Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“ Y e are mine,” Keane growled, pulling at her skirts.
While he had not planned on devouring her after their training session, Keane had become increasingly aroused, watching the soft flesh of Elsie’s breasts bounce at each step she took toward him. He had been as patient as he possible, but he could wait no longer.
Besides, had he not been injured, he would have fulfilled her wish by now. His wound, while still not fully healed, felt far better, and much less painful than it had several days ago.
Now, lying beside her, he continued teasing her nipple with his tongue, while slowly tugging her skirts up past her knees. Perhaps, under any other circumstances, Elsie would have begun protesting by now, but she was far too busy panting, a light moan trickling out of her throat as she already writhed with anticipation of what lay ahead.
“Open up fer me, little one,” he said, gently pushing her legs apart.
She did so willingly, allowing his fingers to slide up her inner thigh. His touch was light and slow, teasing her until she groaned.
“Keane. Please.”
She had already experienced this part. She knew what was to come, and was eager to feel that same delight and ecstasy again. But he wanted to take his time, to make her feel every single sensation, to heighten the experience so pleasure would be even more intense.
Reaching further and further, he felt the warmth of her welcoming him in, like a fire on a cold night. Her legs parted even further, as though that action might hurry him along. It didn’t. He was in control now and he wanted her to know it.
Reaching the apex of her thighs, his stomach clenched at her slickness, warm and welcoming. Beside him, Elsie gasped, her arms pushing against his hand as he slowly stroked the most intimate parts of her, feeling her aching nub beneath his fingertips.
“Hmm,” she moaned, over and over again, as he caressed her there, while still massaging her nipple with his tongue.
Her hips rose to meet his hand, but he pushed her down again, keeping the pressure just right, eliciting a soft whine from her throat as she climbed under his touch.
“Oh. Oh. Oh,” she cried again, her breathing erratic as she panted.
“Ye drive me so wild, little one,” Keane growled, feeling the ache in his groin. He was desperate to have her, but not yet. First, he wanted to bring her to a place she had never been, soaring heights, destinations unexplored.
She was close now, her body taking her over like she was possessed, her throat tightening, her pitch getting higher and higher the more he moved. And then, sensing she was on the very edge, he added more pressure and moved a little quicker.
“Oh, God. Oh, God,” she cried, not caring how loud she was.
But her unashamed expressions only aroused him more, and his manhood pressed tightly against his clothing. Elsie held her breath for what felt like forever, and then a sound he had never heard from her before burst from her lips and her body shuddered under his touch. Easing his touch, he made certain she felt every single sensation, but when he was sure she had reached those unexplored places, he pulled away from her and released himself.
Pulling her skirts higher, Keane positioned himself above her. She gazed up at him, her cheeks flushed, and still panting from her orgasm.
“I’m nae done with ye yet. Now I will give ye what ye truly desire.”
She nodded, looking at him eagerly.
“This may hurt for a short while, little one, but I will be gentle,” Keane said tenderly.
He had dominated her already, and he would again, only in a totally different way. As much as he desperately wanted to plunge himself into her welcoming softness, he didn’t have it in him to hurt her. This time, he would be gentle. The next time, not so much.
Entering her slowly, his body shuddered at the ecstasy he already felt as she stretched to accommodate him. She was warm, and soft, and welcoming, and it took all his strength not to lose control.
“Och, Elsie,” he growled, gazing down at her, her eyes wide and wanting.
“Please, Keane. Please.”
His hips moved back and forth, a slow and steady pace, stretching her little by little. As much as he wanted to let his head fall back and sink into this euphoria, this time was special, and he kept his eyes on her, watching the tiny reactions to him, the pleasure, the surprise, the newness of it all.
His thrusts grew deeper and faster, and somewhere along the way, Elsie winced, grabbing him tightly. Yet her pain seemed to morph into her pleasure, for her eyes begged him for more. He was eager to give it, and each thrust filled her, deeper and deeper. His arms began to shake, he felt pressure building up his back, and his thighs trembled as the ecstasy took him over.
“Och, little one,” he growled, panting, and yet, not taking his eyes off her once.
But he could hold back no longer. He needed her. He needed to lose himself in this woman, this precious savior who had broken down his walls. They now moved together as one, their souls entwined. There was no separation between his spirit and hers, and from this day onward, it was the way Keane wanted them to be. From then until forever. Two bodies, one soul, intertwined for eternity, in that life and the next.
The tension that swirled around every part of him hovered on the very edge, building to a crescendo he could neither control, nor wanted to stop. This is what they both wanted. The seal that would bind them forever.
