by Aury Dobsyn
Cupping Ella’s face, Gavin said, “Ye need sleep, little one.”
“Nae . . . well mayhap.”
Stubborn wench, Gavin thought as he said, “Aye, a wise decision.”
When his wife turned in the direction of the castle, she swayed suddenly. Gavin wasted no time lifting her meager weight in his arms, despite her protests, and carrying her to his bedchamber with Arth tagging behind. By the time he stripped her to her chemise and tucked into bed, she was fast asleep.
Gavin sat on the side of the bed for a moment, stroking the side of the slumbering angel in his bed. When the bed suddenly sagged, he looked over to see Arth settling himself in the crook of her bent knees.
“Nae, Arth. She needs her rest, nae her pet. Come!”
Arth leaped off the bed at his command, but cast one last look at the sleeping form in the bed before leaving with his master.
Seeing Arth’s reluctance, he chuckled, “She will be fine without ye for a few hours.”
Ella would sleep through the evening meal, Gavin predicted, which was confirmed later that night when he returned to his chamber.
Arth rushed to the bed to check on Ella before sinking onto his own pallet, while Gavin undressed and slipped into the bed. With her unresisting body pulled close, he savored the feel of her enticing little body in his arms. Her backside wiggled against his groin in an unconscious gesture, sending flames of desired to that all too sensitive area of his body.
Nuzzling the back of her head, he breathed in the woody, lavender scent of her hair. As he kissed her bare shoulder, he realized he wanted her in his bed regardless if they made love. Holding her was too enjoyable to go without for even one night. And on the morrow, he decided, he would see that all her belongs were moved into his chamber.
69
At dawn, as light slowly filtered into the chamber, Ella noticed the brisk chill in the air and instinctively cuddled closer to her husband. They slept on their sides with his back to her chest. She found she liked holding him this way, the same way he normally held her.
Gavin smiled when he woke to his wife’s warmth seeping into his back with her arm wrapped around him. He covered that small hand that rested on his stomach and pulled it to his chest. Her hot breath on his back, followed by moist kisses, instantly aroused him. When her tender kisses moved to his neck and then his ear lobe, he let out a groan. He knew she rose with the sun as he did. However, unlike her, he was not a morning person. But, that seemed to be changing rapidly.
“’Tis good of you to wake, husband.”
Ella giggled when he groaned again, then she added, “Come play with me.”
A wave of excitement and energy washed over her, anticipating the new day with her husband. Gingerly, she turned him onto his back and straddled his waist, then began to kiss his neck and chest.
Keeping his eyes closed, he molded his hands to her delightfully curved bottom then said in a strained voice, “I will nae play when ye are nae bare.” Despite his words, his hands continued to fondle her backside as blood rushed to his loins, making him iron hard.
“Very well, but you must promise to play.”
“Aye, now remove the offending garment.”
When she was as naked as he was, she continued her early morning game, determined to see those lust-filled blue eyes of his. Her hands stroked his lean body as she trailed kisses down his chest and stomach. She noticed that his eyes were still closed, but he now wore an arrogant, satisfied grin. Well, we will see how long that lasts.
No longer having access to her firm, taunt bottom, Gavin languidly moved his arms behind his head and was intent on enjoying his innocent wife’s attempt at seduction. There would be time enough to teach her all the erotic things couples did with one another, but for now he would allow her to ‘play’ as she put it.
However, when she continued to move down his body and her fingers lights grazed over the hardest region of his body, his breath hitched. When her hands stroked his thighs, blood pumped fiercely through his heart and his breathing became labored. He fists tightened behind his head at the feel of hot breath enveloping his painfully hard erection. He was about to give up the pretense of indifference, but then remembered she had not so much as even taken him in hand. With that thought, he prepared himself not to expect much, but he quickly learned that he was a fool to have underestimated his wife.
It was maddening that her husband could just lie there with his eyes closed, seemingly unaffected by her touch. Ella’s only encouragement was his heavy breathing, which was enough for her to encroach further upon his serenity. Apprehensively, she wrapped her hands around his hard phallus, fondling its length. The muscles in Gavin's stomach and chest instantly went rigid.
When she boldly cupped him with gentle fingers and his eyes still remained closed, she decided she had enough of his lack of participation. She may lack experience with such intimate acts, but she was not ignorant to them.
Gavin’s control hung by a thread as her hands worked feverishly upon his flesh. Desperately wanting to see her radiant face, he opened his eyes to the sight of her sensual mouth engulfing him. His passion flared like an inferno. On the peak of exploding, he flipped her onto her back and thrust hard into her welcoming heat.
“My God woman, a life time with ye will nae be enough to have my fill,” he croaked as he began to make love to her.
His hands moved all over, wanting to touch every part of her lithe, little body. He kissed her hungrily, plunging his tongue deep, tasting her sweetness. Their fervor soared higher and higher, until together they reached the pinnacle of raw sensation.
They clung to each other with their gazes locked, allowing their breathing to ease and their heartbeats to calm.
“I enjoy this playful side of you, wife,” he whispered as he stroked her face.
“It took ye a long time to actually play back.”
