Chapter 3
Dougall moved from her side. He laid out another plaid, next to the one Helene was seated on and stretched his large frame out across it.
“Come, Helene.” He held out his hand and when she took it, pulled her down next to him. His large hands spanned her waistline, moving her so close it would be impossible for her not to feel the hardness of his wanting her.
Helene let out a small gasp and whispered something unintelligible.
“Do I frighten ye, love?” His finger traced a line from her ear to her lips.
“Nae. ’Tis just that we’ve never done this before,” her voice quivered and her hands shook.
“We’ve been so close, so many times. I promise ye, Helene, I willnae hurt ye. I wish to love ye the way ye were meant to be loved and I wish it to be so good that ye’ll be eager fer more.” His voice was low and husky. “Do ye trust me?”
“Aye.”
He could feel her apprehension waning as he kissed each of her fingers in turn and then the palm of each of her hands. “Let me love ye, Helene.”
“Aye.” She closed her eyes.
Watching her this way, his sweet, innocent Helene, Dougall felt a great responsibility to do this right.
“Let me guide ye, love. Ye’ll nae regret it.
” He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any woman.
She was perfection in his eyes and he would enjoy watching her as he gave her the pleasure he knew she yearned for.
His rigid staff throbbed with needing her.
His sure fingers unlaced her bodice, revealing a thin shift.
He cupped her breasts in his hands, thumbs stroking pebbled nipples that strained against the gauzy fabric.
Dougall smiled as a sensual moan escaped her lips.
“Do ye like that, love? Do ye wish me to continue?”
“Mmmm …” Another passion filled moan.
A deep, soft chuckle erupted from his throat at her response.
He moved his hands up to her shoulders, drawing the shift down, lower and lower until her sweet breasts were revealed to him.
He took one and then the other into his mouth as he slowly and thoroughly sucked, nipped and licked them, all the while keeping an eye on Helene, who was now moving against him, fingers entwined in his hair, holding his head fast.
Lifting her, he positioned her atop him, where she moved against his shaft.
He was the one to moan this time. She smiled down at him as he undid the belt that held his kilt in place.
Her hands fumbled with the yards of fabric he was wrapped in.
Little did she know that each glancing touch to his rod was causing him agonizing pleasure.
Between the two of them the kilt was finally out of their way and Helene’s gaze was now travelling here and there to avoid what was so obviously standing at attention between her legs.
“Helene, look at me,” Dougall commanded.
When she did, he took her face in his hands and brought her lips down to meet his.
Her hands ran across his chest as his tender, slow kisses explored her velvety warmth.
Her tongue met his and welcomed him in, where they mingled together.
Her taste was sweet and sultry and he wanted more.
Gathering the folds of her skirt, he pulled them up and out of the way.
He wanted to feel her womanly warmth against his skin as he plundered her mouth and set his hands to work touching and discovering the places that had been forbidden to him in the past. Each caress was met with the satisfying sounds of Helene’s pleasure.
His fingers gently probed her slick, womanly center as she closed her eyes and moved over them.
Flipping Helene onto her back, Dougall removed the rest of her clothing before laying atop her.
His large frame covered her easily and not wishing to crush her, he propped himself on his elbows to gaze down on the beauty who trusted him enough to allow this most intimate of moments.
She reached up, coiling her arms around his neck and shyly raised her eyes to look into his.
“Kiss me more, Dougall,” she whispered.
“With pleasure, love.”
Their lips met again as their bodies pressed and rubbed against each other. The chill of the night air against their sweat slicked bodies was hardly noticed; they were consumed with each other.
Helene seemed braver, as her hand reached between them to grasp his swollen manhood and Dougall gasped in surprised pleasure. Her sweet smile as she watched him was not a match for the seductive gaze she aimed his way.
“Helene,” he whispered on quickening breath.
The little minx was a quick study, stroking him and caressing him to the brink of release.
“Not yet, love. We must go on this journey together.” He moved her hand away, positioning himself to breach the walls of her fortress.
In small increments, so as not to hurt her, he pushed further and further inside of the liquid heat that would lead them on their passage to pleasure.
Together in their own little world, they moved together, each wanting to please the other more than themselves.
Their pace quickened, breath coming in gasps until they both reached their climax, laying satisfied and exhausted together.
Dougall reached for the plaid and pulled it up to cover them both from the night air, which had suddenly become apparent.
Helene rested her head on his chest and her hand on his belly.
He was content knowing he had pleased her and that they were now connected in a way that no one could take away or destroy.
He tenderly kissed the top of her head before closing his eyes and thanking the stars above for his good fortune. He truly was the luckiest man alive.
***
Helene lay snuggly in Dougall’s arms, feeling safe and secure.
She wanted to stay there forever. Smiling and red faced at the thought of their lovemaking, she burrowed closer to Dougall, who turned to face her and pulled her further in to the protection of his body.
The fire crackled and warmed, but she hadn’t noticed it until this very moment.
It was as if they had been sheltered in a cocoon of love and desire, which burst open into the quiet sounds of a woodland forest at night.
Dougall had been a kind and thoughtful lover.
This being her first time, she had been frightened, although she tried not to show it, and Dougall took care not to hurt her.
He took his time and loved her the way she’d always known he would.
This was a night she would relive in her mind over and over again.
She loved Dougall so much—she hoped he knew how much.
He was her handsome highland warrior—fierce on the battlefield, but always soft and sweet with her.
The journey that lay ahead of them was one filled with uncertainty in Helene’s mind.
She hoped Dougall’s family accepted her.
He was to be laird one day and they may have objection to the fact that she was a lowly servant.
She’d tried not to think about that too much, but it had weighed heavily on her mind for some time before he’d asked her to be his wife.
