by Riley Moreno
‘My Lord,’ a servant addressed him as he entered the room. ‘There is news.’
Tristan pushed his chair back and strode into the Great Hall where a young lad stood patiently in the shadows, waiting for him.
‘What news do you bear?’ Tristan asked him.
‘The lady has not been asked to dine with the family, but eats alone in a back room. She has been told by Lydell Mackenzie that she must leave at first light as her staying would create dissension within his family.’
Tristan’s brow creased. ‘And how does the lady react to this?’
The youth shrugged. ‘She asked for accompaniment to return to England in safety but was granted none. She will be forced to make her way back alone.’
Tristan pressed some money into the young lad’s palm and returned to the dining table where he began to pace restlessly.
CHAPTER V
Ashley stirred and came fully awake. There was some light in her room and she realized that dawn would break soon. She wrapped some of the bedclothes around herself and made her way to a smaller room even further towards the back of the castle. There she went through her morning ablutions and combed her hair back with slightly damp fingers. She could do nothing about a fresh change of clothes, so she returned to her room and sat on the edge of her bed waiting for the sun to come up. But it would seem that the rain only fell thicker and faster and the skies remained dark and brooding.
As the castle came to life, Ashley left her room and looked about for someone who could help her. Only the kitchen staff were awake and they eyed her with hostility, so Ashley slipped out of the castle and began to walk through the rain. She had no course of action charted out, and no plan in mind. She would walk as long as she could, she decided, and hopefully would find her way to the farmhouse, from where she could seek help to make her way back to England, perhaps by stagecoach.
She shivered as they rain fell on and about her. She had taken the bedclothes off the bed and folded them into a covering for her shoulders, but they were soon sodden and clung to her body in an icy mass. The moors were relatively unbroken by trees or rocks and Ashley had no shelter as she walked away from her father’s home. The cold penetrated her skin and found its way into her body, chilling her heart and extinguishing her will. The rain pounded her relentlessly as she wrapped her arms about her, praying for warmth and the will to keep walking. But the highland rain can weaken the strongest will and at that moment Ashley was at her most feeble. While trying to keep steady while descending a slope she slipped on the wet grass and fell, rolling over and over down the incline, and there she lay weeping and defeated. It hadn’t been such a long while ago, she thought, that she was dancing a reel with Tristan and watching him win every game of strength. ‘Oh Tristan!’ she called out through tears, acutely aware that he was the only friend she had in all this wide wilderness and that she had chosen to turn her back on him. She curled herself into a ball to shield herself from the downpour, the smell of wet heather in her nostrils and a prayer on her lips.
When Tristan found her he took her for dead, and wondered if the Mackenzies had killed her and thrown her body out on the moor, but when he placed his ear to her chest, he could, despite the pounding of the rain, hear a faint heartbeat. He lifted her onto his horse and sped back to Lennox Castle, holding her close to his body for warmth.
When Ashley came to she was lying in a warm bed with a fire in the grate. She tossed feverishly and felt gentle hands on her forehead and strong arms lifting her up to pour a bitter medicine down her throat. She wondered vaguely where she was, but had no energy to ponder the subject for longer than a fleeting minute.
Tristan watched her hour after hour and day after day, until one day she stirred and called out to her mother.
Tristan felt a pang at hearing her voice, so faint and weak, calling for someone dear to her who was no more.
‘Where am I?’ Ashley asked, her eyes searching the room and eventually alighting on him.
Tristan leaned towards her, aware of how overcome he was, and anxious not to make a display that would make her think him weak. ‘You’re back in Lennox Castle, I’m afraid.’
‘Did I walk here?’ Ashley asked.
‘You walked a very long way,’ Tristan told her, remembering the frozen heap he had found on the moor.
‘Am I alright?’
‘Yes you are…now. But you have had a fever caused by walking unprotected in the rain.’
Ashley looked down at the warm bedclothes and the quilted nightgown she was wearing.
