by Alisa Adams
But Lisette had already beaten him to it. She slapped Mungo on the back of the head and started remonstrating to him in French. She then herded Mungo and Murtagh into the hovel.
Alexandre laughed. “Those two do not stand a chance with my wife. She is as sweet as a kitten, but when her claws are out, it is best to just agree with her.”
When the others entered the hovel, Mungo and Murtagh were seated at the table tucking into freshly baked bread, cold meat cuts, and fruit. To everybody’s surprise, Lisette had found some wine for the Highlanders to drink. Like a mother hen, she looked after the two men. Each time their cups were empty, she would refill them. Their appetite and repeated thanks and appreciation of the food pleased her. Apart from her seeing her daughter happy and safe, there was nothing Lisette liked more than a man enjoying her food.
“Ye best get to Father Mortimer for the wine. At the rate they are going, the pitcher will be empty in no time,” said Brice to the Highlander standing next to him.
The other man nodded curtly and ordered two other men to join him.
“This will not only be a homecoming celebration but a wedding,” said Doogle. He turned to look at Louise. “Do ye agree, lassie? Shall will let Father Mortimer marry us tonight?”
The tears welled up in her eyes. She nodded meekly. “Oui, Doogle. I would love nothing more.”
“What aboot Ma and Da, Brother? Ye can’t possibly marry without their blessing,” said Brice before the couple could kiss.
Doogle placed a meaty hand on his brother’s shoulder. “If Louise’s abduction taught me anything, it is that life is too short and precious to wait for what ye want for too long. I love Louise, and we want to get married. Ma and Da will understand.”
Brice nodded briefly. “All right, Brother. But don’t say I didn’t warn ye. Maîther will not be happy.”
“Mary will be fine when she lays her eyes on Louise,” said Mungo. He was happily gnawing on a bone while he spoke.
“Aye,” agreed Murtagh. He did not have any further opinion on the matter because the food and wine took up all of his attention.
“How about we have a betrothal celebration instead,” suggested Louise. “We can have the real wedding in Scotland. That is the way you do things in your country, eh?”
It was a good idea. If Doogle and Louise were ‘handfasted’ in the eyes of God, they were almost as good as married. It was a way for couples to get to know one another better and enjoy all of the benefits of wedlock. And after one year and one day, they could still break the whole thing off if things had not worked out well.
“That is a good idea,” said Brice. “What say ye, Brother?”
“As always, my Louise has the best ideas,” replied Doogle.
He kissed Louise on the lips.
Afterward, he explained everything to Alexandre and his wife. At first, they were skeptical because the French did not do things like that. However, they could not refuse their daughter and Doogle after everything they had been through.
That very same night, Doogle and Louise would be almost as good as married.
“To my brother and Louise. May they have a long and happy life together,” announced Brice, raising his goblet.
“Here, here,” replied the congregation in unison.
The feast took place in the barn because the hovel was too small to accommodate everybody. Apart from the over twenty clansmen, the Duroc family were joined by Father Mortimer and many people from the village. This night would not only celebrate the love shared between man and woman, but it was a farewell party of sorts.
Alexandre and Lisette had agreed to join Doogle and their daughter back in Scotland. They had been reluctant to leave everything behind, but the notion of not seeing their daughter again soon convinced them that their future was in the north of Europe. Also, the situation in France was still like a tinderbox. The rule of law had gone up in smoke with the capture of the French king. The situation would get a lot worse before it got any better.
Louise had never felt safer in her life. Not only did she have the man she loved by her side, but also her father and mother were with her. Hearing them say that they would join her was some of the best news in her life. The Duroc family would soon build up a new future with the Highlanders.
She and her mother had slaved away the entire day preparing the food that consisted of several roast pigs. They had to bake bread as well. In the meantime, the men under Alexandre’s direction had cleared out the barn and made it presentable for the quasi-wedding celebration.
