by Stone, Jenna
Anna’s unabashed joy at the miracle of their lovemaking was threatened as she watched the shadow of concern overtake Rowan’s rugged face. Her hazel eyes studied him quietly from her nest in the ravished bed. Color flushed her face as she surveyed the aftermath of their lovemaking. The quilt was on the floor and the sheets were barely clinging to the feather mattress. There was a bright red spot of blood that stood out in sharp contrast to the linen sheets. It was the last reminder of her virginity and of Rowan’s. Their act of love now sealed them together as man and wife.
Rowan shrugged on his shirt and raked his hair into a semblance of order, retying the queue at the base of his neck. Worry was evident on his face. His movements were swift and methodical, his eyebrows knit together in a concentrated scowl. Rowan felt Anna’s eyes linger on him and he forced a smile for her benefit, gracing her with a lazy, lopsided grin.
“You’re worried,” Anna fretted, pulling herself from the warmth of the quilts and padding towards where her dress lay in a heap on the floor.
“Aye,” Rowan affirmed, knowing better than to lie to Anna. “We need tae get moving,” he said as he sat in the chair next to the hearth and pulled on his boots.
“Do you think that they’re looking for me yet?” Anna asked restlessly as she pulled on her dress and secured the lacings behind her back.
“Nay, it’s the middle of the night still. They willna ken that yer gone yet,” he assured her, hating to see the worry take over her lovely face.
Anna went to him, needing to feel the comfort of his strong arms around her, needing to assure herself that they would both be safe. She curled up in Rowan’s lap and he wrapped his arms around her. He rested his chin atop her head as they both looked into the fire.
Emboldened by their close bodily contact and the feeling of safety that Rowan exuded, Anna slid her hand under his shirt and playfully teased his sensitive nipple.
Rowan smiled at her unexpected touch and pinned her arms to her sides with his hands so that she could no longer touch him. “What do ye think yer doing?” he demanded, eyes sparkling mischievously as he held Anna’s arms securely to her sides.
“Provoking you,” Anna confessed, smiling naughtily up at her husband.
“If ye’ll remember, I’m a fair bit stronger than ye are…” Rowan trailed off as he teased her and nipped playfully at her neck. He slid the tip of his tongue down her neck and elicited a squeal of delight from Anna. He trailed kisses down her neck and continued to torment her by restraining her arms. Rowan’s teeth tore playfully at the neckline of Anna’s gown and she giggled softly, falling against his chest. He released her arms and at once they were around his neck.
“And if you’ll remember, Husband, I’m quite cunning when provoked,” she whispered suggestively into his ear and bit his earlobe in invitation.
Rowan growled deeply in his throat, promptly forgetting about his haste to get on the road. “I suppose we’ve got a little more time before they’ll discover…before they realize that yer missing…” he trailed off, breath ragged now as he kissed her just beneath her ear, sending shivers down Anna’s spine.
“We’re newlyweds after all,” Anna giggled and arched against him, relishing his sweet torment. “And it is still the middle of the night…”
“Aye, it is. Doona worry about them coming after us now, love. Be here with me, here in this moment,” his honeyed words were smooth and began to make Anna forget everything. All of their worries, all of her fears were replaced with his touch.
Rowan’s lips slanted over hers, claiming her, demanding that she yield to him. He rose from the chair next to the hearth and laid her carefully on the rug in front of the diminishing fire. His hand slid up under the confines of her dress, his fingers dancing lazily over her thigh.
“I want ye sae badly, sweetheart,” Rowan whispered as he nipped at her breasts where they rose above the neckline of her dress. His eyes met hers in the firelight. He traced the line of her jaw with his index finger, drinking in her beauty as she lay before him. “I doona think that I’ll ever be able tae get enough of ye, enough of being with ye like this,” Rowan exhaled slowly and studied his wife.
“I want you too,” Anna whispered. An attractive flush spread over her cheeks as she thought about what they were going to do again.
Rowan lowered his lips to hers, kissing Anna slowly, passionately. His hand slid languidly up her leg. His fingers brushed across the junction of her thighs, exploring to see if she was ready for him.