‘Don’t worry,’ Tristan hastened to reassure her with a chuckle. ‘Laren stripped you of your sodden clothes and had you in a hot bath to thaw out…and then dressed you and put you to bed.’ He chuckled again, relieved to see her awake, ‘So don’t you go worrying that I had anything to do with it.’
Ashley wrinkled her brow. ‘Was that yesterday?’
‘No,’ Tristan answered, shaking his head slowly, ‘It was about a week ago.’
‘Oh,’ Ashley’s voice grew faint, ‘I am so weary.’
‘You need to rest,’ Tristan said.
Ashley opened her eyes a few minutes later. ‘Tristan,’ she said, and he leaned closer, his heart beating faster at the way she spoke his name, ‘Have you decided when you will release this prisoner?’
Tristan bowed his head, the smile leaving his face. ‘You are no longer my prisoner, Ashley Mackenzie. But I ask you to stay until you are well again.’
So Ashley stayed until she could leave her bed and take gentle walks in the Castle courtyard, and then longer walks on the moors with Tristan. When she grew stronger he taught her how to ride a wild highland horse and together they would ride, sometimes along the Loch Ness. One day while they were lying out on the moors on a springy carpet of heather, Tristan looked deep into Ashley’s eyes. In all the days through her convalescence he had not attempted to kiss her, but that morning, with the sun in her hair and the color back in her cheeks, Ashley seemed more alluring than ever. As their eyes locked, Tristan felt an overwhelming sense of apprehension. He knew that Ashley’s recovery meant that she would soon talk of returning to England, and the only reason he had kept his feelings under control was not to scare her into running way sooner than was necessary. Ashley studied Tristan’s handsome face as he lay propped up on his elbow, his dark hair falling about his shoulders and his kilt revealing the muscles in his thighs. Ashley smiled up at him, her dimples causing him to lean over and kiss first one cheek and then the other. His lips brushed her forehead and then the tip of her nose. To his surprise and delight she stroked his cheek with one trembling finger, her lips quivering with suppressed desire. He kissed her with mounting desperation, his tongue fiercely invading her mouth and trailing fire down the side of her neck.
He sprang up and pulled her against him, crushing her body against his hardness. He began to fondle her breasts, but suddenly reason prevailed and he sprang away from her. ‘I apologies,’ he said, uncharacteristically polite, and turned to walk back to the castle, beckoning to her to follow.
‘Will you leave and go back to England?’ Tristan asked her later, as they sat by the fire.
Ashley looked down at her hands. ‘Is that what you would like me to do?’
Tristan took one hand and turned it over, placing a kiss on her palm. ‘Perhaps you could stay here with me…for always?’
Ashley raised her eyes to his. ‘Why?’ She asked.
‘Because it is my wish that you do.’
‘Oh,’ Ashley remarked, sounding disappointed.
Tristan moved closer to her and took her face in both his hands. ‘And because I have fallen very deeply in love with you.’
His lips were hot on her skin as he kissed her eyelids, forehead, nose and mouth. ‘Could you grow to love me?’ He whispered, as he pressed his lips to her earlobe.
‘I have already grown to love you, Tristan. Don’t you see that?’
‘Then why have you always wanted to run away from me?’
>
‘Because you make me very afraid. I am afraid of you Tristan…and all too aware of your strength.’
‘You cannot be afraid of your husband,’ Tristan said, his lips at the base of her throat.
‘My husband?’
‘Yes. Will you marry me Ashley Mackenzie?’
‘I would be afraid to refuse.’
CHAPTER VI
Laren, her mother and sister came early in the day to help dress Ashley. Laren brought a wreath of heather and tiny wild roses and her sister Ailsa brushed Ashley’s hair till it glistened. Then they dressed her in a long tartan dress in the Mackenzie clan colors of blue and green.
Tristan dared not allow his eyes to dwell on his bride too long, as the solitary bagpiper led the wedding procession to the Abbey where the ceremony was to take place. Ashley’s hair flowed down her shoulders and back, stopping just above her knees, and was crowned with the heather wreath. She carried a small bunch of wild roses in her hands and was exquisite in her simplicity.
