by K. E. Saxon
Her husband brought his palm over her breast, nuzzling the soft, sensitive skin just under her ear.
Maryn slapped his hand, her ring making a clunking sound as it struck bone. “Tell me whether you gave Callum permission to wed Jesslyn!”
“Ouch! You little she-devil,” Daniel said irritably, rolling off of her and sucking the sting out of his knuckles. He sighed. “You’ve apparently already forgotten the lesson I taught you this day past. Mayhap you need a longer, slower, more thorough lesson to aid your memory.”
“Nay, I remember,” she said in a rush, scooting to the edge of the bed and turning onto her stomach to hide her breasts.
Daniel immediately followed, pinning her beneath him.
“At least tell me whether you consented to the betrothal, then you may have free rein to do as you will.”
The thought drove Daniel wild. He slowly rocked his pelvis against the soft cushion of her derrière. “Free rein. To do as I will,” he repeated against her ear.
His voice vibrated in Maryn’s hearing canal. Seductive and low, it caused her womb to contract.
“I definitely am ‘up’ for that,” he said lewdly, grinding his erection more insistently between the soft cheeks of her buttocks.
“Daniel!” Maryn pretended shock.
Taking the soft lobe of her ear between his teeth, he suckled. After circling her waist with his hand, he tugged the front of her chemise above her mons and stroked his fingers into the tight curls between her legs before pressing her throbbing sex against his hard length.
Maryn bent her knees and raised up slightly. “Daniel!” she said again, tho’ this time it was more of an entreaty.
In answer, he rubbed his arousal between the folds of her labia through the material of her chemise, grazing and plucking the hidden bud of her desire at the same time.
Moaning, Maryn rotated her hips. A thrill ran through her, raising goose bumps on her flesh.
When Daniel at last felt his wife’s muscles gathering as she neared release, he removed his hand. With a ragged breath, he rolled to his side and rested on one forearm, taking a slow visual inventory of her body.
Curious to see what her amorous tormentor was doing, she turned her head on the pillow. ‘Twas immediately clear to her that he was contemplating the innumerable means by which he would use her body, now that she had offered him free rein over it. “Mayhap ‘free rein’ was a bit too general,” she said nervously. “What I meant to say was that you will be free to make love to me in any way that I allow.”
“Oh, you’ll allow what I have in mind, have no fear—you’ll not only allow it, you’ll beg for it.”
Maryn relaxed then, at last certain that Daniel would not do anything she did not want him to do. “So, you’ll tell me whether you gave Callum permission to wed Jesslyn?”
He sighed. “Alright, I’ll tell you. But ‘tis all I’ll tell you,” he warned. “I will not discuss the decision tonight. Agreed?”
“Aye, agreed,” she replied.
He stroked the heavy mass of soft bronze hair away from his wife’s cheek. “I gave Callum permission to wed Jesslyn—conditionally. I told him they could not marry for six moons.”
She lifted her head from the pillow and opened her mouth to speak.
“Nay,” he said, placing his fingers over her lips, “I will say no more on the subject this night.”
She nodded. After a moment a sensual smile formed on her lovely, plush mouth as she pressed her hip against his arousal and rotated, giving him a clear indication of what she wanted from him.
Daniel was amused, but more than happy to oblige. He rolled into his earlier position. “Now, where was I?” he said against the curve of her neck. “Oh, yes, I was enjoying the ‘free rein of doing what I will’ with your delicious little body.” And then he proceeded to do just that.
Later, Maryn realized her husband had been right, she had allowed and she had begged.
CHAPTER 11
Just before leaving for the training field the next morn, Daniel spoke privately with Lady Maclean, informing her of his cousin’s desire to wed Jesslyn.
After her grandson departed, Lady Maclean hurried to the solar in search of her granddaughter-in-law. She rushed inside and quickly shut the door behind her.
Maryn started and swung her gaze up, eyes round.
Scurrying toward her, and out of breath, Lady Maclean said in a rush, “Good morn, my dear.” And then, settling on the stool next to her, she asked, “What think you of this sudden betrothal between my grandson and that widow?”
