Slowly, her body relaxed, and her heart slowed. Aileas slipped her leg off Luke’s shoulder, and he got to his feet, her juices glistening on his face in the firelight. The sight of him sent a primal need sweeping through her, and she reached for him, desperate to feel him inside of her.
Luke pulled her to him, and their mouths crashed together, their tongues swirling together frantically. He lowered her gently onto the furs near the fire pit and positioned himself on top of her. His face hovered inches from hers as he braced himself on his arms. Aileas wrapped her legs around his back, lifting her hips, trying to take him into her.
He kissed her again, slipping his tongue past her lips as he entered her. Aileas pressed her head back against the furs, letting out a low breath as he slid along her slick inner walls. And when he settled, buried to the hilt inside of her, she moaned slowly and languidly, savoring the feeling of him filling her up so completely.
As he started to move himself inside of her, Aileas gripped his forearms. The fire in the pit warmed their skin, but the flames inside of her burned even brighter, hotter. She dug her nails into his skin, making him draw in a sharp breath as he drove himself into her again and again.
Luke looked into her eyes, the almost spiritual connection between them making the physical sensations that much more intense. He plunged deep into her and held himself there. Aileas’s muscles tightened, and she gritted her teeth, the feeling of him being so deep within her sending sharp jolts of pleasure racing through her.
With a wicked grin on his face, Luke pulled out of her. She reached for him, but he quickly flipped her over onto her stomach. Aileas felt his weight on her, a warm, comforting presence, and as he slid into her from behind, she gasped, his name barely coherent as it fell from her lips.
He pressed her down onto her belly, thrusting himself into her wildly. Aileas cried out, gripping the furs tightly. Luke’s arms were on either side of her, bracing himself, so his full weight wasn’t pressing down on her. The feeling of having him inside of her, even deeper than before, drove her crazy. Her every nerve ending felt like it was on fire, and she writhed beneath him.
But he kept her pinned down to the furs, grunting and moaning as he swelled inside of her. Luke’s body tensed, and his breathing grew ragged. Aileas’s body vibrated with pleasure unlike anything she’d ever known before, and as he drove himself into her once more, the groan that escaped her was low and sensual. And then she had the sensation of falling, of being weightless and becoming untethered from the world. Her smile quivered, and her cry stuttered, but the heat of the pleasure coursing through her veins felt so intense, Aileas thought it would consume her. And at that moment, she would have been happy to let it.
Though she was caught in the grip of her climax, she felt Luke’s staff twitch and swell inside of her. A moment later, he erupted within her. They both cried out together as his cock throbbed and pulsed, filling her with his seed. They remained coupled together, and Aileas savored the feeling of him being inside of her, the warmth and wetness of Luke’s eruption, making her entire body quiver and tingle.
Slowly, the sensations began to dull, but the warmth remained. Luke flopped over onto his back, his breathing beginning to return to normal. Aileas rolled over, unable to control the smile on her face as she cuddled up next to him, resting her head on his chest. She traced circles on his belly with the tip of her finger, listening to the steady, strong rhythm of his heart pounding within his chest. Aileas found it comforting. She found it right. More than anything, she found she didn’t want to live in a world where she could not hear and feel this every day, whenever she wanted.
It was a realization that shook Aileas to her very core. But a realization that felt natural to her. What she didn’t know was how Luke felt or what she was going to do about it－especially if he did not feel the same.
Chapter Nineteen
“He’s makin’ a move on her, Baron Begbie,” Luke said. “And if I’m right, his next move will be tae come after ye.”
“And why would he dae that?” Fin asked.
“Ye ken as well as I dae what an ambitious man Bruce Pringle is. He was gatherin’ a force before he even kent Aileas was back in Scotland. Before he ever kent she was comin’ for him,” Luke argued.
Luke felt bad for going behind Aileas’ back to talk to the baron after she’d told him she did not want him to. And although he understood her reasoning, and to some extent, agreed with it, he could not, in good conscience, allow her to wade into this fight outmanned and possibly outmatched. She was a more than capable fighter. He did not doubt that in the least, but Pringle was ruthless in a way he did not believe her capable of being. She still had a big heart and knew that Pringle would cut it out of her chest if given half a chance.
“Thae lad’s logic is sound,” Headen offered. “I’ve had me men watchin’ Pringle off and on for a while now and knew he was gatherin’ men intae his keep.”
Fin fell silent and looked out over the training field as the men sparred. The clack of their wooden swords filled the air around them, as well as the laughter and good-natured jesting between them all. The Baron believed in letting the men enjoy themselves while training, rather than the strict and rigid training regimens favored by some.
Though there was discipline instilled in the men, and training could sometimes be challenging, the Baron believed in developing camaraderie rather than training them through fear. It was one of the many things he admired about the man.
“Aye. We’ve been aware of Pringle’s ambitions for some time,” the Baron finally said.
“Then thae time seems right tae move on him,” Luke said. “If we can take him out, it kills two birds with one stone, eh?”
