Storm Trilogy

by Ria Cantrell

  “It is not like her to react so. She has tended wounds in the last days and not been plussed by them. If I dinna’ know better, I swear she looked like she was going to retch.”

  Turning his eyes back to his task at hand, Caleb said with a smile, “I am sure she is. Lots of lassies get sick in the morning.”

  “Da, what are ye’ sayin’?”

  Liam laughed through his pain. “Aye my Glynna sicked up many morns with both my girls. Not so much with my sons.”

  Shawn grinned and added, “And my gal did most every day for the first three months or so. Ye’ get used to it, Brother.”

  Rory looked like a dullard as he tried to let their words sink in.

  “Ye’ mean…my Brielle…is…that I am….”

  His brothers and father just smiled. Shock registered on Rory’s face. And then as if he had been hit with a club, he suddenly leapt to his feet and ran after Brielle. It was then he remembered that twice she had tried to tell him something. He was afraid to let himself believe it.

  Rory found Brielle in the guarderobe, kneeling before it. The door was still open. She was indeed retching. Rory stood behind her and rubbed her back, gently holding her hair away from her face.

  “Ruiri…go away…I dunna want ye’ to see me like this.”

  But he would have none of it. It was his turn to take care of her. He held her shoulders through the next wave and softly pressed his big hand to her forehead, holding her head up as the nausea ebbed. He helped her up when it had passed. She was shaking. He drew her against his chest and he said, “Ah, Sweetheart, ye’ will be alright. Come sit down with me.”

  He took her back to their chambers and he sat her down on the bed. He brought her a mug of cool water and washed her face with a cold cloth.

  “There, Sweetheart. Are ye’ better?”

  She nodded, not wanting to meet his eyes.

  “Do ye’ want to tell me, now?”

  She nodded again. Rory knelt before her, taking her hands in his and she raised her gaze to his.

  Ye’ know! I can see it in your eyes.

  Aye…but a man likes to hear it from his wife, won’t ye’ please tell me?

  Then finally speaking the words out loud, Brielle said, “I think I may be with child.”

  “Yes, I am quite sure that ye’ are, too. Oh, Sweetheart, what a beautiful thing.”

  “Ye’ arena’ angry?”

  “Angry? Why would I be?”

  “Because, we haven’t spoken our vows in church yet. I dunna’ wish to bring further dishonor to yer’ clan.”

  “Our clan…Ye have not brought any dishonor to our clan. Aye, we are Catholic, by Christian Rite, but we are long tied to the ancients, Love. I hold the ancient rites sacred. Ye’ are my wife by those vows.”

  Rory rose and took her into his arms. Burying his face into her hair he stated, “My beauty is giving me a wee one. Ye’ have completed me. I love ye’ so much.”

  She relaxed now in his arms and she, too, felt complete. All anxiety faded. She should have known that Rory would be happy about the news. He felt her press her cheek to his chest. Feeling the strength of his arms around her relaxed and settled her. The solid beat of his heart lulled her as they now needed no words in those moments that were just theirs. Rory’s heart welled with overwhelming love. He held her in his arms and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for her safe return to him. He was sorry she had lost her brother, but in light of her news, Rory was relieved in a way, that Roderick Campbell was dead. He was certain that her brother would have harmed their child, once he learned of its existence. Hearing his unspoken concerns, Brielle answered his heart.

  Aye, he threatened to.

  Rory kissed her hair and said, “Ye are safe now, my love. Our babe is safe.”

  Thank ye’ for coming for me. I felt like I was dying without ye’, Ruiri.

  Rory held her tighter at those thoughts, which he heard as clearly as if they were spoken from her lips. He said, “I couldna’ let that happen. I felt yer’ spirit dying. I was sore afraid for ye’. When MacDougal was holding me against my will, I felt so helpless. Caitlyn kept coming to me in my dreams and telling me to hurry. She told me to trust ye’, no matter what I would have been told.”

  Brielle looked up at him. His eyes were filled love and adoration for the woman before him. Brielle could see that her strong warrior was visibly moved.

