took a chunk of the dry, boiled, tasteless game.
“Open your mouth,” she said and waited until he did.
She put the game in his mouth and he began chewing. He opened his eyes suddenly, making a horrified face.
“Come now, Cameron, ‘tis not that bad,” she said, chewing a mouthful of the delicious stew.
Cameron could barely chew the game because it was so dry. He took a mouthful of ale to help him.
Abby giggled and brought another mouthful of mutton upwards to her salivating mouth. He looked her squarely.
“I’ll share with you,” she said, smiling, as she changed direction, bringing some stew to his mouth.
Abby continued to squirm on his lap and she immediately narrowed her eyes, focusing on his face. Something was pricking her.
He shrugged. “The ground is hard and lumpy, and I’m hard and hot,” he said, passion sneaking into his voice, making its deep timber velvety.
It had been a very long time since they had made love. Every night, lying next to her, had been bittersweet. He wanted her more and more every day, but he hadn’t wanted to hurt her.
She blushed so prettily, he thought, looking down at her.
“I haven’t been so pretty as of late, hmm? You haven’t wanted to make love to me?”
Tenderness and warmth invaded his eyes and he hugged her close to him, wanting to absorb all of her bad thoughts.
“I always want ye. Ye are beautiful and not one day passed by that I didna think so. I didna want to hurt ye,” he said, lifting her chin up with his hand. “Ye’re beautiful, Abigail, and ye couldna be anything else other than that to me.”
Abby leaned in and kissed him. Their kiss grew passionate in mere moments. He lay down on the plaid, as she stretched out on top of him.
They were ravenous. His hands wandered all over her back- massaging it, her neck, and her backside. Her moans drove him wild.
He loved massaging her backside.
“We should stop,” she said and he heard the shyness in her voice.
He laughed.
“‘Tis no joke, Cameron. All your men would think me a common trollop,” she said seriously, as she looked down at him.
“My men would never think that of ye, nor would the clan. They were angry when they heard ye were poisoned. The whole clan looked for Gillyanne for a week after ye fell horribly ill.” He nodded when she lifted her eyebrows in surprise.
“What if we cannot conceive again? We will have to accept that my returning to my father is inevitable,” she said, choking on the words.
He kissed her.
“Even if ye havena conceived again, Abby, I will never let anyone take ye away from me,” he said determinedly. “Ye’re mine,” he said and kissed her savagely.
“Our baby was a miracle. I’m not sure we’d be so fortunate again.” Her sorrow tore at him, but then he pulled back.
“What?” she asked, dazedly. He smiled at her dazed face.
“There’s something I havena told ye.”
Alarmed, she raised herself up.
“What, Cameron?” she asked fearfully.
He passed a soothing hand down over her hair.
“When we discovered Gillyanne’s herbs, we discovered one that prevents conception. She had been drinking it, possibly for years.”
“She was taking that all the while?”
“Aye.”
“I knew that you weren’t unable to sire a bairn.”
Cameron smiled, but his eyes reflected a touch of sadness as he remembered their poor bairn they’d lost. He looked surprised when she, all of a sudden, stood with energy she hadn’t had in a long while.
“Why are we waiting?” she asked, her hands on her hips, exasperated. He thought she looked adorable. “Let us begin,” she said and turned, running towards the castle, her giggles of laughter following behind her.
Cameron rose and ran after her. She looked back at him teasingly, and screeched when he caught her and threw himself on the ground, protecting her within his embrace. She was under him and her chest was heaving from her exertion. Cameron’s gaze reflected his worry. She had only run ten paces, and already she was having trouble catching her breath.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she said, smiling.
“Doona tire yerself, Abby. Ye are to do nothing strenuous,” he said, tightly.
She rolled her eyes and he held back a smile.
“Honestly, Cameron, I just ran a little.”
“And look how out of breath ye are.”
She kissed his chin quickly, in an effort to placate him. It didn’t work.
“Doona try to ease my worry, Abby, or distract me. I almost lost ye,” he shuddered, and continued, “I almost lost ye once and I barely survived that ordeal.” He nuzzled her neck then looked into her eyes, playfully. “Besides,” he said, a teasing glint leapt in his eyes, “ye’ll have to do more than a chaste kiss on my chin to appease me.”
Her laugh was carefree. Although they were too involved in themselves to notice, the clan had been watching their laird and lady, laughing along with them. When she smiled, all of them smiled with her. Many of their lips were twitching upwards as they heard their lady’s infectious laugh, a laugh they thought they’d never hear the sound of again. And then they looked at their laird, and saw the smile they thought would be forever gone from his face.
When Cameron stood up and carried Abby into the castle, everyone knew what they would be doing in their chamber. They all nodded. There would be a young bairn soon, they laughed and teased. A few of the men whistled and shouted encouraging words.
