Ham couldn’t hold out anymore; it was time to bring his new wife to completion. He took her clit, which was slippery with her cunny juice between his thumb and finger. “Cum now Flora,” he said to her as he pinched it, pounding into her harder than ever before. Flora came instantly, once again letting out a loud squeal. Ham followed right behind her, shooting his load far up inside her. He couldn’t help but think about how much he was going to enjoy making a wee babe with his new wife.
“That was incredible,” Ham said as he collapsed on the bed next to her and pulled her on top of him.
“Did you really mean it when you said you’d take me to Edinburgh?” she asked.
“Of course I did,’ he said. “I would love to buy you some new things. Be it dresses or trews.”
“Flora!” came a yell from the other side of the door as someone also began knocking quite loud.
“Jacqueline?” Flora called back. “Give me a moment.” She began pulling her trews back up over her red thighs and arse. “Something must be wrong,” she said to Ham.
She raced to the door and opened it as Ham donned his trews and kilt. “What’s wrong?” she asked Jacqueline.
“Nessa is having her baby,” Jacqueline told her. “Ina says to come as soon as you can.”
“I’m ready,” Flora said, following her out the door. Ham followed along behind them.
Chapter 8 A New McCabe
“How long does it take to birth a babe?” Eadan muttered as he paced in the solar outside the room where his wife struggled to give birth.
“I felt the same way when Jacqueline was birthing the twins,” Connor said.
“I remember your sister coming out with the first babe. She placed her in your arms, and before she could even tell you what it was she was called back into the room quickly,” Hamish said. “Scared the hell out of me.”
“I couldn’t breathe at first,” Connor agreed. “We laugh about that moment now.”
“How is the lovely Fiona?” Hamish asked.
“She’s doing well. She just became betrothed to a boy from the village,” Connor said. “He’s going to begin training as one of the castle guards soon. My Da said the wedding could take place in the fall.”
“It’s good she’s been able to pick her own husband,” Hamish said. “It’ll be a good solid marriage.”
“That’s what my Da is hoping for,” Connor said. “I don’t really care for the man all that much myself, but my wife has assured me that he will grow on me with time.”
“Your wife is a smart lass,” Hamish said, making the McCabe men that were gathered chuckle. The solar was packed with them. Besides Eadan, Hamish, Connor and Ham. The rest of the McCabe’s had also slowly arrived. Alastair, Ross, Craig, Rory and Owen were all waiting for the birth of the newest McCabe.
They heard Nessa let out a scream just as Eadan was about to take a seat, making him jump back up onto his feet and continue pacing.
“Is that normal?” Eadan asked his Da and Connor.
“Your sister let out a few good screams while she brought our twins into the world,” Connor said.
“Your Mither did too,” Hamish said. “Bringing a new life into the world isn’t an easy thing.”
Just then the door to the room opened. Jacqueline escorted a very pale and shaky Angela out of the room. She looked as though she was ready to pass out at any minute.
“Ross,” Jacqueline called her brother, “Angela needs you; it’s a bit too much for her to watch right now.”
Ross walked over and swooped his wife up into his arms, carrying her back to a chair and sitting down with her on his lap.
“I don’t know if I can do that,” she said quietly to him, tears pooling in her eyes.
“You’re one of the strongest women I know,” Ross said back. “I know you can do it.”
“Is there something we need to know?” asked Hamish.
Ross looked at Angela, who nodded and smiled at him. “We weren’t going to tell anyone until after Nessa had the baby,” Ross said, grinning at his Da, “but we’re going to be parents next spring.”
The McCabe’s quickly gathered around them both, giving congratulations. “Why weren’t you going to say anything until after the babe was born?” Eadan asked.
“Because this is your and Nessa’s moment,” Angela said. “Ours will come in the spring.”
“Another babe,” Hamish said, not being able to hide his smile. He hugged his granddaughter Alyssa, who was sitting on his lap, just a bit tighter.
