“We should undress,” Gisela said, moving to the dressing screen. “I won’t be but a moment.”
When he took her arm and turned her to him, she gasped. “I will undress ye.”
“Is that what a married couple does?” she asked, hating how maidenly she probably sounded to him.
“If they wish, aye,” he responded. Then he studied her for a long moment. “Ye are aware I have never been married either, are ye not?”
It was as if her feet floated above the floor as Kieran kissed each part of her that the clothing fell from. He seemed to sense her every thought and need, and pressed his lips to the precise point that needed attention.
“Oh,” Gisela exclaimed when he lifted her up and carried her to the bed, placing her with gentle ease upon the bedding.
It did not feel strange or odd to her when she watched him undress. Instead, anticipation made her want to urge him to hurry. At the same time, she wished to commit every moment to memory and never forget what transpired on their first night as husband and wife. When all clothing was done away with, Kieran stood perfectly still, allowing her perusal.
He walked to the bed with what seemed like hesitancy. Surely he’d been with many women. She held out her hand. “I cannot wait for ye to be all mine.”
Lowering his shoulders, he climbed on the bed and lay next to her. “I believe that is what I should be saying to ye.”
“Then say it.”
He pulled her against him and Gisela could not formulate a thought. The touch of their bodies was so new, so alluring that she had to take a hard breath. “I love ye, Kieran.”
Their mouths met, hands traveling and discovering each other’s bodies. He was hard and firm, while at the same time, his skin was soft. The calluses on his hands brought shivers of anticipation the more they traveled all over her.
Reason left her. And as much as she wished to cling to the here and now to remember everything, when his hand moved up her thigh to the apex between her legs, she lost control.
How was it that one tiny place on her body could bring so much enjoyment? It was a question she’d ask later. In that moment, she could only writhe with pleasure and lift her hips to his hand.
Kieran took the very tip of her breast into his mouth and his tongue emulated the movements that his fingers did between her legs.
“Oh!” Gisela cried out and sunk her teeth into his throat and pulled the skin between her lips, needing to taste him.
When he positioned himself between her legs, his darkened gaze met hers. “Ye are a wildcat.”
Taking her hands in one of his, he held them above her head. “Now, lay still.”
It was impossible. How could he ask that of her when remaining without moving was the one thing she could not do?
With his free hand, he guided his hardness to her sex and nudged at the entrance. “Relax and enjoy this,” he admonished when she lifted her hips, wanting it to happen for him to take her as his.
His sex was hard and thick, making Gisela wonder how he would fit. She squirmed just a bit, unsure what was expected.
Then without warning, he plunged.
Gisela cried out at the stinging pain. It felt as if he’d torn her insides and tears trickled down the side of her face. “That really…h…hurt.”
“I am sorry. I promise it will not be like this again.” He kissed the tears away, pressing kisses along both of her temples.
They were still joined, and she wondered what else would happen. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it did feel strange for him to be inside while they lay still.
Odd as it was, she wanted him to move or do something besides remain still.
“What happens now?” she asked.
“I am waiting for the pain to subside before moving,” he said, his mouth next to her ear. “How do ye feel?”
“Strange. It is almost as if a man has pushed himself into me and is not moving.”
For the first time, she heard it. The deep sound of his laughter. “I should do something about that.”
“Perhaps ye should,” she said.
And he did. He slid out and then back in, the repetitive movements fluid and steady. Their skin rubbed together with each movement, their mouths together then apart as they fought for breath.
Gisela wrapped her legs around his midsection, not wishing for him to ever move away. It was much too enjoyable after all.
The air became still and she gulped in as much as she could take because something strange began to happen.
At first, there was a strange flicker, a tiny speck in the darkness. Then it grew until becoming a huge fireball that had to be extinguished. Finally, an explosion shattered her entire reality to pieces. A delightful sensation raced over and across every inch of her body until there was only something akin to a star-filled sky.
Gisela wasn’t sure if she cried out, moaned or just held her mouth open in a silent scream.
The room, the keep, the world disappeared into an abyss of twirling stars as she fought to cling to the bit of reality that was left.
Then she heard him. Kieran’s hoarse cry as he, too, lost all control.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dun Airgid: Ross Keep
Gisela woke to find she was alone in bed. They’d been back at Kieran’s home for a fortnight and things had changed considerably. Kieran rose early and spent days out with the archers performing his duties as brother to the laird and part of the guard.
He rarely returned before last meal. Most days, she assisted Elspeth with household duties. She helped Merida and Ceilidh in the garden and then oversaw the cleaning and mending needed for her and Kieran’s personal space and clothing.
She’d never learned to sew, and it was something Gisela wasn’t about to take on. Remaining still while pulling a needle through clothing seemed the most boring way to spend time in her opinion.
Instead, she procured a small room on the first floor, cleared it out and began the task of collecting herbs and flowers to make perfumed oils. Soon, she’d begin making soap. Although she’d brought quite a few with her, the women of the keep had been gifted a good portion and there was little left.
After dressing, she meandered to the great room where Ceilidh sat with Merida. Both women looked to her.
“Where is Elspeth?” she asked.