“Good morn to you as well, Grandmother Maclean.” Tucking the needle into the material she was embroidering and placing it in the basket on the floor next to her foot, she answered, “I dearly hope ‘twill be a good match, as I have grown to admire Jesslyn, and Callum deserves to find a bit of contentment in his life after all the blows his pride has taken these past moons.”
Lady Maclean’s eyes widened in amazement. “You’ve grown to admire the woman? How can that be?”
Maryn’s smile was wry as, with a bit of a shrug, she replied, “Aye, I know you find it hard to believe, but I’ve come to see that she only acted out of desperation.”
Lady Maclean snorted in derision. “More like jealousy and selfishness, I’d say.” She shook her head, chiding, “You are much too generous, lass.” Resting her hand on Maryn’s knee, she advised, “Take care.”
Swiveling on her stool, Maryn looked fully at her, saying, “Your suspicions are groundless, I swear it. If you’d but spend time with her, you would see that she is not the morally depraved person we thought her to be. Only think how it is for her: She raises her bairn alone without support—other than the little offered by her laird and her clan.” She sat forward. “And Daniel was her best means of rising out of that state as, ‘tis truth, there could be none better than he for husband—or for father to a bairn.”
Lady Maclean tightened her grasp on Maryn’s knee. “But the woman boldly endeavored to entice your husband with her fleshly charms! Surely you agree, that speaks ill of her character.”
“Nay, I swear, ‘twas fear that made her do the deed. ‘Twas not—is not—a true reflection of her nature.” She held Lady Maclean’s hand in both of hers. “Only imagine being forced to give such a man as Daniel up! I honestly believe I might have done the same thing—or worse—were the roles reversed.”
Lady Maclean silently regarded her granddaughter-in-law for a moment. The lass, it seemed, was quite set on believing the best of the widow—and there was clearly naught that would change that fact. Sighing, she at last nodded her head, saying, “If you are certain that the widow acted only out of her own sorrow and fear for her future, then I shall say naught more.” But, she silently vowed, she’d speak with the lady at the earliest opportunity to gauge for herself the verity in her granddaughter-in-law’s belief.
*
Alleck and Niall hid behind the garden wall outside the kitchens, waiting for the maid to turn her back so they could pilfer some of the fresh root vegetables she’d just dug.
“How’re we goin’ to get these to the magic giant?” Niall whispered, for what seemed to Alleck to be the thousandth time.
“We’re goin’ to wait ‘til everyone slumbers and sneak out,” he replied in a like tone, patiently answering his friend once again. For, even tho’ Niall was not very clever, he was always up for an adventure, and that counted for a lot in Alleck’s estimation. “We’ll go and place ‘em on the boulder where we found the giant’s boot. Remember?”
Niall nodded his head. “Aye, but how’ll we know if the giant finds our gift? What if a rabbit gets to it afore the giant finds it?”
Alleck turned his head away and rolled his eyes—Niall was such a bairn! Then, turning back to his younger friend, he explained, “Boulders’re too high and smooth for such a wee thing to reach our gift. ‘Sides, the giant’ll know we’re there and take the gift before any animals find it.”
Niall was silent for a m
oment. But then he said, “Oooh. What if the giant wants to eat us? Mayhap these roots will not fill him and he’ll come after us.” He grabbed hold of Alleck’s sleeve and said in a horrified, reverent voice, “Have you not heard of the Boabhan Sith? They be faery women with a taste for wee lads’ blood.” His eyes got as round as saucers as he held so tight to Alleck’s sleeve, he nearly pulled it from its stitching. “Mayhap the giant likes the taste of blood, too.”
Alleck released his breath on a huff. Shaking his head, he replied, “The giant will not eat us. If he’d wanted to, he coulda gobbled me down that day by the loch—but he did not. He gave me a magic coin, and he’s my friend.” Patting the younger lad’s shoulder, he continued, “He’ll be your friend too, if you help me.”
“And what of the Boabhan Sith?” Niall said. “They fly o’er the hillsides—they might grab us and tear at us with their fangs and claws. They might drink our blood!”
