by Lynsay Sands
Her eyes widened, but Dwyn didn’t hesitate and leaned forward to kiss him. She sighed the moment their mouths met, and then opened for him when his tongue slid out to slide along the seam where her lips came together, a silent request for entry. She moaned, her back arching eagerly when his tongue filled her, and was pleased to hear Geordie’s answering moan. To her it felt like forever since he’d kissed and held her. He had only been awake three days, and was still weak, yet his response and the sudden wildness to his kiss matched her own.
When Dwyn felt his hand at her breast, she almost sucked his tongue out of his mouth with her gasp of shock. Breaking their kiss, she pulled back and stared at him.
Geordie grinned up at her with satisfaction. “I’ve been working at building me muscle at night, repeatedly raising me fingers, then me hands, then me arms, to regain me strength.”
“Oh,” she breathed, her eyes wide. His hand had followed her upright and he was toying with one erect nipple through the material of her gown.
“That’s no’ all I can raise,” he added with another grin, this one wider.
“Yer legs?” Dwyn asked uncertainly.
“Aye, I can raise them a bit, but no’ as much as me hands and arms yet,” Geordie admitted, and then added, “But that was no’ what I was talking about.”
When she blinked in confusion, he said, “I’m hot, lass. Could ye get these furs off me?”
“Oh, o’ course.” Dwyn turned to remove the large fur cover from him. It was made of several furs sewn together and very heavy, and the moment she pushed it off of him, the linen underneath popped up to form a small tent.
“Oh,” she breathed. First Dwyn stared and then she found herself reaching for the tent pole.
“Nay!” Geordie barked with alarm. When Dwyn glanced quickly back to his face, he smiled wryly and admitted, “Lass, all I’ve done the last two days was think on loving ye. ’Tis how I encouraged meself to work harder to regain me strength. I’d think on how I wanted to touch ye.” Grimacing, he added, “But I fear do you touch me now, I’ll no’ be loving ye at all.”
“Oh,” Dwyn repeated, uncertainly this time. Now she didn’t know what to do. Geordie did though.
“Undo yer lacings and bare yer breasts fer me, lass. I want to see ye and do no’ want to waste what little strength I’ve built up undressing ye. I’d rather save it fer touching.”
Dwyn didn’t hesitate. Meeting his gaze, she reached up to undo the lacings, surprised to see her hands trembling. It wasn’t shyness. There was very little shyness in her in regards to his seeing her body. Geordie had seen, touched and licked every inch of her before taking the wound that presently had him stuck in bed, and she’d dressed and undressed in front of him several times since he’d woken from that wound. But she was trembling like a virgin on her wedding night. Still, she got the lacings undone, and then quickly shrugged her gown off her shoulders.
“Stand up,” Geordie growled as she reached to push her shift off too.
Dwyn stood, allowing her gown to drop to the floor, and then waited as she watched a slow smile spread his lips.
“Damn, I love yer shift,” he murmured, and she glanced down at it. While she’d made new gowns with higher necklines, her shifts all still had the very low ones and this one exposed the tops of her nipples. Geordie’s voice was a hoarse rasp when he requested, “Take it off too.”
Dwyn removed it, pushing it off one shoulder and then the other to let it drop on top of her gown.
“Aye, now climb on me, lass, straddle me stomach,” he ordered.
Dwyn’s eyebrows rose at that, her gaze moving to his erection, but she did as he asked and climbed onto the bed, swinging her hair over her shoulders first so she wouldn’t accidentally kneel on it.
“Ah, lass,” Geordie sighed, reaching out to cover her breasts with his hands. “Have I told ye how lovely ye are?”
Dwyn’s eye widened, but she couldn’t have responded had she wanted to; his touch was sending shivers of excitement through her and she was busy gasping in response.
“Bend down here and kiss me, lass.”
Dwyn obeyed at once, leaning down until she could cover his mouth with hers, a groan sliding from her lips into his mouth as he squeezed and kneaded her more firmly. It was a strange position for her to be on top and in control of the kiss, but she liked it. In this position she decided the angle, the pressure and depth of the kiss, and she was greedy after so long without this. Her mouth devoured his and invited him to devour in response as he fondled her breasts, and pinched her nipples. At least, she did at first, but when he turned his head breaking the kiss, Dwyn sat up slightly, panting with the need growing in her.