A small frown touched the Baron’s lips. He seemed to be thinking very hard about the situation, which frustrated Luke. From where he stood, there was nothing to think about. Pringle posed a threat not just to Aileas but to Baron Begbie’s lands themselves. There should be no question about the fact that something needed to be done to thwart the threat.
“Tis nae that simple, lad,” the Baron said.
Luke cocked his head and looked at him. “He’s a threat tae ye. How can it nae be that simple?”
“Because it’s a feud between kin,” Headen said. “And since Pringle hasnae made a move yet, thae Baron cannae be seen takin’ sides in feuds between kin. It’d send a bad message tae thae people.”
“Bad message? Are ye bleedin’ jestin’ with me?” Luke exclaimed.
The Baron looked at him with an expression of sympathy on his face. It was as if he knew Luke’s frustration and understood it. And yet, he still seemed unmoved. Luke didn’t understand. Even if his interest wasn’t in helping Aileas, Luke had been certain Baron Begbie would jump at the chance to take a threat like Pringle off the board. He looked at the Baron, completely flabbergasted.
“Tis nae so simple when you’re thae Baron, lad,” he repeated as if that explained anything. “Ye, unfortunately, have tae factor in how everythin’ ye dae is goin’ tae be seen by those people who live under yer rule.”
“But Pringle is a threat tae ye. Everybody kens it. Everybody kens he wants tae usurp ye. He’s never been shy about talkin’ about it.”
“Aye. But talkin’s all he’s done. He’s nae made any move tae follow through with it. I cannae simply attack somebody for doin’ nothin’ but talkin’,” the Baron said.
“Aye. Tis a certain way tae turn thae sentiment of thae people against him if they feel they cannae speak freely,” Headen added. “Tis a certain way tae incite a rebellion.”
Admittedly, Luke had not thought of it that way before. He did not know what went into being the baron or what that entailed. He did not think about the repercussions of doing as he proposed or the possibility that it could touch off a rebellion. He knew one of the things his people most enjoyed was their ability to speak and express themselves freely.
His people were always outspoken and proud of it, and Luke knew that if Baron
Begbie did anything to stifle that, there would be consequences for it. But still, Luke couldn’t let it go. Not with Aileas’ life in danger.
“But as thae baron, are ye nae also supposed tae protect the life of yer people?” Luke pressed. “If Pringle is allowed tae take his fight tae Aileas, a lot of people are goin’ tae get caught in thae middle and die.”
“And if that happens, then I’ll be able tae step in and dae somethin’. But nae before that, I fear,” the Baron said.
Luke let out a frustrated sigh and kicked at the grass beneath his feet. He understood what the baron was saying, and that’s what frustrated him the most. The baron had to consider things Luke would have never thought of. It still didn’t make it any easier for him to see all these men capable of swinging a sword, and quite capable of doing so, knowing the baron would not let them fight. Not on Aileas’ behalf anyway.
“I understand and appreciate yer position, Luke. I truly dae. And as much as I want tae help ye, me position and me duties are bigger than yer woman.”
He pursed his lips and looked off across the field again, his mind swirling with a host of different thoughts and feelings. The only thing he was certain of was that Pringle was a force to be reckoned with. More than that, Luke knew he could be cruel and vindictive. He could not－no, he would not－let Aileas face the threat that was bearing down on her alone.
“I ken that look in yer eye,” Headen said. “Daenae dae anythin’ stupid.”
The baron cast a critical eye at Luke. “Aye. I’d have tae agree with me Captain. If thae fight with Pringle is comin’, and I’ve nay doubt it is, we cannot afford tae be down one of our best fighters.”
While Luke flushed with pride that the baron thought of him as one of his best fighters, he was not mollified in the least. And he could not sit idly by and do nothing. Not while Aileas was determined to walk into danger.
* * * * *
He walked home after his meeting with Baron Begbie and Captain Headen, frustrated and angry. He was not cross with them. Their reasons for denying his request to lend aid to Aileas were sound enough. But on an emotional level, the decision wasn’t sitting well with him.
Luke knew he wasn’t thinking rationally. He seemed incapable of being rational, where Aileas was concerned. Though he wasn’t able to put a name to them, Luke knew his feelings for her were deep, and they were profound. When he thought of her, it felt like a fist was squeezing his heart tightly. It kept him from thinking clearly. It sometimes made him feel like he couldn’t breathe. And when he thought of something happening to her, it filled him with a rage that was dark and abiding.
The baron had called her his woman, and though that wasn’t the right word for it, the thought of it filled Luke with a bright, warm light. It brought a smile to his face and made his heart skip a beat within him. She was unlike any woman he’d ever known and inspired feelings within him he’d never felt before.
Luke cared for her in ways he never knew he could care for somebody before and had opened his heart in ways that scared him. In addition to that fear, though, he felt a sense of exhilaration when he was with her. She was dangerous and exciting to him. There was so much he didn’t know about her or her life, and with each thing he learned about her, he wanted to learn more. Luke wanted to know everything there was to know about her.
