Highland Defender

by Kathryn Le Veque

  Bane’s lips slanted over Lucia’s gently at first, reacquainting himself with her taste before growing bolder with his attention. His kisses became more forceful, his tongue licking her lips, and she opened her mouth in silent invitation.

  There was no restraint this time, no hesitation in what they were doing. As Bane coaxed her awakening desire, he began to carefully remove her from her clothing. Lucia didn’t fight him. In fact, she helped him. She yanked at the ties that held her dress together. She was so caught up in the haze of passion that she hardly realized when he loosened the gown enough to slip it off her shoulders. She became aware only when she felt it slide off her buttocks and onto the dirt floor.

  Bane pushed her back onto his tiny bed and removed his clothing in nearly the same motion. When he covered her with his body, the feel of his hot flesh against hers was more than either of them could bear. In fact, Bane could hardly hold himself in check. He’d never been more aroused in his life and the feel of her, the scent of her, was intoxicating. He suckled her neck and her earlobe, feeling her tremble beneath him as his hands moved down to her belly, stroking the soft flesh before moving to a soft breast and gently cupping it.

  Lucia gasped with surprise at the sensual intrusion, but Bane kissed her passionately to distract her. It wasn’t long before Lucia settled down and enjoyed the attention as he kissed a blazing trail down her neck, onto her chest, and took a hard nipple into his mouth.

  Lucia squirmed with delight, utterly at his mercy as he wedged himself between her legs, parting her thighs with his knees. She was overwhelmed, feeling every sensation roll through her as his kisses moved from one breast to the other, tasting and touching, while his fingers moved to the warm, moist folds between her legs.

  Young and nubile, her body knew what it needed even if her mind did not. She was slick and ready for him. Bane finally brought up her knees and carefully entered her.

  The first thrust brought a sting of pain, but Lucia didn’t utter a sound. Her eyes were closed and her back arched, and Bane thrust again, feeling her tight, wet body draw him in. Gently, he began to plunge into her to loosen her body to receive all of him.

  It was a magical moment.

  Beneath him, Lucia’s hands gripped his forearms as he braced himself. Bane had never felt such arousal as he did when she clutched him with her soft hands. He watched her as he made love to her, slightly elevated from her body so he could watch. Her full breasts jarred every time his body thrust into hers, and the sight of it drove him to a quick release as he spilled himself before he could control it.

  But he wanted Lucia to feel what he had experienced, so he stroked her wet folds with his fingers as he continued to thrust into her, feeling her release mere seconds later. She had been so highly aroused that it hadn’t taken much effort. Her body convulsed and the sounds of her gentle gasping filled the cold, dark air.

  It was beauty beyond measure.

  Bane’s mouth fused with hers again, kissing her with all the adoration and lust he felt for her. The woman was embedded in every fiber of his being, a part of him as he could have never imagined. The experience of their first coupling had been one of the greatest moments of his life, knowing that this woman was made for him and him alone.

  There was no doubt in his mind.

  When the heavy breathing eventually faded and their bodies relaxed, he pulled her into a snug embrace as he lay there, staring at the ceiling.

  “Are ye well?” he whispered. “I dinna hurt ye, did I?”

  Lucia was burrowed against him. “Nay,” she said. “But now I realize something.”

  “What?”

  “I know why Lady Currie is so anxious tae do…this. It all makes sense now.”

  Bane started to laugh, his body shaking gently. “But not with everyone.”

  “Nay, not with everyone. Only with ye.” She paused a moment. “I have a confession tae make, Bane.”

  “What is it?”

  “When I first took ye tae Meadowbank, do ye remember when I barged intae the cottage while ye were taking a bath?”

  He thought back. “Aye,” he said. “Ye were embarrassed.”

  She grinned. “A little. But I caught a glimpse of yer naked arse and I liked it.”

  “Do ye still like it?”