Anna moaned softly and spread her legs further, welcoming Rowan’s touch. His fingers parted her and he groaned in ecstasy when he discovered that she was already wet, ready for him.
Swiftly unlacing his pants, Rowan settled between her thighs and pushed her dress up and out of the way. Anna gazed up at him, fire dancing across her skin, lust smoldering in her hazel eyes. Oh how she wanted him.
“Ye’ll be sore tomorrow, love,” Rowan whispered guiltily. “And I’m verra sorry for that, but I canna…” he trailed off, unable to focus on speaking when his wife was splayed before him, so ready and willing.
“I’ll manage,” Anna whispered reassuringly.
Taking his cock firmly in his hand, Rowan settled himself at the entrance to her slick, wet heat, and as he closed his eyes, he slid ever so slowly inside her. He shuddered and goose bumps broke out on his flesh as he sank inch by inch deeper until he was sheathed to the hilt.
Anna gasped at the fullness, the stretching sensation as he filled her. Her eyes had closed involuntarily, expecting pain. She lifted her knees as Rowan had instructed last time and sensations of pleasure flooded her body.
“Rowan!” she cried out as he withdrew slowly from her. She grabbed his hips and pulled him back inside of her, eliciting a growl of approval from deep in his throat.
“I will no abuse ye sae. We need tae be slow and gentle,” Rowan insisted, setting his rhythm and withdrawing from her almost completely before sinking himself deep within her again. His finger reached down between them, making slow circles around the heat of Anna’s desire, coaxing her, teasing her.
Anna cried out against him. Her hips matched his rhythm, rising to meet his gentle thrusts as he stroked her to the brink of madness. Her fingernails scored his back through the fabric of her shirt. She was frantic with her need for release.
Rowan felt her quicken beneath him and he groaned as her sheath began to quiver with the first waves of her orgasm. The rhythm of his fingers increased in response, and he tormented her nub of desire, playing her harder until she came undone around him.
Anna moaned deeply and gave herself willingly into the throes of her orgasm. Her muscles tightened and she felt as though her body had shattered into a million tiny pieces.
Rowan withdrew almost completely and then drove forcefully into her, spilling his seed and succumbing to the waves of pleasure from his own release. He was shaken by the power that his wife yielded over him, shaken by the way that she caused him to lose all control.
“How do ye do that tae me?” he panted, pushing himself up on his elbows so that he could look down at his wife.
Anna’s cheeks were flushed and her lips were ruddy from his kisses. Her blonde hair spilled out beneath her on the rug. Anna’s eyes were misty with the after waves of her release.
“How do you do that to me?” Anna asked, grinning up at him. “I didn’t know that such a thing was possible until I met you,” her eyes flitted away as she brushed the hair back from her face.
“Neither did I,” Rowan smiled down at her and kissed the tip of her nose. “I love ye, Anna,” he whispered, kissing her lips gently.
“I love you too,” she responded, feeling like her heart would burst with the joy of loving her husband.
“We need tae go now. Ye’ve dallied long enough,” Rowan teased, standing up and pulling Anna to her feet.
Color flushed Anna’s face and yet she was not embarrassed by her husband’s teasing. She knew that Rowan had wanted to make love to her jus
t as much as she had wanted him.
Anna smoothed the skirts of her dress and began to tidy her hair. She smiled deliciously at her husband, loving how he could so easily unnerve her and rattle her thoughts.
“Where exactly are we going?” she asked, curiosity piqued.
Rowan’s heart thundered as he hoped that she would approve. He hoped that she wouldn’t be disappointed. “How would ye feel about being a farmer’s wife?” he asked, eyebrows raised, his breath hitching in his throat as he anticipated Anna’s answer.
..ooOoo..
As dusk settled after a long day of travel on foot, Rowan led Anna through the forest, holding her hand gently in his. He looked into the nooks and crannies formed by fallen trees, searching for the perfect place for them to take shelter for the night.
“Let’s look down by the water,” he said, eyes glancing back at Anna to make sure that she wasn’t too tired to keep searching for the perfect protected location. “If no, we’ll come back here, this tree might be alright in a pinch,” he said, surveying the large fallen tree behind them.
