Hugh's hands came down to grip her buttocks. "I'm going to ride you hard this time, Catriona."
She gasped in response, her grip on the bed linen tightening into fistfuls, and she gushed around him.
Her hips undulated under his thrusting, and Hugh shut his eyes tight, the cords in his neck straining and bulging. He made a sound of pleasure deep in his throat and lifted himself higher above her, thrusting over and over again. Harder, deeper.
His seed spurted into her, hot and wet, the flexing of his shaft pulsing in her tight sheath. Catriona cried out at the heart-quaking spasms.
Hugh collapsed on her then for a brief moment before rolling to her side. He gathered her in his arms and pulled her close. Her lips pressed against his chest and then his neck in urgent kisses. Hugh took her thigh and dragged her limb over his body, threading his hands through her hair and kissed her deeply.
It was a good while later before Catriona could formulate her thoughts and return them to the problems surrounding them.
"If McAlison took Tamsin, will he hurt her?" she asked quietly.
Hugh was silent a long moment. "I do'na ken." He stroked her hair gently, her head nestled against his shoulder.
Catriona struggled in his embrace until he loosened to allow her to turn over. When she faced him, she searched his eyes. "You said McAlison saved you once. He can'na be that bad a mon, can he?"
Hugh tsk'd at her naivety. "One good deed does'na make a mon good, Catriona. 'Tis a debt I've always wished I did'na owe."
****
Hugh held Catriona in his arms, the warmth of her body nestled firmly against his in the most comfortable way. He was yet again thinking on his feelings for her, surprised at what he found there. He bent his head and kissed her hair, the soft fragrant locks under his lips sending a shock through his body.
The memory of his curiosity over the softness of her hair, the softness of her skin, returned to him then. His fingers glided over the smooth curve of her neck, and a deep satisfaction coursed through him then that he had found the answer. That only he knew how soft and tender she really was, that only he had touched her.
He brushed his fingers over her flat stomach to her breast and squeezed. When he received no reaction, he lifted himself to look over her. His body still thrummed with restless vigor, yet he found the lass out cold.
A delicate snore met his ears, and he chuckled, his naked chest moving against her slender back causing her to stir slightly. He kissed her shoulder before lowering himself back to the bed.
He allowed himself to relax only because she was in his arms, safe for the moment. What was to come, would come for them. There was nothing he could do to stop their enemies. He would meet Barnaby and the McAlison head-on—and if he had to rally every ally to his aid, well then, his years as a mercenary might do him good yet, for he had made many strong allies during that time.
He was certain that the attacks on Catriona tied into either of their known threats and did not stem from any new enemy.
The king's brother he saw as their biggest threat. McAlison did not have the resources to continue a campaign against him for very long. Barnaby, on the other hand, was a man who could turn Scotland upside down if he successfully deposed the king.
The more lands and people he controlled the greater his force. Barnaby no doubt wanted Catriona's lands for his own not only because they bordered his, but because it would give him the resources he needed to see his goal through. The king had plans to take away his brother's stronghold, but if Barnaby had two keeps to hide between then the better his chances of escape would be when the king did come for him.
If the keep and lands had been under the control of a steward, as Jamie rarely traveled from his own keep, there was no telling what Barnaby had been able to do in all that time to bind the people's loyalty to himself.
That thought, and what might happen to Catriona as a result, chilled his nerves and made him pull his tender young wife closer to him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
"Milady, why on earth are these linens rent so?" Bess asked, plucking at the bedding with a frown. She tossed the linen down and scoffed with a shake of her head. "Gertie shall no be pleased." Bess planted her hands on her hips with a raised brow and a chiding look aimed at Catriona.
Catriona turned her eyes to the tears in the bedding and lightly chuckled, her smile widening. She hadn’t meant to tear them, hadn't remembered doing so. She picked at the threads as Bess left the bedside to fetch the tray containing Catriona's morning meal.
