by Ria Cantrell
It was a little more awkward to run with the plaid and the gown tucked about her, but Sinead was managing well enough. She wasn’t running a marathon or anything. She was just getting in a gentle jog to help ease the fog of rampant thoughts that were threatening her calm resolution to marry a man she had only recently met; a man who was from so different a world that she was used to, that thoughts on it could possibly urge her to change her mind.
Running always gave Sinead clarity and with each passing footfall, one thing became quite evident. She was in love. It was that simple, if love could be called simple. It seemed that all the songs and poems dedicated to the matter rang true at that moment. Love was all that mattered. Morag’s words may have struck a nerve, but in the end, Sinead knew that she had never felt the depth of love in her heart for any other man in her life as she did for Jamie and she knew she never would again. Perhaps, Jamie was not the only one who could be soul-damaged should they not remain together. Sinead was quite certain that her heart would never beat for another man and that fact hit her like a snowball to the face. So it was true! There was such a thing as a soul-mate and Sinead had found hers. It did not matter that they were from different times. Sometimes matters of the heart and soul were not constrained to one era. Perhaps, it carried over the centuries and it took a cataclysmic event, like falling through some sort of time portal, to reconcile it.
That realization pushed Sinead to run harder and she did until she felt a stitch in her side. She had not even been aware of the passing ground beneath her feet, or of the change in the scenery about her. Sinead slowed her pace to a walk and then to a full stop. She glanced around. The land was beautiful, really; like a winter wonderland. She looked back and the shimmering walls of the keep glinted in the distance like a beacon through time. The road Sinead had jogged on was bordered by snow-laden fir trees and the lake she had seen from the solar spread before her in crystalline beauty. She stretched out her arms as if to embrace the view before her and she said, “I am home. I’ve come home. I belong here, yes this is my home, now. Nothing can convince me otherwise.”
Sinead laughed because if anyone could see her, they would think she had completely lost her mind. Well maybe she had in a way, but it was a good thing. She had followed logical courses for her life but these events that set her in the past were illogical so for a change, Sinead had to go with her heart. All thoughts that worried her faded at the beauty and wonder that stood before her as a testament of time. My God, how beautiful is your creation, she thought. And here I am to enjoy it in its pristine majesty with the love of my life, to boot! Yes, running gave her clarity and Sinead was glad for it because all the fears elevated by Morag’s discussion seemed to dissipate at the beauty before her and the realization that love fixed everything. There was nothing really more to contemplate. Sometimes there was no rhyme or reason when it came to matters of the heart.
Chapter 33
Sinead made her way back to the keep. She had jogged a little bit more, but mostly she walked briskly. She was still not back to top form and so when her thigh burned in protest. she took a less demanding pace to get back to MacCollum. As she rounded toward the gates, Sinead was startled to see Jamie on horseback. He seemed to be riding straight toward her. She waved and smiled, but then she saw the look on his face. If a man could look like hell’s demons were on his heels, Sinead was pretty certain Jamie, at that moment, could fit the bill. Upon seeing her on the frozen rise, he reined in his mount and leaned over enough to hook his arm around her. The strength in his arm seemed nearly unnatural as he hauled her upon the horse’s back, seating her side saddle in front of him.
Sinead laughed nervously and said, “What the hell, Jamie?”
“Perhaps ye’ should tell me.”
“Well for one thing, you scared the living daylights out of me. What’s going on?”
“What were ye’ doin’ outside of the gates, Sinead?”
The tone of his voice was guarded and as frosty as the Highland winter day. Also, this time, when he said her name, there was nothing tender about it. She turned to face him and her eyes met his. There was a cold fury simmering in the normally warm cocoa amber depths of his gaze. Sinead’s brow furrowed and she tilted her head in confusion. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I asked ye’ a question. I will have yer’ answer.”
“I wasn’t doing anything. I was just having a little run. I needed to clear my head a bit and running helps me gain clarity.”
“Clarity? What were ye’ runnin’ from or better yet, what were ye’ runnin’ to?”
“Are you freaking kidding me? I wasn’t running to anything. I had a lot on my mind. Morag and I….”
“I should have known that meddlin’ old woman had something to do with this.”
“Leave her alone, Jamie. She didn’t do anything, but she had presented me with some important questions that I needed to ask myself. They made my head spin, to say the least.”
“What sort of questions?”
Sinead was not about to share her private conversation with Jamie; especially when he was in this bad a mood.
“Just stuff I needed to think about. Now, I’m not so sure the run did me any good because you are acting like a complete and total ass. What’s your problem?”
Jamie set his jaw and through clenched teeth, he replied, “My problem is that ye’ are reckless and ye’ did nay tell anyone ye’ were leaving. Did ye’ see anyone on yer’ run of clarity,” he asked rather sarcastically.
