by Kara Griffin
“Have I said something to dismay you?” Kerrigan asked. “You look as downtrodden as Darcy does when Makenna won’t let her out of the cave.”
“The love you have found … I don’t deem I will ever be content.”
Makenna grinned and set the tartan she’d wrung out aside. “Have you known Heath long?”
Lillia sighed before answering, “All my life … since we were practically bairns. I’ve always loved him but—”
“If you love him, you can easily gain his heart.”
She peered at Makenna knowing that wasn’t certain. She wished she had as much faith in love as they did. The women were beautiful and probably had no difficulty winning their men’s affection. “Heath’s heart is already taken, I fear.”
Annag scoffed and all shot their gazes to her. “Heath has no woman. He’s never claimed to love a lass. His heart is his to give.”
Lillia wished that were so. “His heart belongs to God, always has been. I cannot compete for his love when he is set on giving life to—”
“Nonsense.” Kerrigan picked up William who now fussed. She gently rocked and soothed him. “Heath may say he wants to serve God, but his actions will bespeak his true heart’s desire.”
“Aye, I agree,” Makenna said. “Has he shown any interest in you? Lover-like interest?”
Lillia’s face heated. She was used to discussing intimate topics with her sisters-in-laws, but not with strangers. With her gaze on her lap, she was about to nod when Makenna scoffed.
Kerrigan giggled low. “Be not coy around us, for we’re your sisters now. Besides, there is no sense in denying it for my Graeme told me he found Heath naked when he went to relay a message to him in Liam and Makenna’s cave. I believe you were with him, in that way.”
She had to be four shades pinker. “Lord above. You know …” Mortified, she lowered her eyes and kept them on her lap. “Aye, we … coupled, but I will not be shamed by it for I’ve wanted him for the longest time.”
Her newfound friends fell back in a riot of laughter which caused William to wail. Darcy pleaded to know what was so funny and Makenna distracted her by giving her the small spear she’d made.
“Go and see if you can spear a fish akin to Lillia.”
Darcy giggled and went to stand in the shallow water.
Kerrigan touched her arm. “If Heath is interested in you … in that way, you can easily compete for his heart.”
“Aye, you must constantly remind him what he risks losing if he chooses to let his heart follow a different path.” Makenna finished her conjecture with a smile.
Lillia wouldn’t pretend to misunderstand them. “I’m to use my womanly wiles to affect him enough to want me and give up his pursuit? I don’t deem it’s possible.”
Makenna took up the tartan from the ground and folded it. “If he wanted you once, he shall want you again. Men are simple in their needs. You must use his desire to your benefit.”
She nodded. Somehow she would get Heath to love her, to want her more than his quest to serve God. And if what her friends spoke, it wouldn’t be as vexing as she thought.
“’Tis almost time for supper. Lillia, will ye help me prepare the fish?” Annag asked.
She nodded and filled her arms with the many fish she’d caught. Carrying the slippery things back to the caves would be difficult, especially if she kept dropping them. She wound up using her overdress as a basket.
They walked back to the caves and Gilroy helped them make a big fire surrounded by rocks. He used many iron pokers to make a grate of sorts to lay the fish upon.
Lillia returned to the stream to wash and change her garments lest she smell like fish. She rejoined the others hastily. The evening was enjoyable and the fire warmed her as did the conversation, food, and company. She hadn’t felt as eased since she’d fled Hunter land.
That is until the men returned. They hadn’t heard their approach, and the men frightened them beyond all sense when they bounded into the camp and yelled akin to berserkers. The men laughed, bellowing more like when the ladies jumped from their perches and screamed to the trees. When the ladies calmed, they sent glares to their men. Lillia found it somewhat comical and hid her grin.
Graeme sat beside Kerrigan and took his son from her. “’Tis a fine night for an outside fire but you risk us being seen.”
Kerrigan shushed him. “Nonsense, Graeme. None can see the fire through the dense wood surrounding us. Have you supped?”
