Suddenly, his thighs brushed either side of her hips, the bed dipped under his weight, and the heat of his body pressed down on her. His fingers came to her back, and she fought the rigidness that came by clenching her teeth. Yet, when he started to rub her back gently, then her neck, shoulders, legs, and buttocks, every bit of tension that had consumed her slipped away. He spoke softly to her, repeating the refrain he had before: Mo chailin chalma.
She could not say how long he attended to her body, but she felt almost leaden, as if lifting an arm or leg would take more effort than she could gather. He feathered kissed down her back, trailing them along her spine, and worshiping each of her globes. When she was sure he was close to having his way, he surprised her by gently easing her onto her back and showering her front with the same attention he had shown her backside. Each kiss, touch, and caress was exquisite and loving, and stoked that same hot desire he had managed to ignite moments ago.
Soon, she was panting, writhing, and demanding he cease teasing her, and he answered by suckling on one aching nipple and then the other. He kissed his way down each of her legs in turn and worked his way back up to the juncture between her thighs to bring her so much pleasure that she could not hold back her cries of ecstasy. When he was finished, he came up to hover over her and moved to grasp her under her buttocks, but she shook her head.
“Nay,” she whispered and flipped onto her belly. “As ye were going to before.”
“Ye’re certain?” he asked, his lips pressed close to her ear. His fingers trailed over her back, leaving gooseflesh in their wake.
“I—Alex, I’ve nae ever been more certain of anything in my life.”
And then he gently cupped her hips and eased into her with care, stilling when she was positive he had to be at his hilt. She felt full in body and heart.
“Are ye fine?” he asked.
“Aye,” she said. “I’m wonderful.” Tears of joy came to her eyes, and Alex began to move and introduce her to exactly how beautiful and pleasurable such an act could be. As he stroked in and out of her faster and his fingers curled into her flesh to grip her tighter, her own need mounted and clawed back to the top. She cried out and sobbed at once when she found her release, and at the same time, she knew Alex had found his.
He stopped abruptly, pulling her hair back from her damp cheek. “Have I hurt ye?”
He sounded horrified, so she quickly shook her head. “Nay,” she assured him. “Ye brought me so much pleasure I could nae contain it.”
“’Tis how it should be,” he replied, kissing her shoulder and then slipping off the bed.
“Where are ye away to?” she asked when, after a brief moment, her bedchamber door squeaked as it was opened. As she flipped onto her back, the sight of her husband’s muscled back and legs greeted her. Only his manhood and buttocks were covered by the plaid wrapped around his waist.
He turned at her question and grinned, looking like a child with a secret. “Dunnae fash yerself. I’ll return verra quickly.”
She frowned. “Ye kinnae go about like that!”
“I’m nae venturing far,” he said and then shut her door before she could protest.
By the time she had untangled herself from the bed linens, used the washbasin, and managed to don her léine, he returned, this time with a mischievous look on his face.
“Come,” he said, gesturing to her.
“But I’m nae dressed!”
He chuckled. “Ye’re too dressed as it is. Besides, ye dunnae need clothing for what I have in mind.”
“I kinnae depart this—”
She did not get the rest of the sentence out. Alex swept her off her feet just as he had before, except this time he slung her over his shoulder, and gently smacked her bottom as he strode out of her bedchamber, in spite of her protests. To her embarrassment, two servants were exiting his room, and both men chuckled.
“Put me down!” she bellowed, which only elicited a cluck of the tongue from her husband.
But seconds later, he did set her down on her feet, placing a steadying hand on her elbow. She opened her mouth to tell him she did not appreciate being handled like chattel, but Freya stood before her. Lena promptly clamped her mouth shut.
Freya looked between her and Alex with amused wonder, only seeming to remember herself when Alex pointedly cleared his throat. She blinked, and color kissed her cheeks. “My laird,” she rushed out with a bob of her head. “Does the sup please ye?” she asked, sweeping a hand toward the wall behind Lena.
Lena turned around and gasped at the vast spread of food laid out on the table. Any irritation she’d been feeling disappeared as her heart squeezed in her chest.
“That will be all, Freya,” Alex said in a smooth, deep voice from behind Lena.
She heard Freya’s departing footsteps, but she was too absorbed with taking in all Alex had done in such a short amount of time that she did not turn around to bid the woman good night. Cheese, bread, mince pies, and apple tarts filled the trenchers, and a pair of goblets were brimming with wine. In the other corner of the room, along the same wall, a wooden bathing tub was filled with steaming water. As she drew nearer to it, she gaped at the flower petals floating in the water and the scent of chamomile wafting from it.
Suddenly, she felt Alex behind her, a pillar of strength and a fountain of generosity. A lump lodged in her throat, and she swallowed it down. She did not just care greatly for this man. She loved him. She’d blurted before that she could love him, but shedidlove him. It didn’t matter that they had not been married long. He had slipped inside her heart and staked his claim, whether he had meant to or not. He’d shown her tenderness, kindness, understanding, and patience, and he’d asked nothing in return.
She wanted to tell him of her feelings, but she feared it may be too soon, that he might not be ready to hear such a thing from her, particularly given how he still was keeping secrets from her. Beyond that, she wanted very much to think that if she told him she loved him, she might hear it in return, and she just could not say for certain that she would. There was also a frightened part of her that knew how heartbreaking it would feel if he did not reciprocate, so instead of professing her newfound love, she turned in his arms, stood on her tiptoes, cupped his face, and brushed her lips to his.
