After the Storm

by Tia Isabella

  Maya had other plans. She grabbed Thomas by his muscled buttocks and jerked him toward her, forcing his jutting shaft to the back of her throat.

  A savage cry of pleasure tore from the depths of his throat as he submitted to her desire and rode his wife’s mouth in the way he often rode her body. He thrusted in and out in deep strokes, giving her as much as she’d take. She took damn near all of it. Throwing his head back, his nostrils flared and his muscles tensed.

  She sucked him into climax, milking him for all he had. His bellows of erotic fulfillment could be heard throughout the keep. She blushed, already imagining the hushed laughter of the soldiers around her when she would sit down to eat with them tonight.

  Maya gave up being embarrassed and smiled in silent satisfaction. Heaven have mercy! Perhaps she should call her husband names more often.

  Chapter 24

  “Damn it to hell and back.” Maya drew her pricked finger up to her lips and sucked the trickling blood from it. This tapestry making business was trying to a woman’s nerves. But hey, she decided, when in Rome do as the Romans. And in the Middle Ages, there wasn’t much else for a woman to do besides bear children and sew. She sighed, hating that fact.

  Sara chuckled as she pulled Maya’s hand into her lap for a quick examination. “It’s minor, not bad at all. It could use a little antiseptic—oh dear, I forgot that doesn’t exist yet.”

  Maya frowned. “Add that to your list, Argyle.” When he didn’t respond immediately, she glanced in the direction of his attention. She grinned at Sara, noticing that her bodyguard didn’t hear what she’d said because he was too busy lusting after Lena.

  Lena was currently standing at the other side of the vast great hall directing two soldiers to hang up the last tapestry she, Maya, and Sara had woven. “Argyle,” Maya teased as she raised her hand up and down in front of his face to gain his attention. “Yoo-hoo, Argyle!”

  Argyle blinked a few times in rapid succession then snapped his head around to look at her. “Beg pardon, milady.”

  Maya and Sara chuckled at the soldier’s beat red face, inducing him to turn into a delightful shade of purple. “Why do you not wed the girl when you return from the future?” Sara asked, a delighted smile on her face.

  His eyes shuffled to the ground. “I canna say that the fair Lena would ha’ me, Lady Sara. She’s dowered, bein’ cousin tae the MacGregor, ye know.”

  Maya snorted. “Are you blind? She worships the ground that you walk on.”

  Argyle brightened considerably at that notion. “Ye think so?”

  “I know so. Argyle, you’re all the girl speaks of. Ask her before you leave.”

  “I canna.” Argyle took a deep breath and shook his head. “I canna,” he whispered.

  “But why?”

  Argyle looked Maya in the eyes and blew out another deep breath. “What if I canna return?”

  Maya and Sara frowned. They’d both been so caught up in their own selfish reasons for sending the boy into the future with Harold that neither of them had stopped to think about the sort of ramifications their eagerness could have on other people’s lives. “Then don’t go,” Maya begged him as she clasped his hand in her own.

  “Nay milady, I must do yer bidding. I canna—”

  “No!” Sara implored him as she took his other hand. “We should never have asked it of you.”

  Maya nodded her head in agreement. “Sara’s right. Don’t go, Argyle! We will all miss you terribly and I couldn’t live with myself if something went wrong and you never made it back to Lena. The girl has loved you for years. I can’t be responsible, even indirectly, for her misery.”

  Argyle blushed, unused to such shows of affection. “I will no’ change my mind, ladies. But I vow that I will no’ rest until I am back home.”

  “But Argyle,” Maya insisted, “Please–”

  “We will speak of this no more, milady,” Argyle interrupted, sounding matured beyond his years. “I will do yer bidding and only then will I come home.”

  Maya sighed, relenting. “If you insist.”

  “I do.”

  “Very well then, have it your way. But heed my words, Argyle. If you do not return within three fortnights I shall come for you myself. And when I find you I’ll kick your behind from the future to the past.”

  “That goes for me as well,” Sara added with a zealous nod.

  Argyle grinned. “My ladies do care fer me, dinna they?”