A se’nnight had passed since she and Hugh reconciled thoroughly, all night and into the next morning. He had allowed her to sleep only a while before waking her with urgent kisses.
With little else to entertain her, still barred indoors for the present, she had seen to moving her things into his chambers, and there she had stayed. Of course, Hugh saw to her contentment.
Her smile widened even more.
"Good heavens! Milady, your dress," Bess exclaimed from halfway across the chamber where she was collecting Catriona's clothing from the floor.
Catriona looked up from a spoonful of porridge to her maidservant.
Bess held up the rent gown for Catriona's view.
Catriona coughed to cover the sound of surprise. She hadn’t remembered that happening either and blushed. "I'm afraid the rent shall have to be repaired."
"Your shift, too?" Bess put a hand on her hip, then harrumphed. "'Tis the third one!"
The sudden unexpected opening of the door caught them both off guard, but Catriona relaxed, seeing Hugh fill the frame.
"Hurry and dress," he said with a tick of his head out the door. He flashed a smile at her, but the twinkle in his eyes gave him away.
"What are you aboot?" Catriona asked excitedly, pushing her tray aside, no interest in the food now for sure. Gertie's porridge was lacking today.
"You shall see," he said, and disappeared, closing the door.
Catriona threw the covers off her legs and slipped from bed. Bess rushed her with the gown, sensing her mistress's impatience. As Catriona struggled into a fresh shift and then the rest of her clothing, Bess located her comb and was at the ready to start on the mass of tangles in her hair.
"Milady, whatever you’re doing to your hair at night, 'tis awful!" Bess ran the comb over the ends, catching and causing Catriona to wince before a snort of laughter escaped. Hugh was the cause of those damned tangles, but she would spare Bess and keep that to herself.
"I do'na see what is funny aboot tangles," Bess said.
****
"What are we doing?" Catriona asked on a laugh as Hugh's strong hands on her waist guided her up a short flight of steps and a gentle but sunny breeze hit her.
"You shall see," he whispered a second assurance into her ear, leading her up.
Catriona stumbled at the top step, reaching out to steady herself though she knew Hugh would never let her fall. Still, she felt unsteady.
"Are we ootside?" she asked.
At once, the cloth covering her eyes pulled free, and Catriona nearly burst with the happiness swelling in her breast. She turned and threw her arms around Hugh.
He planted a kiss to her neck as he squeezed her body to his. "I thought we might share a meal ootdoors, in the brilliant sun, somewhere safe."
"You do'na ken how happy this makes me," she said. She reached up to smooth her fingers against his brow. "I've seen so little of you in the last few days."
"I ken, lass. 'Tis why I chose to break away from my lapsed duties to see to you and your happiness." He offered a heart-melting smile, one Catriona imagined might drop a lesser lass to her toes.
Catriona turned in his embrace, then parted from him to survey the little setting Hugh had created for her. A full spread of foods awaited them atop the keep. Platters piled with meats and cheeses, a basket with bread accompanied by a cask of wine sat on a blanket. She wondered if Gertie had a hand in this and perhaps left her porridge unseasoned a'purpose.
&
nbsp; She chuckled at the lavish display. "Just how long do you intend to keep me atop the keep? This array of food could keep us a full month up here." She smiled as he came to her, and they both looked out over his lands, his strong arms encircling her and pulling her tight. "They are lovely," she murmured, looking over the Highland hills cast in green now. Her constant smile spread wider, and she leaned back into Hugh, relishing the warmth of the sun and the fresh fragrant air filled with the scent of overdue blossoms.
"Someday, I shall tell you how these lands became mine."
"Did you attain them the same way as I became yours? Through trickery?" she teased.
He snorted. "Nay, no trickery. Yet, still the same as how you came to be mine. By a culmination of circumstances."
Catriona couldn’t keep from smiling and turned with a hand to her belly as she found a place and sat. Hugh stared at her, watching her with a loving gaze.
"Stop that, now. Come," she said, patting the spot next to her. Instinctively, she knew he was worrying about her again, since there had been no recent threats.
