by Carmen Caine
“Why not eat here in front of the hearth? Then your breeks can dry as well.” She fanned her face as if she’d had an errant thought. Sean hoped she had—thoughts akin to his own.
“Wonderful idea.” He jumped up and fetched the basket. “I’ve some wine to warm our insides.”
She clasped her hands. “Splendid.”
Sean moved to the sideboard and poured two goblets of wine from the ewer, thanking his stars the master brewer had brought him a new vintage only the day before. When he returned to the hearth, Gyllis lifted the cloth from the basket. “And what did Cook prepare for us?”
Sean set the goblets on the floor and sat on the plaid rug beside her. He peered inside the basket, not sure. “Looks like sliced mutton, bread and cheese.”
She reached in and pulled out a sprig of red grapes, pulled one off and popped it in her mouth. Her eyes widened as she chewed. “Mm, a burst of tartness.”
Sean glanced at the fruit in her hand. As if she read his thoughts, she plucked the plumpest grape and held it to his lips. “You must taste.”
The fire in his groin inflamed while she placed it on his tongue. Then the vixen kept her finger on his lip as he closed his mouth. She giggled and ran her finger across his bottom lip. Christ almighty, did she know how seductive she looked?
Biting down, tart juice spurted throughout his mouth, tickling the underside of his jaw. “Delicious.”
She leaned closer. “I want to taste it too.”
Sean needed no more encouragement. He slid his hand behind her neck and cradled her head. She smelled sweeter than the grape he held in his mouth and the closer her lips neared, the hotter the flame beneath his breeks grew. He hardly noticed the damp wool—for all he could tell, it had already dried. God knew his flesh was hot enough to singe it.
When their lips met, Gyllis’s gentle moan vibrated through his chest. Her cool fingers smoothed up his abdomen and around his back as she entwined her tongue with his.
The lass learns quickly. “Do you ken what that does to me?”
Her inhale stuttered. “Nay, but if it makes heat flare deep inside your body, I’ve some idea.” Her voice grew breathless.
No stranger to the temptations of the bedchamber, Sean tightened every muscle in his body to bring his lustful urges under control. He would not take advantage of Gyllis, not ever. She was as fragile as a glass ornament, to be put on a pedestal and admired.
“You are the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.”
Holy Christ. He took a deep breath. I must resist. Then he looked into her eyes—moss encircled by dark blue. She smoothed her delicate fingers back and forth over his chest. With each feathery caress, his nipples grew harder, sending shocks of heat straight to his cock—now as rigid as an iron pole. In one motion, Sean pulled her onto his lap and covered her mouth with a smothering, claiming kiss. He wanted Gyllis like he wanted no other woman in the world and now her supple bottom cradled his ravenous cock.
She moved her hips, rubbing along his length. He hadn’t been with a woman in so long, he’d lose control with one more shift of her hips. But he could not bring himself to stop kissing her. Gradually, he lowered her to the floor and lay her down. His hand slid from her waist and cupped her breast. In unison they moaned. Round and full, he kneaded her all the while joining with her mouth.
Trailing his fingers to her kirtle laces, he tugged the bow free and slipped his fingers beneath her neckline. Pushing it aside, he exposed her rounded flesh. With one more tug, the succulent nipple he’d seen in the mirror stood erect for him.
He barely noticed the rumbling thunder outside.
Gyllis gasped. “I cannot resist you.”
“Why would you want to do that?” Sean flicked out his tongue and tasted the sweet rosebud standing proud before him. He took her fullness into his mouth and savored her taste. Heaven help him, his cock jutted against her hip, ready to burst with a single stroke.
Gyllis writhed beneath him, mewling like a virgin goddess. “This is the most diverting picnic I have ever attended.”
Sean swirled his tongue around her blessed nipple. “I must agree with you there.”
A rap came from the door. “M’laird?” It was Angus’s voice.
“A moment.” Sean helped Gyllis resituate her shift and kirtle then crossed the floor and opened the door.
Angus stood with Gyllis’s crutches in hand, his expression grave. “The burn’s flooded. Worse, the keep’s surrounded by water. There’s no way out.”