She thought that may have been the reason it had taken him so long to ask her and now that she’d given herself to Dougall, all those doubts were back.
Had this been a mistake? Should she have waited to be sure they would wed.
No. How could sharing yourself with the one you loved be a mistake?
She did her best to calm her racing thoughts as Dougall slept peacefully beside her, seemingly without a care in the world.
Perhaps if she closed her eyes she, too, could sleep.
***
Dougall had Helene safely nestled against his body as the first rays of morning sunlight peeked through the trees. He was awake and so was his desire. He gently coaxed Helene out of her sleep with kisses to her neck and shoulder.
“Mmmm …” she mumbled, turning to face him. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, me love.” Dougall brushed an errant hair from her eyes so he could better see into the beautiful blue depths of them as they gazed lovingly back at him.
He wanted her again this morning. How could he resist? She was so lovely and so willing. Helene made the first move, surprising him, but never one to get left behind, Dougall joined in, kissing her throat and chest and working his way to her breasts.
A sound, not too far off, caught his attention and he stopped to listen. He felt Helene stiffen in his arms and he wished to put her at ease.
“Logan, if ’tis ye, come back in a while.” Dougall called out.
The noise continued and he recognized the sound as that of two or perhaps three horses headed their way.
He sprang to his feet, wrapping himself in his plaid, while helping Helene cover herself completely with the one they’d slept on.
“Hurry. Riders are approaching.” He grabbed her clothes and guided her behind the largest tree he could find. “Stay here and get dressed.”
He went back to the fire, which he stirred and added more wood to.
Where is Logan? He was sure he would be along shortly, but in the meantime he would have to deal with these unexpected guests on his own.
He peered in the direction the sounds came from and could make out three figures on horseback heading his way.
They looked familiar to him, although he couldn’t be sure until they got closer.
He brandished his sword and stood ready and waiting for whatever this morning was bringing.
The center rider, spoke first. “Dougall! ’Tis good to see ye,” a woman’s voice said. She must have noted his confusion, because she said, “’Tis I, yer wee sister Brenna.”
“Aye. And yer wee brothers as well,” the lad on her left added with a chuckle.
“What are ye doing here?” Dougall couldn’t keep the shock from his voice.
“Da sent us to see what was taking Logan so long. He wished to be sure he’d found ye.” Dougall was amazed at how much his brothers had grown in the past five years. The youngest, Liam had to be four and ten, while Nab must be six and ten. They dismounted and walked his way.
Brenna left her horse and hurried to Dougall for a hug. “I’ve missed ye, brother. Why have ye been away so long?” she asked. Brenna was five years older than Nab.
“I have been needed at Breaghacraig,” he lied. He didn’t wish to tell them that since their mother had passed on, he had no desire to see their Da. “Where’s Fingall?”
“He’s busy at home,” Brenna said.
Fingall was a few years younger than Dougall and had always been more interested in the lassies of the castle than in anything else.
“Where’s Logan?” Brenna glanced around her. “And who’s that hiding behind the tree.” She pointed in Helene’s direction.
“Helene,” Dougall called. “Ye can come out. ’Tis only me sister, Brenna, and me brothers.” He walked towards the tree, just as she emerged to take his hand. “This be Helene. She’s me betrothed.”
All three glanced back and forth, appearing astonished at this news, before Brenna came forward. “’Tis pleased I be to meet ye, Helene. I be Brenna. This is me brother Liam and me brother Nab.”
Helene nodded to them and quietly stood by Dougall’s side.
“Ye still havenae told me where Logan is,” Brenna said.
“If ye look behind ye, I believe ye’ll see him headed this way with our breakfast.” Dougall spied Logan carrying a large trout, which he’d skewered on a stick.
“Good morn to ye,” Logan called. “We have company. Where did ye come from?”
“I believe ye ken where we came from ye big oaf,” Brenna said.
“Ye wound me, fair Brenna,” Logan teased.
“Aye, well me Da willnae be too happy to hear that ye’ve been wasting yer time fishing instead of getting back home.”
“A man must eat,” Logan said as he set the fish over the fire to cook. “Are ye nae hungry? Because if ye arenae, there will be more fer me.”
The lads left their horses and made themselves comfortable around the fire. “We’re verra hungry.”
“Well then, me portion has just diminished greatly.” Dougall watched his friend make a comically sad face as his brothers laughed. Brenna on the other hand had little patience for Logan’s antics and she let them all know with a scowl.
Brenna sat next to Helene and did nothing to cover the fact that she was examining her from head to toe. For her part, Helene self-consciously fixed her hair and her dress.
“How long have ye known me brother?” Brenna asked.
“Brenna mayhap ye should save yer questions fer later,” Dougall suggested, receiving an angry glare from his wee sister.
“’Tis fine, Dougall. I dinnae mind,” Helene sweetly replied. “We’ve known each other for a many, many years.”
“Do ye love him?”
“Brenna!” Dougall wasn’t sure what she was up to, but he thought her questions rude.
“I do,” Helene answered. “Verra much.”
Brenna nodded her head, then narrowed her eyes and aimed her comments at her brother. “Why have ye nae told us of this? Why did ye nae send word?” She seemed angry with him and he wasn’t sure what to attribute it to.
“Me relationship with Helene is none of yer business. Do ye ken? Enough of yer bothersome questions, lass. Eat, so we can be on our way.” Dougall’s blood was boiling.
If they could expect more of the same upon their arrival at Castle Treun, then he’d made a grievous error in bringing Helene along with him.
Liam, Nab and Logan sat silently eating their fish. It was apparent they wished no part of this conversation. His sister, however, continued to stare daggers at him.