  “Better than before.” Her smile faded as she looked into his eyes. “I love ye, Bane Morgan. I’ll love ye until I die.”

  “And I, ye.”

  He kissed her forehead, pulling her closer if such a thing was possible. As he cuddled with her, feeling her body relax as she began to doze, there was a knock at the door.

  “Bane? Bane, are you in there?”

  Lucia’s head shot up so fast that she clipped him in the chin. “It’s Lady Currie!”

  Terror filled the air. Bane was on his feet in a flash, pulling her off the bed. “Get under the bed,” he whispered urgently. “Hurry!”

  Lucia dropped to her knees, rolling under the small bed as Bane shoved a coverlet in after her. But he was mindful to reply to the woman just outside his door.

  “What do ye want?” he boomed.

  There was a pause as he tucked the coverlet in and around Lucia to shield her from all angles. “I want to speak with you, please,” Lady Currie said, muffled.

  With Lucia covered, Bane moved for the door but he realized he was stark naked. Quickly, he grabbed his breeches from the bottom of the bed where he’d kicked them off and yanked them onto his body. He was fastening the ties as he unbolted the door and opened it.

  The door cracked open to reveal Lady Currie standing there, wrapped up in her finery and smiling politely at him. He looked around outside to see if anyone had accompanied her, but she appeared quite alone.

  “How did ye find my cottage?” he asked warily.

  She maintained her polite smile. “I gave one of the camp guards a coin and he told me,” she said. “May I come in?”

  “Nay. State yer business, please.”

  She struggled to keep the smile on her face. “I was hoping we could…speak.”

  That’s not what she wanted from him. Bane could see that from the look on her face. She was trying very hard to throw an alluring look in his direction, saying she wanted to speak with him but meaning she wanted something far more.

  “I thought ye were speaking with Sir Clegg,” he said.

  She shook her head. “As strange as it sounds, he would not take my money for you,” she said. “He told me he would stand by your decision. I am, therefore, appealing to you directly. Won’t you let me in?”

  “It is late and I am weary, m’lady.”

  “Please?”

  He sighed faintly. What was it he’d told Lucia? The woman is going to hound me.

  Already, it was starting.

  “M’lady, I dunna know how much plainer I can be,” he said. “I am not trying tae insult ye, but I have a wife and I am faithful only tae her. I dunna want yer company, but I am sure there are a dozen other men who would gladly entertain ye. Even if ye dunna understand, I would ask that ye respect my decision. I willna change my mind.”

  The smile on her face vanished. “Then you are a fool,” she hissed. “Do you have any idea how much money I have at my disposal? I could make you a very wealthy man, Bane.”

  “My honor is worth more than money, m’lady. Please go.”

  Embarrassed and angry, she backed away from the door. “This is not over,” she said defiantly. “I always get what I want, Bane. Do not forget that.”

  “In this case, m’lady, ye shall not get me.”

  She growled unhappily and turned on her heel, marching back the way she had come. Bane watched her until he was certain she wasn’t going to turn around and charge back to him. Closing the door, he threw the bolt again before heading to the bed.

  “Ye can come out now,” he said, pulling up t
he coverlet he’d stuffed around her. “Did ye hear that?”

  Lucia poked her head out, extending her hand so he could pull her all the way out. Standing up, she brushed the dirt off her legs and arms, grasping at her shift on the ground where Bane had tossed it.

  “I heard,” she said unhappily, pulling her clothing on. “I’ve seen her do this, Bane. She’ll pick at ye and hope tae break ye down.”

  “Then she’s in for a big disappointment.”

  Lucia smiled sadly at him, sad for the entire situation. Theirs would have been such a happy circumstance were it not for Lady Currie’s interference.

  Something told Lucia that it was only going to get worse.

  “I must go,” she said. “If she’s in a state, she’ll probably want tae leave early, so I must be ready tae leave, too.”

