by Aury Dobsyn
“She brought more to me and my clan than any other woman possibly could,” he stated as he grabbed her clothing and hauled her to the chamber door.
Gavin threw open the door as Alice hastily dressed, and he was not surprised to see Paen waiting patiently in the corridor. His brother had his arms folded across his chest, and wore a broad smile of approval.
“All I can say is,” Paen began, “this has been a long time coming, lass.”
His hatred of Alice had been voiced since the day she sank her claws into Gavin. Paen, along with many others, knew she was a manipulative bitch, and that her black heart and greedy eyes would eventually be her downfall. Now that her nefarious deeds have been revealed, he was eager to be the one to escort her off their land.
Gavin pushed her into his brother, then commanded, “Get her out of my sight before I kill her. Take her to the dungeon, and at first light I want her off my land.”
“It will be my pleasure to carry out such a wise decision. I believe we will go by way of the hall, so Maeve can have a go at her. Come lass, yer true destiny awaits.”
Gavin heard her piercing screams even after he shut his chamber door and went to the window. He berated himself for bringing that viper into his home, into his bed. Although he had not touched her since marrying Ella, he was a fool to allow her to work within the castle.
Due to the storm the other night, he allowed her to stay in the servant’s quarters, but only for that night. He had not thought she would have been bold enough to stay the following eve and in her old chamber no less.
Gavin ran his hand through his hair, furious at the events of late. He leaned against the window frame, gazing out into the darkness as he remembered Ella’s attack on Alice. His little wife was as wild and ferocious as a lioness protecting her cubs. He was proud that she had defended Thea, but incensed that she had not confided in him the reason she attacked Alice. He probably would have let her finish the bitch off if she had revealed what had transpired. He knew his ire towards Ella was misplaced, but her insults continued to ring in his ears.
‘I will never obey a man who continues to prove he has nae honor. Go back to your leman, for I will never accept you as my husband.’
64
Gavin became so lost in thought that he was slow to notice that his wife had just entered his chamber.
The flickering light from the bedside table gave the chamber an eerie glow as Ella emerged from behind the tapestry. Wearing only a knee length, sleeveless chemise, she walked slowly over to him with one goal in mind. Seduction
Her husband’s words had invaded her heart, shattered the protective wall she had erected, and gave her the courage to give herself to him, body and soul. But would he accept?
He stood by the window turned away from her, wearing only a plaid that hung low on his hips. The contours of his bare, muscular back glowed bronze as did his broad shoulders. His thick, dark hair fell loose, and she imagined what it would be like to run her fingers through the wavy strands.
“So ye have discovered the hidden door between our chambers, have ye. I suggest ye make use of it and return to yer bed.”
Guilt made Ella continue forward, and with gentle fingers she reached out to touch his shoulder.
Like a flash of lighting, Gavin turned and grabbed her wrist, then pulled her roughly to him. Face to face, he felt her breath as she gasped in fright.
Aye, he wanted to scare her, wanted her out of his chamber, out of his mind, out of his heart. Why was she here, to torment him further? He could take no more rejection or insults from the woman he wanted with a fire that burned like an inferno, but was unable to have.
He growled, “What do ye want?”
Stunned and unable to move, think or speak as his massive body towered over hers. His anger was real, but Ella was determined to show him what was in her own heart, what she had kept hidden from him since the first moment she gazed into his piercing blue eyes.
Before she could utter a word, he railed, “Why are ye here? What do ye want?”
Ella whispered only one word.“You.”
Gavin didn’t know what game she was playing, but at that moment he didn’t care. His iron grip on her wrist remained as his free arm encircled her waist and lifted her a foot off the ground. Slamming her body into his, he covered her mouth in a punishing, angry kiss meant to frighten her until she ran back to her chamber.