  “That’s why ye’ didna’ believe me when I claimed not to…”

  “I felt yer’ love, no matter what yer’ pretty lying lips were trying to tell me.”

  “It felt like yer’ anger was real, though, Ruiri. Ach, it was a dark and scary thing to behold.”

  He laughed, despite the emotion that choked him at the moment.

  “Make no mistake, Gabrielle, it was indeed real. I hope to never hear those terrible words again, for lies or no, they are words to cut a man to the depths of his soul. No man should ever hear his wife say such a terrible thing. Oh, Aye, I was furious with ye’. I wanted to take ye’ over my knee and paddle that beautiful little arse of yers until it was red and throbbing.”

  A horrified little squeak left her throat. He grinned down at her.

  “Ye’ wouldna’ have done such a thing to me.”

  “Oh, trust me, I would have and gladly so.”

  She tried to push out of his arms but he grabbed her all the tighter, holding her against his chest. He murmured, “I think I would have ended up being the most punished.”

  Brielle looked up at him, not understanding what he meant. Seeing her confusion, he drew her hand to the front of his kilt and he pressed it to the thick rising bulge there.

  “See, Brielle, just imagining that beautiful bum of yers’ turned up under my hand makes me hard as a rock. I think if I had turned ye’ over my knee, I would have been in pain from having to punish ye’.”

  “Oh,” she gasped in understanding, but she did not pull her hand away. Instead, she rubbed it over the place he had guided her hand to and she said, “Mmm, that thought is rather delicious, somehow…ye’ being the more punished for it.”

  Rory swallowed hard.

  “But…ye’ were just ill. Can we…can ye’…”

  “Once I pass the sickness, I am instantly better, it seems. It willna’ come upon me again today. And aye, we can.”

  She took his hand and led him back to the bed. Her greedy fingers were anxious to help him out of his kilt, teasingly brushing his thigh, as if she would let her hand rest beneath the neat pleats of his plaid.

  “I want to make love, Ruiri.”

  “Aye,” was all he could say, his voice husky with desire. He felt her fingers deftly unfastening his belt and the folds of his kilt quickly came undone. He kicked free of it, wanting so much to feel her flesh in contact with his. He groaned as he was released, rising hard to full length, only to have her mouth brush over his throbbing shaft, no more than whispering a tease to him. She giggled at his sound of desire. Her hand encased him, stroking up and down the length of it. He sighed at the warmth of her touch. She watched his eyes, seeing them darken with desire. His pupils had gone wide; there was only a thin rim of gold around them. She saw his larynx move downward and she heard him say softly, “Take off yer’ clothes, please. I need to see ye’ and feel ye’.”

  She released his shaft and stepped away from the bed. She unfastened her plaid, letting it pool at her feet. She was completely un-shy as she undressed for him. He lay back with his hands behind his head, enjoying her little seduction. As she opened her bodice, she was left in just a chemise. She eased it down her shoulders slowly. She smiled at him as he just laid there watching her. His gaze dripped with his masculine power and beauty. She felt the hot wet response of her own body as he watched her, but she was actually enjoying teasing Rory a little. As her chemise dropped, she stood before him in just her gartered hose and her arms crossed over her breasts in playful modesty. She saw him lick his lips as if he was waiting to devour a tasty morsel. She turned her back to h
im, bending before him to undo her hose, giving him full view of her backside. Since he had said it enticed him, she wanted to entice him to the fullest. He was off the bed in a quick motion, moving behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. She could feel his erection pressing against her derriere and she sighed. Nuzzling his cheek into her hair, he said, “Uh, Beauty, ye’ make me so hot with desire. I feel like I may explode.”

  With a sexy little undulation against his groin.

  His hands glided up her sides, to gently cup her breasts which were peaked from her own desire for his touch. Her taught nipples jutted into his palms and he moaned against her ear.

  She giggled and he growled, “Do ye’ think this is funny?”

  “Nay it is wonderful.”

  He nibbled her ear and said, “Wanton little thing! I have heard it said that being in yer’ condition makes a woman more….”

  “Randy?”