Rowan wanted to be completely hidden from view when they made camp. Arbor’s men would pursue them. Rowan hid his worries from Anna well, not wanting her to know how fearful he was that they might be discovered. He maintained a casual attitude for Anna’s sake, refusing to let his wife be consumed with worry. Rowan would die protecting Anna. He just hoped that such a sacrifice would not be necessary.
Pushing through low brush and bracken, Rowan led Anna toward the sound of the rushing water. The forest was densely populated with evergreen trees, their boughs reaching up and providing the perfect cloak of safety. The dense growth of trees opened up, yielding a small clearing that surrounded a breathtaking waterfall.
“Rowan, it’s beautiful!” exclaimed Anna as she took in the small pool of water at the base of the waterfall. It looked like heaven. “Can we stay here?” she asked, eyes sparkling as she looked up at Rowan.
“It’s perfect, is it no?” he asked, holding Anna’s hand as he helped her down the rocky slope to the edge of the pool.
“Perfect,” Anna agreed with a wistful smile.
Rowan nodded, his eyes scanning the terrain. It looked to be a safe, secluded place to camp for the night. There was a large stone cliff surrounding the pool and an indented crevice in the rock slope that would serve as a protective shelter for two people during the night.
Rowan went about the business of gathering sticks to build a fire next to the high slope of rocks. Anna busied herself with setting up their rudimentary camp. She unrolled Rowan’s woolen blanket next to the growing fire and sat back and watched him work. She heard Rowan singing under his breath, a soft, lilting song in Gaelic. It was a happy tune, which made Anna’s heart soar. Anna watched her husband contentedly as he worked, smiling to herself at Rowan’s singing.
Rowan’s chestnut hair fell forward as he kindled the fire, patiently blowing on the embers to get the flames to take hold. As he crouched in front of her, Anna admired his graceful form, muscled and sinewy; there was not an ounce of fat on the man. She was a lucky woman to be able to claim Rowan as her own.
“Why are ye watchin’ me?” Rowan asked, his green eyes glancing over his shoulder as he continued to kindle the fire.
“Because I like to,” Anna confessed.
Rowan smiled and returned his attention to the fire.
“And because you’re mine and I can’t believe my good fortune,” she continued.
Rowan sat back on his heels, his eyes still looking into the fire. “And just how do ye believe that I am good fortune?” he asked without turning around, raking his hand through his hair.
“You are the best fortune that has ever befallen me. The absolute best,” Anna said firmly, seeking to assure Rowan.
“That’s no what it feels like tae me,” he confessed, refusing to turn to face her.
Anna crawled forward to where Rowan was sitting next to the fire. “Rowan, look at me,” she demanded, reaching up and taking his chin between her fingers, forcing him to look into her eyes. “You are the best damn thing that has ever happened to me. I just know that we were meant to meet. It wasn’t just by chance that you saved me when the ship was sinking!”
“Then why do I feel like I am cheating ye out of the life that ye were born and bred into? Why do I feel like I’ve stolen ye away from the life that ye should have?” His eyes were intense, the pain of his feelings evident.
“I chose to be here, here with you, Rowan. I wanted you!” Anna argued, his unexpected words stinging her.
“And I’m afraid that I will always be questioning that decision, Anna. Ye ken that I want ye, that I want ye more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life, but I’m afraid that I should have let ye go, let ye go tae yer rightful place in Williamsburg.”
“You saved me Rowan, more than just from drowning in the ocean. You saved me from a miserable life! I would have been rich, rich with things, but the truth is, the only thing that I really want isn’t a thing at all. It’s you. I want you, Rowan,” she said, hazel eyes looking deeply into his green ones, imploring him to understand her feelings.
Anna reached up and put her hand behind Rowan’s neck, drawing him closer. Her lips brushed tentatively across his, searching, prodding for a response. Rowan encircled her with his arms, his mouth hovered just beyond her lips, breathing heavily with his desire to claim her. Anna kissed him boldly, pulling him towards her and opening her mouth wantonly in invitation. Rowan’s lips settled on hers, claiming her as his own, kissing her tenderly and savoring her sweet taste.
