The mighty laird held out his hand and prayed she would not break out into a run. He sighed his relief as she slid her fingers through his and smiled rather weakly. With what little strength she still possessed, she straightened her back and hardened her eyes. She placed a well-practiced smile upon her lips and prayed no one would see through her weak defenses.
Chapter 21
Andra awoke and stretched spreading her hand across a very sleek, muscled chest. Her eyes flew open and she stared into Kagan's. His lazy smile teased her senses and she sat upright. Her body shivered with delight as the night before played in her mind. He crossed his arms under his head and yawned. Andra shifted to get up as Kagan caught her arm.
“What is ye hurry?” he asked in a rather sleepy voice.
“Tonight is the full moon and I'm anxious 'bout gettin' to the orphanage,” she quickly replied.
“It is'na an orphanage any longer, I renamed it Abbey's Place. The children loved it and agreed that it was'na appropriate to call it an orphanage anymore now that they ha'e three mothers and three fathers,” he remarked as he pulled her to his chest and held her close.
“When did ye go to the…Abbey's Place?” questioned Andra.
“Two days after yer last visit, I had urgent business with Flaron Douglas,” he returned.
“Douglas?” Andra whispered wondering if he had some connection with Haley.
“Aye, did'na ye know?” Kagan grinned, “He keeps watch o'er the southern boundaries in the highlands. He likes to keep to himself so I agreed to let him be a watcher 'stead of a warrior.”
“A watcher?” she asked
“A watcher is an experienced warrior who harbors an extreme loyalty to his laird and country and keeps watch o'er who enters and lea'es his territory. Upon findin' anything out of the ordinary he sends word to his laird. Watchers ha'e other skills that come in use from time to time. They are valuable allies.” He yawned again as Calin came to mind.
“What other uses?” Andra asked curiously
“Some are skilled in the dark arts, some in trickery, some in alchemy, some are well trained assassins, and there are e'en those who ha'e an uncanny ability to sweep women off of their feet,” he drawled.
“What on earth could that be used for?” She flinched because she was well aware of the answer.
“Some women tend to get loose tongued when in the heat of passion.” He whispered as he cuddled her closer and kissed her ear, “And they gladly gi'e up their husband’s secrets.”
Andra frowned, “Then these women are'na happy and satisfied in their beds and are'na loyal to their land.”
“Ye catch on rather well,” he replied as he caressed her arm and took her hand in his. He brought her hand to his lips and licked her fingers, sucking on each one briefly. Andra's skin blazed under his mouth and she envisioned his mouth in a more private place. Her cheeks flamed as she met his eyes.
“Care for a back rub?” he whispered as his tongue flicked across her wrist.
Andra jerked her hand away and pushed away from his embrace as she took a deep breath and smiled icily, “Must I remind ye. Today ye promised to let me go to…the abbey.”
Kagan smiled as he replaced his arms under his head. He watched her dress and reach for the rope by the fireplace. He laughed softly as she threw him a warning look.
“I need a bath to get ye sweat off of me so kindly go back to ye room,” she snapped.
“Seems I need a bath as well...I'll stay and we can bathe together while ye rub my back,” he returned.
“Humph...donna ye ha'e somewhere to be, somebody to punish, somethin' to go throttle?” She threw the words over her shoulder as she rang the bell.
“Nay, na today...we go on our trip to Abbey's Place, and ye will be happy to know that Crimm is comin' along as well,” he said in a low voice as he watched her move about the room.
Andra turned to look at him as he stood, in naked splendor, and crossed the room. She forced herself not to look down and to keep her back stiff. He put his hands on her shoulders and stared down into her eyes.
“And Jahfar goes as well,” she huffed as she watched his steel gray eyes linger on her lips.
“Unfortunately I ha'e put him busy in the smithery. His broadswords are a force to be reckoned with and he has been instructin' my smithy on their makin',” he snapped.
Andra grated her teeth, “I wish him to go. He has become a dear friend and I trust him and besides I am afraid I can'na do without his choc o lat.”
