by Fiona Faris
“Tis, lassie. But I have more news fer ye. I wanted tae tell ye that I have decided tae take on the role as clan leader. Me da believes in me, and fer so long, I avoided it, thinkin’ I wasnae made fer it or worried I would disappoint me da.”
“Oh, Aithe, I'm so proud of you. I think that is a wonderful choice.” Alice pulled him in for an embrace. “You will make a wonderful clan leader. You are a noble and honorable man, and a great example for people to look to.”
“Thank ye, lassie, tis only cause of ye that I believe I can dae it. Before meetin’ ye, I was comfortable livin’ me life away from here, away from me family. Now that I’ve been with ye, ye have shown me how much I should cherish them. I am ready fer our new life here.”
“I am too, Aithe.” Alice planted her lips against his. She could not believe how much their lives had changed.
Upon kissing Aithe, she felt a stirring deep within her. She wanted to celebrate their engagement, their new room, in a very special way. Alice ran her hands through Aithe’s hair, slowly bringing them down to his chest.
“Aithe, I love you deeply,” She pulled away to whisper in his ear before gently taking it between her teeth.
“Mm, lassie, I see what ye are thinkin’.” Before Alice could respond or say anything further, Aithe picked her up quickly, pulling her legs around his waist. He carried her easily over to the bed and laid her down on it.
She moved back to allow room for him to climb onto the bed with her. But instead, he pulled her to the edge, kissing along her neck. He brought his lips down to the top round of her breasts and gently ran his tongue along the curve of them.
He reached around and undid the ties behind her dress, letting the fabric loosen. With one hand, he slowly moved the fabric down to expose her breasts. Alice moved her hand to her own skin, running along her flesh before reaching her nipples. She took one in each hand and gently pinched them. Aithe grew hard right in front of her.
“Oh Alice, ye are beautiful,” he whispered over and over again, as he hitched up her skirts. He let his hands explore the round of her buttocks. He leaned in to kiss her neck again and then quickly moved down. Pulling a nipple into his mouth and between his teeth ever so softly. He let his hands run over them.
“Let me show ye how a husband shall please his wife,” Aithe whispered as he got on his knees in front of her. He put one leg on each of his shoulders and gently pushed aside the fabric of her dress. Alice leaned on her elbows and watched as Aithe planted kisses along the inside of her thighs.
He moved up slowly, parting her legs further, and Alice let out a soft sigh. Aithe moved to the space between her legs and slowly ran his tongue along her softness. Alice let out a moan that, had they been in any other room, could have been heard. But in that room, there was no limit to how loud she could be. That was going to be one bonus to having their own private staircase.
Aithe used his tongue in pleasurable ways, moving in small circles around her small nub before lapping at her in strong, smooth strokes. Alice moved her hand to his hair and pulled him in, guiding him to explore her with his tongue. Aithe seemed to take great pleasure in it as well, as he began to move quicker and faster, breathing against her, moving his whole body as his tongue moved.
“Oh, Aithe! Yes!” Alice cried out, pushing her body towards his tongue. But she did not want to climax just yet. She wanted to do so together with her husband inside of her.
Alice let Aithe continue moving against her mound. His hands gripped her thighs before moving back to her buttocks. He pulled her in even closer, making her move against his face before he pulled away slightly. Slowly he brought his hand back to her thigh. He moved one finger against her small mound of pleasure, teasing it. Then, he let the finger glide in. Alice let out a soft coo as he moved inside of her. She enjoyed the way his hands explored her. As if he were making a grand sculpture of her body. He slid in a second finger, and she let out a moan of pleasure.
“Yes,” She cried out. But Aithe was not done. He pushed her legs apart further and brought his face back to her softness. As he moved a finger in and out of her, he let his tongue go back to exploring.
“My God, Aithe, yes!” Alice cried out. She did not know such pleasure was possible. The love she felt for Aithe moved through her whole body as she pushed her hips towards his face and his hands, begging for more. Aithe seemed to take great pleasure in her writhing.
Alice felt as though she was going to erupt in pleasure at any moment if she did not beg Aithe to stop. “Aithe, please, I want you to enter me now,” she cried out.
Aithe did not need to hear it twice. He stood and removed his clothes in two quick motions. Alice moved back on the bed, letting Aithe climb on and over her. But Alice wanted to show him just how well she could please him too. She pushed him so he sat back on the bed, upright. Alice leaned down and took his member between her lips.
“Let me please you as well, Aithe,” she whispered as she slowly put her mouth around it. She moved up and down along his length before bringing her hand to it as well. In a steady rhythm, she let her mouth and hand slide up and down him. Alice had never been interested in pleasing a man in this kind of way, but now that she was with someone she loved, and a man who cherished her as well, she wanted to discover all forms of pleasure.
“Mm, Alice, ye are drivin’ me mad, lassie.” Aithe whispered her name over and over as she quickened her pace. She felt him pulse inside her mouth. Alice knew he was close to his own eruption of pleasure.
“Aithe, do you want to make love to me now?” She asked him coyly. Aithe nodded fiercely.