Indeed, days had passed since she had seen her husband. He had busied himself by seeing to the people who needed his aid, those left bereft after their husbands died in battle, and to those who needed disputes settled or new thatch and all manner of things.
She herself had been busy as well, falling into place as lady of the keep. Her role was no less hard than Hugh's, but certainly different.
Hugh propped himself behind her, and she turned her head to kiss him, a light peck of appreciation for the trouble he had gone to.
"You have no mentioned going oot of doors in several days. I began to worry for your sanity," he remarked.
She chuckled and turned with a dried date in her fingers, holding it to her husband's mouth.
"In truth, since my garden was destroyed, I haven’t possessed a wish to see the destruction again just yet."
He smiled and shook his head at her, but nipped the dried fruit from her fingers with his teeth anyway.
Satisfied, she then went on to pour them both a goblet of wine.
"Would it surprise you that I have already made plans to rectify what Rowena, or whoever it was, did?"
Catriona turned slowly and looked over her shoulder at him as he chewed. She lifted a delicate brow. "Truly?" she asked. "When can I see the progress?"
He chuckled and reached around her for the goblet. "Progress is no what I would call it just yet. Och, I should never have told you, but at least I ken now that the grueling indoors has no addled your brain."
She tsk'd at him. "When?" she asked more urgently.
Hugh took a drink. "The work has no yet begun, so do'na rush to see a pile of lumber and upturned soil. The beds must be rebuilt, and I ordered timber cut for that purpose. Some of the materials were only delivered yesterday."
Her smile radiated throughout her. "'Tis wonderful. I'm glad. You’ve made me so happy."
"Whatever makes you happy makes me happy as weel." He nibbled at her lips, his hand coming to turn her face up to his, giving him fuller access to her mouth. "Look at us now, lass. Did you ever think we would come together, like this?" His thumb ran along her cheek.
"Stop that now or we shall have to return indoors."
He chuckled against her neck where he moved down to taste her skin. "Why ever would we leave this verra spot?"
Hugh pulled her back and bent to kiss her deeply, his fingers coming around to caress her throat, tilting her head back against his chest.
"Hugh," a voice startled him.
Hugh closed his eyes hard and took a steadying breath. "I issued strict instruction no to be interrupted," he muttered, releasing Catriona to turn. "What?" he fairly growled at Gillie as the lad's wiry-haired head appeared from the door leading back into the keep.
"I would no have come if the situation didn't warrant your presence."
"What now?"
Gillie looked between Hugh and Catriona, a serious look in his eyes. "You had better come see for yourself."
****
Alarmed by Gilbert's unusual behavior, together Hugh and Catriona rushed from their interlude atop the keep and into the hall, their lavish retreat forgotten for now.
Hand and hand with his wife, Hugh marched toward the dais where two cloaked figures awaited them at the fire. He stopped short of mounting the stairs and looked down past his shoulder to Catriona.
One hooded person turned and stood from their seat all at once.
The hood was pushed back from her face, and a frightened young woman with hair as black as night rushed down the dais steps into Catriona's arms.
"Tamsin!" Catriona exclaimed, clearly shocked. The tears that sprang into her eyes entered her voice, too. "Where have you been?"
"I never thought I would find you," Tamsin said, pulling back to look at her friend.
"You’ve been searching for me?" Catriona asked with some astonishment. "I've—" She looked to Hugh. "We've been looking for you, too."
"After you left the abbey in my place I worried desperately for you. I thought in the matter of days you would be returned safely, but when you weren't…" She looked at Hugh now, a hint of recognition in her eyes, and she narrowed her stare. "'Twas you." She glanced between them, her eyes growing wide.
"Hugh is now my husband," Catriona said, and then reached for Tamsin's hands, gathering them in her own. "I have so much to tell you."
"And I you."
Catriona turned to Hugh with an apology in her eyes. "Do you think—"
"You do'na have to even ask, lass. We shall have much time together later." He smoothed his hands over her hair. "See to your friend."
