Ceci Giltenan

by Highland Solution

  Tomas visited several times a day. Niall had given strict orders not to allow Tomas to tire her by staying too long, so Fingal had the job of marshaling him. On the afternoon of the fifth day, during one of Tomas’ visits, Laird MacLennan tapped on the open chamber door as Tomas animatedly described the wooden sword Fingal had given him while Fingal stood quietly near the door. Malcolm cleared his throat.

  “Lady Katherine,” he said, “I think it is time for us to formally meet. I am Laird Malcolm MacLennan, your host,” and he made a small bow. A tall, lean man who looked to be about two score and ten years old, Malcolm had jet black hair with grey temples and hazel green eyes. He wore a well-trimmed graying beard and mustache.

  Katherine sat in one of the two chairs by the hearth, and Tomas, suddenly quiet, crawled into her lap. “Laird MacLennan, I am very pleased to meet you. I am so sorry to have been such a nuisance.”

  “My dear,” he smiled warmly, “Ye are certainly not a nuisance. I considered Laird Alastair MacIan to be my closest friend, as close as a brother, really. His family is always welcome in my home. Niall and Fingal are like nephews to me. Isn’t that right, Fingal?”

  “Aye, Laird, ye always make us most welcome here.” Katherine thought she heard a coolness in Fingal’s response.

  Malcolm said, “Not still arguing with Niall, are ye?” then to Katherine, “these lads.” Malcolm shook his head in mock frustration. “Have ye ever known two brothers to be so different?”

  Malcolm walked farther into the room and stood near the chair in which Katherine sat. It meant she had to look up at a rather sharp angle to see him. Katherine felt momentarily wary, but Malcolm was a close friend of Niall’s and she realized she was being silly. She answered, “I really couldn’t say, Laird. I met them for the first time barely a week ago, and it seems I have slept most of that time away.”

  “Of course, how could I have forgotten? Are ye feeling quite well now?”

  “Aye, Laird, thank you, Agnes is a very skilled healer.”

  “Ye see, Fingal, even Katherine agrees that Agnes knew what she was doing that night.” Confused by his comment, Katherine glanced at Fingal, whose expression was inscrutable. Had Fingal argued with Niall about the healer?

  Malcolm went on, “Fingal, son, ye really need to let it go. Ye see, Katherine, when ye arrived, ye had a raging fever and in your delirium, ye begged Niall to stay with ye.”

  Katherine remembered and knew she had not been delirious then. Although a bit foggy, she recalled feeling terribly ill and afraid. She hadn’t wanted Niall to leave her.

  “Agnes has been a healer for quite some time and knows anxious husbands can do more harm than good.”

  Although she respected Agnes, Katherine silently disagreed. In her experience, patients benefited from having loved ones close. Unless someone became a problem, she did not insist they leave, but Agnes’ opinion was held by many healers. Clearly Laird MacLennan respected her.

  “Niall very wisely stayed downstairs with me while Agnes was working. Fingal became indignant when he realized Niall had left ye and ye called out for him. But, ye see, Fingal, it was simply the delirium. Niall made the right decision in leaving Katherine in Agnes’ care to spend the evening in the hall with us.” Turning back to Katherine, he said with a laugh and a shake of his head, “Young men can have such romantic ideas. Katherine, I can tell ye are a wise, practical young woman.”

  Katherine wasn’t sure why Malcolm was telling her this, but Fingal appeared to be both angry and embarrassed. Malcolm must have been trying to smooth over whatever had happened between Niall and Fingal, but it wasn’t working very well.

  Tired of looking up at Malcolm and thinking to change the subject, she motioned to the other chair by the hearth, saying, “Laird, I am terribly sorry, I have been rude. Please, sit down.”

  “Oh, nay, thank ye, lass, I won’t tire ye any longer. Ye have been through a terrible ordeal.” He glanced at Tomas, who still sat on her lap, adding, “I just wanted to ask if ye would feel up to joining us in the great hall for dinner this evening?”