Suddenly, he remembered his mother. Her pale face, her darkened eyes, her dried lips. And the very second her soul had left her body. A flash of horror crashed through him as he gazed down at Elsie. He couldn’t lose her like that. He just couldn’t. He had only just found her.
And yet, nor could he stop what was about to happen. Feeling the rush take him over, he quickly pulled out of her, and with a roar that carried across the entire glen, Keane stilled, his every muscle tensing as he emptied himself onto the grass beside her.
The moment was filled with conflict, for Elsie looked confused and disappointed. Keane himself felt as though he had broken a connection between them, and yet, was that not better than losing her altogether?
Falling down beside her, he gazed into her eyes. “Ye dinnae ken what ye dae tae me, little one.”
Elsie smiled, a soft color rising on her cheeks. She had been a little bashful the last time he had pleasured her. Now, she gazed back at him with an intensity he had never seen from her before. He felt a sensation deep in his chest, and a strange spinning in his stomach.
“Thank ye,” she whispered.
But Keane shook his head. “Ye never have tae thank me, Elsie. It is me pleasure and privilege. It will always be me pleasure.”
The two lay there for a long while, without speaking. They didn’t need to. Their shared gaze as they lay there, feeling like the only two people in the entire world, expressed more than any words could. Never in his life had Keane experienced such a connection with another person on such a deep level. It shook him to the very core.
I love this lass. I am in love with this lass.
Sometime later, they made their way back to the castle. They were still a little way out when a guard came riding toward them.
“Me laird,” he said, bringing his horse to a halt. “Laird Munro is at the gate.”
Keane glanced at Elsie. Her mouth had fallen open in astonishment.
“What is he daeing here?” she gasped.
“I think that much is obvious. But I have nae feud with yer faither. We should hear what he has tae say.”
Elsie looked worried, but Keane was not as concerned. He and Elsie were married, and there was nothing Laird Munro could do about it. Turning back to the guard, he said, “Let him enter. We will be there shortly.”
“Aye, me laird,” the guard said, turning back and pushing his horse to a gallop.
“Dinnae worry, little one. Ye belong tae me, now,” Keane said as they continued on.
He reached out his hand, offering it to her. She smiled then, reaching over and placing her hand in his. He squeezed it gently, before letting it drop again.
With Elsie close by his side, Keane entered the gates. He eyed the laird who stood waiting beside his horse and the several men who had accompanied him. Not fazed by the man’s scowling look, Keane returned a glowering gaze of his own.
Laird Roland Munro was nearing middle age, and yet, he looked as healthy as a horse. Like his daughter, his hair was black as a raven, sitting a little above his broad shoulders. His strong arms were crossed over his puffed-out chest, only exaggerating his evident frustration and annoyance.
But Keane would not hurry for the man. Once he and Elsie pulled their horses to a stop, he jumped from his beast, and took his time to walk over to Elsie’s horse. Taking his wife by the waist, he gently lifted her down to stand beside him. Gazing down at her, he smiled.
“I am right here beside ye,” he whispered, before lowering his lips to hers and giving her a tender kiss.
The embrace was partly to fortify her before she was forced to face her father. But it also served another purpose. He wanted Laird Munro to understand a very important fact. Elsie was now his. No matter his reasons for being there, the laird would be leaving this castle with the same amount of people he had arrived with.
They approached the older man, hand in hand. Keane noted the laird’s change in expression, for no longer did he look angry. With his mouth gaping open, he now looked appalled.
“God’s teeth, Elspeth. Look at the state o’ ye,” her father barked, gesturing to her disheveled attire. Keane felt Elsie flinch beside him. “Have ye forgotten already, that ye are a lady?”
Before Elsie had a chance to even open her mouth in reply, Keane swiftly stepped in.
“She may well be yer daughter, me laird. But she is now me wife,” Keane spat, his anger rising by the laird’s unnecessary humiliation in front of everyone present. “Ye will thus refrain from speaking tae her in such a manner. Ye are a guest in me home, and ye will act accordingly.”
Duly reprimanded, Laird Munro looked a little taken aback at Keane’s words. It was clear he was also annoyed at the way Keane had spoken to him, and yet, he did not retaliate, though his face did redden with anger.
Gesturing toward the castle, Keane continued, “Shall we? I am certain ye and yer men have travelled far and are in need o’ some refreshments.”
Munro nodded curtly, waiting for Keane to lead the way.
Keane then turned to one of his men. “Be certain tae mak’ sure these men are taken care o’.”
“Aye, me laird,” he replied.