And when Cameron placed Abby on their bed, almost reverently, he made the sweetest, slowest love to her.
And after five more times of the sweetest, slowest love she’d ever experienced, they fell asleep, with smiles on their faces.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I must be barren, Cameron,” she said dejectedly. She was upset. It was a month later and she’d lightly bled. “The poison
must have permanently damaged me.”
“Bess said not to be upset, Abby. Ye were being poisoned. Yer body canna be expected to recuperate so quickly,” he said gently, playing with a lock of her hair on the side of her face.
Her eyes were watery. Her troubled gaze studied him.
“There’s such little time left,” she whispered desperately, looking away. She felt the panic seize her. “Dear God, I cannot leave you, Cameron,” she said, looking back at him as her trembling hand came up to her mouth. “I’ll die without you. I don’t want to be married off to someone else,” she said, her body trembling in fear.
Abby was trembling violently and had gone pale. She ran to the chamber pot and threw up the contents of her noon meal. He went over to her, with water and a cloth. He rubbed her back until she stopped retching, then handed her the cloth and the water.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Ye are nay barren, my love,” he said, bringing her into his arms and resting his head on hers. “And I’ve already told ye, sweetness, I will not allow anyone take ye from me.”
“And have that horrible night-terror come to life? Never. I’ll never allow you to put yourself in danger for me,” she said forcefully.
He sighed. It would do no good to argue with her now. She needed his strength and assurance, not an argument.
“Doona place so much strain on yerself, Abby. Bess said that the strain would make it more difficult to conceive. Ye should be happy that ye’ve received yer monthly. This means that ye’re body has almost fully recovered from the poison.”
“Yes, but it’s not as it’s always been. It’s very light,” she said, blushing prettily.
“Get some rest,” he said gently.
“Actually, I’m going to spend some time with Orfeld.” She giggled at his expression. “He’s old and lonely.”
“And damned meddlesome,” Cameron grumbled. “Doona tire yerself, Abby. I mean it,” he said when she shook her head. “And be careful. Some of the clan members have been ill. A couple even have lung fever.
She nodded and gave him a kiss before leaving the room.
Abby spent the next couple of days with Orfeld. A smile never left her face for long when she was with him. Amy’s grandfather was always complaining about Old Man Kressyl, Alice’s uncle. She saw the man and laughed harder. They were one and the same, in temperament, that is.
Orfeld was tall and lanky. His knobby knees showed from underneath his kilt. His hair was mostly white, with hints of brown still visible. His blue eyes were milky, but exuded a sharpness that belied his age. The lines around his mouth were deep set, from years of frowning and mischief, she presumed.
Old Man Kressyl was short and very round. His hair was mostly a dull red, except for visible patches of white, and his green eyes were cloudy. His stomach protruded and his plaid stretched around him. The belt was in danger of collapsing. He also had frown lines around his mouth.
“Good day, Kressyl,” Abby shouted, waving.
He looked up from his vegetable patch and squinted. Seeing little, he brought a cupped hand over his eyes. He looked at her, shrugged and growled, and continued on working.
“Doona pay attention tae him, lass. He’s always sour,” Orfeld said. “Isna that so?” He asked, raising his voice so that Kressyl could hear.
Kressyl looked up again and muttered under his breath. He stood, carrying some vegetables, and entered his cottage.
Abby bit back a smile.
“He’s moving his cottage closer tae mine, Lady. I know he is,” Orfeld grumbled, shaking his cane up in the air at Kressyl’s cottage.
“Nay, I don’t believe so, Orfeld. Why, you are very observant and keen of perception. ‘Twould be difficult to do as you say, don’t you think?” she asked, looking at him.
“Ye’re right, Lady, I am keen of perception.”
“And being of keen perception, Orfeld, I’m certain you know that ‘twould be too difficult to move a hutch even a toe, much less a foot; you made me realize that just now. Aye, you’re very smart, you know.”
“Aye, that I am, lass. I just didna know how tae tell ye gently. ‘Twould be impossible to move that hutch closer tae mine,” he said, nodding, rubbing his hand against his chin.
Orfeld began walking in to his cottage. “Good day, Laird.”
Abby whipped around and saw Cameron leaning against a tree. Her heart stopped. He was so powerful, handsome, and, from the look in his eyes, loving. She smiled at him and he gave her a slow, sexy smile that melted her heart and fired her blood. His gray eyes caressed her body from head to toe and up again. They settled on her face and she felt the gooseflesh cover her skin.
She ran to him. He caught her and brought her against him, enfolding her in his warmth.
“I thought you were training,” she said against his shoulder.
