The Shadow 0f Her Smile (Highlander Heroes Book 3)

by Rebecca Ruger

  “I like you inside me.” Deep inside she felt him reach, felt their bodies grinding against one another, felt again that ascending need for something more. “Oh, this feels very good indeed,” she told him truthfully then, pressing her lips to kiss his shoulder and his neck, her hands finding leverage against the stone hardness of his arms.

  Soon, they moved as one, Ada answering each of Jamie’s thrusts with a rising of her hips. She liked how his chest brushed against her hard nipples every time he surged forward into her. He increased his speed, pumping into her, harder and faster while she continued to respond to his rhythm, her small tapered nails digging into his triceps. She gasped as pleasure, pure and explosive, crashed over her. Her senses spun as the shock of it scorched her body, surrendering completely to this only recently discovered ecstasy. Minutes later, Jamie cried out, gruffly, and she thought he might be experiencing this intoxicating rush as well, aware that he throbbed inside her now as he had not before.

  After a moment, he stilled, collapsing on top of her. She loved the weight of him covering her. Her arms surrounded him, tightening, while her body rejoiced. There was a tingling about her fingertips and toes, about her lips as well, but Ada was otherwise too numb with pleasure to afford it any great consideration. When Jamie lifted his head, she smiled serenely at him, and closed her eyes briefly while he pressed a small kiss to her cheek.

  Several minutes later, just before sleep might have claimed her, her eyes opened wide, and Ada bucked against him. Ignoring his confused expression, she scrambled out from under him and thankfully found the gaily painted chamber pot, barely in time to empty her stomach of the wine she only had for the first time tonight.

  She moaned again, this time in despair, naked upon the floor, only vaguely aware that her husband had come to her, had gathered her hair to hold it out of the way as she retched again.

  “Ah, Jesu,” he murmured, sounding not at all sympathetic, but very angry, so that Ada felt tears flow as well.

  She had no idea that her husband was seeing for the first time the damage done to her back by the scoundrel, John Craig.

  Chapter Fourteen

  When Ada woke the next morning, she was naked still, her head ached, and her husband was gone. She sat up slowly, her fingers at her temples. Immediately, she closed her eyes against the onslaught of daylight, pushing the heavy wool coverlet off her legs.

  “No, Ada Annabel,” she chided herself, “that is probably not the way you intended to start your marriage.” Letting out a frustrated growl, she opened her eyes and rose from the bed. It was then she realized that if, indeed, her husband had left, he had since returned. Jamie lounged casually in the doorway, his shoulder propped against the doorjamb, his arms crossed over his chest, and his grin decidedly entertained.

  Her first thought was not that she was, again, completely naked before him, while he was fully clothed, apparently ready to leave. Her first thought was that she’d only just humiliated herself more, having now been caught talking to herself.

  “Annabel,” he said, seeming to test the sound of the name. “Ada Annabel. Is it Ada or Annabel?”

  Ada was not at all immune to the playfulness she spied in his gaze, but answered, “My name is Ada Annabel, actually.” When he lifted a brow, she explained, “Apparently, my father and mother could not agree on a name,” she started, but quickly faltered. Jamie MacKenna was not attending her explanation at all. He was quite content to rake his gaze over all of her naked body. Slowly. And honestly, quite seductively, that Ada only mumbled the rest. “So I was given both.”

  She said no more, but he was still doing things to her body with his eyes that might right quick make her forget her embarrassment, and any and all former embarrassments. She knew a blush rose, she knew her nipples had come to peaks for him. She struggled not to cover her breasts, or other parts.

  Finally, he met her gaze, giving her the laziest of smiles, telling her unequivocally he was absolutely not thinking about her missteps. After another moment, Jamie pushed himself away from the door and clapped his hands together. “Get dressed, lass. We’ll be ready shortly.”

  And then he was gone.

  Ada’s shoulders fell. She stared at the open and empty doorway, wondering what had just happened that she felt achy and wanton just now. Could a man—Jamie—do that to her with only his eyes? Good Lord!

