Rogue Highlander: The King's Command

by Sondra Grey

  So, this had been what Lady Maxwell had spoken of. Leith withdrew and surged forward again, drawing her hips to meet his. Edane realized that she could control her own motion and caught on to his rhythm. As he surged forward she arced to meet him, lightening streaking through her and making her cry out. Leith quieted her cries with a kiss, thrusting in harder. Edane moaned against his lips as that pressure built again, only this time stronger, more desperate. Leith moved rhythmically, withdrawing and then pressing forward until Edane saw stars, until there was nothing but her, the pressure, the exquisite pleasure, a pure body of sensation.

  “Come on,” he groaned in her ear, his hips increasing their tempo. Edane felt herself keening, her fingers clawing into the fabric of his shirt, the pressure building and building.

  Intense, sharp, devastating pleasure overtook her in an explosion that rocked her from her toes to the crown of her head. Sweet sensation streaked through her, that pressure exploding again and again.

  Leith groaned and pulled out of her. She could feel him pulsing against her thigh, feel the damp of his seed spread on the blanket between her legs. But she was still spiraling.

  When she came down, finally, she felt as if she’d been run over by a horse. Her entire body was heavy, her loins burning, wanting more and more.

  “My god,” Leith was gasping into her neck, holding her too him. “My god…”

  He seemed incapable of saying anything further.

  Edane, herself, was barely capable of words. She wanted more, her body was still burning for more.

  Sitting up, she reached for him, but Leith had stilled, putting a finger to his lips.

  Edane heard a low voice somewhere off in the distance, and the distinctly high pitch of a giggle.

  “Looks like we weren’t the only ones with this idea,” said Leith, gathering the remains of food from the picnic basket. Then he reached over and tugged Edane’s dress down. The motion had the same effect as being doused in a lake.

  “Come,” he hissed, “before we’re discovered.”

  Just like that the spell was broken. Edane stood up, unsteady on her feet, like a foal who’d just been born. Blindly, she took Leith’s hand and let him lead her through the copse of trees and back towards the castle. Had she really just given a man her virginity? Outdoors! A strange sense of defeat threatened to swamp her. She stumbled.

  Leith turned. “Are you alright?” he asked.

  No. She was decidedly not all right. But it had nothing to do with Leith, who’d been tender, and attentive, and had made her first time into something incredible. From hearing some of the castle women talk, she’d been expecting something less pleasant. Leith had shaken her to her foundations.

  “I’m fine,” she lied. “We probably shouldn’t be seen entering the castle together.”

  “Let me see you back in Lady, at least,” said Leith.

  At least. It was over then. Edane knew that her chances of seeing Leith again were slim. She’d given him what he wanted.

  “I think it’s best if we part ways here,” she said.

  Closer to the castle, it was easier to make out Leith’s expression: the suspicion in his eyes as he gazed on her.

  “Lady,” he said, his voice more biting than it had been a minute ago. “Are you so eager to be rid of me?”

  Edane took a deep breath. “I’m eager not to be caught,” she said.

  Leith considered it for a moment before nodding. He reached out and plucked a leaf from the front of her gown. He smoothed a hand over her hair and Edane closed her eyes and leaned into that hand. Before she knew it, Leith had drawn her into his arms and was kissing her again. Deep, hungry.

  “Will you cheer for your champion tomorrow, Lady?”

  Edane wanted to cry. “Why do you call me Lady?” she asked, rather than answer him. “I’m not a lady.” And she’d never felt less like one.

  “Perhaps not in name. But you’ve the bearing of one,” said Leith after a moment. “And it fits you better than any lady I’ve met.”

  Edane felt tears prick her eyes. She nodded her head. “Thank you.”

  Leith held her for a moment seemingly unwilling to let her go, but he let her go finally, and when he did, she felt cold and abandoned. “Sleep well, Edane.”

  Edane nodded her head at him and hurried off.