  “Aye,” he purred against her ear. One hand eased over her stomach and the other moved gently between her legs. Pulling her fully against his throbbing cock, he felt her moist response to his touch. He said, “Hmmm, did ye’ like teasing me?” She just sighed at his touch, letting him have his turn to tease.

  “Did teasing help ye’ get this way, my Wanton?”

  He swirled his finger over her sensitive bud and he felt her sag against him.

  “Aye,” she breathed, barely sure she could stand if he wasn’t holding her. But he was holding her and after kissing her neck, he whispered, “I want to make ye’ cry out in passion, Beauty.”

  She sighed and said, “I think ye’ will quite easily for my desire fer ye’ is strong, Ruiri. I need to be one with ye’.”

  “Come to bed with me, m’darlin’. I promise to fulfill yer’ need,” he whispered close to her ear. As he lovingly nuzzled her neck with kisses, she pressed her back to him. His hands wandered from her hips to sensually cup the cheeks of her bum. He gave her a gentle squeeze. She felt him guiding her forward to the bed and once there, he said, “Just lie on yer’ stomach for me. I wish to be sure ye’ feel better. I aim to caress ye’.”

  She did as he asked and she felt him straddle her legs. She could feel his hard cock nestle between the backs of her legs, near her bottom. It sent a jolt of desire to course through her. His hands eased over her shoulders. As much as he wanted her, he wanted to assure himself that she felt well enough to make love. She sighed, feeling his hands press out the tension in her neck and spine from having strained when she was sick.

  “Mmm, that feels so delicious.”

  “I aim to make it more so fer ye’.”

  His one hand passed down her back to the beautiful uplifted cheeks of her bottom. First he massaged her, easing out the tension in her shoulders. He planted kisses down her back, and he casually stroked her. While she was lulled into sensual complacency, his hand, swift and stinging, whacked her buttocks. She cried out in surprise and he laughed wickedly.

  “Know that if ye’ ever say ye’ dunna’ love me again, ye’ will taste this sting again.”

  To prove his point, he smacked her bottom again with the full flat of his hand. Despite the stinging jolt, something about it made her moan wildly in abandon into the bedding. Rory was enchanted with her response. That was enough to encourage him to continue with the little spanking, just to heighten things. His hand rained down on her bottom a few more times, and each time she moaned into her pillow. That little minx...she actually liked it! That thought made him near to bursting. He was sure that he was in more pain for it than the rosy glow forming on her uplifted backside.

  “I told ye’ Brielle, I am more punished than ye.”

  He softly moved his hands up her sides, sliding them under her to caress her breasts, then moving down. He gently kneaded her cheeks again and he slid his hand teasingly between them. His touch was igniting fire inside of her, bringing her to a fever pitch of desire. He felt her heat; sliding his hand under; dipping his fingers into her.

  Her breath caught in a gasp. She buried her face back into her pillow, embarrassed by her gasp. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Dunna’ be shy, sweetheart. I want to pleasure ye’.”

  He gently moved his finger in and out of her, causing new sensations of pleasure. His cock throbbed, as he touched her and he wished he could forget about tenderness and take her from behind with the wild abandon that thrummed through his veins, but he knew he had to be especially careful now. He didn’t want to hurt her, so he just steeled himself and caressed her. With his hand in that position, he used his thumb to rub beneath her. The sensations were intense. She practically sobbed with the pleasure of it.

  “Does it feel good, Sweetheart?” She nodded, into her pillow. He kissed between her shoulder blades and removing his fingers, he drew her to face him. She looked at him. Her heart flipped in her chest. He was so handsome and she could tell he was deeply aroused, just by the expression on his face. She touched him, running her hands up his chest. He looked at her with pure love in his eyes. He made love to her then, slowly taking his time to enjoy being with his beautiful Brielle again.

  *****

  Lying next to Brielle, feeling sated and happy, Rory said, “I dunna know how to express my thanks.”

  “Yer’ thanks? Ahhh, my Ruiri, why would ye’ want to thank me,” she asked touching his face. He had just shown her so much pleasure she was the one who should be thanking him.