When his brutal kiss evoked a small whimper from her, he pulled back and saw her bruised, swollen lips. Instantly contrite by his actions, but it was not enough to loosen his hold on her. Not when her body was plastered to his, not when he could feel her scalding heat. Her chemise had risen up to mid thigh, and he groaned when he felt the soft skin of her slender legs. Closing his eyes, he took a moment to control his intense desire for the woman in his arms.
His face reflected the torment he felt and Ella was determined to end. With her free hand, she tenderly stroked the side of his face, silently asking him to trust her intent. When she saw his eyes open and that they were filled with uncertainty, she brushed her lips to his, and with slightly parted lips explored the velvet warmth of his mouth.
The softness in her expression stunned Gavin, as did the feel of her lips demanding a response. It was such a delicious sensation to feel her tongue search for his, but he still had misgivings, and did not yield his grip on her wrist.
It was when she curled her arm around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist that all uncertainty vanished. And he responded like a man starved for air.
Gavin’s lips burned with fiery possession, while his hands cupped the backs of her bare thighs, moving slowly towards the perfectly curved buttocks. Feeling the fabric of her chemise, he growled, “Take it off, now!”
Passion pounded the blood in Ella’s heart as she complied with his seductive demand, leaving her naked in his embrace. With her arms wrapped about his neck, legs around his waist, she reclaimed his lips and drowned in the heady sensation that was consuming her.
As Gavin carried her to the bed, he lovingly massaged her taut bottom and lithe thighs, while his mouth devoured hers. With gentleness, he lowered her to the bed then proceeded to trail hot, wet kisses down her throat and neck. Aware that he was cradled in between her legs only heightened his ravenous need to claim her. However, he would not take her until her fire equaled his own. Only then would he join their bodies to share the cataclysmic end of their mating.
When his hands caressed her swollen breasts, Ella arched her body, craving his touch and heat. Unexpectedly, brisk air rushed over her feverish body. Upon opening her eyes, she saw Gavin knelt between her bent knees, looking at her as if he had never seen her before.
The sight of his naked wife took his breath away. While worshiping her with his eyes, his hands slid down her taut body. He drank in the sight and feel of her flat stomach, slender hips and sleek thighs. In a husky voice, he said slowly, “My God, ye are so beautiful.”
With a smile on her face, Ella sat up and boldly grabbed the back of his neck. “Kiss me, husband.” She did not wait for his reply as she hungrily crushed her lips to his, then both their bodies sank into the bed.
Gavin felt a fierce possessiveness take hold at hearing the woman in his arms call him husband. He kissed his way down her body to her breast, taking each rosy nipple into his mouth and suckling them until they were hard as pebbles. Hearing her encouraging moans, his mouth moved lower to taste the soft skin of her belly and hips.
When his head disappeared, Ella thought to protest, but lost all ability to speak. Her fingers curled in his hair as the tremors came faster and harder, reaching for some unknown goal.
The tension was so great that panic took hold.“Gavin!”
“Dinna hold back, nae from me, nae from this.”
Gavin almost spilled his seed when he felt her scorching heat. Tearing away his kilt, he moved up her body and in a strained voice said, “I canna wait any longer, my love.”
“Neither can I,” she moaned
and felt his hardness press into her.
Slowly guiding himself into her, he instantly felt her pulsating warmth, and groaned knowing she was one thrust away from her release.
“Look at me,” he demanded as his whole body tensed in anticipation of being inside her, and watching her explosive climax.
When her pleading, passion glazed eyes locked with his, he thrust into her burning core, so deep that he was embedded all the way to the hilt. His control snapped when she cried out his name and felt her earth shattering release.
Gavin raised her hands above her head, entwining his fingers with hers, then began the slow sensual rhythm. He took her fiercely with insatiable desire, and all the love in his heart.
Tightening her legs around his waist, Ella cried, “Don’t stop! Please, Gavin!”
“I want ye so badly, want to. . . .”
“Aye.”