Kagan smiled, “Sorry but he is busy. Surely ye can do without it for a night.”
“I suppose just this once. Why is Crimm goin'?”
“I am stationin'' him with Flaron 'til we can move the bairns closer to the keep.” He mumbled and turned.
“Why?”
Kagan ran his hand through his hair, “Flaron sends word that someone attacked him and stole all of the abbey's supplies. The bairns are scared and their fathers are tired from lack of sleep and ha'e been huntin' nonstop to keep the bairns fed.”
“Why did ye na tell me? I could ha'e went to 'em and helped.” She gritted through her teeth and turned from Kagan.
“Crimm will stay with Flaron and we will bring the bairns back.”
“Does that na put him in danger? How many others are ye takin' to aid Flaron?” She turned and knew the answer before he spoke.
“Crimm is the only one that I can spare at the moment. I hope ye understand that he volunteered for this.”
Andra huffed as she pulled away knowing her wily ways were not going to work on him this day. She tossed her hair back and picked up the bristled brush and sat down on the edge of the bed as Kagan picked up his kilt.
“I love him very much, but I hope he can forgive me for what I did. I ne’er wanted him to be displeased with me,” she chattered.
“Why did ye run?” he asked without looking at her, his frown hardening.
“I did'na want to marry ye. I was hurt and angry that my father and Crimm arranged my marriage and did'na bother to inform me. And......,” Andra hesitated, “and I was ashamed that ye would ha'e to marry someone like me. I know na how to cook or clean or mend clothin'. I only know how to ride, fight, read, write, and argue my opinion. By all rights, I should ha'e been born a boy and none of this would ha'e e'er happened.”
“Thank Dagma ye were a lass! I would now be marryin' a man instead of the most beautiful woman on earth,” he chided huskily as he pulled her to her feet.
“I am'na beautiful, I'm homely and o'er muscled and too short. I ha'e horrid scars on my shoulder and back. My hair is too odd a color for this place and my legs are fat and my eyes are too big and my lips look like two logs stickin' out of my face,” she ranted as he pulled her closer.
“Ye are the most beautiful woman I ha'e e'er seen. Ye eyes, lips, legs, shoulders, back, and those other places ye hide are all perfect,” he whispered as he bent to kiss her.
Andra grasped his biceps and pulled herself up onto her tippy toes to accept his kiss. His lips took hers and he crushed her body to his.
“Do ye feel that?' he asked in a low voice as he crushed her pelvis to his.
Andra held her breath as she felt his erection rub against her. Her body sizzled with heat as she leaned into his warmth. Her legs went numb as he caressed her back.
“If ye were'na beautiful and I did'na desire ye, ye body would'na ha'e this effect on mine,” he whispered against her lips. “I grow hard e'ery time I am near ye and when I think 'bout ye.”
He growled with pleasure as Andra's hand slipped down between his legs and rubbed his erection. She fondled every inch of him sending him into a state of bliss. She stepped back and pulled her dress over her head and threw it across the bed.
Kagan reached for her to have his hand slapped like a school boy. He frowned as she smiled and shook her finger at him. She cradled his manhood again and placed his hand upon her hip.
He leaned against her and closed his eyes as she continued her power-play
. His lips sought hers as he caught her head with his large hands. His fingers curled into her hair. Andra smiled wickedly as he groaned into her mouth and pushed her backwards toward the bed.
She sat down still holding him in her hand. He stepped forward and she pushed at his abdomen lightly to keep him in the standing position. Her wicked smile flashed at him as she leaned forward and took his head in her mouth, gently sucking at his warmth.
He pulled back with a soft groan and looked down into her misty eyes, “Andra...”
“Shhhh...these are things I should already know and as ye betrothed am I na supposed to do 'em?” She whispered as his hand wrapped into her hair, “What do ye think Kagan McKregan? Do ye think ye can spend the rest of ye life with me in ye bed?”
Kagan's sudden gasp of air exploded in her brain as she took as much of him into her mouth as she could. He groaned and arched into her. She sucked and pulled back and almost laughed when he momentarily lost his balance. He pulled away and pushed her onto her back growling her name.