Sinead struggled against Jamie, suddenly feeling stifled and she said, “Let me down. I don’t like the tone of your voice and I don’t like the implications of your words. Am I back to being your enemy again, Jamie? Am I always going to be someone you can’t trust? I don’t owe you any explanations because I did nothing wrong. I did not know I was still considered a prisoner. I thought we….”
Jamie took her jaw in his big hand and turned her to face him. He took her lips in a rather punishing kiss to keep her from giving her further tongue lashing and it left Sinead both speechless and breathless. His alpha male sensuality had way too much of an effect on her and at the moment, she cursed herself for succumbing to it. When he released her captive mouth, Sinead had a mind to slap him but she stayed her hand by gripping into the horse’s mane instead. She was simmering with anger at him for his accusatory questions and she was livid with herself for allowing a kiss to mollify her resolve.
“Sinead,” he said, a little more softly. “Ye’ are nay a prisoner nor a hostage, but ye’ are nay aware of the dangers outside of the gates without an escort to see to yer’ protection.”
“I’m a big girl now Jamie. I’ve been taking care of myself for quite some time.”
“Perhaps in yer’ time that is so. Here, there are many untold dangers.”
“I am aware that things are different. Believe me. No one is more aware than I am…I had a good life, Jamie. I am willing to leave that all behind for you and yet you treat me like I am some sort of untrustworthy spy rather than the woman you asked to marry you.”
Jamie mumbled, “I’m sorry. I did nay mean to imply ye’ were betraying me.”
Sinead looked ahead, not wanting to look into his eyes at the moment. She could tell his apology was sincere and that something else was driving his volatile emotions but she was still angry with him for what he said and for the way he thought to silence her with the power of his kiss.
“I would never betray you, Jamie. That is a promise. Not with another man nor to do anything to endanger your clan.”
“Our clan,” he said softly.
“What?”
“T’is our clan, fer’ ye’ are part of it now.” Those words warmed Sinead’s heart and her anger at him began to abate. She wanted to belong and be part of Jamie’s clan. Still, she needed answers.
“Well, what did you think I was doing?”
Jamie fell silent, carefully choosing his words. When he had learned that Sinead had gone out on her own
, his heart sank. He knew that danger still lurked and he did not want to admit that the thought of losing her was more than he could bear. When he discovered he loved her, he had made an unspoken vow that he would die to protect her and the idea that she was out of his protection, and that he could have failed her was too much for him to ponder. Without actually answering her question, he said, “Come, let us go back to the keep and I will try to explain.”
“You can tell me anything, you know. I am pretty understanding. What is this really all about?”
“I was worried about ye’, lass. When I found out ye’ had gone past the gates and no one thought to escort ye’, my mind was filled with terrible things that could have happened to ye’.”
Sinead turned back to look at Jamie and she laughed a little. Then placing a palm to his face she said, “There was nothing to worry you. It was just me and the beauty of your home. I was awed by its pristine majesty. I fell in love today. For a second time and that was with this place. It made me happy to experience the wonder of it all.”
Jamie was moved by her sentiment. He pulled her tighter against him and he buried his lips in her hair. Again he murmured so softly, “I’m sorry.”
She nestled closer to his warmth, suddenly grateful for it as the heat from her run had quickly dissipated and she was starting to really feel the cold just sitting there on his big horse. With a cluck of his tongue, the great beast turned and at a slow cantor, trotted back toward the open gates of MacCollum.
As the couple approached the outer bailey, they did not notice the people smiling at them. They also did not notice the old man who had hid in the shadows watching them. He had seen the girl leave the gates alone and he followed at a distance only to see her break into a run toward the lake. He knew that he could never keep up with her because of his deadened leg so he stumbled back toward the stables. He thought her behavior odd and he noticed that she wore men’s trews beneath her gown and strange slippers upon her feet. There was definitely something not right about this woman.
Hugh could feel the unholy magic about her. He had seen her in league with the hag and he suspected this one to be a witch as well, for their like knew their own. He did not pretend to respect the call of the Ancients. While he served no God, in particular, Hugh spat upon the Old Ways with their heathen practices and conjurings. Now the hag had found her acolyte, it seemed. The sooner he could turn her over to Dubh MacKenzie and be rid of her pagan lure upon the MacCollum clan, the better. Hugh rubbed his jaw, which still ached from the beating Dubh had doled upon him. He knew to be more careful this time, but he suspected that this information would please the Black MacKenzie and his reward would be all the greater in the end.
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Once the horse had been stabled and the couple was safely back inside the keep, it seemed that their argument had been forgotten. In fact, they could barely get up the stairs quick enough to find the privacy of Jamie’s chambers. As the door closed behind them, there was suddenly no need for words. Sinead turned to Jamie and she kissed him of her own volition. As she felt his arm slide comfortably around her waist, she put her arms around his neck and tipping her head back to look up at him she said, “I know you worry. I’m just not used to it, really. I have been on my own for a while and well, men in my time have learned to let women be independent.”
“I will ne’er understand a time when men choose to not protect their women.”