In the Abbey Ashley stole a look at Tristan, as he stood tall and proud before her. He wore a dark coat over a kilt and white shirt; his hair tied back and gleaming. Tristan looked into his bride’s eyes as he presented her with a Luckenbooth and a sash of Kincaid tartan. Ashley’s eyes dewed over as she looked at the Luckenbooth – a beautifully crafted silver brooch of interlocked hearts, and gazed into Tristan’s face as he pinned it on her dress. Tristan kissed her – but briefly – overwhelmed by emotion. ‘The Luckenbooth is to seal our love,’ he whispered. They left the Abbey hand in hand with the piper leading them, and a little boy slipped a horseshoe into Ashley’s hand as a symbol of good fortune.
The Banquet Hall of Lennox Castle was bedecked with flowers and a splendid feast was laid out on the tables. Outside on the green, pipers, fiddlers and drummers played as Tristan and Ashley danced a reel with the guests. But suddenly the sounds of jubilation were stilled as a man approached in Mackenzie tartan.
‘I come in peace!’ He announced as those guests who wore broadswords drew them menacingly. The messenger carried a sheet of paper in a silver tray and this he handed to Tristan. Ashley grew pale.
‘It’s alright my sweet Ashley,’ Tristan reassured her.
‘What does the note say?’ She asked, and her voice trembled.
‘It is a letter of apology to you…and to me…and to all the clans.’ Tristan answered, and then turned to the hushed, waiting guests. ‘The Mackenzie clan wants peace!’
Ashley’s cheeks glowed. ‘So there will be peace amongst all the clans after all,’ she breathed.
‘For now,’ Tristan laughed, swinging her up into his arms. They left their guests to the food, wine and song. ‘But for us, it is time to be alone,’ Tristan said.
Ashley’s pulse raced as Tristan carried her up the stone steps and to a room she had never seen before. It had a window with a view of the moors and mountains, and a four poster bed with silk sheets.
‘Tristan,’ Ashley whispered his name, ‘I’m so afraid of what I feel.’
‘Hush, my beauty,’ Tristan said, kissing her. In the golden glow of candlelight, Tristan undressed his bride, watching the clothes fall away to reveal her beautiful body. His eyes burned with suppressed desire as they roved over her rounded breasts, one exposed, and one covered with a strand of her hair. Tristan pushed her hair back and cupped her breasts and kissed them. Ashley reached up to unpin the heather wreath and her breasts rose, the tips hardening invitingly. Tristan could contain himself no more. He tore off his coat and shirt and pulled her against his naked chest, his lips stirring a fire within her. Ashley gasped as he picked her up and laid her on the bed, towering over her in just his kilt. In one swift move the kilt was gone and Ashley gasped again as she saw Tristan’s manhood spring forth from between his bronzed, muscled thighs.
Tristan took Ashley’s breasts in his hands and began to kiss and fondle them as Ashley held his head and moaned, feeling the fire in her belly grow to a raging furnace that threatened to consume her. Instinctively she arched her body towards his, opening herself to his majestic manhood. Tristan caressed the red gold hair at the base of her belly, which concealed the parts that she was now discovering had more sensation than she had ever thought possible. Tristan’s caresses grew more frantic, stronger, until with a loud groan he plunged into her. The weight of his immense body was on her but Ashley was aware only of Tristan’s glorious organ, strong and thick, throbbing inside of her. She moaned louder still as Tristan began to rhythmically thrust against her pelvis. His tongue was in her mouth, on her eyes, on her neck and his teeth teased and nibbled her ears as he inflicted the power of his passion on her. She took the onslaught with joy, rising to meet every thrust, grinding her pelvis into his. He climaxed with a loud groan, and she felt her body erupt into a starburst of spasms. She could feel the heat of his body spurt inside of her, mingling with her own passion. Then he lay back, and pulled her on top of him, onto his manhood, aroused again to rampant desire. His throbbing organ burned into her body, stirring up her passions into a furnace once again as he thrust upwards, pulling her body down to meet each frenzied move of his taut, strong hips. He pulled her breasts down as he climaxed, agonizedly taking the tips between his teeth and sucking them till she felt her own body convulse. He rolled her underneath him and continued to thrust his organ into her, moaning her name aloud. Then he lay still, drawing one ragged breath after another, his weight crushing her and his sweat mingling with hers. She wished she could hold him inside her forever, to have his nakedness against her skin always, his head, cradled as it was between her breasts, his spent passion sticky between her thighs…because this was perfection and Ashley could think of no other moment in her life when she was so exquisitely happy and at peace.