Ceilidh looked glum. “She isn’t allowed to leave her chambers today. The midwife insists she is about to give birth.”
“I believe a woman should be allowed to do as she wishes within the household,” Merida said. “Elspeth should be up and about.”
When Ceilidh leaned forward, her eyes searching the room, Gisela and Merida followed suit. “I believe this is the laird’s doing. He is being overly protective, but doesn’t wish Elspeth to know it is he who desires her to remain cloistered.”
“I suppose we can go up and keep her company,” Gisela suggested. When a maid neared, she smiled at the young girl. “Just warm cider and a piece of bread please.” Then turning to the others, she explained, “My stomach is a bit upset this morning”
Merida studied her. “Please do not tell me ye are already with child.”
“I have only been married for a bit over a month.”
“And yer monthly flows have occurred?” Ceilidh asked with lifted brows.
Gisela rolled her eyes. “Ladies, we must come up with a way to help Elspeth escape.”
She ate the bread and drank the warmed cider. Then collectively, they went up to the second floor where the laird’s large chambers were.
They found Elspeth in the center of a huge bed, arms cross over her swollen stomach and a deep frown directed at a woman who sat in a chair staring at the hearth.
“We’ve come to give ye time to rest,” Ceilidh announced to the woman who gave them a relieved look.
Merida nodded. “We assure ye, she will remain here in bed. Go on now and spend some time in the kitchen. Go out and get fresh air after ye eat something.”
The woman glanced at Elsp
eth who growled at her and hurried out of the room.
As soon as the door closed, Ceilidh rushed to the wardrobe. “We’ve come to help ye escape. There is something new to see,” she teased.
“What is it?” Elspeth slid to the edge of her bed, waving away Gisela and Merida who approached to help her up.
She waddled to the wardrobe and shook her head. “Never mind all that. I will wear my robe. Nobody cares to look at me now. I look like a swollen, dead fish floating on murky loch waters.”
“Oh, now that ye mention it, ye do,” Ceilidh said while tugging a light dressing gown over Elspeth’s head. She began to tie her friend’s lacings and smiled at her. “There, now ye look like a colorful, dead fish.”
Despite her obvious bad mood, Elspeth chuckled. “Let us hurry. What do ye have to show me?”
“First, we shall meet the new guards,” Ceilidh said.
“They are twins,” Merida murmured.
“Quite handsome,” Gisela added.
Elspeth’s eyes lit. “Should we find them wives?”
“Of course,” Ceilidh said.
“What else?” Elspeth asked as they waked out of the chambers to the corridor.
“Ian is so proud of his new shield. He wishes us to see him fight. I haven’t quite dared yet, but today we shall, together.”
As they walked down the steps, assisting Elspeth, they hurried out a side door so they wouldn’t be caught by the midwife. Once outside, they giggled like young girls.
Gisela couldn’t believe her luck, to have come to live and become family in a keep where the women were all young like her and discovering married life. Together, they would raise children, love their husbands and help the clan become better for its people.
A young lad happened by and, immediately, Merida ordered him to go fetch the twins. Elspeth also cautioned the lad not to tell a soul they were out there. Excited at knowing a secret, the lad hurried off to do as he was told.
“May I speak to ye,” Merida asked Gisela. “I have a favor to ask of ye.”
“Aye, of course,” Gisela said, not quite understanding what she could do for the woman.
Merida pulled her a short distance away from the other two who were having a deep discussion of their own.
Gisela studied the woman. Merida was a McLeod and very proud of it. She had red hair and beautiful blue eyes. It had to have been hard for her to come to live there amongst the enemy who her own clan had battled against.
“What is it?”
Merida let out a long breath. “Yer husband, Kieran, he barely speaks to me. I can live with it, but it disturbs Tristan greatly. Everyone can sit together as brothers and wives, but when I try to join, he always walks away.”
“I have noticed. I am so sorry.” Gisela took Merida’s hand. “I will speak to him about it.”
With an obvious shiver, Merida studied her. “I thought Malcolm was unapproachable, but Kieran. Everyone found him so distant. Ye have changed him. He seems almost human now.” Merida’s eyes widened at her statement. “I am sorry, I do not meet to insult him or ye.”
“I understand.” Gisela chuckled. “He can be very intimidating.”
Just then, the twin guards arrived and they joined Elspeth and Ceilidh who peppered the poor men with tons of questions.
“Are either of ye betrothed?”
“Where are ye from”
“How do I tell ye apart?”
The men took their questions in stride, obviously used to curiosity as they were identical. Gisela didn’t wait for them to tell how to distinguish them. She motioned to the one on the right. “Ye, are shy and have a stronger lilt when speaking.” Then she pointed to the other twin. “Ye are more outgoing and have a nick on yer left ear.”
The men looked at one another. The second one replied. “I am Marcus and my father nicked my ear as he could not tell us apart as babes.”
“Quite savage, poor little babe,” Elspeth pronounced, looking about to cry.
The more timid of the twins met Gisela’s gaze. “I didn’t know I have a more pronounced lilt. I am Monroe and I lived in Ireland for a wee bit.”
After being questioned for another length of time, Monroe and Marcus were finally were allowed to leave.