The way she responded to him unleashed his predatory need for the woman who had stolen his heart. Like wild animals, their lovemaking was ravenous, until ecstasy was upon them. Her second release came in an eruption of sensation, followed by his last explosive thrust. Clinging to each other as if they fear to be parted, they rode the waves of euphoria, breathless and sated.
Gavin was so in awe of the overpowering passion they had shared, he was unable to speak for long moments. When he finally raised himself onto his elbows and his eyes locked with hers, they simultaneously smiled at one another.
Giving her swollen lips a tender kiss, he then asked, “Did I hurt ye, love? Was there any pain?”
Ella’s heart melted at hearing the endearment as well as the concern in his voice. “Nae, I feel . . . wonderful!”
Chuckling at her dazed expression, he said, “I must be certain I dinna hurt ye.”
Before she could ask how he intended to do that, he left her body and the bed, then walked over to the washbasin to wet a small piece of linen. When he returned, he had to pry the covers away she used to conceal her nudity.
In a teasing voice, Gavin said, “Such modesty has nae place in are bed, especially since that magnificent body of yers excites me like nae other.”
His praise made her confident enough to allow him to cleanse her body, but when she saw his intense gaze she asked, “What are ye looking for?”
“Blood. Ye were so tight, I thought I might have . . . ” His sentence trailed off, satisfied with what he saw. After cleaning himself, he slid back into the bed and pulled her close. With her head and hand resting on his chest, he sighed in contentment.
“What made ye come to me tonight? After the way I treated ye-”
Ella put her fingers to his lips and said, “Nae, Gavin. Ye have treated me better than I deserve. I was wrong to blame you for the deaths of my aunt and uncle. I know that now. You risked your life to try to save them, and were prepared to give them a home as well as your protection for the remainder of their days. I . . . I . . .”
The feel of his fingers stroking her cheek, gave her added strength to continue. “Everything happened so fast, and I was so confused. Please, forgive me.”
Gavin stopped her words with a kiss, then said in a soothing voice, “Nae, little one. I lied to ye, and more than once. For that I am truly sorry. ‘Twas nae honorable, but given the choice again between my honor and ye, I would choose ye.”
He readjusted her so she was lying atop him, then asked, “Now, what made ye come to my chamber this night?”
At seeing her bite her bottom lip, he grinned and said, “Ye heard what I said to that bitch.”
Ella nodded, then explained, “When I returned from delivering Rachel’s bairn early this morn, she was just leaving the chamber across from yours. I . . . I had learned that ye kept yer. . . ah . . . leman in that chamber before ye wed me. And when I saw Alice, she said you ordered her to return to the chambers she occupied before I arrived. While I was bathing, she also said things that made me believe that . . that . . .”
Cupping her face with his massive hands, Gavin said, “Trust me when I say, that once I had ye in my life, I wanted nae other. I dinna deny she occupied my bed on occasion afore I brought ye home. When the rain was heavy last eve, she asked if she could stay within the castle. I told her she could stay below stairs, in the servant’s quarters. I dinna ken that she had taken the chamber across from mine, especially since I spent the night in the hall waiting for ye to return.”
“You spent the night in the hall just for me?”
“Aye, I knew ye had nae slept nor eaten, and I became worried.” Pausing briefly, he then added, “I will ne’er shame ye. I saw what that kind of shame did to my mother, and what it did to our family. I want better for the woman I wed, for ye. And since ye heard all of what I said to Alice, ye know she will nae longer be able to hurt ye or any other.” He smiled when he said in a gentle tone, “I am proud of ye for the way ye defended Thea.”
“You should have given me more time with her,” Ella admitted then felt his booming laughter as she kissed his vibrating chest.
Her kisses made his appetite for her return full force. Not giving her time to protest, he cupped her backside and said, “Time to ride, lass.”
“Ride?”
“Aye, wife. Here, let me assist ye to mount.”
Ella found herself impaled and completely filled, and although she was unsure of this method, she soon caught on and found herself enjoying the control from the new position. She moved slowly at first, watching his hands move over her breasts and hips, urging her to ride him faster.