  “Aye, Laird, I am feeling much better. I would be delighted to dine in the great hall tonight,” Katherine responded.

  “Well, until later then, lass.” He bowed, then looked pointedly at Fingal, inclining his head towards Tomas before leaving.

  When his footsteps retreated down the hall, with the humor back in his voice, Fingal said, “I think I have just been told to remove Tomas and allow ye to rest.”

  Katherine smiled, saying, “Tomas, why don’t you and Fingal go see if there are any dragons to slay with that fine sword of yours?”

  Tomas scooted off her lap to leave, but before he did, he asked, “Are there really dragons in the Highlands?”

  “It would seem so,” answered Fingal.

  Katherine smiled at his obvious reference to their host, but before they reached the door she said, “Fingal, I’m sure Agnes meant well the other night. Please don’t be angry with Niall over this.”

  “Don’t worry, my lady, it is past. Malcolm has indeed always been like an uncle to us. I’m sure he thought my argument with Niall meant more than it did.”

  Six

  Diarmad arrived with ten guardsmen late that afternoon. Naill was relieved to learn the dowry was secure at Duncurra. However, Diarmad reported that while they were in Edinburgh, Matheson had raided again near the southwest border of the MacIan lands and spirited away ten head of cattle. The MacIans retaliated, but returned with fewer beasts than they lost.

  “God’s teeth, why is Matheson doing this?” swore Niall, as Malcolm entered the great room.

  “What is Matheson doing now?” Malcolm asked.

  “He can’t keep his hands off my stock. We have been plagued with raids by him for months now, as if he needs any of our meager stock.”

  Malcolm answered, “Why does this surprise ye? The Mathesons have never been particular about the way they gain their wealth. Their feud with the MacIans has been long standing, has it not?”

  “The MacIans and the Mathesons have never been allies,” Niall said, “but the argument between our grandfathers about our borders resolved without a full scale feud. Neither laird liked the compromise, resulting in little squabbles erupting from time to time over the years. However, until this last year, they were only a minor annoyance. Now he is relentless and the losses are crippling. Your land borders his, has he pilfered your stock?”

  “Nay,” said Malcolm. “Perhaps Laird Matheson has his eyes on expansion? Certainly one way of defeating an opponent is to critically weaken him first. Now you have sufficient funds, maybe your best option is to go on the offensive.”

  “That really isn’t an option at the moment. A full-scale feud with Matheson would critically weaken us, regardless of our current financial state. I simply can’t risk it.”

  “I’m sure ye know what is best for your clan. On a more pleasant note, I just had a nice visit with your lovely wife and Fingal. She appears to be recovering well from her ordeal. I thought perhaps ye would both join us in the great hall for the evening meal.”

  “Certainly,” said Niall absently, but he wondered what the hell Fingal was doing visiting with his wife. Moments later, Fingal appeared with Tomas, who wielded a wooden sword. Niall’s jealously cooled when he realized Tomas had been visiting Katherine. Fingal merely accompanied him as ordered.

  ~ * ~

  Agnes declared Katherine sufficiently recovered to make the trip to Duncurra. Since his guard had returned, Niall planned to leave the next morning. Therefore dinner would be something of a farewell feast. After bathing in the loch, Niall returned to their chamber to escort Katherine to dinner. The effects of the cold loch water vanished instantly when he laid eyes on his lovely wife. A bath had been brought up for her and she sat drying her honey colored silk hair by the fire. She wore a pale gold gown that hugged her figure provocatively. He hadn’t paid much attention to his lovely wife’s green eyes before, but now they mesmerized him. He wondere
d if the gold flecks had always been there or if her eyes simply reflected the gold gown she wore. Once again, Niall remembered Father James had called her radiant and he couldn’t find a better word to describe her.

  ~ * ~

  Laird MacLennan spared nothing for the feast. His staff served an endless variety of delicacies and wine flowed freely. Malcolm could not have been a more charming host. It warmed Katherine’s heart to see the love and respect Niall had for Malcolm. After years under her uncle’s cruelty, she had forgotten what it meant to be loved as part of a family. Malcolm certainly had made her feel welcome and she realized how much she missed it. She wondered if Niall’s clansmen would accept her as easily when she reached Duncurra.