Doogle carried himself as if he had never been happier carrying bales of hay and transporting the tables to and fro. Murtagh and Mungo had also joined in after their hearty meal and finishing off all of the wine. Fortunately, Father Mortimer had arrived in time with more barrels of wine.
The evening was drawing to a close. Soon, Louise would be alone with Doogle. As much as she craved it, she also feared what might happen. She had only briefly encountered his full power when he was aroused when they had kissed for the first time. She could clearly remember the presence of his manhood that had pressed against her.
She wanted nothing more than to give all of herself to him. The feeling of wanting stood in such contrast to the revulsion she had felt for Jean Philippe when he had touched her.
“Isn’t it aboot time ye made a woman out of her?” asked Murtagh, winking at Doogle from across the table.
“That is none of yer business, ye rogue,” retorted Doogle.
“This is a wedding of sorts. Ye should get yer bahookies oot of here. I saw ye preparing a cozy little nook for ye and the lass at the other end of the barn,” added Mungo.
Brice slapped him on the back. “I’d wager that ye are happy that this is not another one of yer daughters’ weddings.”
Mungo growled. He had almost skewered Brice with his claymore the moment he had found out that he was courting his beloved Skye. The entire clan had known, but as always the stubborn clansman had neglected to pay attention to the obvious signs.
“Now, that was a night to remember. Had yer da not interjected, I would have stuck ye like a pig,” said Mungo.
“It was so funny to see ye chasing after Brice,” said Murtagh, contently sipping his wine.
“So, get on with it, laddie. Claim yer woman,” said Mungo, changing the subject.
Although the men hadn’t realized it, Louise had overheard their conversation.
She walked up to the table. “What are you talking about? It looks like you are hatching some kind of plan.”
“They want us to seal our union with the union of the flesh,” said Doogle.
Louise thought for a moment. Then, she got to her feet and held out her hand to Doogle. “I agree with them.”
Despite her words, she did not feel as confident as they suggested. She was petrified. For one, she worried that she might not satisfy the man she loved. Secondly, she did not know what to do. She and Doogle had never spoken of whether he’d had other women in his life.
Doogle smiled at Louise. “Are ye sure, lassie? We could always wait.”
Murtagh and Mungo grunted something unintelligible.
“Haud yer wheeshts,” said Doogle, causing them to laugh. He took Louise’s hand and smiled at her.
It was all the encouragement she needed. She was certain that he would be gentle with her. Doogle was not a man who would force her to do anything she didn’t want. Apart from her mother and father, she trusted nobody more. She wanted to be with him, to be one with him in both the realms of the flesh and the spiritual.
To much ribald suggestion, the couple moved away from the table. The clansmen began singing traditional wedding songs with Mungo and Murtagh the loudest of the bunch. When Doogle explained what they were singing, Louise blushed.
“Traditionally, I would take ye to my home and carry ye over the threshold. But here we have a ladder to climb,” said Doogle, pointing to the ladder that led up to another level in the barn.
Louise swallowed
deeply before she placed her foot on the first rung. The higher she climbed, the more her confidence left her. When she reached the top, she almost cried. Doogle had prepared the area as best he could.
A large plaid covered some hay in the back of the space. Otherwise, the floor was clear. Two small candles provided light. A pitcher of wine stood on a small table close to the sleeping area. It was perfect and the coziest place she had ever seen in her life.
When she heard Doogle climb off the ladder behind her, she turned. Her lower lip trembled. To her surprise, she could see that he was just as nervous as she was. Seeing his vulnerability gave her confidence. Louise took a tentative step in his direction. When only a finger’s width separated their lips, she took his hand and placed it on the ties fastening her finest dress.
“Undress me,” she said.
He swallowed deeply. “Are ye sure?”
Louise nodded. “You want to see all of me, non?
When Doogle nodded too hastily, she giggled. She luxuriated in the way the expression on his face alternated between sheer awe and wonderment when more and more of her naked flesh was revealed to him. He took a deep breath when the dress fell off of her person. Only an underdress or smock remained.