That image sent a chill down Alleck’s spine. “Aye, and ‘twill be very dark in the glen—they like the dark,” he said, a bit less sure of the scheme now. He had not even thought of the possibility of the Boabhan Sith, or any other bad creatures getting them until now.
Niall dropped his head and rested his cheek on his bent knee as he drew a design in the dust with his finger. “Then I’d never see my mama or papa again.” Lifting his head, he looked back at Alleck and said, “I’m scared to go to the forest at night. Why can we not go in the morn, afore most everyone’s awake?”
“Aye,” Alleck agreed readily, “the morn will do just as well.” Mayhap Niall was more clever than he’d thought.
*
Alleck stealthily walked toward his bedchamber with the cloth bag of stolen vegetables. His mother had her back turned to him, stoking the fire in the hearth.
“You’d best not be tracking mud all over my newly woven rush mat, laddie,” she called out.
“Nay, Mama.” He dared not say more, fearing she’d turn and see his largesse.
He entered his bedchamber and looked around for a place to hide the bag, finally deciding to put it under his pillow. A knock came on the front door just then and he peeked out, curious to see who their visitor was. As he silently watched, a tall, red-haired man with a big smile on his face entered their front room—and kissed his mama right on the lips! Alleck’s brows slammed together. The man had better keep his big smiling mouth to himself!
In the next instant, Alleck stormed into the front room. He did not stop until he was standing in front of his mother—and between the two adults. Crossing his arms over his chest, he gave the stranger a malevolent glare. “You cannot kiss my mama. Only I can kiss her.”
“Alleck!” Jesslyn said in surprised horror.
Ignoring his mother’s tone, Alleck shoved both his hands against the stranger’s stomach and pushed him toward the door. “You keep your hands off of my mama!”
“Alleck! You’ll apologize this instant!” his mother said.
Alleck stood militantly mute, his glowering eyes never leaving the target of his wrath.
“Alleck!” she said again, her voice now filled with ire.
His lungs blowing and his jaw clenched, Alleck did not budge.
“I’m sorry, he’s not used to seeing men kiss me,” his mother told the man. “I must speak with him now in privy. Will you take a seat by the hearth? I shall return in a moment.”
Alleck stubbornly hid his fists in his armpits and dug in his heels, forcing his mother to grasp his upper arm in order to escort him into his bedchamber. Once inside, she released her hold and closed the door behind her, leaning against it.
“What was that about? You embarrassed me in front of my guest. ‘Tis truth, I shall not allow that kind of behavior in my cottage—or anywhere else, for that matter.”
Alleck’s shoulders slumped as he shuffled over to the bed and sat down on the edge, keeping his head bent. His voice had tears of fury in it when he said, “You shouldn’ta let that man kiss you—why’dya let him? Who is he?” He kicked the toe of his shoe against the floor several times in agitation before saying belligerently, “I like him not.”
His mother walked over to him and knelt down, placing her cool hands over his hot cheeks. Brushing his tears away with her thumbs, she turned his face up and looked into his eyes as she said, “He’s someone very important to me, Alleck. Important to us. ‘Twas my intent to present him to you so that you could get to know him a bit before I told you this, but your rudeness toward him has forced me to be blunt. He is my betrothed.”
Alleck tried to jerk out of his mother’s grasp, but she would not allow it. “Nay!” he said.
“Aye. We are to be wed in six moons’ time.”
“Nay! You cannot wed him, I told you I like him not!” His tears began to flow in earnest then, gushing forth in bitter, dreadful rivers.
*
Jesslyn’s own eyes misted as she felt every one of her son’s tears as if they were daggers piercing her heart. “Please, do not cry so, Alleck.” She mopped his soft, drenched cheeks with the hem of her sleeve. “You break my heart, my son,” she murmured, her voice thick. Kissing his brow, she took in a slow breath and her heart was warmed by the faint baby scent that still lingered on his much-too-rapidly-maturing skin. “I must wed,” she said at last, “there’s no getting ‘round it, and Callum is a good man.”