“So quickly?”
“You’ve been up here for ages and all the while the rain’s been coming down in sheets.”
Sean glanced back at Gyllis.
“Is everything well?” she asked.
He told her about the rain. “’Tis looking as if you may need to stay at Dunollie.”
She clapped a hand over her mouth and looked toward the window. “Oh heavens. John will be furious.”
“He’d be a might angrier if we tried to cross a flooding river in a downpour.”
Angus handed him the crutches. “The lassie’s chamber is warm and ready.” He glanced sidewise and leaned in. “It might be best for her reputation if you moved her straight away.”
“Are the men talking? Already?”
“Cook’s served the evening meal—aye, the rumblings started when you didn’t come down, m’laird.”
By the looming grey sky beyond the narrow window, Sean couldn’t tell what time of day it was. “I’d best inspect the extent of the flooding.”
“’Tis grave, m’laird. There’ll be a number of crofters in need of help for certain.”
Sean started to close the door. “I shall meet you in the great hall after I have Miss Gyllis settled in her chamber.”
“I’ll inform the guard.”
“My thanks.” Crutches in hand, Sean faced the lady. He hated to put an end to their picnic, but it was for the best. In no way could he sully her reputation. “We’d best see you to the guest chamber, or we’ll nay avoid a scandal.”
“Oh dear.” She slipped her fingers to her well-kissed mouth. “I’m afraid I was so overcome, I considered not the consequences.”
“I should have thought of it.” He ambled toward her. “’Tis my responsibility. But fear not, I’ll ensure no ill befalls you on account of my folly.”
He knelt beside her and gestured to the crutches in his hand. “Would you prefer to use these, or should I carry you?”
“As much as I’d prefer to be in your arms, I fear someone may see us.”
“Och, aye. That would help your reputation not at all.” He winked. “But there’s a secret door that adjoins the lady’s chamber to mine.”
“Truly? A secret passage akin to one in a storybook?”
Sean pointed. “’Tis behind the tapestry.”
She stroked her chin. “Do the servants ken about it?”
“Not likely. I only discovered it when I moved into the chamber after Da passed.”
“How scandalous.” She giggled. “Do you think your parents used it?”
“Perhaps.” He’d never really considered it, and as an only son, he now wondered if his parents had a happy marriage. His mother was an Irish lass, married to Sean’s da by an arrangement, as marriages often are. Presently there was no time to ponder it. He stooped to help her up. “Though I doubt we’ll see a soul in the passageway, let us make a show of walking to the outer door.”
She held on to his arm with one hand and reached for a crutch. “Very well, but I shall miss you.”
“I’m afraid there won’t be much to entertain you whilst I’m making the rounds.”
“Have you anything to read?”
He looked at the leather-bound Bible on the sideboard and pointed. “Only scripture.”
She smiled. “’Tis better than doing nothing.”
Once he retrieved the book, they proceeded to the lady’s chamber. Sean hated to leave her alone, but he had a clan to look after. He opened the door. “I’ll have Coo
k bring you a tray.”
She’d become quite adept with her crutches and easily moved inside. “Thank you.” Gyllis regarded him over her shoulder, her tongue sneaking to the corner of her mouth. “Will you check on me when you return?”
“Not sure. I’m afraid it will be too late.” Besides, if he came to her later, he might not be able to control himself. Indeed, Lusty Laddie could rear his lovesick head and Duncan would be fully within his rights to chop it off. Sean fingered a lock of her chestnut hair. “I wish I could stay, but my clan must come first.”
“I ken.” She nimbly turned and stepped up to him, her face a hand’s breadth away. “I like kissing you, Sir Sean.”
She placed a palm on his cheek and turned up her mouth. Thank God they’d seen no one else in the passageway because there was no way in heaven Sean would be able to resist those succulent lips. He paused and drew in a ragged breath. Then he slowly lowered his lips until they met hers. Sliding his fingers around her waist, he didn’t want to hurry. With languid licks of his tongue, he savored her, enjoying the lingering tartness from the grapes. She melted into him, her pliable breasts caressing his chest, bringing on another torturous erection. If only he could take her inside and explore every inch of her silken flesh with his tongue.