  CHAPTER 14

  O f all the bizarre occurrences... Still, Leith didn’t want to question his luck too far. To say he’d not been expecting Edane Campbell to offer herself to him was an understatement. Looking back, he probably shouldn’t have taken her up on her offer. But when she’d touched him, so tentatively, so forward - he’d been unable to help himself.

  She’d been the most delicious mix of innocent and forward. She hadn’t quite known what she was about, and yet once he’d slowed down, settled her nerves, she’d thrown herself wholeheartedly into the act of love-making.

  Leith entered his room and stripped off his shirt, his mind already trying to figure out a way to get Edane Campbell into the privacy of his bedchamber, where he might better learn the slopes of her body

  Untying his kilt, he wet a cloth in the basin on his washstand and reached down to clean himself. He stopped. Was that… He moved closer to the candle. Blood. It was certainly blood.

  Mind racing, Leith went back through their encounter. He hadn’t been particularly rough. And she hadn’t been a virgin, had she? He couldn’t recall meeting the resistance of her maidenhead. His mind replayed their interlude, arriving at the moment where she’d speared herself onto him. Had that been the moment her maidenhead was breached? Had he been too distracted to notice?

  No. She might be somewhat inexperienced, but she certainly didn’t behave like a virgin. And why would Edane Campbell give him her virginity? Was she thinking of trapping him into marriage?

  Leith wiped the blood off, mind whirling. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe she was beginning her flux. In any case, the deed was done. She’d been eager enough to quit his company and hadn’t tried to wring any promises from him. Maybe she never wanted to see him again. The thought did not make him happy. If he’d thought that sleeping with Edane Campbell once might clear him of that particularly itch he was entirely mistaken. She’d been sweet and brazen. passionate and responsive, and he wanted more. For now, however, he had to sleep. He’d a match to win on the morrow.

  The next morning, Edane woke feeling a strange sense of calm. She’d stayed awake last night for a while, replaying the whole incident in her mind. If she’d expected to feel different after losing her virginity, she did not. The truth was that she could not name her emotions. She felt neither liberated nor sullied. She felt a strange wistful sadness and a deep sense of satisfaction. She’d dreamt of Leith all night and looked forward to cheering him on in the lists today. At the same time, she was well aware of the king’s impending attention.

  It was James’ attention that made her seek out the highlander. Lady Maxwell had all but sneered that if Edane’s virginity was what was making her timid, it was time to be rid of it. “The Macleod’s boy would be happy to help you, I’m sure!” She’d not been wrong.

  As she readied for the day, Edane hummed to herself and realized that not only did she feel a strange sense of calm, but she didn’t feel as anxious as she’d felt since arriving at the castle. As she sat in Margaret’s solar embroidering with the other women, she didn’t mind their sideways comments or Margaret’s subtle jeers.

  The women stayed in Margaret’s solar until Edane grew restless that she might miss Leith’s match. She suspected that Margaret was waiting for the king to escort her to the lists, but when it became evident that James would not be appearing, Margaret became surly and sulked until Catherine Gordon suggested they attend the tournament themselves.

  The women entered the stands to find James and his counselors already seated and the match between Lord Percival and Leith already underway. It took all of Edane’s strength of will not to gasp out loud as Lord Percival hammered at Leith. Wh
ile the highlander had seemed hale last night, it was clear from the way he moved that his fight with Colin Campbell had taxed him more than Edmund Percival’s fight with Adam Maclean had taxed him.

  Percival was a more than a match for Leith and as sword clashed against sword, shield slammed against shield, Edane worried that Leith might not be able to win this battle. In fact, James was edging forward as well, watching with keen eyes, and even Edane’s father seemed on the edge of his seat.

  The men were coated with sweat, their energy beginning to flag as they clashed and sprang apart. At one point, Leith missed a step and Percival pressed the advantage, hammering Leith’s shield with a blow so hard it shook the shield from Leith’s grasp and brought him to his knees. The crowd gasped - for this was surely the end - but the highlander managed to roll away in an agile move that seemed to belie the fatigue he’d been expressing.