Only after that did Keane turn toward the castle. With Elsie’s hand still firmly held in his, he led Laird Munro inside. Reaching the drawing room, he opened the door and gestured for the older man to enter. Once inside, however, he was once more surprised at the man’s audacity.
“And now, I will speak tae me daughter alone,” Munro said gruffly.
Elsie squeezed Keane’s hand tightly.
Dinnae leave me alone with him. Please dinnae leave me, Keane. Please.
Keane stiffened at hearing the intensity behind her desperate plea, for her thoughts were loud and clear. It was the first time he had experienced her that way. From the moment he had snatched her from the chapel, she had expressed herself as a woman with little doubt. Feisty, stubborn, and determined. Now, however, he sensed the woman beneath that. The broken, unloved daughter of a callous man.
Even before hearing her thoughts, he had had no intention of leaving her alone. She was his wife now, and he would protect her from any threat, albeit her own father.
“I think I made mesel’ perfectly clear just a few moments ago, me laird,” Keane replied abruptly. “ Lady Mackay is me wife, and ye will speak tae her in me presence, or ye willnae speak tae her at all.”
Roland appeared incensed at this remark, for his face grew even redder than it had earlier. Clenching his fists as tightly as his jaw, the man nearly shook with anger. Looking from Keane to Elsie and back again, however, he realized his position. Huffing in resignation, he spat, “Fine.”
He aimed his frustration and anger at Elsie and glowered at her. “I am more than disappointed by yer deceit, Elspeth. Tae plan this behind me back was a dreadful disloyalty. Neither mesel’ nor Laird Gunn can believe ye have taken things so far, simply tae get out o’ this union.”
Elsie shook her head and looked confused. “I dinnae ken what ye are talking about, Faither. What plan?”
“Och, dinnae give me that innocent look,” he snorted. “Ye think I dinnae ken that ye kent that this was going tae happen. That ye were in on it from the beginning.”
“Indeed, I wasnae,” Elsie cried.
“Liar!” her father bellowed.
Keane then lunged toward Munro, anger raging through him as he stood with his face only inches away. “I willnae tell ye again,” Keane barked. “Ye willnae speak tae me wife like that.”
“And what are ye going tae dae about it?” Munro spat back, pushing his shoulders back challengingly.
“Dinnae push me, Munro. Ye dinnae want tae find out the answer tae that question.”
“Ye dinnae scare me, son,” he spat patronizingly. “I’ve dealt with better men than ye afore, and I will deal with ye the same.”
“Stop it!” Elsie cried, pushing herself between them. “Please. Stop it.”
Keane and Laird Munro were now both seething. The only thing stopping them from lunging at each other was his delicate and beautiful wife. Bravely, she stood between them, her hand on each of their chests.
“This is nonsensical,” she panted, her fear and worry obvious. “Ye are both grown men, and fighting like this will solve naething at all.”
Munro suddenly took a step back, looking down at his daughter with disgust. He lifted his glare back at Keane. “She’s right,” he growled. “There is only one way tae solve this. I challenge ye tae a duel.”
“Nay!” Elsie cried.
“Quiet!” her father barked before looking back at Keane. “If I win, ye will release Elspeth.”
Keane shook his head. “I willnae fight ye, nor will I release me wife. What kind o’ man dae ye think I am?”
“A coward, obviously,” Munro smirked back. “Just like yer faither afore ye.”
“Dinnae speak about me faither,” Keane bellowed, launching forward once more. But Elsie still remained between them, and for fear of hurting her, he stopped himself.
“If she is so important tae ye,” Munro tossed a dismissive nod toward his daughter, “why dinnae ye prove it? Or are ye too worried ye’d lose? Is that it?”
The man’s goading smirk sent Keane into a rage, and unable to help himself, he barked, “Afraid o’ an old man like ye? Ye think too much o’ yersel’. Fer a certainty I’ll duel ye, if even tae teach ye some humility.”
“Keane,” Elsie whispered with desperation.
Casting a glance to Elsie, he said, “It’s fine, me love.” He then turned his growl back to Munro. “But I tell ye this now. If I win, when I win,” he corrected himself, “ye will leave us be. Ye willnae return here unless Elsie requests it, and Laird Gunn will be out o’ Elsie’s life forever. Are we clear?”
Laird Munro glared at him for a long second, clearly considering his proposal. At first, Keane wasn’t sure the laird was going to agree, but eventually, he nodded. “Fine. If I win, I tak’ me daughter with me, if I lose, I will leave.”
“Good,” Keane spat.