“It’s complicated. Women fought a long time to be considered equal. I think we lost something in the process and we forgot how nice it is to have the chivalrous things done for us.”
“I will always honor ye’, love and protect ye’. It is my duty as yer’ husband to do so. It is how men in this time are, for the most part. At least, the men of my clan have learned to treasure our women and to keep them safe as best we can.”
Sinead kissed him again and he said, “Ye’ should have gotten me if ye’ wanted to be out of the gates.”
“You were busy with the lambs and ewes. I didn’t really think it was a big deal. The gates were open and people were coming and going. I just thought it would be nice to explore more than just the courtyard.”
“I wish I could say that ye’ were nay in danger, love, but sadly I cannot. It’s the people comin’ in that worry me. I mean, aye, most we know and have welcomed for the Christmastide feasts, but sometimes when we open our gates, the wolves get in among the lambs.”
Sinead laughed and Jamie looked puzzled. She said, “We have a similar expression in our time, is all. It just struck me funny how you said it. We say, beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing, and it means the same thing.”
“Aye, indeed. Did ye’ notice anyone watchin’ ye’ or that seemed suspicious?”
“No and stop trying to scare me. It was bad enough that Morag was freaking me out before. There was just an old man near the stables and the usual guards. A few people were entering carrying some bundles and stuff, but they seemed to be on a mission to take items into the hall. I thought they were just there for the feast preparations and all.”
“Hmm, more than likely they were. The old man ye’ say was near the stables…what did he look like?”
Sinead laughed again and said, “I don’t know. Old. White hair, sort of hunched over. Leaning on a staff. I smiled at him but he did not seem very friendly so I went on my way.”
Jamie’s eyes grew cold again and Sinead did not want him to sink back into his black mood. She kissed his mouth and slid her body against his seductively. She said, “Let’s not talk about old toothless men. I think since this was our first fight since our engagement, you really owe me some good make-up sex.”
“Make-up sex?” Jamie had never heard that term before, but he could gather what it meant. Sinead just rubbed her hands up the muscles of his arms and she said, “Yeah, you know…we should make love to show we are no longer arguing.”
“Hmm, make-up sex. Do people practice this make-up sex every time there is a quarrel?”
“Well, not every time, but they say that it’s usually pretty good when they do.”
“And ye’ never had make-up sex before?”
Sinead could see that he liked saying the phrase. She said, “I’m about to.”
“Aye. It seems ye’ are.”
Jamie took her by the hand and practically dragged her over to their bed. He pulled off his leine and tossed it next to the bed. Sinead reached up under her gown and unfastened her jeans. Kicking off her sneakers, she then pealed the jeans off her legs. Jamie was not wearing his kilt so he removed his trews and then helped lift the gown over Sinead’s head. His heart hitched as he looked at her, wearing those beautiful lace undergarments he had grown quite fond of. Sinead had made it a practice to wash out her lingerie every day, since it was the only set she now had. She was especially careful with it because she knew Jamie had liked it so much. When she reached back to unfasten her bra, Jamie said gruffly, “Dunna’.”
Sinead raised her eyes to him and she said, “No?”
He shook his head.
“You’re sure?”
“Aye,” he fairly growled. His eyes had darkened with desire to the point that only a lighter rim of gold shimmered around his pupils. Sinead sat upon her knees and she leaned over to plant teasing kisses over his chest and neck. He swallowed, feeling her lips caress over his larynx and he said, “Nay. T’is my apology that is needed. I will be responsible for making-up.”
Sinead said, “Oh. I see. What would you have me do, then?”
“Feel.”
It was Sinead’s turn to swallow hard. He laid her back and after kissing her deeply; mating his tongue with hers, he began his own torturous journey of tongue and bites against her warming flesh. One of his hands crept under her bra and he felt her nipple pearl into his palm. Sinead sighed and said, “Yes. I love the feel of your hands on me.”
Jamie kissed her neck and said, “And I love that ye’ tell me what ye’ love.”
With his one hand tuc
ked securely inside her bra, Jamie moved down her body, planting kisses over her ribs. He nibbled against her belly, circling her navel with the tip of his tongue. He felt her squirm ever so slightly as he rested his cheek against the softer swell of her stomach and he even felt her suck it in beneath him. He said simply and honestly, “I need to taste ye’, lass.”
Sinead was trying not to breathe too heavily but at his words, she felt breathless and she just said, “Uh-huh.”
She felt him kiss over her black lace panties and she could feel him inching a finger on his free hand into the leg. She giggled thinking how even medieval guys could like sexy lingerie and she was glad that she had put them on under her clothes. She murmured, “I’d bet you’d be a sucker for high heels.”
Raising his head, with a glint in his eyes, he said, “I have nay idea what that means, but I have a feelin’ whatever it is, I may be inclined to learn.”
Sinead giggled through her fog of desire. “Oh, they are these very sexy shoes that women wear. Picture beautiful slippers with a thin spike on the back. It tips the foot in a way that many men in my time find alluring.”
