Callum’s gaze landed on a vendor who he knew sold various types of brushes both for people and for animals. While Siùsan was busy talking to a sweatmeats vendor, Callum leaned over to Tavish who had accompanied them.
“Keep any eye on Siùsan. I would like to get her something more special as a surprise. I dinna want her to ken what I am aboot.” Since the day that Siùsan was nearly poisoned, Callum insisted that she always have a guard with her if he was not nearby. He gave her free movement within the keep but would not allow her out of the Great Hall doors without someone to protect her. It had caused their first and only real fight to date. It had not lasted long. She yelled that she would not be a prisoner when she was not the one trying to murder anyone. Though she might be moved to do so if he did not relent. He yelled back that he would bind her to his bed and keep her there until their wedding if that was what it would take to keep her safe. He continued to yell that he refused to even consider any harm coming to her and he would run through anyone who tried. She had turned the deepest shade of red he had ever seen on anyone as he realized the implications of his words which had rung through the Great Hall as he bellowed that he cared about her too much to leave her safety to chance. She had simply nodded and turned back to the noon meal they were sharing.
Later that afternoon, when they were alone walking through the meadow near the castle, she had rewarded his concern with her tender ministrations. She had stopped them and tugged on his leine until he bent over far enough for her to kiss him. Then she had dropped to her knees and dipped her head under his plaid. He could not believe that this woman who seemed proper in front of his clan and his family would do something so brazen out in the open. As he felt her tongue run up and down his length and then swirl over the tiny opening in his tip, his mind went completely blank. He could think of nothing but the pure bliss of her lips sliding down his length as she took as much into her novice mouth as she could. It was obvious that she was inexperienced, but what she lacked in knowledge, she made up for in effort. What she could not manage, she used her hand to stroke. His hips had rocked in tandem with her sucking motions. It had only taken a matter of minutes before he felt the telltale tingle at the base of his spine. He tried to press her shoulders back and took a step back, but she would not let him go. Instead she simply sucked harder and faster. There was nothing he could do to stop the resulting release that flowed out of him. When he was finally done, she sat back on her heels and daintily wiped her lips with her fingertips. She looked up at him and gave him the most radiant smile. He all but mauled her as he dropped down on to the grass and pushed her onto her back. He growled as he loosened her laces and pulled down the shoulders of her kirtle. He unfastened the belt that kept her arisaid in place and pushed her skirts up to her waist. He pulled one then the other breast free. He realized that this was the first time he had an unobstructed view of them. They were magnificent. He had felt them and knew that she was more endowed than she appeared in her gowns, but he had not anticipated just how full they were. They sat high and round. They were tipped with dusky nipples that pebbled as he stared. He leaned forward and ran his tongue over one of the pointy darts. He swirled his tongue around her nipple just as she had the tip of his cock. He brushed his fingers along her seam and felt how wet she was. She was eager for him and let her knees fall apart. As he sucked her nipple and as much of her breast as he could fit into his mouth, he thrust three fingers into her sheath.
They managed to find time to slip away more than once each day, even if it was only a storeroom or an alcove. As she became more experienced with the intimate feel of his fingers, she demanded more. She wanted more of his fingers, more speed, and more force. He was always careful never to pierce her maidenhead, but he sought to bring her more pleasure with each encounter.
While in the meadow, he had worked her breasts, alternating between the two suckling and massaging, and he worked her core as he rubbed and stroked her to release. He was growing addicted to the sounds she made during their love play, a name for their activity that no longer seemed to bother him when he thought about it, and the look of bliss on her face when she came.
He thought back to that particular interlude as he picked out a curry brush for Siùsan, or really for Trofast. He would take it to the blacksmith and see if he could add a design to the metal back of the brush. He would have their initials added if possible. He wanted to do something nice for her that would match her practical nature. He had picked flowers with her a few times already, but she politely let him know that while she enjoyed their time together, she did not care for the mess they made when they began to die. He had laughed when she just shrugged and said she knew she was not a typical woman. Instead, they had agreed that searching for shells together was more enjoyable. She had quite a collection that she said she laid on every available surface in her chamber.
When he had made his purchase and safely stashed it away in his sporran, he returned to Tavish and Siùsan. Siùsan was gently fingering a bolt of material that was a dark green velvet. It was almost an exact match for her eyes and would make a bold contrast to her creamy skin and auburn hair. When she saw him approach, she dropped her hand and moved towards him. She smiled and took his arm in an attempt to steer him away. He knew she would never ask for such a thing for herself. She was modest in her tastes, but he had not missed the longing in her eyes. He looked over her head to Tavish and then slightly tilted his head back in the direction of the fabric seller. Tavish nodded and dropped back.