The men didn’t wait for an invitation to join them at the meal. They took the used trenchers and jabbed the remaining fish with their daggers.
Lillia sat, watchful, and solaced by their easygoing friendships. Heath sat alone on the opposite side of the fire. His gaze was enough to enflame her. She daren’t speak to him. He didn’t appear mollified by the company or the food. Whatever disenchanted his mood, she hoped she wasn’t the cause.
One by one, the couples sought their beds. Graeme and Kerrigan helped Annag clean up the remnants of their supper and left soon after. Makenna kept giving her commiserating glances until she suggested they put Darcy to bed. She lifted her sleeping daughter and handed her to Liam.
Once they’d gone, Gilroy removed the iron bars from the stones and threw the soiled trenchers into the fire. “I’m off.” He hastened away as if he fled from foes.
Lillia sat with Heath daunted by his silence. She watched the dimming glow of the embers until he doused it. “Will you not greet me?”
He turned his serious expression on her. “I shall, but not here.” Heath took her hand and yanked her to her feet. “Come with me.”
Lillia rushed to keep up with him. She reveled at his touch even though it was somewhat forceful. He led her to the pines beyond the hills. She listened to the sounds of the last summer insects. Usually such a sound lightened her, but not this night.
If only there wasn’t such tenseness between them, she might have enjoyed the sojourn into the woods. He ceased walking when they reached the dark, shadowed tree trunks.
“Are you going to yell at me?” She almost laughed for his mood was that of a reprimanding sort. He wore the same expression her father did when he had to punish her.
“Nay, I just wanted privacy,” his voice brusque.
“This night reminds me of that night, when you first kissed me. I cannot believe you don’t remember it for—”
He snapped. “Of course I remember it.” Heath stood close and Lillia barely saw him in the obscurity.
“You lied when you told me you hadn’t.”
“I’m not the only one lying.” His voice deepened and sent a shiver through her.
Lillia frowned at his tone. “What do you mean by that?” He clasped her hand and yanked her forward and she fell against his hard chest. “Why would you speak an untruth about remembering that night?” She hoped to distract him and wasn’t doing a fair job at it.
“You tempted me then.”
“And now?” she dared to ask.
“You still tempt me. Aye, you’re a temptress, set on maddening me at every turn.” He sounded annoyed, much like her father had when she tested him. “I’m not good at resisting you, Sweetness.”
His words nearly burst her chest. There was hope at gaining his heart. Lillia thought about her earlier discussion with the ladies and decided this was not the time for words. She pressed against his hard body and perused her hands along his firm arms.
The feeling of his strength marveled her. She held his face and brought him forward for a kiss. When his lips touched hers, she moaned. The rawness of her desire for him shot like fire through her. The sensation was akin to nothing she’d ever felt.
His mouth moved over hers, teasing, taunting, tasting. She couldn’t get enough of his kisses. Lillia unfastened his tartan and untied the strings of his tunic. The firmness of his chest lured her fingers. She caressed him and continued to meet the passion of his kisses.
Bravely, her hands meandered over his body until she reached his belt. She q
uickly dislodged it and slid the fabric of his tartan from his hips.
Lillia pulled from his grasp and wanted to view his beautiful body. But the dimness prevented her from seeing all of him. She pulled her overdress over her head as well as her undergarment.
“I feel good when I’m with you, as if what’s between us is right.” Standing naked before him, she held out her arms. “I’m yours, Heath. Take me.” She waited for him to step forward, to claim her as she was wont.
When he yanked her from her feet, she gasped. He set her upon his discarded tartan and joined her. Lillia pushed him back and sat astride on his legs. His strong legs felt like stone beneath the soft flesh of her thighs. Their position thronged her heart.
“I cannot resist you, Sweetness, never could.”
“Nor I you, Heath. You’re extremely handsome.” She smoothed her hands over his body and felt his need pressing her backside. She took his hard length and set it in place. How she wanted him, wanted to feel again the sensation of him within her. He shifted his body until they joined.