  “He won’t last long without his shield,” murmured Lord Gordon to Edane’s father. Edane was gripping the wooden railing, willing Leith to finish Lord Percival quickly. As if he’d heard her, Leith grinned and launched himself forward in a flurry of moves that came almost too quickly for Percival to block. Now it was Percival’s turn to stumble, and Leith was quick to press his advantage, striking with a heavy blow that Percival only just managed to block. The effort spun the already stumbling lord around, his shield off-setting him so that he crashed onto his stomach.

  Leith’s sword came down on the back of his neck and held there. Silence descended through the tournament grounds, the audience waiting to hear Lord Percival cede the match. No sound came.

  “My Lord,” called the King, finally. “Do you cede?”

  Leith was frozen, and still no sound came from Percival. Was he even conscious?

  “I admit defeat,” said Percival, finally. Leith stepped back, removing his sword. He offered Lord Percival a hand to rise but Percival refused to take it, rising to his feet of his own accord.

  Edane sucked in a deep breath, sitting back.

  “Well Lady,” said the King to Margaret, as they both rose to acknowledge the new tournament champion. “It looks as if your champion has been defeated.”

  Margaret smiled at James but it was thin, and Edane couldn't help but notice how the other women were now looking at Leith with no small amount of consideration. Leith approached the stands and offered his bow to the king, but when he rose, his eyes met Edane’s and they were full of promise.

  “Do I have to call you Sir now?” asked Richard, beaming merrily as Leith made his way through the thronging, congratulating crowd to where his cousin and Adam were standing. It was hours after the tournament win. After receiving cheers and flowers and more tossed tokens of affection, the crowd had moved on to watch the joust and the winners of the archery contest.

  But now, in the great hall that evening, James had awarded the event champions their prizes and knighted those who’d yet to achieve the honor. Leith was once more a conquering hero, and the role made him uncomfortable.

  “I should have thrown the damn thing,” said Leith sourly. “This…” he fingered the gold medallion now hanging from his neck, “ensures that I am now one of James’ vassals. At his beck and bloody call.”

  “Ah, well, you were going to be that anyway,” said Adam. “At least you’ve the title now that goes with it.”

  Leith nodded his head. Irked as he might be to be a knight of James and Margaret’s court, this did not diminish the amount of pride he felt at winning the blasted tournament. Percival had been a more challenging opponent than Leith anticipated, and he’d been sorer from his match with Campbell than he’d realized. In truth, he had all but accepted defeat until he’d looked up and seen Edane in the stands, leaning over the railing and all but willing him to rise and finish the fight.

  He wasn’t sure where the strength had come from, but she’d renewed him. He hadn’t wanted to let her down. If Percival was Margaret’s champion, then Leith was Edane’s, and he’d wanted nothing more than to give her a victory. Now, more than anything, he wanted to find her in the crowd, whirl her from the hall, and take her to bed. And that was just what he planned to do.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” said Leith to his cousin and friend. “I’ve matters to attend to.”

  “He means the Campbell girl,” said Richard to Adam.

  “Oh, I know who he means. She’s been over there, staring at you since you walked in,” said Adam, smirking, and gesturing towards the far end of the hall. Sure enough. Edane was standing in a small group that included some of the Queen’s ladies, her eyes met Leith’s but her expression was unreadable.

  Leith felt himself smile, and he inclined his head towards the door, watching as Edane nodded, indicating she understood.

  “Good night to you both,” said Leith to his friends, and he left the ballroom.

  When Edane awoke, it was the middle of the night, and for a moment, she couldn’t quite figure out where she was.

  And then her eyes refocused, the unfamiliar room becoming clearer, the hard body pressed hotly against her reminding her that she was in Leith’s room, and unless she wished to risk discovery, she’d better return to hers.

  As if her intention had roused him, Leith moved behind her, his arm fastening around her hip and holding her in place. His lips pressed against the back of her neck and he murmured, sleepily. “Stay.”