He knew it was dangerous to allow himself to be so caught up in her. Caring for her as intensely as he did left him with weaknesses and blind spots he never suffered from before. All he could see and think about was her. He knew it would put him in direct conflict with the baron, who seemed to have no interest in her situation or helping her with it. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but Luke knew there would come a time when he was forced to make a decision and prove where his loyalty lay. With her, or with him.
And at the moment, Luke didn’t know how he would answer that question. If you’d asked him just a short time ago, it would have been simple. But Aileas had burst into his life like a storm on the sea and had turned everything upside down. His life had been relatively smooth waters for so long. But now it was filled with large swells and whitecaps, the ocean of his life suddenly a tempest.
He had been the baron’s man for what seemed like forever. He couldn’t imagine his life without being one of the baron’s men. Especially now that he had managed to catch the baron’s eye. Luke was a step away from achieving his life’s dream. He was so close to becoming one of the baron’s Black Wolves. He could taste it.
But he also knew that if he defied the baron and did something stupid, he would see that opportunity vanish. His dreams would blow away like smoke upon the breeze. If the baron could not trust him, he would never be invited to become one of the Wolves. Everything he had worked so hard for, all of that training and sacrifice… it would all be for nothing.
Luke stood atop a small rise above his home. He looked off into the distance, staring out the vast expanse of the sea before him. A breeze carrying the scent of the ocean stirred his hair and whipped his cloak around his legs. His thoughts were as far away as the horizon.
Chapter Twenty
He stood in the shadow of the trees, watching the man standing on the rise. He was doing nothing. Just standing there, looking out at the ocean, obviously lost in thought. And Robert found himself wondering what was going through the man’s head at that moment. He wondered what had happened to put him in such deep thought and quiet reflection.
Had something happened between him and the lass? If so, what was it? And was it something that impacted what he was there to do? He peered through the gloom of the onrushing night, trying to decipher what was happening and whether or not he should call this off. She had a reputation for being a cold and pitiless woman. Given what he’d learned about her, Robert had been surprised that she’d taken up with the lad to begin with. But, had she decided that she had gotten what she wanted from him and now was turning her attention to his master, was she now done with him?
He felt the men behind him, hidden amongst the trees growing restless. He turned back to them and frowned. Their murmured conversation was growing louder than he liked. Robert thought they were far enough away that the lad probably couldn’t hear them, but he was not a man to take chances. Not when he was tasked with a mission this important. And especially not when he had assured Pringle that he would succeed where his assassins failed.
Robert had pushed Pringle for this. Had told him he could deliver. And he knew that if he failed, if his plan did not come to fruition, or play out how he had boasted it would, Pringle would not be forgiving. Robert knew if he did not bring the girl to heel and take her off the board, allowing Pringle to focus on overthrowing the baron, it might well be his head on a spike outside the walls of the keep.
“Quiet, ye cretins,” he hissed quietly.
They glared at him, the whites of their eyes almost glowing in the darkness of the woods. He knew they did not like him. Did not like the fact that Pringle had ordered them to obey his every word and follow his commands. He was not a fighter. He had never been bloodied. And as such, they did not respect him. They bristled at the idea that he was in charge of this mission.
But they obeyed him. Though they glared at him like they wanted to gut him right then and there, they fell silent. Their fear of what Pringle would do to them if they disobeyed his command, or failed their master in any way, kept them in check. It was the sort of power and respect that Robert dreamed of having. And he felt he was on the cusp of attaining it. But to finish that journey and become the man he’d always imagined himself to be, he knew he needed to succeed here. Now.
The drab, gray day faded away, the world around them growing thick with shadows and darkness as night reclaimed the land, filling the world with shades of dark purple and black. Robert always felt better at night. He felt stronger when he was able to move through the darkness. He was a man well used to operating from the shadows and more comfortable with it than he was beneath the light of the sun.
This was his ti
me.
The man on the rise, his silent vigil apparently over, walked down the slope and disappeared into his house. A couple of moments later, the soft glow of a fire glowed at the edges of the windows. He obviously had curtains over them, which was good. It would make their approach invisible. Now, all he needed was to ensure it was silent as well… no sure thing with this band of careless oxen at his side.
“Dae we go now?” one of them whispered.
“Nae yet,” Robert scolded them, his frustration with these men growing by the second. “We will go when I deem it is time and nae a moment before. Am I understood?”
The men behind him grunted and stirred restlessly. They were men of action, he knew. Men who went looking for a fight and were not accustomed to being patient or waiting for the opportune moment to strike. They were blunt hammers. Tools like those he used in the forge to strike hard and bend pieces of metal to his will.
But work like this required a far more delicate touch. It required skill and precision. More than anything, though, it required patience. It required that a man have the capacity to sit still, sit quiet, and wait. Qualities these barbarians would never possess. It was why Robert was a man on the rise, and they would forever be the blunt hammers he used to build himself up with.
Every Highland Sin: Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance Page 16