She groaned at the sensation of him filling her. But when she raised her body, the shock of pleasure was nearly enough to send her to the end. “I need you, want you … there.”
Heath pulled her face to his and kissed longingly. The desire in his kiss and the pulsing of his sex caused a shattering aura to course through her. Lillia squeezed her legs and squealed at the most abrupt, shocking pleasure. She continued to jut over him, meeting his thrusts. Their bodies clashed in the madness of thorough mindless desire. Lillia couldn’t control the rash, hastiness of longing that overtook her.
The intensity of their joining turned her breath shallow. She leaned forward and tightened her hold on him. Heath ceased moving and yanked her to his chest and held her hips. The guttural sound from his lips told her he’d gone to the height of passion.
She grinned and was prideful she’d brought him to such a place. There might be a chance at winning his heart after all. More riveting sensations pulsed through her and she squealed at the intensity of the culmination. With a rasped breath, she whispered, “I love this.” Lillia wanted to profess her love for him, but wouldn’t until she was certain of his feelings for her.
His breath slowed, and she kept touching and ensuring him of her affection. It seemed to her that he’d gone through a tortuous event and it fascinated her. She loved the sentiment of his heart beating fiercely against her cheek. He grabbed her hands and kept her from her deliberate exploration. She flattened her palm over the firmness of his chest and sighed. He was flawless in his body, utter masculine perfection.
“Sweetness, if ye keep that up, you’ll end up on your back.”
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, and whispered in his ear, “Is that a promise?”
He laughed. The sound of it filled her heart. Heath rarely showed such emotion, and that she was the one to bring him joy pleased her. He leaned upward and caused her to shift back on his lap. With his hands, he kept her from moving away. Heath set his face next to hers and the whiskers on his cheek prickled her jaw.
“Now, Lillia, I will hear the truth, the absolute truth.” He clasped her wrist and the hold stung the delicate skin.
“You’re hurting me.”
He slackened his hold. “Tell me.”
“Tell you what? Aye, you pleased me. Is that what you want to hear?” How could he even ask such a question? She’d gone completely undone twice.
“Nay, that’s not it. You ken what I want to know. Say it.” His demand enforced with the grip on her tightening.
“Heath, you’re giving me a fright.” She tried to pull away, but he was far stronger than she and she couldn’t gain her release.
“Good. If you deem this is frightening, Sweetness, you will not be prepared for what’s out there. Now, tell me.”
“I … don’t want—”
“Tell me. I will hear no further falsehoods.”
“You want me to own to being the queen’s daughter?”
“Aye, you must confess.”
She sighed and gained her release when she yanked her arm free. Lillia sat beside him and tugged her overdress over her body. She wanted to weep, to sob at the injustice of having to admit the one thing she promised she wouldn’t. “You want me to own to being someone I’ve only just learned of. My parents loved me, but they kept this awful secret. I’ve been a Hunter my entire life and now I am not.”
“Your parents did love you and they likely kept secrets to keep you safe. You are correct in that you’re a Hunter in every sense … except your blood is … King Alexander’s.”
Cold tears streaked her warm cheeks. “I am scared, Heath, and shamed, for no one must know. If anyone finds out I am the king’s daughter, we’ll all be in danger. You must promise to tell no one. Not even your comrades.”
“They already ken, love. We learned the truth when our comrade told us of the happenings at your father’s fief. Your life is in peril now for the Comyns know who you are and they will stop at nothing to apprehend you.”
Lillia sniffed back tears. “Regardless, I won’t let them use me to unseat King Robert. I’ll die before I allow them to force me …”
Heath embraced her, his arms circling her tightly. She kept her gaze lowered and couldn’t see his face. “Nay, Sweetness, they’ll die for threatening you. Leave this to me.”
She shivered at his hostile words. “I won’t have you endangered, nor your comrades and their families. This is not your problem, Heath, but mine.”