Louise did not wait for him to continue. Instead, she slipped her arms out of the sleeves and let the garment fall to her feet. She spent a second watching her nipples stiffen because of the cold draft finding its way through the slats of the barn as if she had never seen them do that before. She brushed her fingers against them. The light caresses sent a jolt of warmth all over her body.
She marveled at how her groin heated up with each caress. It just felt so good to be in touch with her body. To be watched by the man she loved. He had fallen silent as if in the presence of a deity. Seeing the expression of serene wonderment on his face melted her heart. It was the right decision to let him watch her.
It felt so incredible to be able to have such an effect on him. With each passing second, she grew bolder. His silence acted as fuel for her passion. Her patience was fast dissipating – she needed this man inside of her now. The buildup of warmth between her legs was getting too much for her to bear. The way his eyes felt as if they were boring into hers almost split her in two.
“Now you, chérie,” she ordered.
Louise wanted to see Doogle how he saw her – naked in the eyes of God.
Doogle started to unwrap the plaid that hung over his person all the way down from his shoulder. He unfastened the clasp on his shoulder. The fabric dropped to his feet.
She inhaled. He wore nothing underneath.
“Do all of the men in your clan wear no braies?” she asked, referring to the shorts that French men wore underneath their breeches.
“Aye, just the kilt.”
Louise was not listening. All she could do was stare at his nakedness. He was absolutely perfect. It amazed her how just one man could contain so much power. His muscles rippled over his entire body. His legs were like thick tree trunks and his arms like the strongest branches in the oldest trees surrounding Iteuil. The Highlander was sheer force.
She felt her body respond with desire when she ran her fingers through the thick bush of red hair on his chest – it was soft and silky to the touch. She could not help but press the flat of her hand against his chest muscles – they were hard as a rock.
When she looked down, her eyes snapped wider. He was fully erect. The tip almost touched her body. This protrusion of his body was like a separate being with a mind of its own. To Louise, it almost looked as if it hurt him. A small shiver spiraled through her. She was suddenly reminded of the cold winter air that constantly found its way into the warmth of the barn.
When she felt his arms wrap around her, the cold somehow vanished in an instant. His naked body felt like a harbor would to a ship and its crew returning home after a long voyage at sea. At that moment, all of her trepidation from the past weeks slipped from her, disappearing into nothingness. She rested her head against him, relishing in the way his hands coasted her body.
“Ye are the most beautiful woman, Louise.”
His husky voice was so inviting that she did not hear anything else but him – not even the revelry taking place down below them limited its potency.
With a snarl, Doogle’s lips crushed against hers. He devoured her mouth with his tongue. He groaned with delight when she responded with just as much passion and need. They remained like that for what seemed like an eternity, releasing all of their pent-up desire that had accumulated over the weeks they had been separated. It was as angry as the sea when the squall rode the waves into a frenzy.
“Take me now, Doogle.” The force in her voice surprised Louise. It had not been a begging tone. She had commanded him to have his way with her. Knowing this made her feel special and wanted and loved.
She took a step back. She needed to see his body again. There was this small sultry hunger constantly burning inside of her. Doogle just stood there, once more awestruck by her nakedness.
“Ye are like a goddess,” he said with a croak.
Louise smiled back at him. “And you are magnificent. Come…”
She took his hand and guided him to where they would sleep. She immediately began to arrange the plaid by flapping it open so that they could slip underneath it. She bent down to flatten a corner of the plaid with her dainty hands, and when she turned around, Louise’s eyes felt like they were the size of plates. His nakedness just wouldn’t cease to amaze her. Doogle was even more magnificent than what her furtive glances had already shown her. His hairy chest was the size of a barrel but flawlessly molded like on a statue of a Greek god. The fresh scars crisscrossing his physique added to his allure, giving him a savage air.
