Page 59 of Highland Guard
“What are you doing?” he groaned.
“I wanted to do what you did to me. Return the favor, so to speak.” She spoke between suckling and tonging him like it was the most natural thing in the world. He was stiff as a board.
“Why you saucy wench? How dare you start without me,” he growled as he flipped her onto the bed on all fours. Kieran smacked her backside then said, “Now tis time for your punishment.”
Naomi was giggling, but soon it turned to moans as Kieran thrust inside from behind. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head with the pleasure of being taken and dominated by a man she not only loved but trusted to take care of her. Soon the room filled with the sound of moans and gasps, eventually leading to shouts as they came together.
In that moment, Naomi knew that nothing on earth would make her want to part with this man.
She was wrong.
***
Married Life, Glenorchy
THE MACGREGORS WARMLYwelcomed Naomi, and she enjoyed working with the women when Kieran was busy. Naomi grew accustomed to married life until she sensed a shift in Kieran’s behavior. He started coming home late and avoiding questions about his day. He used to devour her cooking, but lately his appetite faded, and he claimed to have eaten in the Keep. They hardly spoke by the second week since Kieran was rarely home and when he was, he was too tired. When Naomi asked if something was troubling him, he dismissed it and directed them to bed. Kieran’s behavior towards Naomi was puzzling.
So, when it happened, it took her completely by surprise, blindsided her even. But she should have known. She should have seen it coming. She should have protected her heart before it shattered completely.
***
ON A SUNNY DAY, NAOMIheard about the men repairing part of the Keep walls. Worried about Kieran’s appetite, she prepared a food basket. Naomi approached the table where women were placing their dishes and noticed Kieran in the distance, shirtless, wielding an axe to cut wood. She smiled and just as she was about to wave; she noticed the woman and small lad from earlier in the hall calling Kieran. After setting down the axe, he greeted them, donned his leine, and went to talk to the young lad. Naomi noticed the woman stared at Kieran adoringly. She offered him refreshments, and, to Naomi’s great annoyance, Kieran accepted it and sat with the woman and her son under a shady tree.
She wondered if the lad was Kieran’s and whether Kieran was hiding his mistress from her. Naomi did not realize it, but she was trembling. She struggled to control her emotions and not attack him with her quarterstaff. Instead, she retreated as fast as she could. Naomi turned and almost slammed into Dalziel Robertson. “Sorry, I was just leaving.”
“Tis not what you think, lass,” Dalziel said.
“I do not know what you’re talking about,” she replied.
“Her name is Clara, and that’s her son, Timothy. Her husband was a sentinel and killed in an attack several years ago. Kieran courted her for a time, but when it ended, he still looked out for her son before moving to Henderson Keep. There is nothing beyond that. Dinnae be angry and make it something it isn’t. Talk to him.”
“I appreciate your advice, Dalziel, but I am not angry. I am disappointed that I must hear all this from you and not my husband.”
Dalziel flinched and then nodded in understanding.
She gave him a sad smile, then left without a glance back.
***
IT WAS ANOTHER LATEevening and Kieran was once again drowning his sorrows at the local tavern with his close friend Rory. A fellow member of Beiste MacGregor’s war band.
“Have you told your wife about Clara and the lad?” Rory asked.
“No, I dinnae need to. I’ll deal with Clara the way I ken best. She has been through a difficult time, and she needs me.”
“Kieran, she does nae need you. She is manipulating you and using the boy to do it. Just explain it to your wife and mayhap she can help as well.”
“With respect, Rory, the last thing I want to do is explain to my wife about a woman I used to court. You dinnae ken Clara like I do. I promised I’d take care of the lad and when I left for the Henderson’s, I did not ken they’d fallen on hard times.”
Rory just snorted. “Aye, hard times indeed. You always were a flickering flame for daft damsels. Attract them like bees.”
“Cease your blathering. I’m here for a quiet drink and to gather my thoughts.”
“Well, if you ask me Kieran, you should be at home, gathering your thoughts with that bonnie wife of yours. What is she going to think of you disappearing most nights? And how on earth did you even ken Clara was back in the village?”
“She came to see me a week after we arrived. She cried because she assumed when I returned from the Henderson’s it was to marry her. I swear I made no promises. We parted long before I left and that was the end of it.”
“So, what changed?”