“Ye’re wet already,” Geordie growled, and she felt the first flash of embarrassment. She was straddling his stomach, but he hadn’t touched her yet, and still he knew she was wet . . . because . . . well, because she was straddling his stomach and he could apparently feel the way her body was weeping for attention.
“I want to taste ye.”
Dwyn blinked at those words, as confused now as she had been the first time he’d said them to her, but not for the same reason. “But ye canno’—”
“Straddle me face, wife.”
Now her eyes widened incredulously. “I could no’ just—”
“Ye vowed to obey me in front o’ Father Archibald, our family and God, Dwyn. Are ye no’ going to keep yer vows?” Geordie asked solemnly.
“Ye remember,” she said with surprise. Until now he’d not said a word about their marriage here in this room the night he was wounded, and Dwyn had begun to worry he didn’t even remember it.
“Our wedding?” Geordie asked with disbelief. “O’ course I remember. I’m the one who asked Father Archibald to perform it. Now crawl up here and straddle me face, wife. I want to taste ye.”
Dwyn’s mouth opened, closed, and then she shook her head, but when he shifted his hands to her hips and urged her forward, while she shook her head again, she also started to move. Worried about hurting him, and anxious about what he’d asked her to do, she got to her feet on the bed and then moved forward, grabbed the headboard to brace herself and slowly lowered herself over his face, her knees on either side of his head and calves and feet on his shoulders and chest. Dear God, this was new, she thought with dismay, aware of the view he was getting.
“Lower, wife.”
Dwyn shook her head, but lowered herself some more.
“Almost perfect, just a touch farther forward,” he instructed.
Muttering under her breath, Dwyn shifted a bit forward and then nearly screamed when his tongue lashed across her sensitive center. Biting her lip to silence herself, she clenched her hands on the headboard, her wide eyes staring blindly at the bed drapes as he clutched her hips and brought her firmly against his face. He used his chin, his lips, his tongue and even his teeth on her tender flesh, his hands moving her hips until she was excited enough to forget her position and start moving herself, riding his face. He murmured what Dwyn thought was approval then, and she groaned and let her head fall back as the sound hummed over her skin and through her body.
Dwyn was on the edge of finding her release when he suddenly urged her back by his grasp on her hips and growled, “Ride me now, lass.”
He didn’t have to ask twice. Dwyn would have done just about anything he asked at that point, and quickly shifted back down his body to straddle him. She didn’t await further instruction, but impaled herself on him with one swift plunge, and then let her head fall back, and groaned as her body adjusted to his filling her again. It had been so long.
“God, woman, I’ve missed ye,” Geordie moaned, his fingers digging into her hips. “I feel like I’ve come home every time I’m in ye, and it has been a long time since I was home.”
Dwyn raised her head to peer down at him, and then leaned forward to brace her hands on the pillow on either side of his head. Her hair fell around them, a pale gold curtain sheltering them from the world as she b
egan to move on him, her breasts brushing across his chest, and their eyes meeting.
Geordie watched her face, his hands running down her body to clasp her behind and help her find the perfect pace, and then he growled, “Did I say home, love? I meant heaven.”
“Mavis says ye’ll be holding a wedding ceremony and feast at Innes rather than here,” Katie commented, and then added, “She said that all the Buchanans will be in attendance.”
Dwyn glanced up from the chest she was packing and watched the maid strip the bed she and Geordie had left in such a rumpled state this morning. It was a month since he’d woken after his wound. His stitches were out, and he’d worked hard at rebuilding his strength, even before they’d been removed. The man had definitely succeeded there, Dwyn thought with a slow smile as she recalled some of the positions he’d shown her last night and this morning. He claimed it was all to aid in rebuilding his strength to make love to her with him standing up, and her in his arms, her legs wrapped around him as he clasped her under the bottom and raised and lowered her slowly onto his staff. Dwyn was most pleased to help him regain his strength in such ways. After all, it was her duty as wife to aid him in any endeavor.