Just then, Malcolm and Kieran appeared.
Malcolm went straight to Elspeth. “Ye must go inside. We were informed ye were missing and I ordered guards to search for ye.”
Elspeth allowed him to hug her and then pushed him away and announced that she wished to see Ian spar.
After a moment, Malcolm nodded. “Very well.”
Kieran met Gisela’s gaze, and his face softened.
“I must speak to ye,” she called out after him.
He slowed, allowing for her to come up beside him. Ceilidh and Merida walked just behind Malcolm and Elspeth who continued to speak her case against being kept in her chamber.
“I did not know ye remained on the keep grounds today,” Gisela said.
Kieran nodded. “Aye, for a bit. I am traveling south today. A group of archers are required to escort visitors who shall be arriving later this day. We must go south to meet them.”
“Is it dangerous?” she asked, taking his arm.
He shook his head. “Nay, I do not believe so.”
“Ye avoid Merida.”
When he didn’t respond, Gisela knew him well enough to know he did hear her, but preferred not to speak on that particular subject.
“She is yer brother’s wife and, besides, is sweet, caring and has even tried to teach me to sew. I still hate it by the way. She wishes the family to be without animosity and because ye avoid her, Tristan is frustrated.”
Still, he did not reply, his gaze straight ahead.
Gisela continued. “I just ask that ye not get up and walk away when she approaches. There is no good reason for them to have a bad day or evening because of ye. I am not asking for ye to be her friend, just that ye not be so obvious about yer dislike of her.”
“I do not dislike her. It is what she reminds me of that I wish to avoid.”
“I understand,” Gisela said. She pulled his arm and lifted on her toes to place a kiss to his mouth.
The kiss caught him off guard. She laughed when his cheeks colored and he looked around to see if anyone was watching.
“I will try,” he acquiesced.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gisela joined the family at the top of the stairs just past the gates as the visitors arrived. They were from Clan Urquhart, the laird’s brother, his daughters and a large contingent of warriors heading north to visit Laird Sutherland.
There was to be a betrothal between the clans, which would benefit Clan Urquhart, a small clan with few affiliations.
The laird had not fathered any daughters, but his brother had two. Both were set to be married, which one depended on who was chosen upon their arrival.
Gisela was filled with pride upon the escort of archers entering the gates. Naill led the first ranks of archers. Kieran’s would bring up the rear.
Once the carriage came to a stop, the Urquharts were assisted down and were greeted by Malcolm. Elspeth was inside in her chambers since she’d exhausted herself that morning.
Gisela, along with Merida and Kieran’s uncle, greeted the visitors next. Once all introductions were made, they all went inside for last meal.
As they were seated, Gisela had to admit that both of the Urquhart daughters were beauties. One of them seemed shy but nice. The other was aloof, seemed to find fault in everything and was not at all likable.
The shy one, Fiona, instantly seemed to find kinship with Gisela. Fiona sat next to her upon entering. “I love this keep. It is beautiful,” she whispered. “Do ye like living here?”
“I do,” Gisela replied with a smile.
“Which one is yer husband,” the young woman asked, scanning the room.
Just then, Kieran entered. She didn’t see him, but knew by the Urquhart sisters’ reactions. Both inhaled sharply,
their eyes rounding. She’d yet to get used to that.
“He is my husband,” she said without turning around. “The breathtaking one.”
Fiona blushed. “I apologize.”
“Please do not. He is quite a sight, is he not?”
The young woman had yet to look away from Kieran and she nodded. “How can ye live with it. He takes the attention of everyone in the room.”
“Most days, it’s just family. Some people here actually dislike him.” Gisela chuckled. “Now tell me, how do ye feel about marrying soon?”
“I hope it is not me who is chosen, but it probably will be. Esme can make herself cry actual tears when she dislikes something, which men can find alarming.”
Gisela looked to the other young woman who had the expression like that of someone smelling a rotting corpse.
“I am shocked she is not sobbing at the moment.”
When Fiona dissolved into laughter, Gisela loved her. “If ye could spend more time here, I think we would become good friends.”
Fiona nodded with enthusiasm. “I wish we would.”
*
The great room was filled with people who ate and drank ale. The atmosphere was festive as chatter rose over music played by a very talented troubadour. People danced and jokes were told until everyone cried with laughter.
As much as she enjoyed the company of the Urquharts, the festivities continued on much too long and, soon, Gisela could barely keep her eyes open.
She bid everyone a good night and went to her bedchamber.
Moments later, the plush bedding cradled and soothed the fatigue away.
Kieran entered, his large body outlined by the fire in the hearth. He yanked his tunic over his head and threw it onto a chair, the boots and breeches followed. Bowing his back and arms overhead, the stretch of someone seated too long, he let out a loud yawn.
When he slid into bed, the smell of whisky tickled her nose. How she loved every single thing about him. One arm snaked under her and he pulled her close. The kiss, mostly on the mouth, was sweet, but short as he slurred something about a long day.
Within minutes, he was fast asleep, his arms firmly holding her in place. Gisela sighed.
A Hellish Highlander (Clan Ross Book 3) Page 19