He tilted her chin back and set his mouth near her cheek. “You are not without help, Lillia. I won’t let you face this alone.”
At that moment, Lillia trembled for she was alone and regardless of his words, she wouldn’t involve Heath. Her enemy would not be his.
Chapter Ten
Her enemy was now his. Somehow he would gain her understanding. The woman was hell-bent on her resolve to keep him from protecting her. He needed to wed her and soon. But he suspected she wouldn’t be amiable to his pledge. He rationalized the matter for hours during the night and as much as he balked, he knew what he must do.
Outside the ossuary, a lad approached and handed over a folded parchment. Heath held the missive and dismissed the Sweetheart Abbey stable lad with a wave of his hand. He wasn’t expecting to receive a message from his father so quickly. The words indicated he come at the soonest, but gave no indication why the urgency. The only reason his father would send for him was difficulties with the MacKintoshs. Their conflict must have escalated.
Brodin returned from the village and approached. He handed him a new harness for his horse. Heath had asked him to purchase one since the one he used was frayed. He didn’t want to leave Lillia, not since she confessed to being Queen Yolande’s child. Still reeling from her admission, he kept continual watch on her. Not that he expected her to flee, but he suspected those who were after her wouldn’t give up easily.
“Foreboding news?” Brodin asked, pointing at the missive.
“Aye. I need to travel home for a wee bit, but I’m hesitant to leave Lillia.”
“Graeme and Liam can watch over her. I’ll go with you. I need something to do. It’s been tedious with the king attending political matters. Och I’d rather Robert oust the rest of Edward’s followers with force. At least then we’d have to protect him and I’d get to use my sword arm.”
He nodded for he too was leery of the king’s evading the force of removing the English. Since King Edward death, Robert spent more time on matters of country than ridding Scotland of the remaining oppositions. That might be problematic in the near future, but alas, they’d be ready to protect the king when it happened.
There was nothing he could do, his father needed him and Lillia was safe at the caves. The Comyns couldn’t find her in their haven. He wouldn’t be gone too long, mayhap a week or fortnight at the most. He noticed Lillia walking with Annag. She carried a small basket. When he reached her, he gazed overlong at her bonny face. Lillia, i
n the short time she resided with them, grew more at ease. She was her sweet self, and verily inattentive.
She stumbled and the basket she held went flying. He was close enough to catch her and laughed when she gasped aloud.
“You should have a care where you step.”
Her face brightened as she bent to retrieve the herbs she and Annag collected.
“I shall gather them” Annag said, “See what your man wants.”
Lillia blew a strand of hair from in front of her eye. “Nay, I’m almost done.” When she finished picking up the fallen herbs, she handed the basket to Annag and turned back to him.
“Sweetness, I must go. I shall be gone for a wee bit of time.”
“Where are you going?” she moved closer, but didn’t touch him.
Heath closed his eyes briefly and wished he could take her in his arms and kiss the breath from her. She looked too bonny this day, and her cheeks a bit flushed from being outside, her lips lush and taunting. “I’m to travel to my da’s lands.”
A worried mien crossed her face.
“Worry not; I am not going near Hunter land.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “I am gladdened to hear that. I do not want my family involved in this treachery. If they don’t know where I am, they should be safe enough.”
He nodded and pulled her into his arms.
“I mean it, Heath. The Hunters kept me safe all those years. If someone is trying to find me, they might well use my family against me. I won’t risk their wellbeing.”
“Your father can protect your family for he has a large enough army to go against any foe. Hell, his allies outnumber the largest army. Och, you’re right. You should stay away and it is best they ken not where you are.”
“If you see my da, promise you won’t tell him where I am. He’ll be angry that I thwarted the betrothal and fled.”
He lifted her chin. How he wanted to set a kiss on her lush lips and ensure her of his promise, but he nodded instead. “You’ll be safe here with Graeme and Liam until I return.”