"Thank you," she breathed against his skin as she lifted on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek.
"Lady McLaren," Hugh said congenially as he bowed from the waist before leaving the women to mount the dais steps, heading in the direction of Tamsin's companion.
Tamsin turned to Catriona with a wildly inquisitive look. "You have much to tell me, indeed."
The two giggled as Catriona grabbed her friend's hand and started at a quick pace for her chambers.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Catriona held up one of her gowns to Tamsin's thin frame, admiring the silver and blue pairing so well with Tamsin's midnight hair, pale skin, and striking cobalt blue eyes. "I think this one suits your coloring far better than mine.” She smiled kindly at her. The relief she had felt since Tamsin's sudden appearance overwhelmed her.
"Thank you," Tamsin said, taking the gown and turning toward the partition at the corner of Catriona's chamber. She stepped around, out of view.
Catriona turned to the dressing table and plopped onto the stool there. "'Twas once we reached Jamie's keep that our fate was sealed," she continued her tale from earlier, the recounting of her journey with Hugh that they had dropped when the discussion of gowns came into play.
Now that Tamsin dressed behind the partition, Catriona continued. She went over their time spent on Hugh's cousin's lands, a cousin she had not met since she was ensconced away in a cold tent for a month. Alas, that was her own doing, she supposed. And her travels hadn’t been so awful.
She told Tamsin of her arrival and Rowena, the arrow, the king's visit, and her fall down the steep hill.
"Alaric, is he the young one who went to fetch you?" Tamsin smiled as she came around the screen and gave a little twirl. "How do I look?"
Catriona offered a beaming smile as she turned to her friend. "You look lovely, and that was no Alaric." She giggled. "'Twas Gillie, or Gilbert. Only I call him Gillie. He is my cousin. I spoke aboot him before, back at the abbey." She giggled again. "If Alaric kenned you mistook Gillie for him, the mon might perish."
Catriona stood and took Tamsin's hands in her own to lead her on a tour of the keep as they talked.
"Alaric is the tall one with the red beard. You shall surely meet him at the evening meal. I'm sure Gertie shall prepare something special to welcome you."
; Tamsin smiled. "Oh, you do'na have to go to any length of trouble for me."
To that, Catriona truly laughed. "You have no idea how much trouble I've had Hugh's men go to in searching for you. Alaric has been sent twice to the abbey and to McAlison's lands." She paused. "Where were you, by the way?" In all the excitement, she had neglected to get the most important answer of all.
Tamsin fell solemn. "I immediately started for home, alone, as you thought I would. Yet, I did'na get far before turning back. I left so quickly I neglected to take any provisions. Sister Helen would'na allow me to leave again after that, practically locked me away until another mon came looking for me. After you did'na return, I decided you needed my help as much as I had needed yours and convinced her 'twas best I leave in secret before anyone else came." She went to Catriona and clasped her hands in hers, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Och, I should never have let you do such a foolish thing as take my place in this. You could have been killed."
"I donned the veil of a true sister for a reason."
Tamsin scoffed and shook her head. "McAlison is a vile mon. I do'na think even that would have stopped him."
"But we kenned he did'na desire your death, rather your hand in marriage."
Tamsin shook her head and continued. "I traveled through the forest for some time for concealment, until I came to a road and happened upon a farmer transporting a cart of thatch. I asked if he would take me as far as he could, which wasn’t far. Only the next village. I managed to buy an old nag with one of the jeweled necklaces I had brought with me."
"Tamsin," Catriona chided.
"I made it as far as Glengarry on my own and stopped at an inn on the ootside of town. 'Twas there I happened upon a group of McAlison's men. I kenned them by the colors they sported, and I overheard their discussion as it turned toward an attack planned against my father." A sudden fear entered her eyes. "Have you received any word from him? I have been worried sick." Tamsin turned her gaze heavenward and released a pent up breath. "I ken my brother's life has been taken by that madmon."
Belonging to a Highlander Page 23