  Shaking off the effects of what he had wrought within her, Ada dressed quickly in her plain brown wool kirtle and donned her own heavy hose and her gray cloak. With great efficiency, born of many a day in that shack in the woods, she twisted her hair around her hand and used a scrap of linen to hold it away from her face.

  She spent some time neatening the gown Katherine had lent to her, lamenting the fact that it was not to be hers, then left the chambers and found her way back down to the hall.

  Katherine stood with William Wallace and Roger, near the door. Bracing herself, Ada marched on, hoping there wasn’t anything that she could not recall from last night that she didn’t even know she should be mortified by.

  “Good morning, Lady Katherine, sirs.”

  Katherine disengaged her hand from Roger’s and took up both of Ada’s. “I truly wish you did not have to ride away so quickly.”

  “I, as well. I do not know how to thank you for the kindness you have shown me. You made a very impromptu wedding into a memorable occasion. I am indebted to you.”

  Katherine kissed each of Ada’s cheeks, which suggested she was so much higher born that Ada herself. “Honestly, it was my pleasure. I’ve already assured Sir William that he will always be welcome at Hawick House, and I extend the same to you, dear Ada.”

  “Thank you.”

  And while the gentlemen seemed yet to have more to say to the woman, Ada excused herself and stepped out into the yard.

  Jamie was just lifting the saddle onto his mighty steed. Will pranced around, trying to engage the immobile horse into play. Ada walked over to Jamie and began speaking, which turned him around, and showed his mesmerizing blue eyes to her. She was hard pressed to understand how it could have been only minutes ago that his eyes had stirred her to passion. Only his eyes.

  “I seem to be often apologizing to you,” she said, stone-faced. When he only raised a brow, she explained, “First, for misjudging you, and then, argh—” she covered her face in her hands “—for striking out at you, something for which I will never forgive myself.” Heaving a great sigh, she lowered her hands and faced him, squaring her shoulders, determined to get it done. “And now, for imbibing too much on our wedding night. I feel I’ve...I hope I did not bring you shame.” And because she was nervous, and because he was only staring at her, looking neither angry nor exactly cheery, she babbled, “But I’ve never had wine before and though it was simple, honestly the entire evening seemed rather magical. And I was thinking that I—”

  He kissed her. Ada felt a smile against her lips. Kiss, or smile, didn’t matter. It effectively silenced her.

  “Lass, if I had a coin—even a wooden one—for every bride who overindulged on her wedding night, I’d be a rich man.” He walked around the horse and cinched up the straps to the saddle.

  “Truly?”

  And now he chuckled. “Truly.” Shrugging, he tossed the saddlebags over the back of the horse, tying those straps now. “My father was a great man, Ada,” he said over his shoulder. “Once we’re at Aviemore, I’ll tell you more about him, and you’ll hear and learn about him from his people. I wish I could recall every bit of wisdom he ever gave me. Alas, I can no. But one nugget stands out.” He faced her again, their belongings secure. He struck his hands onto his hips and grinned at her. “This one nugget had to do with how he dealt with my mother—a great lady, but a strong one, too. My father told me, ‘You pick your battles, son. Choose the hill you want to die on—no every hill is to be your grave.’ Having too much wine on our wedding night is no my hill, lass. Dinna let it be yours.”

  Ada absorbed this. Then, with some thoughtf
ulness, she told him, “You are so much nicer than you look.”

  Jamie stared at her, rather nonplussed, before he threw his head back and shouted out a wild laugh. “I ken you’re no trying to insult your husband, lass, but for the life of me, I canna be sure.”

  “No. No, I only meant that you appear so... hard and mean, so intimidating—often apurpose, I believe. Yet, you’ve never been anything but kind to me.” And because he seemed still so very amused, Ada shrugged and concluded, “Laugh all you want, I’m sure I’ve made the better bargain here.” She stepped closer to the horse, waiting for Jamie to lift her into the saddle.

  He closed in on her, his hands leaving his hips to cup her face, a gesture that Ada was accustomed to, one that she liked very much. She rather sighed as he said, “Was no a bargain, lass. ‘Tis a good match for both, aye?” She nodded and then he ruined those very lovely words by adding, “Save for when my bride drinks too much wine.”

