“How did word reach you so deep in the woods since it was believed that Wren’s home was where many didn’t go?” Royden asked baffled.
His da looked around and after satisfied no one was close, motioned for the only servant in the room to fetch more ale even though the jug was half full. Then with a faint whisper said, “Purity.”
At that moment, Royden knew who his wife had met with in the woods.
Chapter 19
It had been a long day, supper even lasting longer than usual. Oria was glad that talk was mostly reminiscent of good times and avoided the harsh memories of the past five years. It was good to laugh with family again and good that she now had a family. Times like these, though, were when she missed her da and mum the most.
The unusually long day had brought on fatigue, so by the time Oria entered the bedchamber she wanted to drop into bed and sleep.
“You never did tell me who you met in the woods,” Royden said, slipping his shirt off before unwrapping his plaid.
Oria turned and sighed softly. Even half naked her husband managed to spark her passion. And while she was too tired to discuss her trip into the woods or partake in coupling, she got the sense that that wouldn’t matter. And not because her husband would make demands, but because her own body would dictate her actions.
She folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head slightly as she asked, “Do you trust me, husband?”
“Of course I do,” he said as if insulted she should ask.
“Then why ask me what you already know?”
“You’ve grown far to wise, wife,” he accused.
“You haven’t grown wise enough,” she said with a laugh. “Did you mean to catch me in a trap? Expect not to hear the truth? Or was it that you were annoyed because I hadn’t confided this to you?”
He tore off his plaid and went to the chair near the hearth to slip off his boots.
“Do you need to think of a response or is it that I’m right that annoys you?” she asked.
“Are you looking for praise for knowing your husband so well?” he said a sharp bite to his tone and turned his annoyed expression to the flames in the hearth.
Guilt stabbed at her. They were still finding their way with each other and the remnants left of the years they’d been apart didn’t help any. They each had been left with seen and unseen scars. The unseen ones could be poked without realizing it, the pain returning to suffer them all over again.
Today an unseen scar had jabbed at her heart. Seeing Royden reunited with his da had brought both joy and heartache. It had made her miss her da terribly. And now she was regretful for whatever scar she had unintentionally opened on Royden.
Oria slipped off her garments and shoes and went to her husband and, with his knees parted just enough, she slipped between them to stand close to him.
“I didn’t mean to make you angry,” she said softly.
He turned his head and looked up at her. “You didn’t. I made myself angry.” His one hand went to rest on her hip and his stump rested on the other. “I worried day and night about everyone here. Who had survived and who hadn’t. What had been forced on those who had survived? It tore at me that I was helpless to do anything about it. I don’t want to feel that ever again. I know we were interrupted when you were about to trust me, confide in me about who you met in the woods, but I was annoyed that it had taken you time to do so. That I learned more from my da than you about Purity.”
“I didn’t want to keep anything from you, but I gave—”
“Your word, as you said, and I can’t fault you for that. And I should have taken your response for how it was meant—playful teasing. It would seem you were not only right about that but right about me being grumpy. Forgive me?”
Her heart hurt seeing the hurt in his eyes. They’d both been hurt enough. She wouldn’t let the past dictate their future.
“There’s nothing to forgive, though…” She tapped her finger to her lips for a moment. “If you feel the need to make it up to me, you could always keep that promise you made earlier.”
Royden scrunched his brow, not recalling, then suddenly he smiled. “I think I remember.”
“I remember it clearly and there has been something I’ve wanted to try,” she said.
“Whatever you want, wife,” he said, eager to couple with her any way she wanted to. He wasn’t, however, expecting her to kneel down in front of him.
“I’ve wondered what it would be like to taste you.”
Before he could say or do anything, her face disappeared between his legs and he groaned when her mouth settled on his shaft. He’d already sprung to life when she had stood naked in between his legs and it didn’t take long for him to swell in her mouth.
It didn’t take long for him to fear that he’d climax far too soon and he definitely didn’t want that.
She stopped suddenly and looked up at him eagerly, “Am I doing it right?”
A strand of her blonde hair had fallen over her eye and he reached down and brushed it away as he said, “Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
She smiled. “Good. It’s more enjoyable than I imagined.”
And once again her head disappeared between his legs and he dropped his head back against the chair and thought the same. It was beyond enjoyable. It was real and not one of the many dreams he would have, when captive, only to wake and find she wasn’t there. Not so now. She was here, wanting to taste him, enjoying the taste of him. Good God, but he was a lucky man.
Passion soared in him, chasing away all his worries and misery, and as it did, his need for his wife grew in leaps and bounds. While he could easily sit there and enjoy, he needed more. He needed to be inside her.
“Oria,” he said and when she looked up at him, her tongue tracing her lips, licking the taste of him, that was it. “Straddle me,” he ordered impatiently.
Oria didn’t protest, her need had turned to an ache that she knew only having him inside her would ease. She hurried over his lap and being as wet as she was, he slipped easily inside her and she let out a moan of satisfaction that rippled around the room.