  “I can’t,” said Edane, wriggling out from beneath his arm and rising. She was naked. He’d removed all of her clothing and she would need help getting back into it.

  Leith was sitting up, groaning beside her. “I don’t think there’s one inch of me that does not hurt,” he said, falling back onto the blankets. Edane slid into her shift and stepped into her gown.

  “Can you help with my laces?” she asked him.

  Leith sat up again, and slid to the end of the bed. Edane presented her back to him, shuddering slightly as his fingers breezed over her back, refastening her gown. “Edane,” he said, softly. “Will you come to me, tomorrow evening? After supper.”

  She was silent a moment, her heart hammering in her chest. There had been a feast that evening honoring the tournament champions. Leith had found her in the corner and asked her to dance. It was self-preservation that had kept her from saying yes, and watching him dance with other women had been absolute torture. In the end, she’d exited out onto the castle balcony, the one that overlooked the West Gardens, and tried not to notice a pair of lovers, exchanging words in the corner.

  Leith had come out moments later, teased her about being jealous and then became serious. “I want you, Edane,” he’d said, his words like flames across her skin. “Come to my rooms tonight.” And damn her, but she’d followed him. And he’d made it worth her while.

  Now, more than anything she wanted to promise him that she’d return the next night. And yet, almost as much, she wished for the strength to say no. She might have known him only a short while, but her heart was his. She knew it.

  She shook her head. “I better not,” she said, her voice quiet.

  Leith took her hand and spun her around so that she was staring into his dazzling green eyes. God, he was so beautiful.

  “Why not?” He reached up, cupping her cheek in his hand and standing to tower over her. Bending down he kissed her, and Edane couldn’t help but melt into him, her newly awakened body beginning to burn again.

  Leith broke the kiss, “Why not?” he insisted, running his lips over her temple, his hands holding her close to him. She couldn’t answer him, wouldn’t admit her feelings.

  “Come to me tomorrow,” he said.

  Edane felt like sobbing, she wanted to wrench herself away from him, but she felt so good here. Being in his arms felt so right, so incredibly right.

  “Promise me you’ll come,” he pressed. “Promise.”

  “I’ll come,” she said, closing her eyes as his nose rubbed against hers, as his lips took hers again in a burning, sensual kiss.

  “Good,” he said, against he
r lips. “Now go, before I change my mind and keep you here all night.”

  CHAPTER 15

  “W ell girl,” asked Lady Maxwell several mornings later as she and Edane took a stroll about the castle grounds. “He must be a skilled lover. You’ve been glowing all week.”

  Edane felt her cheeks heat and knew she was blushing because Lady Maxwell dug her elbow into Edane’s ribs and cackled. “I knew it,” said the woman. “Lord what I wouldn’t give to be as young and lovely as you! That rutting highlander and I would have such fun.”

  “Lady Maxwell, please,” said Edane. It had been easy to sneak away with Leith in the chaos of the tournament, but as the revelers departed the castle, it had grown harder to hide their budding relationship. Margaret was beginning to get suspicious over Edane’s sunnier, less miserable demeanor, and more than a few people had noticed that she and the newly knighted Leith Macleod had been spending a great deal of time in each other’s companies.

  Edane knew she needed to distance herself from Leith. Just last evening, the Earl of Argyle had called her into his rooms and given her a warning. “You’re not here to make a whore of yourself,” he’d all but snarled at her.

  Perhaps it was Leith’s attention that had given her strength – as Enide’s love had given strength to Eric, but Edane stood up to her father. “I thought that was exactly what I was meant to do!” She had all but slammed her palms on his desk in frustration. The earl had delivered a heavy and resounding slap; there was a small scrape where his ring had caught her cheek and Edane was wearing her hair down to cover it.

  “You’re not an idiot.” Her father had barked. “Don’t pretend to be one! If that highlander were serious about courting you he’d have approached me. He’s using you Edane, and you – stupid girl – are letting him. He can do nothing for you. But the king can. Have some sense of self-preservation! God in Heaven, perhaps I did sire a simpleton!”