  His grin was downright devilish. Ada chose to allow him his fun; it was worth it, to glimpse that boyish grin of his.

  Wallace and Roger exited the keep then and Ada remembered that they would be parting ways. Sir William said farewell to Ada first, taking her hands in his and giving them a squeeze.

  “Off to Aviemore you tread, lass.”

  Ada reached up and kissed his cheek. “It has been my honor, sir, to have met you and have kept company with you.”

  “The honor is mine, Lady MacKenna. God willing, we will meet again.”

  Smiling and nodding, Ada wished him Godspeed and then accepted Roger’s farewell, hoping that these men met with continued success in their recruiting endeavors, and then the battles to come.

  She was not surprised to see Jamie and Wallace exchange a long embrace, with Wallace whispering something into Jamie’s ear that had her husband nodding. Knowing still too little about her husband, she did appreciate that he kept company with such fine people as Wallace and Roger and the Kincaid, assuming that it spoke to his own character.

  Soon she and Jamie were settled onto his massive destrier, turning left outside the gates of Hawick House, while Wallace and Roger headed east. With one last wave around Jamie’s shoulder, Ada faced forward again, and settled in for another long day in the saddle, with Aviemore as their next stop.

  But Will’s barking caught her attention, as it seemed to grow further away. Ada pivoted and saw that the hound was following Wallace, and that he was pointing at her and Jamie, trying to get Will to chase them instead.

  “Will! Come!” Ada called as Jamie spun the horse around.

  All three men stopped and turned their mounts to face each other, with a fair amount of space between them. Will sat and stared longingly up at Wallace, who could not help the smile he sent down to the wolfhound.

  “Go on, you silly beast,” Wallace said, but only half-heartedly.

  Even from the distance, Ada could well discern the lightness about the giant, William Wallace, unable to hide his pleasure at being favored by Will. For so long, Will had been her most trusted and steadfast companion. She couldn’t imagine having survived the winter without him. Everyone should be so lucky to have a companion such as he, quiet and adoring and strong.

  Though she feared it might well break her heart, Ada called across the space, “You’ll take good care of him?”

  Wallace’s eyes met hers. The look he gave her, his great blue eyes warmed and alight with pleasure, told her it was the right decision to make. She smiled back at him. “Godspeed, Sir William.”

  He bowed his head and sent her a truly thankful glance. “And to you, Lady MacKenna.”

  The men yanked on the reins then and turned again to their routes. Ada heard Wallace’s voice. “Come on then, dear Will.”

  True, a sadness did blanket her. But Jamie tightened his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “You are a fine lass, Lady MacKenna.”

  After a while, when she was sure she would not cry, she mused aloud, “Lady MacKenna.” She hadn’t considered this when she’d married Jamie.

  “Agnes Nairn will show you how to go about it, taking charge of the household,” Jamie advised.

  “Will Agnes Nairn resent my coming, essentially taking her position?” Ada asked, happy to have her thoughts diverted from losing Will.

  “She’s no like that. Very practical, she is. Like as no, she felt rather wheedled into the job, as there was no one else at the time.”

  “I’ll try to make you proud,” she said, determined to learn quickly.

  “Were Wallace still with us, lass, he’d cut right in now and tell you to make your own self proud. That’s all you ever need worry about.”

  Ada considered this. Was she proud of herself? Others, she supposed, would tell her she should be. But they would attach this to her time at Dornoch, for having survived it. Ada wasn’t sure pride was the feeling she would consign to having survived John Craig’s treachery. And what else had she done, to have pride in herself? Her life, as a whole, struck her as completely unremarkable up to this point. She would give this some thought, to find something that would give her value, if only for herself.

  Jamie’s voice broke into her reverie.

  “Lass, why did you come with me?”

  She knew immediately that he referred to her agreeing, so spontaneously, to leaving Stonehaven with him. She believed she’d figured out the answer to this, just took a moment now to put it into words. “I’m not sure you’ll appreciate this response, but it’s all I have to give. I think I did it because of Will—not the hound. I knew him only for hours, but he is never far from me, from my thoughts. I guess it must have something to do with going through something so...traumatic, maybe some bond is formed.”

