Chapter 11 #2
“Poor Murdo. I feel for him,” Alexander murmured in her ear. During the discussion, he had edged closer to her. “There are things a man would hate to forget.”
“Such as?” As usual, his proximity had sent her heartbeat to a fierce drum. And he smelled so good, so fresh… Had he taken a dip in the lake Cameron called “loch” earlier?
“Why don’t I come to your room tonight and show you something that is worth remembering?”
Heat seared Gwenllian’s veins at the idea.
Only that morning, she had been wondering if Alexander would want to resume their tryst. Would he not regret his weakness?
He had hated the idea of deflowering her, she knew, but she was not a maid anymore, so they might as well make the most of the fact now.
The “irreparable” had already happened. Being bedded ten times would be no more damning than being bedded once. Fortunately, he seemed to agree.
“Yes. Come. I’ll be waiting for you,” she breathed.
“Methinks it’s time to eat,” Cameron said, taking the baby from his wife’s arms and leading the way to the main hall and the food awaiting them.
Doing her best to appear natural, Gwenllian accepted the arm Alexander had offered her.
Could people see that something had changed between them?
Was Bethan aware that her friend had seized the opportunity she had so kindly provided her?
Had last night’s activities somehow left traces on them? She hoped not.
During the meal, she could barely contain her impatience.
She was hungry, but not for food. She was waiting for the moment Alexander would join her in bed as promised.
And this time, she would not lie passively under him; she would experiment, she would be wild, she would make the most of the gift he was giving her.
Their gazes met when they both reached for the bowl of early raspberries at the same time.
The heat burning in his dark eyes was so intense that Gwenllian snatched her hand back, the fruit instantly forgotten.
She would taste something just as sweet later tonight.
Finally, after a seemingly interminable feast, the ladies retired for the night. The men were asked to stay a moment longer to give their opinion on the modifications Cameron had planned for the tower by the gate.
Cursing the delay, Gwenllian went to her little room and waited.
Thanks to her earlier sleep, she did not feel tired.
This was good because, if she had her way, there would not be much sleeping this night.
Should she keep her shift on or wait for Alexander naked?
Then she remembered his teasing of the night before. That decided her.
The shift was swiftly removed and hidden under her pillow. Tonight she would do the teasing. And she would be naked for it.
A little while later, she heard a soft knock. Heart racing at her daring, she rushed to open the door. Alexander was standing there, smiling, arms behind his back. He arched a brow when he saw her state of undress, and she forced herself not to cover bare skin.
“Waiting for someone, my lady?”
“Yes,” she answered, already breathless. No need to steal a glance at his groin to know that her surprise had had the desired effect. His eyes were burning. “You.”
His smile widening, he showed her what he had been hiding behind his back. A rope was dangling from his fingers.
“Now, you little vixen, now you can tie me up. And I’ll make sure to remember every last moment.”
“I think it’s time for me to go back home.”
Alexander was trailing an idle finger along Gwenllian’s arm, the gesture soothing and sensual all at once. As usual, after their bout of lovemaking, she had welcomed the torpor invading her body, but his sudden declaration had put an end to all thoughts of falling asleep.
Her eyes popped open.
They had been here a week, and Alexander had joined her in bed every single night.
Each time they had made love until she’d collapsed from exhaustion and pleasure combined.
Tonight, apparently, would be different.
Gwenllian raised herself onto one elbow, unable to believe the bliss she’d been experiencing was about to end.
He was thinking of leaving… And he was telling her that just on the day she had agreed with Bethan to stay at Nead an Diabhail until she and Cameron were ready to travel to Wales with Callum.
Like a fool, Gwenllian had not for a moment thought that Alexander would not wait for her.
But why would he? Come to think of it, it was a miracle he had already stayed so long. He had only come to accompany her.
“Go home?” she mumbled, though she knew she had heard correctly.
“Yes. Colin and Isabeau will be long gone by the time I get to Audley, and I have matters to attend. We left more than three weeks ago. It will be another week until I get home, slightly less if I don’t dally. The roads are still dry, I want to make the most of the good season.”
Of course. Without her by his side, he would be able to ride at the speed he wanted. She understood he had responsibilities. There was nothing she could say to stop him. Worse, she had no right to. Nevertheless, something bothered her.
“You cannot ride alone… It’s too dangerous. What if you are attacked?”
He gave an amused little snort, and she saw the absurdity of what she had just said.
On the way here, the two of them had ridden without an escort.
For all intents and purposes, he had been just as vulnerable as if he’d been alone.
Indeed, had they been attacked, she would have been useless to defend him.
But still, the idea of him being on his own made her uncomfortable.
“I won’t be alone,” he said, as if he’d heard her musings. “I was talking to your friend Sir William yesterday. He was thinking of leaving as well, so we’ll ride together in two days’ time. He lives just on the other side of Sheridan Manor, so it is ideal.”
Yes, she knew that.
“Is Alasdair going with him?”
“Cameron’s squire?” Alexander arched a brow in surprise. “I don’t think so. Why would he?”
Gwenllian shook her head. “No reason.” She hadn’t told anyone what she had seen, even if she had a feeling that Bethan and Cameron knew about the bond between the two men.
“So, you see, I’ll be quite safe. Sir William is a formidable knight, able to hold his own against two men at a time. I’ve seen him spar.”
“Yes. And so are you. I’ve seen you spar as well.”
There was nothing else she could answer.
Alexander had thought of everything, and he was not asking for her permission.
He didn’t owe her anything. They had never talked of a future, she had known from the start that this was not destined to last. Their folly, if folly it was to sleep together, was destined to end the moment they went back to their normal life.
Which would happen as soon as he left, in two days’ time.
She nestled back into his embrace, mind whirring.
“I won’t be coming with you. I told Bethan today that I would travel with her and Cameron in a few weeks’ time. I cannot change my mind now.”
It was perhaps for the best that Alexander left, because she had come to suspect that, if he let her, she might start seeing him as more than an exciting adventure. That had never been the plan.
“Yes.” The finger resumed its idle caress on her arm.
Gwenllian brought her lips to Alexander’s mouth and traced the bottom lip with her tongue, hoping to fan his desire anew. If the groan she heard was any indication, she succeeded.
“Love me, Alexander, while you can.”
It was when she used the word love that she realized it was already too late. She already saw the handsome knight as more than a pleasant diversion, a memory destined to help her deal with a lifetime of solitude.
Worse, the look in his eyes told her he might well feel the same.
“Yes. I will love you while I can.”
There was no more talking that night.