He forced his hand to stray to the latch. “I shall see you on the morrow.”
Chapter Sixteen
Gyllis smoothed her fingers over the page. Randomly she’d opened the Bible to II Samuel and read about how King David watched Bathsheba bathe. Doubtless, she couldn’t have opened it to the Book of Job. Sean had held her in his clutches and she’d needed no constricting stays to swoon in his arms. Who knows what would have happened had Angus not come to the door when he did. As it was, she’d allowed Sean to bare her breasts and fondle them. Her nipples still tingled at his heavenly touch.
As sure as she’d opened the Holy Book to King David’s sin, God would punish her severely for enjoying Sean’s touch so much. And now she craved it. Worse, reading about King David’s lust served to further ignite the flames smoldering at such depths of her body, she’d never imagined so powerful an emotion.
She set the Bible beside her on the bed and reclined against the lush pillows. Appointed with a large four-poster bed, the lady’s chamber was twice the size of her rooms at Kilchurn. Across the floor, a fire crackled in the hearth. They had even drawn the furs across the window to keep out the chill.
Gyllis let out a long sigh and trailed her fingers over her breast. It still tingled as if Sean’s lips continued to suckle her. How on earth would she ever forget this day? That she didn’t want to forget was a certainty—nor had she wanted it to end. I am a wanton woman. God will strike me down for this.
She rolled onto her side and covered her face with her hands. Why does sin feel so good if it is a terrible thing? A person should feel awful if they sin—like I do when I tell a fib or something akin to that.
Watching the crackling fire, she was well aware the hour had grown late. Ages ago, a serving boy had brought up a tray of food. But sleep eluded her like a rainbow’s end. How can I sleep when so many thoughts fill my head? Heaven help me, my entire body is tingling with happiness for the first time in ever so long.
A door slammed. She sat upright. The candle beside her bed had nearly burned to a nub. Footsteps came from behind her headboard. Sean’s chamber. Gyllis held very still and listened. Something clattered to the floor that made her jolt. She held her breath. Rustling, perhaps cloth, followed by footsteps.
She couldn’t mistake the sound of the bed creaking. Gyllis swallowed and clutched the bedclothes to her chin. The image of Sean in his bed did unholy things to her mind. Does he wear a nightshirt? Does he keep his dirk under his pillow? What does his face look like when he’s sleeping? Is it as beautiful as when he’s alert? Does he sleep on his back or otherwise?
The bed creaked—louder this time. Still clutching the bedclothes, Gyllis scooted to the edge of her bed. Heavy footsteps clapped the floorboards followed by a hiss. She inclined her ear toward the wall. Is he dancing? The floor groaned as if he were moving in a rhythmic pattern. I do not recall a rocking chair in his chamber.
Gyllis reached for her crutches. As quietly as she could, she slid behind the tapestry and felt for the latch. When it clicked, she gasped and froze in place. Something hissed through the air, followed by more footsteps. But the sound wasn’t up close. It came from across the chamber, near the hearth. After opening the door far enough to slip inside, she maneuvered the crutches out from behind Sean’s tapestry and popped her head out from beneath it.
In the blink of an eye, she couldn’t breathe, and the thrumming of her heart consumed her entire body. Now she knew exactly how King David felt when he gazed down upon Bathsheba. The great Chieftain of Dunollie wore not a thread of clothing.
Sean swung his sword in an arc over his head, lunging into a crouch where he stopped, the sword and his arm forming perfectly parallel lines.
Lit by a candelabra and the fire from the hearth, the room glowed amber and smelled of beeswax and wood smoke. The flickering light cast a dreamy shroud over the chamber and filled it with dark shadows, but nothing appeared more surreal than Sean’s naked body flexing with his every move.
Gyllis’s hands trembled as she stared at Sean’s chiseled back. He mustn’t have heard her, because he held the crouched position like a statue. His dark, wavy locks brushed broad shoulders, rounded by thick muscle. He straightened slowly, the undulating muscles in his back contracting until he stood straight. His waist narrowed, supported by hips that appeared chiseled from pure marble. His rounded buttocks dimpled at the sides and curved down to long, slender thighs, peppered with dark hair.