  Until that evening, she had not left their bedchamber and she enjoyed herself immensely. The evening would have been perfect except she had the impression many of the women disapproved of her. She felt this most acutely from Duncan’s wife, Lana, who sat at the laird’s table with them. Lana made no attempt to hide her disdain. She barely spoke to Katherine, pointedly turning away from her and not engaging in conversation during the meal. Occasionally, Katherine caught Lana staring at her with contempt. Katherine couldn’t imagine what she had done, but she assumed it might be because she wasn’t a Highlander, so she tried to ignore it.

  ~ * ~

  Although the feast showed signs of lasting well into the night, Niall told Malcolm he wanted to make sure Katherine rested well before they began their journey, so they retired early.

  When they reached their chamber, the beautiful man she had married finally kissed her in a way he had only hinted at before. She shyly responded, opening her lips, and he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue. She put her arms around his neck, giving in to the wonderful sensations, returning his kiss with abandon. He stroked her back lightly and, with the pain from her injuries gone, she shivered with delight. He cupped one breast through the fabric of her gown, rubbing the nipple lightly. Awed, she felt it harden at his touch and was surprised to realize the throaty moan of pleasure she heard was her own. As he trailed kisses down her neck, she arched her head back, giving him greater access.

  “Lass,” he whispered roughly, “I was going to wait,” claiming her mouth again, “until we were home...ye need to rest.”

  “I don’t want to rest.” As he continued to caress her nipple, the warmth kindled with his kiss became a liquid fire spreading through her. The feeling of his tongue exploring her mouth, together with his hand on her breast, made her knees weak. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted, she only knew she wanted more. She needed more.

  She felt him remove her belt before he stopped kissing her to turn her away. She had a moment of panic as she thought she might have done something wrong, but then he unlaced her gown and pulled it off her shoulders. He turned her back to face him again before continuing the tender onslaught of her mouth. He removed the rest of her clothes, letting them fall to the floor. He stopped kissing her for a moment and simply looked at her. Realizing for the first time she stood naked in front of him, she raised her hands up nervously to cover herself.

  He grasped her hands and held them away from her, saying, “Nay, lass, ye are lovely. Let me look at ye.” She flushed under his perusal and, although she couldn’t quite look at him, she didn’t cover herself when he released her hands.

  Leaning down he captured one pert nipple in his mouth, suckling on it. This new sensation fed the fire building in her core until it became almost unbearable. Returning once again to her lips, his kisses became more urgent and she put her hands around his neck again.

  “My sweet lass, I have wanted ye from the moment I saw ye.” He pulled her hair free from its braid, running his fingers gently through her tresses.

  Stepping away from her, Niall quickly removed his plaid and belt, dropping them with her garments on the floor. He scooped her in his arms, carried her to the bed, and laid her gingerly on it. He stepped back, gazing at her again for a moment, sobering slightly. “Lass, are ye sure? Ye have been so ill, I don’t want to hurt ye. We will wait if ye need time.”

  “Please, Niall, don’t make me wait.” She wasn’t sure what she was asking for, but she knew she didn’t want to stop.

  He pulled his tunic over his head. She gasped and heard him chuckle when she saw the full length of his naked body.

  Although Katherine had the general idea of how men and women coupled, she had never seen a completely naked, very much aroused man. She felt a hot blush flood her cheeks, but before she had too much time to think about it, he lowered himself onto the bed beside her. He captured her lips again, and caressed her breasts, teasing the nipples until they were taut. “Ye are so sweet, lass,” he whispered before trailing kisses down her neck. He fondled one soft breast, taking the nipple in his mouth to suckle.

  She had never felt anything like this. What was happening to her? As his caresses inflamed her, she became bolder, her hands roaming over his back and shoulders.