She braced her hands on his wide shoulders and planted her feet firmly on the floor, then she began to move. The pace came naturally, starting slow so that she could enjoy feeling him slide in and out of her, then the tempo changed and she was moving faster, her moans no more a ripple but full and robust.
His hand and stump found their way to her backside and he forced the pace to change once again, fast and with a force that demanded from the both of them.
“God, wife,” Royden groaned. “You’re going to kill me, but I’ll die happy.”
“You’re not dying without me,” she said and dropped her had back and moaned loudly.
It truly felt like he was on the precipice of a tremendous fall he didn’t know if he’d be able to survive and he didn’t care. And he didn’t intend to go alone. “We’ll die together.”
Oria brought her head up, her eyes going to her husband’s. “Aye, together. Always together.”
She gripped his shoulders and rode him hard and fast and in seconds they both fell off the edge together, tumbling down and down in an endless, explosive climax that had Oria collapsing against him in a near faint.
Royden squeezed his eyes and let his groan fade away as the last sparks of his climax drifted off. That’s when he realized his wife felt much to lifeless against him.
“Oria,” he said anxiously, his hand moving up along her damp back to shake her shoulder gently. When she remained lifeless, his heart began to pound in his chest and he shook her harder. “Oria!” Relief flooded him when he heard her groan softly.
With effort and keeping her head rested on her husband’s shoulder, she looked up at him. “We’re alive?”
Royden laughed. “Aye, we’re alive.”
“I thought I’d died and gone to heaven,” she said. “It felt that great.”
He hugged her and laughed again. “On that we agree.”
He felt the same, but knew that wouldn’t last. Besides, the light, sheen of sweat covering them both would have their bodies cold in no time.
“The bed would be more comfortable,” he said.
“You inside me is when I’m most comfortable,” she said and yawned again.
It continued to startle him as to how much he loved his wife. He gently maneuvered her off him and up into his arms and carried her to bed, pulling the blanket over her.
“Where are you going?”
“To stoke the fire since once I join you, I’m not leaving your side again.”
“You better not,” Oria ordered and watched him tend the hearth, then pulled the blanket back when he got near the bed. “Hurry, I need warming.”
They were soon wrapped snug around each other and sound asleep.
Oria made her way to the cottage Wren had chosen for her and Parlan. More hands than needed helped with the repairs. Still though, Royden and his da pitched in to help. It was what made them such fine leaders. They worked side-by-side with the clan and the people appreciated it.
A day or more and the cottage would be ready. Oria would miss having the couple at the keep. This last week, having them in the keep, had been wonderful. Oria imagined it must have been similar to when Arran and Raven had been there. She had been envious of Royden’s family. It had only been her and her da since she’d been eight years. It was nice to have a larger family, which was why she hoped that Royden and she would have many bairns. The keep would always be filled with talk and laughter.
She smiled when she spotted her husband and his da working together to attach the repaired front door. He returned the smile when he saw her and not wanting to disturb him, she went and joined Wren by the side of the cottage, staring at a plot of freshly turned soil.
“I’m not sure if this size will suffice for my garden,” Wren said before turning to look at Oria.
“That would depend on how much planting room you have need of,” Oria said, though thought the plot sizeable.
“I had a large garden at home in the woods. It was difficult for me to leave it.” Wren smiled. “But it would have been more difficult to bid Parlan farewell. He helped me dig up some seedlings to bring along and I must get them planted since they won’t do well much longer in their temporary home.”
“There’s a small section in the kitchen garden where some herbs grow if you should require them and the area can be extended if needed,” Oria offered.
“Bethany offered the same,” Wren said and chuckled. “She told me she has a large patch of comfrey that she had needed more for Raven than Royden and Arran since Raven constantly got scrapes and bruises from climbing trees and doing a number of things that weren’t meant for a lass.”
“That’s Raven all right and curious as well. If she were here now she would be asking you endless questions about the different plants you use to heal.” Oria’s question stirred her own curiosity. “How did you come by all this knowledge?”
“My mum was a healer. Most women in my family were healers. I learned from a young age about the plants and all they could do to heal or to kill.”
“Did your mum have your other skills as well?” Oria asked and realizing the question wasn’t polite of her to ask, offered an apology. “Forgive me, I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No. You have every right to ask. You have opened your home, accepted me as a healer and not a witch, though I think some are still skeptical of me.”
“I doubt that will last,” Oria said. “The clan members who have returned home with you have had nothing but high praise for your skills and once the others see the truth in those words, there’ll be no more skepticism.”
“I hope so, though I am glad to have Parlan. I feel safe with him. I’ve seen what can happen to healers when fear ravages a village. It’s why my mum chose never to remain long in one clan.”
“You moved around a lot then?” Oria asked.
“We did and wisely so, until my mum grew too old to keep moving. That’s when we settled in the woods. It was where my mum and I knew I’d meet the man I was destined to love.” Wren smiled gently. “Just as you were destined to love Royden and he you.”