  He knew that but he was still disappointed that she had to leave at all. “Someday, ye’ll not have tae leave me,” he said, helping her secure the ties on the back of her dress. “There will be a day when we willna have tae worry over Lady Currie and her tantrums.”

  “I know,” she said, turning to face him. “But that time is not now. But someday.”

  Reaching out, he smoothed at her mussed hair. There was so much he wanted to say to her but he wasn’t sure where to even start.

  “I’m going tae beg or borrow those two pounds,” he finally said, cupping her face in his big hands. “I canna stand that ye must live with that…that woman and her nurse who beats ye. I canna stomach any of it, Lucia. I want ye tae come here and live with me. That’s the only thing in the world I want right now.”

  She could see the turmoil in his face. “As do I,” she said, her hands on his. “Somehow, I dunna feel whole knowing I have tae leave ye. I feel as if something is missing in me.”

  He smiled faintly. “I’m missing. But not for long, I swear it.”

  “I believe ye,” she said, standing on her toes to kiss him sweetly. “And I look forward tae that time more than ye know. But for now…I must go.”

  He was reluctant to let her go and Lucia had to pull herself away from him, as difficult as it was. He grabbed her and kissed her one final time before finally releasing her, and she headed out into the icy night, leaving behind a man that she was aching for.

  As she’d told him, she felt as if she were leaving a piece of herself behind.

  But for now, they had little choice.

  Fortunately for Lucia, she made it back to Lady Currie’s carriage about five minutes before Lady Currie herself joined her, upset and frustrated that the warrior she wanted as a companion didn’t want her.

  As the carriage lurched along the darkened road home, Lady Currie abruptly fell silent. When she spoke again, it was without the recent agitation.

  There was a frightening amount of calm.

  “Lucia,” she said thoughtfully, “Bane Morgan thinks he has beaten me, but that is not true. I told him I always get my way and I shall.”

  “Aye, m’lady,” Lucia said.

  Lady Currie turned to her. “Do you know how?”

  Lucia shook her head. In truth, she was terrified to hear it. “Nay, m’lady.”

  Lady Currie smiled. To Lucia, it looked like a horrific, nasty gesture. There was no warmth to it, only evil.

  “Warriors at the Cal are purchased to lead armies,” she said. “If Bane will not allow me to purchase him for my pleasure, then I will purchase him for Meadowbank’s insignificant little army.”

  Lucia didn’t understand what she meant and wasn’t sure she wanted to. “M’lady?”

  Lady Currie’s face lit up. “Don’t you see?” she said excitedly. “If he serves Meadowbank’s army, then he serves me.”

  Lucia still wasn’t clear. “He would answer tae ye and Laird Currie.”

  Lady Currie began to laugh. Peals of sweet and sinister laughter. “Nay, Lucia, you don’t understand,” she said. “If he serves me, then I can command him to do whatever I wish him to do. If I want to command him into my bed, then he cannot refuse. He is bound by his oath to obey and a man of honor would never break his oath. Now do you understand?”

  Lucia did and she was horrified. It was worse than she could have imagined. “I…I think so, m’lady.”

  Lady Currie was still cackling over what she perceived as a coming victory. She pulled out her personal flask, which was empty, before digging around in a basket that Colly had sent along, which had more wine in it. She drank deeply.

  “We shall return tomorrow, and I shall make an offer that Clegg cannot refuse,” she said. “By tomorrow night, Bane Morgan will be mine.”

  Lucia didn’t know what to say. In truth, she was afraid to speak. She turned her attention to the small window in the cab of the carriage, watching the dark landscape pass and feeling an inordinate amount of apprehension.

  A man of honor would never break his oath.

  It was very possible that, on that technicality, Lady Currie could very well back Bane into a corner.

  Would he be forced to obey?

  A bad situation was about to get worse.