Letting her gaze drop a little, Louise licked her lips when she saw the rippling muscles of his abdomen. A moment of sadness overcame her when she saw the sutures – it was brief. Moving down, she inhaled deeply. Before her stood his erection that still towered toward her in an attempt to claim her.
“Oh my God.” For a heartbeat, Louise was afraid of the thing between his legs.
“I need ye,” he said, again with a croak.
On staggering feet, Doogle stumbled forward. With the visible determination of a man possessed by a beast, he pulled her toward him. He growled into her mouth when he kissed her. His hands already roamed over her body. Louise was surprised to find that she was no less violent and eager in her plundering. She rubbed against him and held his buttocks with strong hands.
“Oh, Doogle. You are with me again.”
Louise closed her eyes and shuddered with delight as he pressed his lips to her nipples and suckled on them. The circling motion of his tongue and the sucking of his mouth held her in a vice. She stood naked and exposed in front of him, delighting in his expert ministrations. She mewed when his hands moved up and down her flanks, caressing and grabbing along the way.
“You’re so beautiful, and ye taste like the nectar of life…” Doogle made his point with a loud slurp as he ran his tongue from her right breast to the left one.
Louise could never have expected what he did next. Her eyes snapped open when she felt him kiss his way lower.
Her mind screamed, Stop, stop; it is not for that.
However, her actions contradicted her thoughts as she added pressure to his head by pushing him even more onto the lush onyx-colored curls of her sex.
Louise felt self-conscious at having the most intimate part of her body so openly exposed to his gaze and caresses. Redness eddied over her skin when she saw him looking at her sex, stroking it with his eyes. She tried to cover herself with her hands, but he stopped her.
“It’s all right, lassie. I want to see ye, feel ye, be one with ye and…”
“Oh, my God!” gushed past her lips when he started to kiss her there.
Her head tipped lower. Not once did she take her eyes off his. The erotic intent was imprinted in the milk-colored watery pools with the blue islands with the dilut
ed black dots.
“Yer honeypot has the sweetest nectar I have ever tasted.”
“Argh, Doogle.”
Louise moved about on the spot as a strange sensation caressed her sex and breasts with careful fingers. She frowned at the unaccustomed feeling. It felt good, better with every passing moment. Before she knew it, she was mewing without interruption. She was ready to explode.
Individual bursts of pleasure shot up from in-between her legs, twirling, racing and intermingling until she yelled out his name like a holy incantation. Louise’s fingers dug into his thick red hair and interlocked there as if they were the rungs of life itself. She hit the point of no return when deep groans complemented her flight in a cavernous cacophony.
When her body went limp, Doogle stood up to his full height. Then, he picked her up with his strong arms and lowered her onto the waiting plaids. He did not immediately come on top of her; instead, he surveyed her body once more, like he was enthralled by the beauty of the woman lying beneath him.
Louise let her mind wander to the earth-shattering symphony that had just taken hold of her body. On cue, she let her hands roam. She smiled up at him. Small pearls of sweat had appeared on her skin. It was as if sparkly, jeweled diamond drops illuminated her skin.
The heat of his gaze seemed to focus on her most secret place. It was like a slow, curling pulse that increased with every passing moment. Louise spread her legs a little more to give him a better view. She lay there for a while, basking in the warmth of his perusal and letting the pulse take further hold. She could not resist the licking heat.
She just lay there, not moving at all, feeling the increasing warmth on her skin and the glow of her flourishing femininity. Louise felt ripe like a juicy sun-sweet peach, brimming, and ready for the plucking. She heard him take a deep breath. It felt so good to have this effect on him. In some ways, she felt like a musical instrument. Every little move was a like a sweet note, creating pleasure for the one listening.
Feeling his approach, Louise moved up and rested her weight on her elbows. She breathed heavily. The afterglow on her skin still held her captive. Her deep brown eyes opened wide when she felt rigid flesh brush against her.
