Chapter Eight
His hard body lured her touch. Eva shimmied closer to him and his tempting heat.
She set her palm on his naked chest and pressed her lips on his because she wanted his kiss.
Whatever had happened between them on their wedding night was forgotten.
Eva couldn’t help but be drawn to him; he was too attractive to deny.
She longed to caress him, to feel him against her, to receive him with open arms.
Breckin cuddled her face with his hand and kissed her, his lips continually brushing against hers. Desire swarmed within her. Eva pulled back and shifted her gown from over her body. When she was about to remove her chemise, he stilled her hand.
“Keep it on. I find it appealing on ye.”
His husky words made her grin. “Then I shall leave it.”
Breckin removed his garments and left nothing on.
He lay beside her and stared into her eyes.
She liked the way his eyes smoldered when he wanted to kiss her.
Eva held out her arms and he rolled to lean against her.
His mouth found hers and they kissed with such passion that she moaned with delight.
There was something about the way he kissed her that spurred her passion.
Any hesitation she’d had scattered away with the breeze.
His hands roamed her body, teasing, caressing, and massaging her.
She, in turn, glided her hands over his muscular arms, chest, and torso, until her fingers became entangled in the strands of his hair.
He was well-bodied, and though she should fear the strength of him, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her.
Breckin eased her onto her back and he reached to touch her femininity.
With skillful touches, he teased her womanly nub until she rasped for breath. The sensations swarmed her and her body gave way to his desirous caresses. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the lightness of him sliding his fingers against her and the pleasure he created.
Eva didn’t know what came over her but her body erupted in a mass of light and twinges as if she left herself.
She kept herself from squealing in the delight of it, and yet, panted with desire.
When her breath calmed and she could think again, she opened her eyes and stared at him. He flashed a quick grin at her.
“What did you just do to me?”
“What I should have done on our wedding night.” Breckin chuckled and beamed pridefully. “I need ye to touch me, lass.” He pressed her hand on his erection and groaned a sound of pleasure. With his eyes closed, he tilted his head back with abandon.
Eva was fascinated with the heat and hardness of his manhood.
She clasped him and used her fingers to slide along his silky shaft.
He moaned and seemed to enjoy her touch.
His manly neck was on display and she kissed his skin, sliding her mouth over the softness of his throat under prickly whiskers which vibrated her lips with his groans.
Breckin shifted back and dislodged himself from her hold. “That is enough of that, lass. Ye make it too easy to lose control.”
“Do you want to continue—” Eva wasn’t sure if she should voice her question.
“Hell, aye, I do.” Breckin leaned over her and pressed kisses on her face. “I vow to ye, lass, ye will not feel pain this time, only pleasure.”
He eased into her and she gasped at the sensation of him there between her legs.
Eva held him as he pressed onward. When he rocked against her, her mouth hung open in awe at the twinges permeating her body.
Eva’s muscles tingled and she couldn’t get close enough to him.
She wrapped her legs around his hips and met his thrusts.
Soon, her breath came heavy as she panted with desire in unison with Breckin.
The climax of their joining hit them at the same time and they groaned in surrender, their moans blended in euphoria for them both.
Eva lay lethargically beneath him until he shifted to her side.
How had she been so wrong about joining with him?
She could have laughed at her ignorance because she’d enjoyed every moment of their second encounter.
Breckin lay back and ran his hands through his hair.
He groaned and continued to breathe heavily.
She kissed him and used her hands to caress his body, telling him that he’d pleased her.
The sensual act between them was over. Eva shivered as the evening air chilled her. She hurriedly retrieved her gown and pulled it over her. “’Tis cold this night.”
He reached for his tartan and handed it to her. “It is always cold in the Highlands. Best get used to it. Keep this. It shall warm ye. Ye might want to get heavier garments when we reach home.”
She grinned at the thought of having to purchase new, warmer gowns. Eva closed her eyes contently and sleepiness overtook her. She felt Breckin cuddle beside her and wrap his arm protectively around her waist. She felt safe and cared for and, with a soft moan, gave over to her need to dream.
A bang startled her awake in the morning. Groggily, Eva peered at Breckin who stood by the fire. He dropped a large log into the embers and the dried wood didn’t take long to ignite. Flames licked the air and sent cherished heat to her.
“Sorry, lass, did I awaken ye? We should eat and be on our way. ’Tis only a few leagues until we reach my land.
” He turned his back to her and continued to attend to the fire and the meat—another rabbit—that cooked on the stick.
As he knelt, the fabric of his tartan rose and she peered at the naked backs of his knees and lower thighs.
Bulges of muscle met her eye and she smiled at the thought that she’d married a well-bodied man.