With a soft laugh, he said, “Ye dinna ken how hard it was to hold back and let ye have yer way with me. I wanted to give ye the opportunity to learn my body, as well as I ken yers. Yer words and yer touch . . . ye please me verra much.”
He gave her a long, thorough kiss, then stretched out on his side, and pulled her close before asking, “Where in God’s name did ye learn-”
Not letting allowing him to finish, she replied, “When I was younger, I heard the women in the village talk about such . . . acts. I told my aunt what I had heard, and she explained in detail.”
“Was it easy to talk to her about such sensitive topics?”
Aye, I never was embarrassed to ask questions to either her or my uncle.”
“What kind of questions did ye ask your uncle?” Gavin was highly amused thinking about a young, curious Ella asking Sir James, a seasoned knight, about the intimacies of coupling.
“I asked him why the church viewed such acts as sinful. Why men can have sex afore marriage, but women cannot.”
Gigging at the thought of one question in particular, she blurted, “I believe I was ten and three when I asked Uncle James if he had ever made love to a woman.”
“What did he say?”
As she left the bed and began to dress, she replied, “He told me he had been with many women.”
“I suppose that’s when ye asked him why a man can bed a woman afore marriage?”
“Aye,” she giggled. “He explained that the church does nae view men and women equally. That they cast women in an evil light, stating a female must remain pure until marriage or they are unworthy of a husband. Uncle James also told me that men are weak when it comes to women’s flesh. And since it is men who make church laws, women will be punished while the sexual relations of men prior to marriage will be condoned.”
“Aye, he speaks the truth.” Gavin belted his plaid around his waist, then helped her to dress as he said, “Especially the part about men being weak for women’s flesh.” To emphasis his point, he kissed the swells of her breast just above her chemise.
His tender ways made Ella foolishly cling
to the hope that they could have a future together. He had told her that no matter her past he would always care and protect her. Unfortunately, previous experience taught her the danger of trusting another.
Before her mother’s death, Ella trusted her father to always shelter and defend her, but he had turned his back on her when she needed him the most. Her brothers, too, had abandoned her. Yet, how could she blame them. Philip had explained that the men who attacked her and her mother that fateful day would not have killed them, but instead ask for ransom. Her mother would still be alive if it weren’t for Ella’s rash action.
Her train of thought was broken by a sudden knock on the door.
“Laird Macleod, a message from Alex Mackenzie,” a guardsmen said in the corridor.
Instantly, she stiffened in fear. Had her father discovered that his most trusted friend was wed to the hated daughter he banished eight years ago?
“Aye, I will meet the messenger in the hall shortly,” Gavin replied, before tilting her chin up.
“All will be well, little one. Go about yer duties, and I will come to you later.” He kissed her forehead, and then left the chamber.
All morning she felt powerless against the cold knot of dread that formed in her stomach. It was noon when Gavin finally appeared in the stable yard and divulged the contents of her father’s missive.
“After gaining the King of Scotland’s approval of our marriage and disclosing the events concerning Gabriel, Mackenzie journeyed to Winchester to expose Montgomery and Greystone to the King of England. Alas, King Henry has been ill and unable to receive him, nor anyone else. Alex has been ordered to await a summons. It seems yer king is eager to learn about Greystone’s misdeeds.”
Assailed by profound relief, she replied, “Aye, Aunt Eleanor often said that Philip never found favor with King Henry.”
“We will wait to decide our plan of attack until Alex gains the king’s ear. And, if Henry dinna seek justice, then the Macleods and Mackenzies will.”
“What do you believe King Henry will do?”
“Alex and I both agree that there is more to this story then a simple abduction. There has been bad blood between Montgomery and my clan, as well as Greystone and the Mackenzies. The death of yer aunt and uncle will only condemn Greystone further. I suspect Henry will seek out the truth afore justice is served. Nevertheless, Greystone’s and Montgomery’s deaths are absolute.”
Starring at the battle-hardened warrior who was her husband, she confessed, “I want vengeance for the death of my family, but not at the risk of you, your clan or the Mackenzies.”
Cupping her face, he asked, “Ye worry for me?”
Ella nodded as she nibbled on her bottom lip.
“Ye have a good heart, lass, but there is nae reason to fear for us. We are the two most powerful clans in Scotland. Irrefutably, our men are blessed with the greater skill in battle, but to avoid war we asked for a trial by combat.”
“A trial by combat?”
“Aye, ‘tis when two disputing parties fight in single combat, the winner is proclaimed right. Mackenzie will fight Greystone and I, Montgomery.”
He raised his hand when she was about to protest and said, “I will nae quarrel over this with ye.”
She winced at his harsh tone and realized that to argue would be futile.
“‘Tis been decided, so glare all ye like. When Alex learned of Lady Eleanor’s death, the sister of his departed wife, he vowed to kill the bastard. Regardless of my acceptance, a trial by combat was inevitable.”
All she could do was nod as he pulled her into his embrace.
“All will be well.”
“I have nae wish to lose you,” she whispered.
Insulted by her lack of faith, he abruptly pulled her to arms length and insinuated, “Ye think Montgomery can defeat me, Gavin Macleod.”