  Chapter Twenty

  “As I have said many a time, Husband, Meadowbank is without a fine warrior,” Lady Currie said. “You have ten soldiers and one old sergeant in command, but he is not a great warrior. He’s just an old soldier, and he is drunk most of the time. But I have found a great warrior I believe we should retain. With everything valuable we have within this house, I should think you would want at least one man who is highly skilled to protect us.”

  Laird and Lady Currie were in Laird Currie’s cluttered solar. Laird Currie was listening to his wife rattle on this morning, thinking it unusual that she was up so early. But in hearing her speak on a warrior that caught her eye at the Ludus Caledonia, he was coming to understand why she was up at this hour.

  She wanted something.

  The only time she ever spoke to him was when she wanted something.

  The woman was prattling on about this great fighter she had discovered, but Laird Currie wasn’t giving her his full and undivided attention. He was looking for something on his bookshelf, haphazardly stacked with books and clutter and dust.

  “Did you hear me?” Lady Currie demanded when he didn’t answer her quickly enough. “We must have greater protection here at Meadowbank. I must have greater protection. I have found such a man, and for the right price, he shall be ours.”

  “I hear ye, my dear,” Laird Currie said, turning to look at her with a dusty book in his hand. “What would ye have me do?”

  Lady Currie was back to smiling pleasantly. “Give me money to purchase him, of course,” she said. “I believe he makes the Ludus Caledonia a good deal of money when he fights, so they will want a high price for him.”

  Laird Currie scratched his head in thought, reaching into his pocket and pulling forth one of his rats. He held the little beast as he moved away from his bookshelf, heading to the great table in the chamber that was so terribly cluttered. As he shuffled across the room, lost in thought, Lady Currie sighed heavily.

  “Greer, do you understand me?” she said sternly. “I am trying to gain some quality protection for Meadowbank. The least you could do is cooperate. This warrior is relatively new to the Ludus Caledonia, which means they haven’t spent a good deal on his training yet. However, he could make them a good deal of money over the life of his oath there. I’ve heard that the good ones will make the Cal twenty pounds a year or more. If we pay them sixty pounds sterling for him, I am sure they will take it.”

  Laird Currie reached his table and, still clutching the rat, seemed to be fumbling for something on the tabletop.

  “My dear, we have plenty of soldiers,” he said. “I dunna see how one more will make a difference.”

  Lady Currie pointed to the shelves and all of their expensive items. “If we were ever robbed, you would lose yea
rs’ worth of income,” she said. “All you have are ten drunkards to guard us. You know what I say is true. Those men spend more time drinking than paying attention to their duties. Every night when I go to bed, I bolt my doors and pray we are not robbed in the night.”

  “And ye believe this great warrior will help protect us?”

  “I know he will.”

  Laird Currie didn’t seem interested in what his wife was telling him, but he knew better than to argue. She would peck at him until she got her wish, so he waved a hand at her as if to shoo her out of his solar.

  “If ye feel strongly about it, then do as ye wish,” he told her. “Go, now. I’ll have the money for ye before ye leave for the Ludus Caledonia tonight.”

  “How do you know I am going tonight?”

  “Because ye go every night.”

  Considering Lady Currie rarely spoke to her husband, the subject of the Ludus Caledonia had her uncomfortable. She lived her life and he lived his, and they rarely crossed paths.

  “It is a welcome respite from the monotony of this place,” she said. “I refuse to spend my life boxed up in this…this tomb.”

  “And ye find distraction at the Cal?”

  “You know I do.”

  Laird Currie put his rat down on the tabletop, petting the little beast before it scurried away. He busied himself with a piece of vellum that was in front of him, picking it up and pretending to examine it. But all the while, he had something on his mind, something that his selfish wife had failed to notice.

  Behind those dark eyes, he was calculating.

  “I am glad,” he said after a moment. “I suppose it is exciting, though it has been years since I last attended a game there. Is Sir Clegg still in good health?”

  “He is.”

  “He has bought many fine pieces from me over the years, ye know.”

  “I know.”