“Let me make love to ye,” he ordered.
“Nay, na yet my warrior...touch me...touch me here,” she whispered as she moved his hand between their bodies and placed his fingertips on her womanhood, “love me....”
He rubbed her, excited her, and when she arched against his hand, he slipped his finger inside and closed his eyes, feeling her.
“Ye be hot...wet...ready...let me,” he almost begged.
“I need...I want...ye to love me,” she breathed into his ear as he entered her deeper.
“I....” he whispered as she closed her eyes and moaned, “Do ye want more?”
“Aye, it feels so right,” she whispered back, “But Kagan, I need to hear...love me.”
He pulled out and treaded with two fingers and she screamed out in pleasure as he met her arch. She felt like she was drowning in his smell, his sweat, and his eyes.
“Let me show ye more pleasure than ye can imagine,” he drawled as she gave in to her desire.
“More than this...more?” she gasped as an explosion rocked her insides.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he smiled and licked her nipple, “There is much more to come.”
His head sagged as a knock brought them both back to the room. She groaned with displeasure as he pulled away and stood. He retrieved his kilt and pulled the sheet over her naked hot body.
“Tell 'em to go away,” she whispered. “And tell me ye love me.”
His roguish smile widened as he answered, “Nay, take ye bath and remember what has transpired here. Meet Crimm and I at the stables, we will finish this when we return.”
“But Kagan...please...I.” She sat upright pleading with her misty highland eyes for him to come back to her side.
It took all of Kagan's willpower not to pounce on her and plunge himself deep within her sweetness, but he refrained, he wanted it to be perfect and relaxed, he wanted her to trust him completely.
“The maids are waitin' in the hall and I'm sure they donna want to hear the sounds of lovemakin' through the door,” he whispered as he grabbed the doorknob.
He jumped in shock as a large basin shattered at his side against the door. He turned to scold her but was caught by her breathtaking beauty.
Her breast heaved in heavy gasps as she grabbed another basin and flung it at him. He caught it and set it down. He deftly sidestepped another one and grabbed her wrists. He jerked her into his arms and crushed her lips. She bit his lip and sucked hard on his tongue.
“Remember well this day my warrior, for it will be the last time I lose my senses and almost beg ye to make love to me...ye were so close...” she wickedly hugged his neck as he frowned, “Ye could be layin' in this bed plungin' deep inside of me right this minute but na, ye choose to lea'e, to lea'e a woman in need.”
He pulled away and stomped into his room, slamming the door. Once safely out of her sight, he slammed his fist hard into the stone wall and slumped forward very aware he had what he wanted under his body begging for him to make love to her and he let it slip through his fingers like sand. He groaned as he closed his eyes and envisioned his woman reaching for him in need of his touch.
“Dagma, help me,” he begged.
“What has got ye so flustered?” asked Crimm as he strolled through the door, taking a bite of the red fruit he held in his hand.
Kagan growled at his friend and slipped into his tub. The water had grown cold and his body wilted under its weight.
He took a deep breath as his erection eased and he frowned at Crimm. Crimm grinned and smiled as he covered his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Known ye a long time, ne'er seen ye flustered 'fore,” he stated as he flung his long legs into the chair at the desk.
“Ne'er ha'e I had to deal with a Duncan female 'fore.” He bellowed, “What in the name of Dagma did ye teach her?”
Crimm laughed heartily, “Twas na teachin' involved, she takes after our mother. She was a spitfire. Head strong. She had the will power to bend the mightiest mountain and break the mightiest man.”
“What happened to ye mother?” Kagan asked.
“She died when Andra was six. She fought the sickness for se'eral years ‘til it won the battle. She made us all swear we would treat Andra equally and raise her to be independent,” he answered.
Kagan leaned his head on the back of the tub and closed his eyes while Crimm chewed on his fruit.
“Crimm, I think I can'na live without ye sister,” he whispered almost wishing Crimm had not heard his words.