“I want tae make love tae ye, Alice. I want ye tae shout me name while I enter ye.” Aithe said in a low grown. Alice nodded impatiently, wanting him to fill her with all of his thick member.
“I want that as well,” she whispered. Aithe placed himself between her legs, readying his flesh to enter her.
“Are ye ready, lassie, dae ye want me tae enter ye?”
“Yes, Aithe, please. I cannot bear to wait any longer!” She cried out, clutching his back. Pulling his hips in towards her with her calves.
Aithe obeyed and moved himself to enter her, slowly filling her with every inch.
“Oh, yes! Yes, Aithe, faster!” she cried out louder than she had ever cried. The freedom of their privacy made her feel emboldened.
“Mm, Alice,” Aithe moaned in her ear as he moved in and out of her slowly.
He began to build his pace, as Alice moved against him. She clutched him with her legs and dug her nails into his back, willing him to move faster and harder. He sensed her deep need and listened, giving her exactly what she wanted. He slid in and out of her, and each time he entered her, Alice felt as if it was the first time. She let him fill all of her with himself, and she cried out each time, shouting his name over and over again, which only drove him wilder.
Finally, she felt the pleasure build again. Energy moved through her body. Up and down it went until she thought she could bear it no longer. “Oh, Aithe, I think… I think,” she started to say but her breathing quickened, and she could no longer speak.
“Yes, Alice, I love you!” Aithe shouted just as she reached her climax. And he too seemed to reach his peak as he moved quickly in and out of her before finally collapsing atop her in a sweaty mess. Alice felt him move out of her and slide down to lay next to her. He pulled her in. Though their skin was damp, it was a pleasant sensation, the feeling of just how much they had put in to pleasing each other.
They awoke a few hours later, wrapped in each other's arms. Aithe snored gently next to Alice, and she was reminded of one of their first nights together on their journey. Even then, she had felt so secure and safe with Aithe. She should have known she was going to love him. Even at their first meeting, she had greeted him with a lengthy kiss. Alice was drawn to Aithe from the first moment of their meeting. She was happy that now they finally had the freedom to discover just how much passion and attraction existed between them.
Ali
ce was preparing herself to doze off back to sleep when she heard footsteps rushing up the stairs.
“Aithe, ye must come quick,” Gavin rushed into the room and quickly turned away once he found Alice and his son in bed. “Sorry, lassie, but please wake me son and tell him we’ve got a bit of an emergency.” Aithe jumped up as he heard Gavin’s voice.
“Da? What’s goin’ on here?” Aithe quickly started to dress.
“There’s a lad here, demanding tae see Alice. Says he’s her uncle, and he’s worried sick about her. He’s got a slew of men with him, ye need tae come out now.” Alice stared at Aithe. She knew things were too good to be true. She jumped out of bed and quickly dressed. Aithe tried to reach for her, to hold her back and stop her from rushing out, but it was of no use.
Alice ran without thinking. She was done running from her uncle. This was the life she deserved, the life she had always wanted, and she was not going to run, to hide, or to let her uncle come for Aithe or his clan.
When Alice made it outside, she saw armed men surrounding her uncle. Aithe was grabbing weapons, but Gavin stood by her side.
“Alice, what in the bloody hell are you doing out here? You escaped? How? You were promised to be wed to the Earl of Sussex. I will not have you running off to your dead husband’s family. You will leave now, or I will kill any man who stands in my way.”
“No. I refuse, uncle. You do not own me. I am not your pawn to be used as you see fit. I am tired of living a life indebted to you. I owe you nothing, and I will not leave,” Alice’s face grew hot with rage. She would not allow herself to be bullied by this man who was no one. If she had to fight him off tooth and nail, she would.
The men readied their weapons and moved towards Gavin and Alice. Gavin moved Alice behind him.
“Move you Scottish scoundrel, or I’ll make you move.” Her uncle called out. She could tell he was desperate to gain all he had hoped by marrying her off. He would not have tracked her down this far otherwise.
“I dinnae think ye want tae dae that, lad.” Alice turned to find Aithe walking out, musket in hand. Behind him were at least twenty men, also armed. They wore similar kilts, and each carried weapons, though some held long blades instead of guns. She felt pride swell in her chest.
Alice turned and saw her uncle’s face redden with rage. He looked back and forth at Alice, and Aithe then stared at each of the men behind him, who easily outnumbered him two to one.
“But, but I thought I killed you,” Her uncle sputtered out.
“Aye, thought is right, but I escaped. Alice is me wife. Ye cannae have her, and I reckon ye dinnae want tae start a war with the laird of the whole clan. Or dae ye? Only twenty men surround me, but there are many more where that came from, and cannons are being readied.” Aithe stepped forward with his blade outstretched. Gavin stood silent and pulled Alice to the side.
Alice watched in awe. Aithe was a brave man. One who continued to prove over and over again how willing he was to protect her.
Alice’s uncle nearly tripped over his own feet as he backed away. He looked at Alice and seemed to make a face before glancing again at the blade.