**********
“I don’t know if I can do this much longer,” Nessa said as Jacqueline wiped the sweat off of her forehead.
“You’re doing just fine,” Jacqueline told her. “I never thought the twins would be born, but once it’s over, you forget about how bad the birthing is.”
“I’ll never forget this,” Nessa said. “I don’t ever want to have another.”
“You’ll change your mind,” Jacqueline said, smiling down at her. She’d noticed since she and Connor’s arrival that things didn’t seem to be going to well between Eadan and Nessa. They spent very little time together, and although when they were together, they seemed polite enough, there seemed to be no hint of intimacy between them.
“Your babe seems to be turned wrong,” Flora said to her. “I’m going to have to try to turn it so it can come out properly. Helga’s going to give you a tonic to relax you. I hate to tell you this Nessa, but it’s going to be a bit uncomfortable.”
“What if I don’t want it done?” Nessa asked.
“Then you and the babe won’t survive the birth,” Flora told her. “It has to be done.”
Nessa drank the tonic and tried to relax as Flora worked, turning the babe until its head finally was in the right position. Once there, the rest of the birth went quickly and soon Nessa had pushed out a beautiful baby boy.
“He’s perfect,” Jacqueline said to her sister by marriage. Nessa just nodded in agreement. “Do you want me to let Eadan in?”
“If you must,” Nessa said, not seeming all that interested in sharing the moment with her husband.
“I’ll take the babe out and show him to everyone,” Jacqueline said a bit confused. “Just rest Nessa, giving birth is a tiring experience.”
Jacqueline gently lifted the swaddled babe and carried him out into the solar where her family had gathered. She walked directly to Eadan and placed the babe in his arms; she smiled at him saying, “meet your son.”
“It’s a lad?” Eadan asked.
“It’s a beautiful, healthy lad,” Jacqueline told him.
Hamish McCabe let out a whoop as he swung his granddaughter Annabelle into the air making her laugh. “You have a new cousin,” he told her.
“Have the girls been out here the whole time?” Jacqueline asked Connor.
“They have,” he said. “They’ve been passed around from uncle to uncle all day. They’ve had a grand time.”
“I need to feed them,” she said. Taking Anabelle from her Da while Connor gathered Alyssa from Rory.
“What about Nessa? Will she need to feed the lad?” Eadan asked.
“She’s opting for a wet nurse,” Jacqueline told him. “I hope you’ve arranged for one already.”
“I have,” he said, sounding disappointed. “She said she wasn’t going to be tied down by a feeding babe.”
“Everyone has to make their own choice, Eadan,” Jacqueline said.
“Did you know Angela is going to have a babe in the spring?” Hamish asked his daughter.
“I thought she might,” Jacqueline said, smiling at her brother and Angela. “I love that this family is growing more each year.”
“I agree,” Hamish said, the smile on his face was bigger than any Jacqueline had ever seen. “Now I’m going to have to travel to three castles to spend time with all my grandchildren.”
Chapter 9 Edinburgh
“Have you been to Edinburgh before?” Ham asked Flora as they rode towards the city.
“Not since I was a little girl,” she replied. “My parents took me once.”
“Tell me about them,” Ham said.
“There isn’t much to tell,” she said. “They didn’t exactly have a happy marriage.”
“Why not?” Ham asked. “I don’t remember my Mither all that well, but I know her and my Da were happy together. It took him a very long time to get over her death.”
“My parents were good people,” she said. “They both loved me; they just didn’t seem to love each other.”
“How could you tell?” he asked.
“I remember they argued all the time,” she said. “After my Da died, my Mither said bad things about him all the time. In a way, I don’t blame her for being bitter towards him. He dishonored her more than once.”
“How did he dishonor her?” he asked.
“My Mither said he was always more interested in the whores than her,” Flora explained. “I guess he visited them often and didn’t try to keep it discreet.”
“That’s a shame,” he said. “How do you remember him?”