He lunged to the right, the big sword hissing through the air. But this time he thrust his weapon as if defending himself from attack. On and on he fought the demons, slashing, thrusting and spinning with his blade. When he next straightened, he faced her holding the sword high above his head.
Gyllis had seen his chest only that evening, but the muscles rippling over his abdomen appeared even more defined in the glowing light. A line of black hair trailed from his navel, pulling her eyes lower. That a man had a splay of curls over his sex as she did surprised her, as did the alabaster length of this manhood at his apex. Aye, she’d seen animals mate, and was aware men were different, but never guessed they were so amazingly so. She had never gazed upon pure beauty before this moment.
Clapping a hand over her mouth, Gyllis tried to muffle her gasp.
Sean’s gaze snapped to her face. Before she could blink, he bellowed an inhuman roar and barreled toward her. In one motion, he spun her around. The crutches clattered to the floor as he leveled the sword against her neck. “I’ll not tolerate a spy.”
“I-I heard…I-I did not—”
“Gyllis?” Immediately he dropped the sword with a resounding racket and released his hold. “I’m sor—”
She tried to pull away but crumpled to the floor. “Forgive me.” Tears welled in her eyes as she shook with mortification. “I did not mean to intrude. I was awake and heard…”
“Nay, nay, nay.” Sean dropped to his knee beside her. Gyllis tried to avert her gaze, but he was so amazingly naked. He lifted her into his arms as if she weighed nothing and ran kisses along her cheek and neck. “I am the one who must ask for forgiveness. I’ve no idea what I was thinking. I saw movement and assumed someone had spirited inside.”
Gyllis looked into his eyes and began to tremble. It was as if he hadn’t recognized her, as if he were in some sort of trance. “You were like a madman for a moment.”
“Apologies. I was concentrating—not thinking straight. No one has ever entered my chamber when I’ve been—ah—sparring with the devil.” He nuzzled into her tresses. “You ken I would never do anything to hurt you.” Still cradling her to his bare chest, he stood and walked to the bed. Gently he set her on the mattress then kneeled before her, holding her hands between his palms.
Filled with concern, his eyes flickered gold, reflecting the fire from the hearth. Her overwhelming curiosity had led her straight into the fabled lion’s den. And now the gentle beast had lured her under his spell of beauty. My stars, he even smells as wild as a pine forest. Gyllis stared for a long while, then moistened her lips and nodded once, never breaking their gaze. That he was naked before her seemed as natural as breathing, except for the tight yearning that ached so badly, she had to steal at least one more kiss. Even her breasts were afire. He’d kissed them earlier and it had been sinfully delectable.
Will God forgive me as he had his servant King David?
Continuing to hold his gaze, she slipped her hands from his and untied her shift’s bow—just as he’d done earlier. She took in a staccato breath, aware of what she was doing, but not fearing the consequences. Sean watched motionless as she slipped the linen from one shoulder and then the other. Then he reached up and tugged the cloth down to her waist, fully exposing her breasts.
A feral growl rumbled from his throat. “God help me, you are the most beautiful woman on earth.”
His features were shrouded by the dim light, but the darkness made the world seem like a dream. With a low moan, Sean cupped her breast and joined his mouth with hers. Gyllis kissed him back with all the passion she could muster, allowing him to guide her. She grew bolder and lightly suckled his tongue while he swirled it deeper in her mouth.
As he eased the kiss, Sean trailed his lips down her neck. Gyllis sank her fingers into the thick bands of flesh on his shoulder while he continued lower. Met with jagged flesh, the wound he’d sustained when attacked in Fearnoch Forest was no scratch. Rather than spoil the moment with a gasp, Gyllis inclined her head and ran kisses along his puckered flesh. “I shall ease your pain.”
“I feel no pain when I am with you.”
She gasped when his tongue circled the tip of her breast. So sensitive, a flame burst inside as if it were fanned by a blacksmith’s bellows. Gyllis threw back her head and moaned as he kneaded her breasts and plied them with his tongue. “Your wiles seduce me to the point of madness,” she managed a breathless whisper.