Xxx
Mated by the Alpha Billionaire
(Russian Billionaires of the Dmitri clan series)
By Riley Moreno
Chapter One
The Horrible Date
“Hmmmm, what should I wear to work tomorrow? Maybe my tight black skirt which shows my curves perfectly, a white blouse and black heels.
But then again maybe I should opt for my boring loose navy blue skirt, as lately I really don’t like how that pervert married boss of mine, Mr. Smith has been staring at me lately! ”
After small bored sigh, Natasha then returned her attention back to her date. And yes that’s right, Natasha Camille Walker was actually on a date and busy thinking about what she was going to wear tomorrow for work! Not that she was a workaholic but seriously who could blame her?
The blind date set up for her by her crazy black girlfriend Monica, with a special emphasis on the word crazy, was just higher up the scales when it came to being horrible.
When Monica had unexpectedly brought him to her house and introduced him to her, he had seemed totally normal even flashing Natasha a charming smile.
And heck when Monica had added that this attractive well fit black guy, was a Doctor, Natasha had been totally hooked and quickly agreed to a date. Compared to the kind of guys she usually dated usually plumbers, wrestlers, gym instructors etc. this guy was like winning a lottery.
So while grinning like an idiot, she had quickly rushed to her room and changed into one of her best dresses and driven here for their first date.
And now in this well-lit, lively pub restaurant instead of them enjoying and having a perfect date, as soon they sat by one of the tables in the hidden corner, Simon her date opened his mouth. This just horribly ruined it for her from that moment!
And now he was talking nonsense about abortion, a topic initiated by him of course, answering his own questions and not even giving her a chance to speak.
‘’ I have mixed feelings about abortions. On the one hand, I'm all for killing babies, but I hate giving women a choice.”
What the hell? Was this guy actually a real doctor?
And damn he was so sexy with his mouth closed shut! Natasha then thought to herself almost groaning in ann
oyance.
Even that well-muscled underground wrestler whom she had once dated was so much interesting than this guy, at least he was a man of few words. Sadly the wrestler wanted to acquire his own concubine and Natasha was a one man, one woman kind of person not concubine material, so it did not work out between them.
Once this date was done with, she was so going to kill her best friend Monica for doing this to her.
And yes even though alarm bells were already blaring loudly about this guy not being the one for her, she was actually not going to end this date quickly.
Because sadly instead of going back to that lonely house of hers to spend another night with her fridge's rasping compressor for company, she just needed some human companionship even if it was HIS kind of company.
Maybe she should just do as Monica always chided her to do, to lower her standards a little bit and she would be married by now and not be lonely.
“Are you into fitness? ’’ Mr. I like hearing only my voice talk, finally decided to include her in the conversation.
Shut up Simon! Natasha was about to rudely tell him now realizing where he was going with that question. Just because she was not like those skinny girls and had curves in all the right places, did not give him the right to even dare judge her. It was her body not his.
Luckily the waiter then came to ask for their orders.
"Get whatever you want, it's all on me tonight." Simon then said and it was the only good thing she had heard from him all night. She even decided she was going to order the most expensive thing to pay him back.
Deciding she also truly needed a beer, to still get through this date, she told the waiter to bring her some after Simon ordered salad for himself.
After hearing her order for beer, Simon looked her in utter disapproval after the waiter left and opened his mouth again.