A huge smile lit Oria’s face. “I knew it as soon as I met him. My dad teased me about it, but I was glad he also took me seriously and made sure that one day Royden would be my husband.” She caught a strange look in Wren’s eyes. “Is there something wrong? Does something happen to Royden?”
“No. No. All is fine. You and Royden will have many children and share a long life together. My mind drifted for a moment that’s all.”
Oria breathed a sigh of relief and yet she couldn’t help but feel that Wren hadn’t been completely truthful with her. However, something had her holding her tongue and she wondered if it was because she didn’t want to know what Wren didn’t want to tell her.
“Shall we get those seedlings in the ground?” Oria offered.
Excitement replaced the strange look in Wren’s eyes. “You don’t mind helping me?”
Oria held up her hands, wiggling her fingers. “I’ve loved digging in the soil since I was young. It always made me feel so good.”
“The soil enjoys the touch hands bring to it and returns it in kind,” Wren explained. “Now I will show you how to plant with care so that the seedlings feel safe and welcome here, accepting this spot, this soil as their new home.”
Oria enjoyed the time she spent with Wren and listened and learned what Wren taught her about the plants that seemed to take well to the soil.
Wren was planting the last seedling when Royden and his da joined the two women.
“Two more days and it will be done,” Parlan announced, reaching out to help Wren to her feet.
Royden’s arm went around his wife. “Are you sure you and Wren don’t want to remain in the keep, Da? You know how cold the winter can get around here.”
“We’ll be warm enough,” his da said, sending Wren a wink. “Besides, you’re going to need the room for all those grandchildren you’re going to give me.”
“Excuse me, Royden.”
Royden turned to see what Angus wanted. “Something wrong?”
“Two more of our warriors entered the village, not in good shape at all,” Angus said.
Wren stepped forward. “I will tend them. Take me to them.”
“They’re more in need of food right now. I sent them to Bethany,” Angus said.
“Perfect. I’ll tend them in the Great Hall,” Wren said more to herself than anyone else and off she went.
“What have you yet to say, Angus?” Royden asked, seeing an unease in the man’s eyes.
“It’s Lunn and Evan who’ve returned and Lunn was quick to tell me that they spotted a troop of about twenty men headed this way and wouldn’t be far behind them.”
“Did either have any idea who they could be?” Royden asked, worried there wasn’t enough time to prepare and even if they did, they didn’t have enough men to defend against the troop.
“None at all. Lunn did say that they didn’t seem to be in a hurry and while they didn’t appear ready for battle, they did carry many weapons with them,” Angus said.
“Alert the village and make sure everyone keeps a weapon near,” Royden ordered and Angus nodded and took off.
“We’ll greet them at the entrance to the village, Da,” Royden said when he turned to his father.
“Aye, son. A wise choice not to let them enter the village,” Parlan said.
“Wait for me in the keep, Oria,” Royden said, stepping away from his wife.
“I’m coming with you,” Oria said and her husband’s hand went out to stop her from taking another step.
“No, you’re not,” he ordered firmly.
Oria pushed his hand out of the way and stepped up close to him. “You’ll not be sending me to the keep like you did the last time. If anything should happen, it’s by your side
I’ll be, and don’t dare try to tell me otherwise.” She poked him in the chest. “And don’t think that scowl on your face will change anything.”
“You’ve changed, Oria,” his da said.
“Aye, I have and for the better. Now let’s go see to our visitors,” she said and stepped around her husband.
“We’ll discuss this later, wife,” Royden said, following after her.
“Aye, unless we’re too occupied to do so,” she said and heard Parlan chuckle just before her arm was grabbed and she was yanked back against her husband.
“I’ll give you this, this time, wife, and you’ll stay close to my side unless I command otherwise,” he ordered with a fierceness that sent a shiver through her that he felt. “And we will definitely discuss this tonight.”
“You want to make a wager on that?” Oria challenged.
Her smile softened his fierceness. “No, I don’t care for the odds.”
His da slapped him on the back as he walked past him. “Wise man.”
Several men followed Royden, Oria, and Parlan to the entrance to the village.
“Penn!” he called and the man hurried to his side. “You’ll stay close and let me know if you recognize any of the men.”
“Aye, sir,” Penn said and kept to his side, though back a couple of steps.
The troop was approaching at a slow pace by the time the group took position in front of the village. Royden could see that they rode fine horses and that their garments were in good shape with not a sign of repair or wear to them, and their weapons gleamed, which meant they were well tended.
The man who led the troop rode straight and tall on his horse and as he drew closer, Royden could see the confidence and courage in his posture. He was a man who wasn’t afraid of battle. His light brown hair fell past his shoulders and one side was braided. He had intense dark eyes and fine features and he looked fit. He was not a man to take lightly and Royden would keep a sharp eye on him.
Before the troop came to a stop, Penn leaned in close to Royden and whispered, “That’s Trevor, the Beast’s right-hand man.
Pledged to a Highlander Page 19