Gavin was in heaven watching the spectacular view of his wife’s exquisite body. At that moment he wished for another pair of hands, so he could fondle both breast as well as her perfectly curved buttock.
They made love long into the night, each soaring to an awesome, shuddering ecstasy, then collapsing into each other’s arms. She was still sprawled on top of him when sleep claimed her, then with tenderness he moved her so her back was pressed to his chest, her sweet derriere nestled against his groin. He stroked her hip and thigh, as if to reassure himself she was still there, until he, too, surrendered to sleep.
65
Ella woke the next morning with her head pillowed on Gavin chest, her body snuggled into his side. After rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she noted that he was still asleep and looked more handsome than any man had a right to. She lowered her head back on his bare chest, and moved the blanket that covered them down so she could stroke his finely sculpted abdomen.
Curiosity stirred when she decided to take the opportunity that presented itself by peeking at the part of her husband she had yet to see, only feel. She had only seen the male sex on small children and bairns, but now that she was married, she assumed she was granted that right. With light fingers, she lifted the plaid to see his sex, and almost gasped out loud when she saw that it was getting larger.
Quickly replacing the cover to its previous state, she was horrified to see that it was making a tent out of the plaid. She bit her bottom lip as she tried to pull the plaid down, in hopes it would make what lay beneath go down as well. The tent only continued to grow. She lifted the plaid again and was astonished at the size. Dear God, did that really fit inside of me.
Suddenly, she felt her husband’s entire body start to shake, then heard highly amused laughter fill the air.
“Is there something I can help ye with, wife?”
Closing her eyes as tightly as she could, Ella shook her head as she slowly lowered the plaid to cover his nether region. She was so embarrassed at being caught, that she did not turn to face him.
“Ye can open yer eyes, little one?”
His sweet tone made her turn to look at him, and when she saw the pompous expression, she giggled.
“You must think I am a complete wanton.”
Gavin cupped the back of her head and kissed her before saying, “I think ye are a beautiful wanton.”
His irresistible smile made her mouth curve into an unconscious grin as she said, “If that is what you think, y
ou have only yourself to blame.”
“I dinna deny that fact.”
“Careful Macleod, your pride his showing,” she said as she turn to get out of the bed.
Hauling her back into his arms, with his chest to her back, Gavin said, “Aye, I do have pride . . . in my wife.”
He caressed her breasts, then her lean belly, and then lower.
“Gavin?”
“With ye naked in my bed, I will be hard as a rock every morn.”
“I did that to you.”
Her naivety and innocence pleased him as well as aroused him. “Aye.”
Ella wiggled her backside against his hardest part of his body, and when she heard him groan, she was filled with excitement. His arousing, skillful touch heated her flesh with sensual need. Yet, when she tried to turn and face him, he denied her silent request.
With morning light streaming through the window, he would have a clear view of the scars that marred her back. Although she desperately wanted to advert his gaze, the thought was pushed aside as she yielded to his experienced hands.
Gavin slowly entered her, bending her legs further so that he could delve deeper into her heavenly pool. He heard a slight gasp, but assumed it was from the new position and erotic sensation. He continued to stroke her as he surged and retreated like and ocean tide until she was breathing heavy and moaning for more.
The slight tenderness that Ella felt when he began to make love to her was instantly replaced with sweet agony. Their bodies found an exquisite harmony for long, breath taking moments before crying out their release and exploding in a downpour of fiery sensations.
They clung to each other like vines intertwined in a tree, savoring the feel of uncontrollable joy and contentment in the aftermath. Yet, the peace they captured together was short-lived.
When Gavin pulled out of her warm body, she let out a gasp of discomfort, similar to the one he had heard moments ago. Pushing her to her back, he asked, “Why dinna ye tell me ye were sore this morn? I would nae have made love to ye again if I knew it would pain ye.”