* * *
She felt eyes upon her. It was the strangest feeling of knowing that she could not explain, but when Skylar lifted her head from the book, there Maxwell stood, just inside the doorway of Kendrick’s room. She had not previously been aware that he came to look in on the boy, and at any other time, it might have warmed her heart. At that moment, however, she could only feel frustration at the way he had treated her these past few days.
“I will be back soon,” she said to Ogilvie, handing him the book and forcing a smile as she looked down at him.
“All right,” he replied.
Pushing herself from the bed, she stormed toward Maxwell. He did not move as she expected him to, which took her a little by surprise but did not deter her.
“We need tae talk,” she hissed before grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him through the door.
She could not bear this circumstance any longer, and if he would not talk to her, perhaps it was time she talked to him. Something had to be done, for she was not willing to spend the rest of her life stuck in Dunvegan Castle, being completely ignored by the man who was supposed to be her husband. He had not spoken to her in any depth at any rate for nearly three days. She had also spent those nights alone in her bedchamber, wondering if her life was to be like this forever. She had had enough.
While she wanted privacy to speak to him, their chambers were too far away and seeing the library, she dragged him into the room and slammed the door behind her.
“I cannae stand this any longer,” she cried. “Ye have tae talk tae me. Ye have tae tell me what I’ve done wrong.”
Maxwell only looked at her but did not reply, which angered her even further. Was he really not going to answer her even now?
“Talk tae me, goddamn it!” she yelled. “I didnae ask tae be brought here. I didnae ask tae be married tae ye either. I’ve done everything ye’ve asked o’ me, and now I’m yer wife, ye’ve done naething but ignore me.”
“Ye can hardly ignore the fact that things have been happening, Skylar. The castle did come under attack, or do ye prefer tae forget that small detail?” Maxwell retorted eventually.
“And that gives ye good reason tae entirely ignore me?” she bit back. “I cannae imagine how troubled ye are, Maxwell. I ken ye lost men, and there were many injured. But that was three days ago. And ye have nae spoken tae me in those days.”
“There have been things I’ve needed tae deal with,” he yelled back. “Ye are nae the most important person in this castle, Skylar.”
“Och well, I dinnae need ye tae tell me such things. Clearly, I am the least important thing in this castle. Ye can speak with the council, your advisor, and even yer brother, but ye cannae speak tae me. Dinnae worry,my laird,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I ken my place well.”
He took two long strides forward, and with his long legs, was quickly standing directly in front of her, taking her by surprise. But she would not let him intimidate her. He may well be the laird, and everyone else may fear his rule, but she did not. Her anger was justified, for all she desired was an answer.
“Ye dinnae scare me, my laird,” she said, the sarcasm still in her voice.
“And yet ye trembled so much on our wedding night,” he replied, a slight smirk dancing at the corner of his mouth. He lifted his hand to her face, cupping her cheek. His touch was nothing if not disarming, and Skylar once more was taken by surprise.
“What are ye doing?” she demanded, trying to fight the feelings that now rose within her. She struggled to stay angry with him when the soft caress of his fingers on her cheek aroused another emotion entirely.
He didn’t answer her question and instead lowered his mouth onto hers, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into him. Skylar could not argue with him any longer, and perhaps, that had been the reason for his kiss. As the heady feeling of desire rose within her, the desperate need for him that three nights alone had created, she could no longer fight. And so, she didn’t.
His tongue moved sensuously inside her mouth, arousing her even further, and hardly able to help herself, she kissed him back. His kiss was so desperate, feeling as though he wanted to devour her entirely, but soon, her mouth was not enough for him.
Lifting her from her feet, he carried her across the library and sat her down on a chair. Falling to his knees before her, Skylar looked at him with confusion. Maxwell grabbed her hips and pulled her buttocks forward, forcing her to lay back a little. He then yanked her skirts up from the floor, gathered them and set them at her waist, pulling her legs apart. Taking her left leg, he placed it over his shoulder and swiftly buried his face into her swollen womanhood.
“Oh, my god,” she gasped, grabbing the sides of the chair in shocked pleasure. The wetness of his tongue against the most sensitive part of her was a sensation she could not describe, but the pleasure burst through her body, making her arch her back and desperately want more. His tongue flicked inside of her before once more returning to the spot of delicious pleasure, and letting her head fall back, Skylar floated on the utter bliss the sensation created.
Maxwell clearly knew what he was doing, and soon, his tongue moved faster, making Skylar pant heavily, for as he had done before, he was bringing her to a peak that would soon send a feeling of ecstasy through every part of her. She grabbed his shoulders as he relentlessly flicked his tongue. Her breath was shallow now, gasping for air, and in another second, her entire body seized as she cried out.
“Oh, god. Oh, god.”
Before she knew what was happening, Maxwell had stood and pulled her to her feet. Spinning her to face the other way, he pushed her to bend at the waist. She grabbed the chair to steady herself, and now bent double, she felt her skirt once more being flung over her body.
“I want ye, Skylar. I want ye so desperately,” Maxwell growled huskily.
With her legs spread wide and his hands holding tightly onto her hips, he entered her. Even though she could sense his desperation, he was still gentle at the start, edging himself in with each forward movement. She moaned as she felt him deeper and deeper inside of her. He moved faster then, thrusting into her and making her cry out, for he pierced her so deeply, the sensation was like nothing she had ever felt before, and yet, she only wanted more.
They moved together as one, his hips slamming into her buttocks as she moved back to meet him, wanting him all, every last inch of him. He moved faster and harder and deeper, sinking himself into her over and over again until finally, he let out a roar as he exploded inside of her.
Afterward, when they both collapsed on the library floor, exhausted and flushed, Skylar could not find any more words to say to him. It did not feel right to start questioning him once more. Their lovemaking had eased the tension between them, and perhaps now, things would go back to what they were before.