  She let that settle, gathered more words then. “When Anice told me you were leaving, I was so upset. First—naturally—because of how I had treated you. But underneath that, I was so afraid to lose the only connection I had to Will. Even when I hated you, I was...drawn to you, because of him.” He remained silent for so long, she felt compelled to ask, “Did—did you expect a different answer?”

  “Nae. I dinna ken what to expect.”

  “You knew Will, obviously better than I. Do you think he’d be happy...with this? Us?”

  “I dinna ken about that, lass, but it makes me wonder now, did you wed with me to please Will?”

  Did she? “You married me because you felt you owed me the protection of your name. And, of course, for the....” She searched her vocabulary, only knowing ill-mannered words for what she wanted to say.

  “It’s called lovemaking.”

  “For that as well. Is it so awful if I wed you, hoping to somehow keep Will’s memory with me?”

  “Comes off as a wee bit macabre.”

  Ada sighed. “I didn’t think you would understand.” Maybe she did not exactly comprehend it, either. While she did not care very much for his opinion, she could not quite read his tone to say there was definite disapproval. “You make it sound wrong.”

  “Nae, lass. It’s no that. My memories of Will are pierced with guilt and shame, for having failed him. What was done to you at Dornoch is perhaps made bearable by you keeping him close. Aye, and he was a great man, and a great friend, so ‘tis fitting. He would be well pleased to serve as your anchor.”

  Ada was rather startled by her immediate reaction to this. She hadn’t known Jamie MacKenna very long at all, despite the fact that he was now her husband. Indeed, the majority of her thoughts about him over the past year had been negative, in fact leaned toward violent at times. Yet, just as he’d said he believed Will would be pleased to be her anchor, the initial response, inside her head, had been, You are my anchor.

  This disarmed her, so much so that she was thankful she had not spoken this aloud.

  Huddling deeper into the folds of her cloak, Ada nestled further into Jamie’s warm arms and turned over this new revelation in her mind.

  They traveled at a slightly faster pace than they had over the last several day
s, only stopping once to see to personal needs and give the horse a rest, so that Aviemore came into view well before the sun set that evening. It was, actually, the first keep or building of any kind they had seen today, owing to the remoteness of the MacKenna lands.

  Jamie reined in just as they crested the tail of a steep crag. He pointed out over the amazing view, swinging Ada’s gaze beyond the gray rock directly beneath them and over the fawn colored rolling landscape, across a sun-silvered loch and to a mountain in the distance, whose peak touched the fast-moving clouds. At the base of the mountain, upon a scrap of earth which jutted out into the loch, stood Aviemore. A massive curtain wall of red sandstone flanked two sides of the castle, the north and the west where it faced the mountain, the ends of these fringed with square towers four stories high.

  “The northwest tower,” Jamie said, into her ear, referring to the tower in the corner of the L shaped wall, “is the Dougal Tower, named for my grandfather, who built the wall. That tower is seven stories high. The entire wall is twelve feet thick. You see the gate house, in the middle of the north part? The barracks in that wall can house one hundred men. The parapet walk, above the crenels, connects all three towers.”

  “It’s so remarkable,” said Ada, in awe of the splash of color the red stone presented against the background of the gray and brown mountain. “But why is there no wall on these two sides?”

  “It’s no necessary with the loch, just wide enough that no trebuchet could send anything, rocks or fire, so far across.”

  The keep itself was not connected to, but stood close inside that curtain wall, its north and west walls being parallel to the outer wall. Ada imagined the courtyard within to be about the size of Stonehaven’s. She noted that to the east and west of the loch and the castle were scattered dozens of cottages, only a few here and there grouped together. ‘Twas not then, precisely, a village, but rather a smattering of people who made their homes in the shadow of Aviemore.

  Excitedly, she pointed to a herd of deer, coming out of the trees to their immediate right, at the base of the crag on which they perched.