“Well, I suppose now that you are alive and well, and the two of you are married, there is nothing I can do.” He held his hands up, and the men around him backed away seeing how many men stood before them.
“I cannot ignore the fact that she is married. She is your debt now.”
Aithe pushed the knife towards her uncle, threatening him further. “I will nay have ye speak about me wife that way. Ye have but a minute tae leave before I decide tae start this war meself.” Her uncle backed away until he had his back against his carriage.
“We will go. I see there is nothing more to be said or done here.” Her uncle quickly clambered into the carriage and yelled at the driver to leave. The men jumped onto their own horses and raced away from Cadney castle.
Alice watched in awe. She had thought being far away from her uncle would save her from him, but he still had come looking for her. Had it not been for Aithe, for his family and the men who supported him, she would have been dragged away.
“Aithe, thank you so much.” She rushed to him and threw herself onto him. Gavin approached as they separated from their embrace.
“Ye handled it well, son.” Gavin patted Aithe on the shoulder. “I cannae believe he came here armed, ready fer war.” He shook his head and watched as the dust in front of the castle settled.
“He’s a coward of a man, but he cannae dae anythin’ now that I be the laird of this clan. He shan’t bother ye any more, lassie.” Aithe pulled Alice in against his body and held her. She could feel him shaking, likely from facing off the man they feared seeing during their whole journey.
Now that they had faced him, however, they knew they would never see him again. Her uncle could do nothing to separate them, especially now he had a whole clan behind him. Alice could not believe it. A weight was lifted from her shoulders, one she did not know she had been carrying to Cadney. There was so much space for joy in her new life now. A single tear slipped from her eye. For so long, she thought she was nothing but property to her uncle. Now, as she stood there in Aithe’s arms, she felt cared for as her own person. Aithe never wanted to make her feel anything but safe, secure, and loved. It was one of the many things she loved about him.
Their journey had been very long, and the year apart had nearly broken their spirits. But they both survived. Alice knew it was partly what made them a strong couple. They were both warriors in their own way, and both believed the other was worth fighting for.
She could not wait to see what the next few years would bring. She was ready for whatever surprises life threw their way.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
It was early spring, and the sun had only risen a few hours prior. Alice sat in a small cottage near where the healer worked. Amelia was adjusting flowers in her hair and helping to braid her long locks into place.
“You look absolutely beautiful, dear,” Amelia said, placing a hand on Alice’s shoulder, letting her know she had made the final touch.
“Thank you, Amelia. Not just for today, but for everything. You have become like the mother I never had. It means so much to know I can count on you, to turn towards you when I need guidance. I value you deeply.” Alice felt tears slip from her eyes as she spoke. She had needed a strong woman in her life so many years ago, and now to finally have one felt like a dream. And she meant every word she said to Amelia.
“Oh, Alice. You are the best gift in my son’s life. I am so happy he found you.” She said, fanning her eyes. “Now, we mustn’t begin the ceremony like this, dear. You need to get out there. It’s just about to begin!” She shooed Alice ahead, knowing it was well past the time she should be at the church.
Alice walked the small stretch of road to the church. All of the villagers lined the sides of it, tossing wildflowers as she walked past. When they had found out Aithe had returned with his love, they had started talking about the future wedding. Aithe was a cherished part of Cadney, and as a result, so too would his wife be cherished. Even those who would not attend the ceremony wanted to take a part by tossing flowers onto the road and shouting well wishes. Later on, they would join the new couple at the castle for a grand reception.
Alice felt her stomach stir with a hint of nerves. But she did not let them linger. She knew she was ready for her marriage to become more official, more real for her and Aithe. Though they had been married over a year ago, this ceremony felt much more genuine. The only thing she wished greatly was that Christopher could have been there to walk her down the aisle.
When Alice approached the church, the bagpipes began. She walked down the aisle towards Aithe, trying to move quickly. Though the ceremony was a beautiful part, what she looked forward to was the reception, the moment of celebration for their love. Also, the moment when she would talk to Aithe about a significant change in their future.
He watched her with wet e
yes. Aithe seemed to be biting his lip to keep from crying, and Alice thought that made him all the more handsome.
“Welcome ye one an’ all,” the priest began his long speech. The crowd seemed to be hanging on his every word, but Alice could focus on nothing but her handsome husband in front of her. Before she knew it, the words had been said, and the priest was looking to her, asking if she accepted Aithe.
“Oh, yes, of course, I do!” She said, feeling a tear slip from her eye as she let out a little chuckle. The people inside the church laughed a little as well, enjoying her being distracted by love.
He turned to Aithe and asked the same question of him.
Aithe gave one nod. “Aye, that I do.”
And finally, after the two of them had said their parts, they were announced, husband and wife. Aithe did not wait for the priest to finish his statement. He took Alice in his hands and dipped her low. Swinging her so he could kiss her in a truly dramatic and passionate way. All his family and friends leaped up, cheering and clapping as he gave her one of the most passionate kisses ever. By the time he brought her back up, Alice felt her face flush red and had to fan herself to cool down.