The thought nearly made her snort to herself with amusement. Help him, or not, she definitely enjoyed the bedding part of marriage. But she enjoyed other aspects too. Just talking and laughing with him was wonderful. Walking in the gardens and orchard. Playing games of Nine Men’s Morris and chess. Dwyn had come to the realization that she not only loved the man, she loved being with him and couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have him.
“M’lady?”
“Hmm?” Dwyn glanced to the girl, and then recalled her comments and said, “Oh, aye. Well, ’tis no’ really necessary, but the people o’ Innes should be able to celebrate our union. And Geordie’s family wanted to attend it as well.”
The maid’s eyebrows rose at that. “Ye do no’ think marrying in the eyes o’ the church is necessary?”
“Oh.” Dwyn blinked as she realized the maid had no idea they were already married in the eyes of the church. There had only been her father, Una, Aileen, Rory, Alick, Aulay and Jetta there to witness the ceremony Father Archibald had performed the night Geordie was injured, and she supposed it hadn’t probably been discussed afterward. It hadn’t exactly been a grand affair, although it had been special to her. Besides, everyone had been so worried about Geordie, especially when the fevers started . . .
“’Tis no’ that I do not think ’tis necessary,” she began, and then paused and glanced toward the door when it opened.
“There ye are!” Geordie crossed the room quickly when he stepped in and spotted her. Clasping her by the waist, he lifted her into the air, lowered her to press a quick kiss to her lips and then raised and lowered her again for another quick kiss.
“Building yer strength again, m’laird?” Dwyn asked with amusement as he raised her for a third time.
“Aye, but with a purpose. I’m takin’ ye to the waterfall,” he announced, and set her on the floor, then snatched her hand in his and turned to tug her toward the door.
“The waterfall?” she asked anxiously, dragging her feet.
When he realized she was not following enthusiastically, he turned to peer at her. “What is it, love?”
Dwyn hesitated, but then asked uncertainly, “Is it safe?”
Geordie faced her solemnly. “The men have been scouring Buchanan land ever since the attack fer any sign o’ the bandits’ return, and have seen nothing. Also,” he added. “’Tis daylight. ’Tis always safe there in daylight. And I want to show ye why I love the waterfall so much ere we leave.” Brushing his fingers lightly down her cheek, he continued. “Besides, it has been six weeks since the attack, Dwyn. Bandits do no’ hang about in one area fer long. They’ll have moved on.”
Dwyn bit her lip briefly, and then glanced back to her chest and said, “But what about packing? We leave for Innes tomorrow and I still have—”
“We can do that tonight,” he pointed out, and then added, “But we canno’ go to the waterfall at night.” Bending, he pressed a kiss to her lips and then whispered, “Come with me, lass.”
It was the almost pleading tone to his voice as he said it that made up Dwyn’s mind. Pushing her worries and concerns aside, she nodded.
“That’s me girl.” Geordie beamed at her, and then turned and hurried out of the room, pulling her with him.
“’Tis so empty now that everyone is gone,” Dwyn murmured in a hushed voice as she followed Geordie down the stairs to the great hall. Which wasn’t really empty. There were servants and soldiers coming and going, or sitting to enjoy a repast or drink. But they were all going quietly about their business, when she was used to laughter and loud voices.
“Dwyn, love, ye’ve said that at least ten times a day since me sister, brothers and their mates all returned to their homes, and that was nearly four weeks ago,” Geordie pointed out with a chuckle as they crossed the great hall, headed for the doors to the bailey.
“I ken, but it just feels strange still. While yer brothers and sister and their mates were here, ’twas always loud and boisterous in the great hall. Then they left, and—” She shrugged.
“Aye, I miss them too,” he murmured with a faint smile. “But we’ll see them soon. They’re coming to Innes for the wedding,” Geordie reminded her, and then paused in front of the doors to the bailey to face her as he asked, “Will there be room for everyone at Innes?”