  He slid one hand down her waist to her hip. Slipping his hand between her thighs, he nudged them apart, stroking them lightly. He caressed the curls at the apex of her legs, slipping one finger between the moist lips. “Nay,” she said, stiffening as she tried to push his hand away.

  “Wheest, lass,” he whispered, capturing both of her hands in his free hand and kissing her lips again. His finger found the sensitive nub at her core and gently circled it, eliciting a moan. Instead of pulling away she arched into his hand. He replaced his finger with his thumb, continuing the circular movement, while sliding one finger inside her. She was momentarily startled by the intimate caress, but while one tiny corner of her consciousness thought perhaps she shouldn’t allow it, she enjoyed his touch too much to stop him. Lost in sensation, she barely noticed as he nudged her legs farther apart and positioned himself between them, continuing to pleasure her with his hand.

  She had never felt so powerless and yet so completely free. She pushed against him, wanting more. When she thought she would surely die if the intense sensation building at her core continued, she exploded in ecstasy. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced. She felt as if the world shimmered around her.

  While she still felt dazed, before she knew quite what was happening, he penetrated her with one swift thrust. The sharp pain breached the blissful fog enveloping her. It was sobering. She squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her teeth to keep from crying out. For a moment she trembled and tried to pull away, but she felt him gently caress her face, soothing her.

  “It will pass, sweetling,” he assured her, remaining perfectly motionless while still sheathed in her. Opening her eyes to look into his, she plainly saw both his concern for her as well as rigid tension.

  Just as he said it would, the sharp pain subsided and she relaxed. He slipped his hand between her legs, gently stroking her again. When his finger once more rubbed the same sensitive spot, the heat in her belly stirred for a second time. That same indescribable need built, only, if possible, even more profoundly than before.

  “Katherine, my beautiful lass, ye feel so good.” He began to gently move slowly in and out of her, but she could feel the supreme tension in his body.

  She writhed under the movements of his hand and body, becoming almost frenzied. “I need you, Niall,” she cried out, meeting his thrusts.

  Responding to her abandon, he plunged into her again and again until she felt the heat of his seed within her. She arched against him and cried out as she reached another shuddering climax. She was astounded by her powerful reaction to his love making and was vaguely aware even her fingers and toes tingled. She had never imagined this bliss was possible.

  He shifted his weight off her, but they remained joined as they lay there for what may have been a moment or an eternity. Finally, he eased out and moved beside her, pulling her close against him. He lightly caressed her hair and face, kissing her softly.

  Finally he asked, “Did I hurt ye very much?”

  “Aye,” she
answered honestly, “but not for long.”

  He laughed and said, “I did make ye promise never to hide anything from me.”

  “Aye, ye did.”

  “It won’t hurt like that again,” he reassured her.

  “I hope not, because I liked everything else,” she admitted boldly.

  He chuckled and whispered, “I know,” kissing her again.

  Seven

  Katherine slept soundly that night in Niall’s arms. Niall slept less soundly. He woke up during the night with her enticing round bottom tucked up against his groin and he stiffened in response. He would have happily made love to her again, but he knew the ride to Duncurra in the morning might be uncomfortable for her, so he gritted his teeth while trying to go back to sleep.

  Just after dawn they left Brathanead keep and Niall walked with her to where the men prepared their horses. He took Katherine’s hand before saying, “I sent word for Diarmad to bring ye something.” He winked at her. “Tomas, ye can bring your lady her mount now,” he called. Tomas, grinning from ear to ear at being part of the surprise, led a strong brown gelding out of the stable. She seemed thrilled and threw her arms around Niall, hugging him. A little taken aback, he looked down at her and said, “It isn’t that I don’t enjoy having ye ride on my lap, and, if ye get tired ye can ride with me, but he is yours. I know your father gave Stormy to ye and nothing can replace her, but I thought having this brown beast as your own might help.”

  “He is beautiful, Niall, thank you. He isn’t the horse my father gave me, but he is the horse my husband gave me,” she said, hugging him again. “Does he have a name?”

  “Not that he told me. Tomas, did he tell ye his name?”