“Are ye going to continue to stare at me and laze about or rise?” He raised a brow as if he wanted her to get moving.
Eva groaned at the soreness of her body and throbbing aches. She stretched and rolled to her side. “Aye, I am getting there.” After grabbing her cloak, she pulled it around her and folded Breckin’s tartan. She approached and handed it to him. “Here, my thanks.”
“Nay, lass, keep it. It will keep ye warm on the ride.” He removed the meat and used his dagger to cut it into small pieces.
They ate in silence. She pulled the remaining bread from her satchel and offered him a piece.
The awkwardness between them brought on a shyness.
Eva was uncertain what to say, if anything, about what happened between them the night before.
Instead, she collected her things and helped to gather his belongings while he kicked dirt onto the fire to ensure it was out.
She ambled like an old woman toward the horses. “Can we walk a little?”
“I would rather we make haste and leave Stewart land. ’Tis only a few leagues, lass, until we reach my border. We should reach it by mid-day.”
Eva moaned at the thought. “My bottom is sore, which is why I always disliked riding horses.” Her face heated at her admission.
“Are ye blushing, lass? If ye need to ride with me…”
“’Tis not because of last eve but from riding these past days. My muscles ache and I am not sure I can withstand another moment of riding, let alone until mid-day.” She wanted badly to rub her aching backside and inner thighs but resisted.
“When we leave Stewart land, we can walk. Until then, ride with me.” Breckin secured their belongings to her horse and then mounted his.
He threw his hand down at her and she took it.
With a yank, he propelled her upward and she shifted her body so that her legs were to one side. As she leaned against him, she relaxed.
As Eva swallowed, she noticed that her throat hurt.
She hoped she wasn’t coming down with a malady.
But throughout the morning, her condition worsened and she began to sneeze repeatedly, so much so that she needed to sniffle, and worse, her eyes watered.
As she peered ahead at the view, she wiped at them to abate the filmy tears.
The Highlands were beautiful even if they were somewhat barren and blurry. Hills led from one to another with valleys between great mountains. A thick fog rolled over the top of a large mound, almost ethereal in its movement. She was enthralled with the sight of it.
“Behold, Buchanan land,” he said in a whisper by her ear.
“Your land is beautiful, Breckin.”
“Aye, ’tis and I am gladdened to be home.
The air seems clearer here and the water pristine.
Some fairy pools lie on our land and the waterfalls are breathtaking.
When I have time, I shall take ye to see the beauty that is now your home.
” He tightened his hold on her when the horse pitched slightly as they rode down a hillside.
When they reached the bottom, ahead stretched as far as the eye could see were blackened tree trunks.
Eva craned her neck so she could discern where the trees began and ended but they seemed to go on in a line that crossed the land.
It was as if the tree trunks were warriors standing guard with outstretched swords that reached the sky.
“What happened here? Was there a fire? Was your land touched by a catastrophe?” she asked because it appeared the trees had suffered damage and were scorched to the bark.
Breckin shook his head. “Nay, lass, ’tis a warning.”
“A warning for whom?” She was saddened to see the pines burned to their trunks. Blackened limbs rose in the air, seemingly reaching for the sky and the scent of burnt wood had long since dissipated. At least, she couldn’t detect an odor now.
“A warning to whoever tries to cross our borders. We lit the trees on fire to blacken them on purpose to frighten those seeking to provoke us. It is a blunt warning that from that stretch of trees, lies Buchanan land. None cross it without retribution.”
Eva moaned and closed her eyes against the unsightly view of the poor trees. That they hoped to instill fear in people who traveled the land saddened her. Did the Buchanans get along with anyone? Apparently not, and it seemed that they didn’t want to.
She shook and a shiver overtook her body. “Breckin, I’m cold.”
He slowed his horse and removed the tartan he wore around his shoulders, then reached behind him and held it in her direction with a light shake.
“Here, put another tartan around ye. ’Tis not long now.
” Breckin helped her cover herself and then kissed her head.
“Ye are hot. Are ye burning with fever?” He deliberately kept his lips on her forehead and pressed the back of his hand on her face. “Aye, ye are.”
Eva swallowed. She’d thought she might be feverish. With a nod, she moaned. “I need to rest. Wake me when we reach your holding?”
“Aye, lass. Rest against me. We have only a league to go and should reach home soon.”
She closed her eyes and moaned. What she wanted was a warm bed, a heavy blanket, and something warm to soothe her throat.
She couldn’t remember the last time she was ill but somehow she had come down with an illness on their trek.
Perhaps at court, or perhaps from her foray into Edinburgh.
It mattered not. The point was, she was ill.
Eva pressed herself against Breckin, hoping to feel some of his warmth. She kept her eyes closed and drifted to a lethargic slumber.