He inhaled her scent, her sweet fragrance, with his eyes closed. He couldn’t let her go, so he held her longer. “Lord, I love ye.”
She squeezed him harder. “I am so very lucky, Cameron. To have your love is pure Heaven,” she said. She leaned back against his strong arms. “I love you.”
His head came down for a searing kiss. It deepened, and she moaned loudly. His tongue swooped in and mated with hers. He pulled back before the kiss grew more passionate.
Her eyes were dazed. “What are you here for?”
“I missed ye.”
Smiling, she said, “I missed you, too.” She hugged him close again, burying her face in his masculine chest. “What would I do without you, Cameron?”
He kissed her forehead. “Ye’ll never have to find out, my love.” He gave her a tight squeeze and closed his eyes. “The better question is, what would I do without ye?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, ye just spared me a lot of time from hearing Orfeld’s ridiculous accusations that Kressyl moved his cottage closer to his.” He sighed happily. “Ah…ye are my most powerful advantage, sweetness. A smile here, a compliment there, and ye have them melting. I’ll remember that,” he said and laughed along with her.
He heard growling and stepped back. He had a confused look on his face while his wife looked sheepish.
“What was that?” he asked, hiding a smile.
“My stomach,” she said, stealing a peek up at him. “I suppose I’m hungry.”
He laughed. “Well, I canna let my love remain hungry. Let’s fetch something to eat,” he said and she squealed when he tried to pick her up.
“You will not pick me up, Cameron MacPherson! I am not a delicate flower,” she said, dodging his hands and laughing. She squealed again as she avoided his grasp and began running towards the castle.
“Abby, my love, ye canna get away!” he said, smiling at the laughter he heard from her.
She turned around, her hair in disarray, and took gulping breaths. Her chest heaved with the effort and her smile grew wider as he stopped to stare at her.
“Cameron!” she warned as she saw him take a small step forward. She held her hand up. Her smile faltered then. She placed her hand to her mouth and ran to a tree, where she promptly dry heaved since she had nothing in her tummy to empty.
“Does she have a fever, Bess? Does she have lung fever?” Cameron asked anxiously. He had been sitting quietly as Bess looked her over.
“Nay, Laird. Mayhap somethin’ didna agree with her.”
“She’s been passing the time with Orfeld and some of the clan. I told her to take caution, that the lung fever was spreading.”
“Quit speaking of me as if I’m nay here.”
Bess shared a smile with Abby.
“Nay, she’ll be fine,” Bess said.
Cameron looked down at Abby and she saw the relief in his eyes.
“I’ll leave ye be. Now, Abby, ye ‘ave to eat an’ drink,” she clucked. “Ye canna go a day without doing so,” Bess lectured.
“But Bess, I’m eating a lot. Too much, really. I drink a lot, too!”
; Bess clucked before leaving the couple.
“Have ye been around anyone sick, Abigail?”
She perked up. He only called her Abigail when he was angry or worried.
“No, Cameron. Why are you upset?”
“How did ye know?” he asked, smiling.
“Because ye only call me Abigail when ye are.”
He took her hand, and kissed the inside of her palm, and her knuckles, all while looking at her.
“Ye retched.”
She sighed, annoyed. “I’m bound to be sick here or there, but I don’t have lung fever. I am quite famished now, and I assure you, I am famished all the time. Just this morn, I ate enough to feed three people. ‘Tis just that I cannot be keeping some of it down. I hurl it up at times.”
He studied her for a moment.
“Maybe it’s the poison still working itself out?”
He frowned. “I doona know, Abby.” He studied her intently and she saw the worry in his eyes.
“Cameron, don’t frown so. I’m fine and I’m hungry. Now, if you won’t get me food, then I’ll go get it myself,” she said, getting irritable.
He smiled. “I’ll go get ye food. Sit and doona move, Abby.” She smiled and he gave her a sterner look. “Abby,” he warned.
“Yes, yes, Cameron, I’ll stay put.”
He gave her a smile and leaned over to give her a kiss.
She waited patiently as her stomach rumbled. Mere minutes passed before he returned with fresh fruit, black bread, honey, cheese, and meat.
She closed her eyes as he entered, and inhaled the smell of food. A wide smile spread across her face and she moaned.
“What do ye want first?” he asked. Though he thought her smile couldn’t get any wider, it did. “Never mind that I asked.”
He smiled at her and spread honey across the fresh baked black bread. He shook his head when she reached for it and he brought the piece of bread to her mouth. She took a bite and closed her eyes, moaning.
“Delicious,” she sighed. He didn’t bring the piece of bread fast enough to her mouth, so she snatched it out and devoured it.
He laughed as his eyes grew wide at her rapacious appetite.
Forget Me Not, My Scottish Love (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 3) Page 19