Callum unhooked his arm and wrapped it around her waist. He looked down at her and saw that she wore the same serviceable gown that she alternated with an only slightly better kirtle. He knew that she had one other gown that she had yet to wear as she was saving it for their wedding and holy feast days. He was concerned with how little she seemed to have brought with her from her home. He had learned from Hagatha that she had only arrived with a satchel. The same afternoon he sent off the missive, he had asked the groomsmen if she had arrived with any more luggage that he might not have seen. They said they never saw anything. She never once alluded to wanting more or that she even needed more. He knew she would never ask but he had a remedy in mind. He only hoped that she would accept.
~~~
“Will ye come above stairs with me?”
Siùsan looked around to be sure that no one could overhear them. “I canna be going into a chamber alone with ye. We already risk enough sneaking into the storerooms.”
“Are ye worried ye might compromise me,” he snickered. When she did not laugh, he continued. “I willna attempt to compromise ye. In fact, we will keep the chamber door wide open if ye would feel better.”
She looked around and saw that no one was watching them. She nodded and tried to discreetly move towards the stairs. She turned back to tell him that she would go first, and he could meet her above stairs, but he was ready to step onto the same stair as she was already on. She looked around again and then darted up the stairs. When they reached the passageway on the second floor, he took her hand and led her to the very end of the hall. A beautifully carved door that featured a scene with a wood nymph hiding from a hunter behind a tree stood in front of them. Siùsan had never seen such craftsmanship in her life let alone on a door. Callum reached around her and opened the door.
“Da had it done as a wedding gift for Mama.” He said as he ushered her into the chamber and made sure to leave the door open.
Siùsan looked around the large chamber in awe. It featured the largest bed she had ever seen in her life. She blushed as she realized that one day, that would be her bed that she shared with Callum as his wife. Her eyes took in the rest of the room. There were vases of flowers all over the room. A table with a small stool sat near the window. It still had a woman’s brush and perfume bottles on it. Siùsan’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. She was certain that Callum had told her the day that she arrived that after his mother’s death, Laird Sinclair had not taken a leman. Callum had not even been sure
that his father had been with another woman in the time since he became a widower.
“It is exactly as Mama left it. Da canna stand the idea of making any changes. He says that he can feel her presence still here and she visits him often in his dreams. Mama loved having fresh flowers everywhere. She would pick them daily when she could. After she died, Hagatha took up the duty of making sure there are always vases full.”
Siùsan felt a bit embarrassed now that she realized how much his mother loved cut flowers and she had turned her nose up at his offer to give her fresh ones daily.
“Leannan, dinna fash. If ye dinna care for flowers that is fine. Ye arenae ma mama. Besides, I prefer walking on the beach with just ye than having to share the gardens with ye and the women who till and tend the vegetables.”
Callum took her hand and pulled her further into the room. Two large chests sat side by side at the foot of the bed. Callum reached down and lifted the lid to one of them. Siùsan peaked around him and saw an array of colors in the form of numerous women’s gowns.
“I spoke to Da, and we agreed that we would like to offer ye the use of these gowns. I ken they are outdated, but they are in excellent condition and ye are fairly close in size to Mama.”
Siùsan looked at the gowns and then kneeled in front of the chest. She reached a hand out to touch one, then snatched it back and folded both in her lap.
“Callum, I canna take yer mother’s belongings. I believe Hagatha said that there are some unused bolts of fabric in the attic. I can sew ma own clothes. I will find something appropriate and begin work this evening.” She attempted to stand but felt a soft pressure on her shoulder as Callum kneeled beside her.
“Siùsan, I asked ma father and he agreed. We both have noticed that yer wardrobe is limited. We would like to do this for ye.” He reached out and took her hand. He was surprised to feel how rough it was that day. He looked down to see blisters on them. He realized that she had artfully avoided holding hands with him and she had only touched him over the material of his clothing. They had not had any time alone before this. “What has happened to yer hands?”
“Naught. I havenae been using them for chores in several weeks between the journey here and then settling in. I have also been using a hand lotion every night. It has softened them too much. Holding the large wooden stick that the laundresses use to turn the clothes in the cauldron simply gave me blisters today. That along with the lye soap that we use has made ma hands a bit rough.” She tried to pull her hands back but Callum held fast. He inspected each fingertip and palm. He gently ran his thumb over her palm, avoiding the blisters, then he brought them both to his lips.
“I canna say that I am pleased to see yer hands so raw and chapped. I am proud, though, that ye are willing to help any and everywhere and that ye work so hard.”
“I have to earn ma own keep. I have been here longer than hospitality demands, and I am not yet yer wife. I am but an extra mouth to feed. It is the least that I can do. I should be doing more but, well, there isnae time when I leave for the afternoons.” Siùsan’s cheeks tinged pinks as she looked at her tiny hands in his large ones. His hands were roughened with callouses just as hers used to be and would be again soon. “Ma hands will heal and callouses will form just as they used to. The work willna bother them as it doesnae bother me now.”