  Maya rolled her eyes heavenward. She grinned. “Whatever possesses us I have no idea.”

  * * * * *

  Thomas accepted the goblet of wine from his squire’s hand and motioned for his men to take the seats nearest him by the hearth in the great hall. His lady had already retired for the eve, the fatigue from carrying his bairn still upon her regularly. “Ye wanted tae speak with me, John?”

  John the Elder took a sip from his own goblet before responding. “Thank ye fer agreein’ tae see me on such short notice. And ye as well, Sir Dugald,” he acknowledged with a dip of his head.

  “Of course, John,” Dugald replied. “What troubles ye?”

  John shook his head. “Nay, ‘tisn’t that. There are no worries in yon village. Well, none in a direct way. ‘Tis aboot the MacAllister.”

  Thomas straightened in his chair, his muscles tensing. “Tell me.”

  John nodded as he set his wine down on the small table beside him. “A rumor has been circulating in the village that Robert was seen within the closure a few times. ‘Tis said he’s been making inquiries amongst the smithies and other tradesmen as tae yer lady’s habits, my lord.”

  Thomas frowned. “What can the mon hope tae gain from speaking with a smithy or a tradesman? They canna know what my wife is aboot.”

  John nodded. “The villagers agreed which is why they came tae me with their worries. They dinna ken what tae make of it.”

  Dugald scratched his chin and sighed. “I think the MacAllister was grasping fer anything. He’s no’ clever, that’s fer sure, but he’s no’ lackwitted enough tae question the soldiers who see Lady Maya everyday either. His only other recourse would be tae question the villagers and hope that they know something of the Lady MacGregor’s day tae day life.”

  “Aye,” John sighed. “’Tis my reasoning as well.”

  Thomas pounded his fist onto his thigh, fuming between gritted teeth. “It pains me enough tae know that the mon has avoided me thus far. And now tae hear that he’s actually walked my lands and asked my people aboot my wife? ‘Tis more than I can stomach. I canna ha’ it. I want the woods combed again.”

  Dugald nodded then turned his attention back to John. “I will send more men tae patrol the closure. Give word tae the villagers tae alert a kinsmen soldier should they see the MacAllister aboot.”

  John nodded. “’Tis done.”

  Dugald reached for his goblet of wine as he gazed over at Thomas. “Anything else, my lord?”

  Thomas curled his lips wryly as he toasted the men with drink. “Aye. Kill him on sight. And be quick aboot it. My lady wants tae see the fair when it arrives at yon village and I willna let her go does he still live.”

  John grinned. “’Tis good tae hear, my lord. The clansmen wish tae meet their lady. Most of them ha’ yet tae see her. This news will be well received.”

  “Nay,” Thomas countered with a raised hand. “Say naught. I dinna want—” He stopped mid-sentence and bore his stare into Dugald.

  Dugald smiled, then slapped his knee as he laughed. “Are ye thinking what I think ye are thinking, Thomas?”

  “Aye,” Thomas grinned. He returned his gaze to John and smiled. “I’ve changed my mind. Make sure the whole of the village knows of my wife’s plan tae see the fair. I want the word tae spread like wildfire, ye ken?”

  John was baffled for the briefest of moments. He stared at his laird quizzically until the truth hit him. The elder’s mouth slowly quirked into a lazy smile. “Ye think tae draw the MacAllister out that way?”

  “
Aye. And we’ll be ready fer him tae. Does Robert come tae the fair, he will never leave it alive.”

  Chapter 25

  “Are ye sure that my plan does no’ trouble ye, love? I vow ye shall be more protected than a queen at the fair, yet do ye worry and I will call the whole thing off.” Thomas peered down at his wife as they strolled hand-in-hand through the gardens.

  The more he had thought on his plan to capture the MacAllister using his wife as live bait, the less he liked it. He didn’t want the blackguard in the same country as his lady, let alone the same fair. Still, he could think of no other way to draw the snake from his hole.

  “No, Thomas. It doesn’t trouble me at all. I have every faith in your ability to protect me and I know in my heart that you wouldn’t have even suggested it if you thought there was the slightest chance something could go wrong.” Maya inhaled the scent of the trees around her, dismissing the topic. Ah, the Highlands. Had to love it.