  “Ye’ have given me back all that I had lost. Ye’ have filled the hole in my heart. Ye’ have restored me as a man. Ye’ have made me feel like I have lost most of the Darkness. I am just complete because of ye’. Ye’ are bearin’ me a babe…I owe ye’ so much.”

  Brielle felt so moved by his words. He said, “Ahh, Brielle, ye’ make me glad I am a man. Beauty, y’ undo me.” He breathing was finally coming back to normal, feeling spent and sated from having loved her. He kissed down her ribs, moving to lay kisses over her stomach.

  “My angel…is giving me a baby,” he said reverently.

  “Well, at least I think I am, Ruiri.”

  “Ye have been sick in the mornings, aye?”

  “Aye, nearly every day. At first I thought it was from the squalor at Campbell Keep, but it happened more often and I realized the possibility a few days ago.”

  “Have ye’ missed yer’ time?”

  “Rory!” Brielle blushed, mortified at his question. She was not used to talking of such things.

  “Well, have ye’?”

  She put her hand over her eyes and whispered, “Aye.”

  Ruiri noticed her unease and wondered at it.

  “Sweetheart, ye’ arena’ shy from my question are ye’?”

  Blushing deeper she said, “I am na’ used to telling a man such things.”

  Rory laughed softly and said, “I am not just any man. I am yer’ mate. And ye’ just seduced me and made me come like a man newly released from celibacy Twice, I might add! And ye’ are shy about me askin’ if ye’ missed yer’ time?”

  She nodded. He kissed her neck and said, “Why? Ye’ are so at ease when ye’ love me. T’is a natural thing to ask if a man thinks his wife is with child.”

  “It is one thing to love ye’, Ruiri, with my body. T’is an entirely other to discuss private things with ye’.”

  Chuckling at her shyness, Rory nibbled next to her ear.

  “Dunna’ be shy to tell me anything. Ye’ make me wild with desire and ye’ give so wholly of yerself’ when ye’ make love to me. Ye’ canna’ be shy because of what I asked ye’.”

  To make her feel comfortable, he playfully kissed her stomach again and he said,

  “I am yer’ da, little one. I love yer’ ma very much…and we both will love ye’.” Planting another tickly kiss there, Brielle giggled. Now he was just being silly. Rory’s heart lightened with her laughter. He moved back up and took her in his arms. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest. He stroked her hair away from her neck and nibbled there. He felt her relax in h
is arms. Her back was to him and he just caressed her.

  “I know ye’ didna’ sleep well last night. Try to rest now. Liam is going to be fine. I will stay with ye’ till ye’ fall asleep.”

  Feeling sated and feeling his love and warmth, Brielle was lulled into a drowsy calm.

  “Mmm, it feels so good to be with my beloved Ruiri again.”

  He stroked her arms and he just breathed in her scent. After a short time of silence, Rory said, “Bri, I am really sorry about yer’ brother. I wish it could have ended differently.”

  She stroked over his arms that were holding her.

  “Me, too, sweetheart, but it could not. He told me if he learned I carried yer’ babe, he would see to killing it himself. When I realized I was with child, I knew I would do anything to gain safety for it. It is sad that he is dead, but at least now I know my child--our child will be safe.”

  Rory felt Brielle shudder at voicing those horrible thoughts. He tightened his arms around her. He once again was horrified. What kind of a monster could do that to his own sister? He whispered, “Oh, honey, I wish I could take away all those terrible memories. I wish ye’ had ne’er had to experience them.”

  She said, “Ye’ cannot, no more than I can take them away for ye’. But don’t ye’ see, Ruiri, in loving each other, we can heal the brokenness we have been dealt. Love wipes out the horrible things.”

  He kissed her hair and murmured, “Aye”.

  He held her and felt her relax in his hold. Never again would a man raise his hand to Brielle. He vowed only to touch her in love and passion, with gentleness and care. Or at the very least, only with a sensual spanking, since she seemed quite enflamed when he had, he thought, with a smile. Feeling him holding her made her feel loved and protected. She felt complete.