“Siùsan, ye are ma betrothed. Ye are neither a guest nor a servant. Ye dinna have to earn anything. I told ye, I am proud that ye are trying so hard, but I dinna want to see yer hands like this again. Please.”
“Ye are right. I amnae a guest nor a servant but neither am I family. I canna keep taking without giving something back.” She shook her head adamantly, and Callum knew that they would just go around in circles if he continued to press.
“I will speak to Da about giving ye some of the proper responsibilities of the lady of the keep. I ken ye can read and do figures. Mayhap ye can see to the accounts with the steward. It is early summer now, but the plans for the harvest must be made soon. Hagatha will need help organizing the storage of all the crops that are brought in. Would ye be willing to do that instead of working with the laundresses or scrubbing anything else?”
“Aye. I can do all of those things as I was responsible for it at the Mackenzie keep.” Callum thought it odd that she referred to her former home by her clan’s name rather than as her home. He still had not pressed her to tell him about her family life. He figured that when she was ready, she would share with him. He realized, though, that he had just stumbled upon a way to get her to accept his mother’s gowns, at least for the immediate future until she had her own gowns.
“If ye are to take on the responsibilities of the lady of the keep, ye must look the part. Ye canna go around looking like ye could be confused for one of the servants.”
Siùsan opened her mouth to object and was insulted by his insinuation that her gowns were more suited for rags than for a lady. But as she moved to point her finger at him, she caught sight of how faded her kirtle was and where the hem of the sleeve was beginning to fray. She dropped her hand and closed her mouth. Instead she simply nodded.
She looked in the chest and gingerly pulled out the gown on top. It was a dark shade of plum. The material was smooth and soft. She held it up and looked at it. It was almost brand new. She carefully draped it over the lid of the chest. Next, she pulled out a yellow gown but immediately shook her head and set it aside. She did not think she could pull off yellow with her red hair, but Callum reached across her and picked it back up. He held it up to her and smiled.
“It suits ye. I believe ye could wear any color and look lovely. Even a turnip sack would look becoming.” He kissed her cheek and laid the yellow gown on top of the plum one. For the next five minutes, Siùsan sorted through the gowns in the chest. She ended up with two piles: those she could wear as day gowns while she went about her chores and duties within the keep and those that she could wear outdoors when they went riding or walking. She replaced the gowns that she felt were too formal. She did not think that she needed them as no one seemed to dress for the evening meal. Her knees were beginning to ache as she stood up. She brushed out the skirts that she wore and saw now just how tattered they really looked. She felt embarrassed that she had shown up with only three kirtles to her name and a pair of slippers that she had yet to wear and a pair of sturdy boots.
She looked down to see that Callum was pulling out a hidden drawer from the front of the chest. Tucked away tightly were several pairs of slippers. He pulled out a pair that could be worn with the plum gown and a dark navy blue gown. He held them out to Siùsan. She could see that they were about her size.
“Ye canna go around barefoot.” Callum smiled even though he knew most of the women of the clan did just that. His smile and his kindness warmed her from the inside out. She stepped forward and placed her hands over his heart. She knew it was an intimate gesture that he might intepret as more than thanks, but she felt more than just thankful.
“Thank ye, Callum. Ye make me feel welcome here and that one day I might belong.” She stretched up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She cupped his cheek and added, “ye are a kind mon. I count maself lucky to be marrying ye.”
“And I ye.” He pressed a feather soft kiss against her lips. The slippers were forgotten as they dropped to the floor and they pressed their bodies tightly against one another. The kiss grew in passion just as their relationship had over the past weeks. They had spent as much time together as they could. It was far more time than Callum had ever spent with any woman before, but he found that he genuinely enjoyed her company. As much time as they spent in an embrace they spent talking as well. They were coming to know each other very well. However, right now, all he could think about was the feel of her in his hands. He pulled back and quickly pushed his sporran out of the way. He grasped her buttocks and pulled her hips flush with his. She stood up on her tiptoes again to try to feel his iron rod against her pleasure button. She ground her mound against
him as he squeezed her behind. Their tongues dueled with one another and he groaned as he longed to feel her bare skin.
The window was open, and a waft of lemongrass hit his nose. It doused his ardor in a heartbeat. It was a scent that he associated only with his mother. He pulled back gently from Siùsan and looked into her passion glazed eyes. He kissed her temple gently and then her cheek. He pulled her arms from around his neck and gently kissed each of her fingertips.
His Bonnie Highland Temptation (The Clan Sinclair Book 2) Page 9
