Chapter 9
An unusual pressure on his chest woke Zeke at first light.
It took a moment for him to acclimate himself to his surroundings and when he did he found Brenna’s head resting peacefully on his chest. He didn’t wish to disturb her, so he lay perfectly still examining the angelic quality sleep brought to her pretty face.
According to sixteenth century law, he was temporarily tied to Brenna for a year and a day. None of that mattered to him. He knew that he could return to his world as soon as he found Sara. He’d help Brenna get settled with her brother and then be on his way.
Brenna stirred and her hand joined her head on his chest, causing other parts of him that had been asleep to awaken.
He hadn’t slept with a woman in a long time.
Before Helene appeared in his life, Zeke was a happy bachelor, moving from woman to woman and never spending more time with them than was necessary.
He knew he had broken a few hearts, but he hadn’t been ready for a long-term relationship.
It took Helene to show him that he was. He wouldn’t have to worry about breaking Brenna’s heart.
She didn’t much care for him, having made that clear right from the start.
She no more wanted to be married to him than he to her.
She’d be Dougall’s problem once they reached Breaghacraig.
There was absolutely no need to worry about her.
Their parting wouldn’t cause a moment of angst for either of them.
Still, he found he liked the feel of her as she lay there next to him.
He shifted the arm lodged beneath Brenna’s shoulder and ran his fingers through the silky softness of her hair as he let his nose nuzzle the top of her head.
The scent of lavender wafted up to him, tickling his nose with its sweetness.
This is what it would be like to wake up every morning with a wife.
There was a certain peace which had settled in him as he lay there.
He had no desire to move or to leave this spot.
He wondered if he could ever be the kind of husband a woman would want.
Would he be a good father? His brain turned to thoughts of his own childhood and to his parents.
Memories of them were never good, so he turned his thoughts to his sister and his grandfather, who was no longer living.
Sara was all he had. He couldn’t lose her.
Once he returned home he decided he’d finally think about settling down.
He had a stable life now. A good business that he’d nurtured.
He had a place to live and while it wasn’t his, it felt like home.
Yes. That is what he would do. He would work on building a foundation for the rest of his life.
***
Brenna awoke with a start. There was a man in her bed and she was touching him!
“Is everything alright? Did you have a bad dream?” Zeke asked, concern evident in his voice.
“I’m fine. I’m just not used to sharing me bed. I forgot you were here.” She rolled away from him and sat up. “Is this what it’s like to be married?”
“I wouldn’t know, but I imagine it’s a lot more than just sleeping with someone.”
“Aye. Ye’re right.” The thoughts and feelings she was having were very conflicted.
Although she enjoyed the feel of Zeke’s chest beneath her cheek and it had caused her to experience an odd sensation in her belly, she was embarrassed to have found herself in such a vulnerable position.
She didn’t want Zeke to think she needed him for anything more than her escape from Castle Treun.
“We should rise. We can begin our journey to Breaghacraig as soon as we’re ready. ”
“What’s your hurry?” Zeke teased. “Are you afraid they’ll make us stay?” A crooked grin lit his face, flustering her and causing her belly to do flip flops.
“Nae. Of course not. Greer will be saddling our horses and packing our bags for us.”
“She really doesn’t like you, does she?”
“Nae. This castle has always been mine to manage. ’Tis my …
’Twas me home.” She hated the fact that she was being driven out of the only home she’d ever known, but she had a new life awaiting her and it was time to say goodbye to this one.
“Greer wants to be in charge and having me here has been a threat to her.”
“You could say the same.”
“What do ye mean?”
“I think you were threatened by her presence as well.”
Brenna could feel the anger welling up within her. “How would ye know that? Ye’ve only been here a few days. Ye should nae judge,” she yelled.
“Okay. Okay. Calm down. I wasn’t trying to insult you. It’s just that … Look, I know she’s been pretty awful to you, but I also think you felt as if you’d been replaced and had no value because of it.”
Brenna didn’t speak. He was right, but she wasn’t about to let him know that.