  Husband and wife strolled silently in what would be a lush garden when the bloom thawed out this spring. Thomas realized that Maya didn’t take well to being cooped up in the keep for days on end, so as of late he’d made a point of taking the time to walk with her every day before the evening meal. Maya was heading into what she called her second trimester and claimed that this gave her more energy.

  And much to his amazement, he realized that he rather looked forward to these daily outings with his love. He’d never been one to walk around in circles without a purpose before he wed, yet did he now enjoy doing just that with his wife.

  They walked for another ten minutes before Maya came to an abrupt stop. “What is that, Thomas?” She pointed to a crucifix and a head marker that sat adjacent to the gardens. Laying next to the site were a bunch of bones.

  Thomas directed his gaze toward the vicinity in which his wife was pointing. He sucked in his breath and crossed himself. “Good god. ‘Tis my mother’s remains. The dogs must ha’ dug them up.”

  “Your mother? I didn’t know—” Maya gasped as Thomas crushed her into his side and hid her face from the view. “I’m sorry, my love. I dinna want ye overset by seein’ this.”

  “Thomas,” Maya croaked as she unloosed herself from his hold. “I gathered bones for a living before I married you, remember? This doesn’t trouble me.”

  Her husband looked down at her with quizzical eyes, not certain that he should relent. Most women didn’t like witnessing spectacles such as this one, after all. Of course, this wasn’t most women. This was Maya. He released her.

  The couple walked over to the desecrated grave in silence. Maya frowned as she bent over to inspect what they’d happened upon. “Dogs did not do this, Thomas.”

  He stared at his wife as he took in her meaning. “But the ground looks scratched up. What else but dogs?”

  “Oh I don’t know.” She scowled as she stood up and fisted her hands to either hip. “Perhaps a disgruntled laird doing everything he can to hurt you?”

  His eyes narrowed when he caught her meaning. “The MacAllister, ye say?”

  Maya sighed as she squatted back down over the bones. “There are no fresh teeth marks on your mother’s remains. Were dogs responsible for this disgustingly evil event, I guarantee there would be an abundance of teeth marks. These bones are clean.”

  Thomas’s face reddened, his nostrils flared. “I canna wait tae kill the bastard,” he announced through set teeth.

  Maya sighed. “After this, I can’t say I blame you.” She rose to her feet again and clasped her husband’s hand while she rubbed it soothingly. “And after all your poor mother suffered in life, to be desecrated like this in death.” She shook her head and frowned.

  Thomas let go of his wife’s hand and backed up a step. “What do ye mean? I’ve never spoken tae ye aboot my mother afore. Who has?”

  Maya shrugged. “No one. I’ve always wondered why you never talked about her, but now that I see her remains with my own eyes, I can well imagine it was because the subject still makes you grieve.” She reached for her husband’s hand, drew it to her lips, and kissed it softly. “I’m so sorry your mother was murdered.”

  Thomas snatched his hand back as if he’d been stung. “She was no’ murdered,” he gritted out in anger. “My mother took her own life. She was a whoor that took lovers tae her bed willingly and killed herself when the last one broke off their liaison!”

  Maya cocked her head and placed her hands indignantly on her hips. “Please do not ever refer to any woman, let alone your own mother, in those terms again. I won’t have it.”

  Thomas growled as he grabbed Maya by the wrists and drew her in closer to his body. “Ye willna gainsay me where my mum is concerned, ye ken?”

  Maya tore her wrists from her husband’s grasp and retreated a few paces. “Fine. I won’t mention her again. Call her what you will, but don’t say it in my presence…ye ken?”

  Thomas ran his fingers through his hair in agitation before he relented with a brief nod. “I’m sorry, Maya. I should never ha’ yelled at ye. Ye were right afore when ye said ‘tis a subject that grieves me sorely. I still canna bear tae think on it.”

  He began pacing back and forth, which gave Maya the impression that her husband wanted to speak of it, but wasn’t certain as to how he should begin. “Tell me about it, my love.”