Refusing to be browbeaten, she retorted, “You arrogant, dimwitted man! His greatest asset is nae strength nor skill, ‘tis deception. That is why I fear for you.”
“Sheath yer claws, little one,” he said, stifling his mirth. “I am well acquainted with his type of deception. Have faith in yer husband.”
She conceded with a nod.
His lips covered hers before he acknowledged, “I have nae earned yer faith yet, but I will.”
“I do have faith in you,” Ella professed. “The life you have given me is so precious, that I fear it will be stolen, that . . .” She shook her head then cried, “If something ever were to happen to you . . . I . . . I,” her words trailed off as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.
Humbled by the impact of her words, Gavin realized that it was not lack of faith that brought on her fear, but rather her deep love for him. He was silent as the enormity of her confession became clear. Aye, she loves me. And I vow she will ken the sheer magnitude of my love for her, every moment of everyday, in this life and the next.
70
A fortnight later Ella’s intense desire for her husband, his family and the Macleod Clan was insatiable. After speaking with Father Logan, she decided to embrace the love in her heart for all those around her. No longer would she allow the past to thwart her future. She could not control the tide of the sea or the direction of the wind any more than she could control the events of the days to come.
With each new day her love for Gavin grew stronger, as did the need to confess her sin and reveal her identity. When night fell and their bodies were sated, she made several attempts to divulge her heinous secret, but words continued to fail her. And despite his numerous duties throughout the day, he always found time to spend with her, giving Ella ample opportunity to confess her sin.
Aware of the risk, she decided to reveal herself to the one person whose honesty surpassed all. Paen.
“And where do ye think ye be heading off to, hellion?”
“Taking Apollo for a long ride as you well know. I suppose Gavin sent you to be my escort?”
“Aye, ye have learned yer husband well,” Paen chuckled. “Tell me, would ye have gone without an escort?”
“Nae, I acknowledge that such a ruse is disastrous.”
“Yer husband would nae only skin ye alive, but us as well if we were to allow ye out of the castle unprotected.” He cocked his head slightly as he added, “He love ye, ye ken.”
Momentarily flushed, Ella searched for words, then whispered, “I pray you are right.”
“Give me a moment to saddle Righ,” he quickly replied, sensing the import of this ride.
Clouds scattered in the sapphire sky, shifting morning light on the long grass of the meadow the pair rode through a short time later. Both competitive by nature, they raced to the pine trees that lined the edge of the forest before slowing their mounts to a halt. Arth, faithful as ever, came bounding along moments later.
“Do you know that Gavin only permits his blackguard to ride with me when outside the walls of Doran Castle?”
“Aye,” Paen replied with a knowing smile.
“With the exception of ye and my husband, who act as single escort, I must ride with at least two and sometime three of the guard.”
“Aye,” he said with a shrug.
“Why?”
Her vexation made him chuckle as he stated, “Yer safety is paramount to Gavin, his guard and our people, lass. He dinna allow the other men in the guard to act as lone escort for one reason.”
“And what pray tell would that reason be?”
“His words, nae mine, were that we are the only men capable of out-riding his headstrong wife.”
“Headstrong?”
“Aye, headstrong, pigheaded, not a docile bone in her wee body. I ken these traits well-”
“Since you possess them too,” she finished for him. “Aye, I agree.”
“Brat,” he said with a playful grin.
“Jack-a-nape.” With a humorous glint in her eyes she added, “You and Righ are getting faster. You almost won that time.”
Since Paen had mad
e a similar comment to her the last time they raced, he took it with his usual mix of grace and sarcasm.
“Ye are too kind. I really must learn yer trick of cutting another rider off when leaving the castle gates.”
With mock offense she asked, “Do you honestly believe that I, your brother’s wife, would do such a horrid thing just to win a horse race?”
“Aye, ye would and did, but dinna change. I like the fact ye dinna back down to a man in competition or in life. More women should be like ye.”
“I believe that is the greatest compliment I have ever received.”
“Remember it well, for I dinna give them often.”
Ella always enjoyed their playful banter, and today was no different. Paen reminded her so much of her brothers, encouraging her wild streak and boyish ways.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For treating me like annoying sister.”
He burst out laughing and said, “Aye, that ye are, lass. Now let us be gone, we are too close to the Fraser’s land for my liking.”
The rift between the Macleods and the Frasers would not be mended any time soon, Ella suspected. Laird Fraser refused to forgive the Macleods for raiding their land a decade ago and causing the death of his wife. The woman had been in the village at the time of the raid and was amidst the chaos when she attempted to flee.
As they rode through the lush foliage of the woods, Ella’s thoughts turned to her need to reveal her true identity to Paen. For some reason, she trusted him with this confession and that he would understand that her mother’s death was an accident.
She halted Apollo and when he pulled up beside her, she said, “There is something I would like to confide in you.”
When Paen saw stark fear in her eyes and her austere expression, he knew the gravity of the words she would impart. To strengthen her resolve, he said, “’Tis my sincere wish that ye do, lass. I would -” He went silent for a moment when he saw Arth suddenly bolt forward.