She began to get out of the bed, but Zeke grabbed her hand and held her there, rubbing his thumb across it, soothing her, but also stirring something else within her.
She gazed at their hands, and felt a warmth that confused her.
As Zeke continued to hold her hand, she looked into his eyes and saw sincerity.
He really was trying to help her, but why?
No one in her life had ever done anything like this for her and it only muddled things all the more in her head.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He looked at her with a funny, sad expression. “Our first fight as a married couple,” he chuckled.
“Aye. I dinnae believe it will be the last.”
“Brenna, I’ll try not to say things that upset you, but I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me when I do instead of being angry with me.”
“Why? We’ll only be together for a few more days and then ye can be or yer way.” She wanted to be angry with him. It would make their time together easier on her. She couldn’t allow herself to have thoughts and feelings about this man that would only hurt her when they parted ways.
“Those few days can be one of two things … heaven or hell. Your choice.”
“Me choice? What do ye mean by that?”
“I mean. You can choose to get along with me or not. I’ve already decided to be more careful with my words, but I’m not perfect.”
He was giving her a choice. She wasn’t used to making decisions for herself. “Alright. I prefer heaven.”
“Good.”
He released her hand and she felt regret that he had.
Zeke had touched her with his words and his respect for her.
It was best to get out of bed and put some space between them.
She had to remember this was only temporary.
The best thing she could do right now was ignore the man in her bed.
The man who made her feel things she did not want to feel.
There was no time to think about that now, though.
She had to get her things together so they could be on their way.
Zeke stayed in bed and watched her as she gathered the few belongings she wished to take along with her.
She paused momentarily as she picked up the doll her aunt had made her.
She thought about leaving it behind, but found that she couldn’t.
It meant too much to her. It was the only good memory she’d be taking along and so she quickly stuffed it into her bag.
When she was done she turned to look at him.
He is verra handsome. And unlike her Da, he didn’t seem to yell about everything.
She would do her best to be pleasant around him.
“I’m ready to go, but ye are still abed. It seems I’ve married a lazy man,” she teased. Do ye nae need to pack yer belongings?”
“The few belongings I have are ready to go. Watching you buzzing from one end of the room to the other has exhausted me. I think I need to sleep more.” He lay down and put a pillow over his head.
Brenna picked up the other pillow and slammed him with it.
He didn’t move. She tried again and this time he threw the pillow off his head and grabbing her wrestled her down to the bed.
She wriggled and squirmed beneath him as she became aware that something hard and long was poking her in the belly.
Both arms were accounted for and it didn’t feel like a leg.
She froze in place, gazing up into a chiseled face and soft blue eyes.
Those eyes were gazing down into hers with the same intensity she was feeling.
Without thinking, Brenna pulled his head down to hers and kissed him right on the lips.
She had only an instant to regret it before he kissed her back and kissed her again and again.
Kisses so sweet she never wanted them to stop.
She was new to kissing, so she followed his lead, doing everything that he did, which seemed to be right, because he seemed to be enjoying it as much as she.
She was intrigued by the hard object poking her and her hand made its way between their bodies to feel it.
Breaking away for a moment, she asked, “Does this always happen when you kiss a lass?”
“No. Only if I’m enjoying it,” he said with a low growl. “Brenna, you’ve never done this before?” He seemed surprised, then the kisses moved down her neck to her shoulder.
“Nae. You’re the first man I’ve kissed like this,” she admitted as she turned her head a bit, enjoying those kisses.
“Really! You’re pretty good at it,” he said into her neck.
She was happy to hear this. “I’m simply doing as yer doing.”
“Good plan.” He dipped his head again. Kissing her differently this time. His tongue slipped between her lips and ventured into her mouth.
The sensations Brenna was feeling were beyond belief. She stopped again. “Is this what love feels like, Zeke?”
He rolled off of her and stared at the canopy of her bed. She immediately felt the loss of his warm body. He seemed to be breathing hard and so was she. “I think we should stop. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”