“I loved him,” she said. “When it was just the two of us we had fun. He would take me for walks outside the village and sometimes we went fishing. I don’t remember much else.”
“I’d focus on the good memories then,” he said.
They rode silently for a few minutes again before Flora spoke again. “You won’t be going to the whores will you, Ham?” she asked.
“Why would you ask me that?” he answered.
“Because I don’t want to hate you like my Mither hated my Da,” she explained.
“I believe in my marriage vows,” he told her. “I don’t plan on bedding anyone but you from now on.”
“If I ever found out different, I wouldn’t want to stay married to you,” she told him.
“I’m not going to lie and say I’ve never laid with a woman for coin before,” he said, “but I can promise you, it won’t happen again now that you’re my wife.”
“I guess I’m going to have to believe you unless I see different,” she replied, giving him a small grin. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You can ask me anything you want?” he answered.
“Why is alright for a man to lie with a woman before marriage, but it’s not alright for a woman to do the same with a man?” she asked.
Ham laughed. “I don’t really know the answer to that, but I can tell you this, you wouldn’t want a man who doesn’t have any experience on your wedding night.”
“Why do you say that?” Flora asked.
“Did you enjoy our wedding night?” he asked her.
Flora blushed, “you know I did.”
“Now think if you had a man who didn’t know what to do,” Ham said.
“I guess that makes sense,” Flora agreed. “I just hate the thought of you with another woman.”
“You’re the only woman for me for now on,” he said, leaning over and giving her a quick kiss, making Diabhal, stomp the ground, jostling Ham. “You crazy beast,” he said, patting the horse on the neck.”
“It’s almost like he’s jealous,” Flora said laughing.
“Look,” he said pointing forward. “There’s the city up ahead.”
“Is that the castle in the middle?” she asked.
“It is,” he replied. “We’re just going to stay in the village tonight, and then we can do some shopping on the morrow. We’ll head back to Gleann the day after. I’d stay longer, but with the whole family only at Gleann for another sennight I’d like to get back and spend time with them.”
“I really like Ross’ wife Angela,” Flora told him. “This was the first time I’ve met her.”
“They hadn’t been to Gleann before,” he explained. “This was the first time any of the family has met her except for me, my Da, Connor and Jacqueline.”
“I heard Ross married her to keep her safe,” she said.
“He did,” Ham explained. “Lachlan Stewart was trying to force a marriage to him. Ross didn’t know it when he married her, but Stewart somehow found out that Angela’s husband was to be given the Lairdship in Tioram.”
“Ross is a laird?” she asked.
“Not yet,” he said. “Iain McCarthy is still alive and well. He’ll run the clan for a while longer.”
“Does it bother you that he’ll be a laird and you won’t be?” she asked.
“Not at all,” he said. “I’m happy running the guard at Gleann. It gives me more time to travel and see my brother and sister. Eadan is always busy with clan business; he doesn’t get away very often.”
“It does seem like he runs things more than your Da does now,” she said.
“I think Da is about ready to turn the lairdship over to Eadan entirely,” Ham agreed. “He’d rather travel and spend time with his grandchildren. Now that Ross and Angela are expecting, I expect we’ll see him even less at Gleann.”
Flora laughed. “He is funny when he’s around Annabelle and Alyssa. It’s hard to even get a turn with them.”
“We’ve all noticed,” Ham said chuckling. “The man goes daft when he’s around those girls.”
They rode silently for a while and entered the city through the gates. Ham led them through the winding streets to an inn he knew that wasn’t too far away from where he knew the market would be the next day. “We’ll stay here the next two nights,” he told her. “I know the beds are clean and the food is fair.”
“Alright,” Flora agreed. “I’m ready to get off this horse for a while.”
Ham led her into the inn and rented them a room. Flora followed him up the stairs as he carried their belongings.
“I say let’s get a good sleep tonight, and tomorrow we can get an early start,” he told her. Flora yawned and agreed.