  Thomas stopped pacing and stared blankly at his wife. “I’ve never spoken of it afore. In fact, only Dugald knows of this and that was because he was with me when I found out she’d taken other men tae her bed.”

  Maya gasped. “I’m so sorry. Didn’t she love your father? Was theirs not a love match?”

  He shook his head and frowned. “That’s the hell of it. I always thought my mother loved my father with her verra life, but then ‘twas discovered that she was sleeping with another.”

  “Ouch. I imagine your father didn’t take that news very well. How did he find out?”

  Thomas hesitated, uncertain as to whether or not he wanted to discuss this further. Finally he shrugged and told his wife what he knew. “He found out the night she killed herself. A MacAllister squire who was sent tae my da’ fer training claimed tae ha’ seen Elizabeth cavorting with a mon that verra day in the lower bailey.”

  “A MacAllister? Why the devil would your father believe a MacAllister?”

  “We were no’ enemies back then. The Hamiltons were who we fought with in those days. In fact, me da’ ha’ come from an attack on the Hamilton clan that verra day when he learned of his Elizabeth’s death…and faithlessness.”

  Maya sighed. What an awful thing to find out about one’s spouse. Still…“I don’t understand. So when was she attacked? After her death?”

  Thomas shrugged. “She was never attacked.”

  “Yes she was.”

  “Maya, I would tell ye were it otherwise. Elizabeth was no’ attacked.”

  Maya squinted her eyes and frowned. She had to prove that she knew what she was talking about. “Elizabeth died by repeated stabs in the area of her heart. Am I right?”

  Thomas’s mouth gaped open as he stared in astonishment at his wife. “How can ye know that?”

  She smiled sadly at her husband as she beckoned him toward his mother’s remains. “It’s what I did for a living in the future, remember? Come here and let me show you what it is I was trained to see.”

  Thomas hesitated for the briefest of moments then squatted down next to his wife. “Aye?”

  Maya pointed toward the area of Elizabeth’s remains that would have contained her heart in life. “These protective bones have been badly fragmented. It is impossible for your mother to have stabbed herself so many times—and so violently—before finally succumbing to death.

  “Furthermore, I can tell by the wounds that the knife slashed down at her from an angle that is impossible for her to have caused the lacerations with her own hand. These wounds were inflicted by someone else’s hand.” Maya shook her head. “Your mother did not take her own life. I’m sure of it.”

>   Thomas stood up slowly. He spoke not a word for what seemed an eternity. If his mother’s suicide was a lie, wasn’t it also possible that her alleged infidelity was a lie as well? Mayhap the reason Elizabeth’s unfaithfulness was so shocking to him and Angus was because she hadn’t been unfaithful to begin with. Mayhap Angus had spent the remainder of his years bitter and alone for sins of Elizabeth’s that were never committed.

  And Elizabeth, his beloved mother—confined to the gardens in death rather than beside her husband because ‘twas believed she was too immoral for consecrated grounds. “Maya, I must take ye tae the keep,” he said in a hoarse whisper. “I need tae be alone.”

  She looked at her husband with pity in her eyes. He sounded so broken. She nodded, laced her fingers through her husband’s, and went with him wordlessly.

  Maya expelled a deep breath as she reflected on all she’d learned today. Perhaps she’d heard one too many MacAllister stories lately, but the fact that it was a member of that very clan who had told Thomas’s father about his wife’s supposed affair had her mind at attention. Something about that scenario just wasn’t right.

  Chapter 26

  Maya rubbed her rounded belly and licked her lips. She all but panted when the servants laid out cook’s fare before her. Everything smelled downright delicious. Heck, even the grouse was tempting these days. Now that she was in her fifth month of pregnancy, she was generally famished to the point where she often times felt like she was carrying ten babies instead of one. “Please pass the sweet rolls, Argyle.”

  “Aye, milady.” Argyle did as he was bid then grinned bemusedly at his mistress while she all but inhaled the fragrant bread.

  “Good lord, Maya,” Sara admonished with a shake of her head. “You’re going to choke on your food if you inhale it any faster.”

  Maya grunted then went right back to the business of attacking her trencher.