Crimm coughed and gagged on the bite of fruit and came up laughing, “Praise be Dagma and his twists of faith, the laird has fallen in love with a hellcat!”
Kagan insisted she ride Demon to the abbey and Andra reeled in pleasure as she rode across the highlands. She rode in front of Crimm and Kagan enjoying the scenery. Even Kagan had noticed how her icy demeanor melted when she was immersed in the highland's beauty. He vaguely listened to Crimm's long- winded philosophies on life, love, and humanity.
His gaze followed Andra as she smiled and coo-ed to Demon. That damned horse had taken to her quite well and now obeyed her better than he did Kagan. Perhaps obeyed was not the correct word, more like bent to her will. Kagan smiled lazily. He was also bending to her will very often it seemed. She had won many of their battles but the war was not over yet.
Andra rode hard and fast towards the tree line. Her outstretched arms embraced the whipping wind as she soared with Demon. She caught his reigns as he pulled to an abrupt halt, stomping and snorting.
“What is it Demon?” asked Andra as she looked around the trees.
They turned in circles as Demon grew more frantic. Andra saw nothing out of the ordinary and tried to calm him down. He stomped and turned towards Kagan snorting. From the corner of her eye, Andra caught a movement in the trees. Her head swiftly turned and her eyes widened.
A black clad archer was sitting on a heavy branch in a tall tree, his bow was drawn back and he stared towards Kagan and Crimm. She urged Demon to run as he jumped at her touch. He did not hesitate and went to a fast gallop towards his master. She screamed at Kagan but her words fell before reaching his ears.
Kagan saw Andra riding back like the devil were on Demon's hooves. As she neared her face was pale and she was saying something, nay she was screaming. He hurried his steed. Her words became audible as he raced towards her.
“Take cover. An archer aims for ye from the trees!” she screamed as her face twisted in pain.
Her scream died on her lips as a scorching blinding pain split into her shoulder. The arrow's aim was true and its edge pierced through her skin, muscle, and bone. The bloody tip emerged from her shoulder before her very eyes. She stared at it as she slumped forward. Her ears heard Kagan's growl of anger as she was pulled from Demon and shoved behind a huge boulder.
Crimm’s face appeared as if in a dream and his lips were moving, but Andra could not hear, could not move in protest as he tightly grip
ped the arrow and pulled. It seemed odd that she suddenly felt no more pain. She saw clouds roll by and the sun disappeared.
Her lips were dry and cracked and her mouth felt as if it were full of sand. Kagan's face slowly came into view from below her, his eyes were angry and hurt. She wanted and tried to comfort him but her words would not come. His face burst into thousands of red and silver droplets as she tried to reach for him. Time had no meaning and the heavens cracked open and swallowed her in its blinding light.
Chapter 22
Her wounds were those that few men could have survived, yet she clung to life with every fiber of her being. Her thoughts were broken pieces of memories and were shrouded with unintelligible languages. Words spoken so loud her tender ears could not comprehend the speech. Her heart ached as Kagan kept turning from her and walked away. The pain filled cries escaped her dry lips and crept into the hallway.
Kagan paced the floor before Andra's room. Each step he took drove his dark mood deeper into his heart. Heavy lines etched into his forehead and the scowl across his lips thundered in his black eyes. The steady hand that had won all his battles now shook with worry, or was it fear?
She was close to death and Kagan did not have the cure. Death was an opponent Kagan knew he could not win against but his heart urged him to take matters into his own hands. A low growl of menacing defiance burst out from his lungs and the air shrunk away and grew heavy around the keep. Dark clouds filled the once clear sky and thunder echoed across the rooftops.
The archer's aim had been precise and the oddly shaped tip of the arrow had claimed Andra as its victim. Kagan uncurled his fist and gazed down at the tip of the arrow. It was as black as onyx and sharper than any dagger he had ever lain eyes on. His growl grew louder as the edge sliced across his palm easily and his blood dripped in defeat.
A gift a death from an unknown enemy. How could he fight an enemy he did not know and who would ever dare to kill something that belonged to a McKregan?
A Warrior's Perception Page 23