Grabbing a nightdress out of her bag she went behind the screen in the room to change, she still wasn’t comfortable changing in front of her husband. Once she was done, she came out and crawled between the covers of the bed.
Ross went behind the screen after her and stripped down. He washed up in the water that’d been provided. He hoped he didn’t shock his wife when he walked out naked, but that’s how he’d always slept and didn’t intend to change now. He shouldn’t have worried. When he came out from behind the screen and looked at his wife, she was already sound asleep on the bed. He climbed in next to her, pulled her into his arms, and got himself comfortable. He’d let her sleep this night, the few nights before had been long, with their wedding and then the birth of young Eadan Hamish McCabe. A good night’s sleep would do them both some good.
**********
“Wake up, Ham,” Flora said. “You’re sleeping the day away.”
Ham opened his eyes to see it was already light in the room. “You’ve dressed already?”
“I can’t wait to see the city,” she said excitedly, then she laughed and added, “I feel like I’m eight summers again.”
“I like seeing you this happy,” he said. “Have you any idea what you want to purchase?”
“Jacqueline said if I can’t find anything I like, then I should just get materials. She knows a woman in the village who can sew anything I would need and would be happy to earn the coin,” she explained.
“What kind of material?” he asked. “Did she say?”
“Nay,” Flora said alarmed. “I didn’t think to ask.”
“It’s alright,” he said. “I’m sure the ladies in the market will know. It’ll all be fine.”
“Are you getting up?” she asked.
“It’ll cost you,” he said, grinning at her.
“Cost me?” she asked.
“Three kisses,” he said.
“Oh,” she replied, blushing. She bent her head down and pressed her lips to his, giving him a quick kiss. “One,” she said, then did it again, “two,” the third time when she bent down, Ham wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down on top of him. He kissed her firmly, sliding his tongue into her mouth and making it tangle with he
r own. Once she finally relaxed and let the kiss overtake her, he let her go.
“Three,” he said, flinging the covers off of him and getting out of bed.
Flora laughed at first, then gasped and quickly turned away when she saw he was naked, her face turning red.
“You’ll be seeing a whole lot more of me later,” he said from behind her, kissing her quickly on the back of her neck, “and I hope to be seeing a whole lot more of you.”
“I hope so too,” she said breathlessly. In the few days she’d been married to Ham, her opinion of him had begun to change. She was finding out he was kind, and funny and seemed to enjoy spending time with her. He was quickly becoming what she had always hoped he would be.
They left the room together and spent the entire day shopping. Ham bought her more material than she ever thought she would need. He bought beautiful pieces of linen, wool, velvet and even a piece of silk. He took her over to the cobbler where he ordered her multiple pairs of slippers to wear around the castle and two new pair of boots, one for riding and one to wear when she was out doing her healing duties. They also picked her up two new pairs of trews and three tunics. He understood her need to be able to move freely when delivering a babe, or tending to the injured.
“These are nicer than I’ve ever had before,” she said to him as he paid for the purchases. “I feel like you’ve spent too much money on me today.”
“It’s about time someone spoiled you a bit,” he told her.
“Can I look over there?” she asked, pointing to another stand not too far away.
“You can,” he answered. “I need to go to the blacksmith for just a moment, so I’ll meet you there.”
He watched his wife as she wandered over to the stand where herbs and spices were sold. He hurried back to a stand they had passed earlier. A beautiful necklace had caught his eye. The emerald in it would match the green in Flora’s eyes perfectly. He bought it and hurried back to the stand.
Flora was engrossed in the different herbs available. She was lifting each to her nose and smelling it, and even tasting others. She was so engrossed in what she was doing she didn’t hear Ham walk up behind her and only realized he was there when she felt the cool metal hit her neck. She jumped as Ham pushed himself up against her, whispering in her ear, “I’d like to see you in nothing but this tonight.”
The Man of Her Dreams Page 7