“Nay!” her son yelled the word more loudly this time. He threw himself into her arms and held tight. “I want to go home—why can we not go home?” he sobbed. “Then you will not have to wed anyone!”
Jesslyn allowed her son to cry out his anger for a moment, stroking his back and rocking him in her arms, kissing him on his reddened, wet cheek.
When he quieted, she tried again. “You need a man’s influence—a father’s influence—which I cannot give you. You want to be a big, strong warrior someday, do you not? Like your papa and Laird Daniel?”
Her son nodded.
“Well, Callum will make that happen for you.”
Lifting his head from her shoulder, he looked down at the strand of her golden hair he’d been holding. He twisted the lock around his fingers and then released it, repeating the exercise several times as he considered her words. After a time, he asked, “Why can we not wed Laird Daniel? Lady Maryn likes us, she will not mind. I know she’d let us wed him too—and then we could live at the keep with them.” He took her hand in both of his and squeezed it. “Please?”
Jesslyn slowly shook her head.
He ignored it. “Then Laird Daniel could train me, just like he said he would before he got wed to Lady Maryn”
It was clear to Jesslyn that Alleck craved the security of the familiar. Because her son had known and loved Daniel all his life he’d had no qualms about his mother’s betrothal to him.
And she understood his fear of the new man in her life as well, for she was still a bit anxious herself. After all, they barely knew each other. But, she was pragmatic. ‘Twould be the same with any prospect. At least Daniel had insisted on a six-moon betrothal; ‘twould allow all of them time to become better acquainted prior to the union.
Jesslyn sighed, unsure of how to explain, in terms her son could understand, the reasons why she could not fulfill his request. One hand still clasped tightly in both her son’s, she lifted the other one to stroke his hair as she said, “Alleck, even if I wanted to share my husband with another woman, I could not. There are laws against it. Your mama would get in trouble and so would Laird Daniel and Lady Maryn. ‘Tis not what you want, is it?
When he shook his head, she continued, “I truly think that you will like Callum. He’s good-humored and friendly, and he’s looking forward to getting to know you. Please come out to the front chamber with me and meet him. I’m sure you will change your mind about him, if you will give him a chance.”
After a moment, he gave a dejected nod of assent.
Jesslyn rose and, taking her son by the hand, led him into the front room.
*
; The red-haired man stood and turned when they entered. As they stopped before him, his mother said, “‘I’m sorry that you were forced to wait so long.” Looking down at Alleck, she said, “Callum, this is my son, Alleck,”
Alleck looked up into the face of the man his mama was going to wed and tried to like him. “I’m sorry I yelled at you and pushed you,” he said a bit grudgingly. “I hope I did not hurt your feelings.”
The man grinned down at him. “Ah, a pretty speech. But I think you mean not those words. Offer up to me no regrets simply because ‘tis your mother’s desire for you to do so.”
“I was not, I—”
“Tush!” he said, ruffling Alleck’s hair. “Now you waste both our time.” With a broad smile, he sat back down on the stool.
Alleck wanted to growl when he saw his mother smile as well. “Sit you down on one of the stools by our hearth,” she told him. Then, after bringing the man a tankard of ale and Alleck some water to drink, she took a stool next to the man and said, “I’ve told Alleck of our plans to wed. It became necessary after his harsh words to you when you arrived.”
The man regarded Alleck, and Alleck couldn’t help giving him a gloom-filled look. After a moment, the man said, “I have every hope that we shall soon be friends, Alleck. I know this sudden betrothal disturbs you, but you must learn to deal with your anger like a man. For ‘tis discipline that is the first, and most important, lesson a warrior will learn.”
Alleck’s brows slammed together, but he dared not retort for fear he’d upset his mother again. Instead, swallowing past the bitter lump in his throat, he nodded his head.
*
Though she was a bit annoyed at Callum’s chastising of her son, Jesslyn decided to allow it. After all, the man would soon be Alleck’s father and, therefore, had every right to admonish him when necessary. In any case, ‘twas truth that her son did need to learn discipline in order to become a warrior—and making sure he had proper training was part of a father’s responsibility.