“Don’t ever doubt that I choose you, Rowan. I love you,” Anna’s eyes were intense as they implored him to believe her statement. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life,” she said softly.
Rowan exhaled slowly, “I love ye so much that it pains me,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers in defeat. “I just pray that I havena led ye intae danger,” he drawled, feeling guilty for asking Anna to give up so much at his expense.
“Look at me, Rowan,” Anna demanded, eyebrows scrunched together.
His eyes lifted to meet hers, questioning.
“I love you. I don’t want you to ever doubt that or ever feel that you are not worthy of my love. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me,” she said eyes intense as she regarded him, looking for her statement to register in his eyes.
“Oh, Anna,” Rowan whispered. He brought the back of his hand up to caress Anna’s cheek. “I do love ye so. I plan tae work every day tae be worthy of ye, tae give ye everything that I might and tae make ye happy.”
“I am happy,” Anna assured Rowan, smiling up at him reassuringly. “I’d follow you anywhere. I don’t care if we never have a place to live or a shilling to our names. I just want you,” she said with conviction, reaching up on her tippy toes and capturing Rowan’s lips in a seductive kiss.
“God how I love ye, woman,” Rowan growled, kissing her back with fervor. “Will ye swim the pond with me?” he asked breathlessly, eyebrows raised in invitation.
Anna giggled shyly in response, already beginning to unlace her dress. She shrugged out the restraining garment and watched as Rowan rucked his shirt up over his head. Anna slipped off her thin chemise and stood naked in front of her husband.
“I’ll take that as a yes?” he asked teasingly as he began to unlace his pants. Desire flamed in his dark eyes as his gaze lingered over Anna’s bare skin.
“Yes,” Anna giggled. She moved toward Rowan, shuddering from the cool air. Her fingers reached out, trailing deliciously over his flat stomach and taut abdominal muscles. Her fingers splayed across his massive chest, delighting in the feel of warm muscle beneath her fingertips. She bit her lower lip as her fingers moved up, exploring Rowan’s shoulders and his biceps.
Reading the desire that was evident on her face, Rowan kicked off his pants and backed away from Anna, stepping into the cool water of the pond. He arched an eyebrow in invi
tation and Anna reached for his hand, following him into the chilly water of the pond. It was dusk now and the water caused goose bumps to break out on her skin. Anna walked out into the water until it lapped at her waist, never breaking eye contact with her husband.
Rowan gathered Anna in his arms and leaned back, dunking them both beneath the surface of the water. When they surfaced, he laughed playfully, delighting in the look of shock that overtook Anna’s face.
“Cold?” he asked teasingly.
Anna slapped at his chest. Goose flesh covered both of their bodies. She cuddled close against Rowan’s chest and kissed the base of his neck as he folded her into his embrace.
“What will happen if they find us?” Anna asked the question that had been plaguing her.
Rowan kissed the curve of Anna’s shoulder, thinking for a moment before he spoke. The sun was setting and a chill rose in the air. He lowered their bodies beneath the surface of the cool water, delighting in the gasp that escaped from Anna’s lips.
“We’re marrit now. He canna change that,” Rowan began. “But the money,” he said hollowly, “We’ll have tae repay the bride price to Arbor.”
“It was a lot of money, Rowan,” Anna breathed. “Jonathan has already sent two hundred and fifty pounds to my mother,” she said regretfully. Anna closed her eyes and leaned her head against Rowan’s shoulder. The cold water lapped at her shoulders and she cuddled closer to Rowan’s warm body.
“It’ll take us some time to earn that back, but we’ll manage. I’ll send him every last shilling just to ensure that he leaves us be.”
“I don’t think he will,” Anna whispered. “I think Jonathan will come after me.”
Rowan closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. He exhaled slowly and pressed a kiss against Anna’s nape. Her skin was cool and smooth from the chilly water.
“I suspect that he will come after us,” Rowan admitted his fear. “And we’ll be ready for him,” he promised. “He’ll never take you from me,” Rowan vowed. He opened his eyes and looked up into the night sky. “And what of your Uncle, Anna? Will he come after us?”