“Innes does no’ have as many rooms as Buchanan, but the keep itself is a good size. We’ll find room for everyone,” Dwyn assured him.
“Aye, we will,” he agreed. Smiling, he kissed the tip of her nose and admitted, “I’m curious to see our home, and eager to leave.”
“By this time tomorrow we’ll be on our way, and in three days ye’ll see it,” she murmured, because that’s how long he’d said it would take to get to Innes. It had taken Dwyn and her family much longer to travel to Buchanan from Innes, but they’d had a wagon and a large party of soldiers with them. She and Geordie were planning to ride straight there at speed, with just a sack of clothes each and Alick and Rory for company. Their chests would follow with her father, sisters and the escort of Innes warriors they’d brought with them and would take twice or perhaps even three times as long to make the journey. She knew her sisters were above stairs seeing to packing their own clothes away in the chests they’d come in.
“Should no’ we tell Aulay or Jetta where we’re going?” Dwyn asked as he pushed open one of the doors and led her down the keep stairs.
“Aulay was taking Jetta above stairs for a nap when I came to find ye,” Geordie said, glancing around to waggle his eyebrows suggestively to let her know what kind of nap he was speaking of. Heading for the stables now, he told her, “Which is what made me think I should take the opportunity to take ye to the waterfall.”
“Ah,” she said with amusement.
Geordie must have stopped at the stables before coming to fetch her. His horse was ready and just being led out as they arrived. When he caught her about the waist and lifted her into the saddle, Dwyn supposed that meant she was riding with him rather than on her own mount, but didn’t mind. Any excuse to have his arms around her always gained Dwyn’s approval, and she leaned back into him with a pleased little sigh once he was mounted behind her. Geordie’s arms slid around her and he hugged her briefly, and then he took the reins and they were off.
They’d barely put the outer wall at their back before Geordie was shifting his reins to one hand so that he could reach up and caress her breasts with the other. Moaning, Dwyn pressed back into him with her shoulders, her back arching upward into the caress.
“Ye’re always so responsive to me, love,” Geordie growled, nipping her ear and then sucking it soothingly so that she hardly noticed when he pulled her neckline down to free her breasts to his touch without the cloth in the way.
Dwyn didn’t protest it though when she felt his rough
fingers on her unprotected skin. Instead, she reached behind her to rub him through the cloth of his plaid and said, “I ken, m’laird. I turn into little more than a slattern with ye.”
Geordie released her breast to clasp her jaw and turned her head up and back for a punishing kiss, and then growled, “Fer me, mayhap, and I hope ye always will be.”
He returned to fondling her then, so that by the time they reached the waterfall, they were both panting heavily and burning for each other. They undressed each other at the same time, stumbling and fumbling a bit as they tried to kiss and grope each other even as they did it, and then Geordie lifted her up into his arms and she wrapped her legs around him, trapping his erection between them and rubbing against it as he walked out into the water and then under the falls.
Dwyn gasped as the cold water briefly poured over them, and then he set her on a ledge where she was able to lean her upper body back so that it rushed down over her breasts and stomach, but not her face. She saw Geordie through a sheet of water, and then his face joined hers in the safe waterless space and he kissed her as he slid into her.
Dwyn had never experienced anything like it, water was caressing them everywhere as he loved her, adding to his caresses and kisses, and she suddenly understood why he’d wanted to show her this spot. She told him so later as they lay on a plaid in the clearing at the edge of the loch.
“Aye.” He ran one hand lazily up and down her back where she’d collapsed on him after he’d carried her out of the water and they’d made love again. “’Twas as good as I imagined ’twould be.”
Dwyn lifted her head and raised an eyebrow. “As ye imagined? Ye’ve never done that before?”
“In the waterfall?” Geordie asked, and then shook his head. “Hell, no. I always feared I’d drown meself did I try it, and I would no’ drown meself fer any woman. Except you.”
“That sounded like it was meant to be a compliment,” Dwyn said thoughtfully. “And yet I just want to slap ye.” When he raised his head to peer at her with surprise, she said solemnly, “I do no’ want ye to drown fer me, husband. I’d rather ye live fer me, thank ye very much.”