Chapter 11
Moira arched her neck back as Niall kissed it.
She closed her eyes and let the pleasure wash over her.
It seemed strange to be doing this in a place other than a bedchamber, where these kinds of things should have been hidden away and kept secret, and yet it also felt freeing to be out in nature, to expose their flesh and be in their natural state.
Not that Moira’s thoughts were on anything like this, for her mind was preoccupied with the overwhelming sensations that coursed through her body.
Niall’s hands drifted down and started playing with her beneath her skirt.
She welcomed the touch. He kissed her hard, keeping her pinned against the tree.
The rough bark pressed into her back, but she didn’t care. Gripped with fervent desire, Niall pulled her top down and kissed her chest and small, round breasts. She gasped as his teeth nipped against her skin, pain and pleasure blurring into one amazing thrill.
Moira thought she would be better prepared for the sensations this second time, but they still shocked her in their intensity. Sweat prickled her temples and trickled down her cheeks. She kissed Niall hard.
Their every movement was fueled by the force of their emotion. Their low, grunting gasps filled the glade, breaking the peace of nature. Niall’s fingers worked their magic inside her, and Moira’s eyes rolled into the back of her head.
As it turned out, that was just the beginning.
Niall sank to his knees. He still kept her skirt hoisted up, and his head disappeared underneath.
Then, Moira felt a wondrous sensation trembling between her legs.
His tongue lapped and licked and teased, and his lips kissed the damp wetness, stirring more deep feelings within her.
It felt as though a storm whirled inside her, as though she was completely at the mercy of these sensations.
Her body was alive in a way it had never been before and the pulsing, throbbing feelings grew and grew until they exploded out of her and left her dazed and delirious.
Her mouth hung open as she looked down at him; he pulled his head away and glanced up at her.
She found herself eager to do the same to him.
Beckoning for him to rise, she turned him around and mirrored his movements, pulling his clothes away as she sank to her knees.
She wrapped her hand around his manhood, daunted by the size.
She held the shaft in her fingers and then leaned forward, lightly pressing her lips against the hot, taut skin before letting it sink deeper into her mouth.
She watched the tremors of pleasure ripple upon his face as she brought her head back and forth, letting her saliva drip over him. Scorching heat filled her mouth, and she knew that she would never be able to get enough of him.
She rested one hand against his thigh as she made love to him with her mouth.
He groaned and grunted, and how she loved his appreciation.
His body tensed and she could feel something ready to storm out.
He pulled her head away and wanted her to rise again.
She obeyed his wishes, submitting to his strength.
With a primal growl, he pinned her against the tree again, hooking her legs up so they wrapped around his waist. Then she felt him inside her.
Trapped between him and the tree was possibly the sweetest place to be.
She clung to him tightly while his hips moved in a fast and frantic motion, as though he couldn’t contain himself any longer.
He kissed her and buried himself against the nape of her neck as he made love to her.
She welcomed it all, squealing loudly as the vibrant sensations burst inside her.
Panting, they pressed their heads against each other and took a few moments to steady themselves.
Then, they laughed. Niall extricated himself, and the skirt dropped down Moira’s legs again.
She staggered down and her knees almost buckled.
It would take her a little while to gather her strength.
The same seemed to be true for Niall, who leaned against the tree and breathed deeply.
Moira wiped sweat from her brow, and they shared a secret smile again.
As the delirious feelings dissipated, Moira started to feel self-conscious about having made love in the forest, although she wasn’t sure why she should feel that way since what she and Niall shared was natural and beautiful.
It was even more than that; it was sacred.
And yet she still worried about the spirits. Had they seen her? Had they judged her?
She didn’t voice these thoughts to Niall, of course, because she knew he would just scoff and say that she had been spending too much time with Isobel. But after what happened with Jamie, nothing was certain any longer.
“That’s just about the best game I’ve ever played,” Niall said once he had gathered himself. Moira laughed and hugged him, kissing him lightly.
“Well, I’m sure we can play it again, as often as ye like,” she said. They shared an embrace and looked into each other’s eyes.
Niall smiled and nodded. “Thank ye for this, Moira. It definitely helped take my mind off things.”
“I’m glad. The last thing I want is tae see ye sink intae misery. Things will get better, Niall. We’ll find a way tae help Jamie, and if he is as strong as ye say he is, he’ll be able tae fight back against the illness. It’ll pass soon, I’m sure of it.”
“I hope ye are right,” he said, and then looked around, as though he was only just starting to notice that the light was fading more dramatically. “We should head back tae the keep. I dinnae want tae be gone tae long in case anything changes.”
“I understand,” Moira said. They linked hands and strolled back to the castle, sharing teasing laughs and secret whispers.
Niall kept hold of the trinket she made and placed it in his pocket.
Moira hoped that the spirits wouldn’t think he had stolen an offering to them.
Grizel had said that rowan wood would protect them from the spirits, but if they became truly vengeful, Moira didn’t know how powerful a shield that would prove to be.
They were giggling like naughty children as they emerged from the forest. Niall was in a much better mood than when they had left, and Moira was glad that she could have this effect on him.
She was going to have to be strong for him for as long as Jamie’s illness lasted, and she vowed to be everything he needed.
It was a little strange how quickly she had adapted to welcoming someone else into her heart.
For a long time now, she had assumed she would end up alone, but she actually liked caring about someone and being cared for in return.
Opening her heart to Niall was rewarding in so many ways, and she realized how wrong she was to ever think that she could have been happy merely being an aunt.
Being with Niall showed her that she was capable of more.
Her mind turned to the future, to thoughts of bringing her own children into the world. It was something she was yet to discuss with Niall, and it was hardly the right time at the moment, but she felt comfortable enough planning for the future—when Jamie was better, of course.
However, as they grew nearer to the keep, they saw Grizel standing outside, hanging her head in shame.
She was placing sticks and trinkets around the doorways and windows, and she was muttering to herself.
When Niall and Moira approached, she bowed and greeted them.
They couldn’t help but notice how distressed she was.
“Grizel, what are ye daeing out here? What’s wrong?” Niall asked. The light mood dissipated instantly and he became concerned. Moira listened intently.
“Oh, Niall,” Grizel began, and Moira noticed that she was one of the few people who didn’t address Niall by his proper title of laird. “Something terrible hae happened.”
“What is it? Is it Jamie? Is he…” The words tumbled out of Niall’s mouth, but the last word seemed to be stuck like a stone within him. Moira tensed and sidled closer to her husband, preparing for the worst. Now she was filled with doubt.
Had she done the right thing in taking Niall away from his brother and his duty? Had she deprived Niall of the chance to say goodbye? With the next few words Grizel spoke, Moira was relieved, but only a little.
“Jamie is the same. Such a terrible thing…but he’s nae the only one.
Oh, it’s terrible. Isobel tae, and some of the clansmen.
They’re all sick. It’s happening, Niall.
I told ye that this would happen. The spirits are watching and they’re unhappy.
They’re unhappy!” she cried, lifting the volume of her voice at these last words.
Niall growled and frowned. “This haes nothing tae dae with spirits,” he said, but he rushed back into the castle to tend to his sister.
Moira was about to follow him when she saw Grizel drop one of the items she was using to ward off the spirits.
It looked a little like the one Moira had made to hide in the tree, although this was in the shape of an X.
Moira’s heart went out to Isobel and now she felt worse than ever.
It wasn’t as though anything would have changed things, but she knew Niall would have wanted to be here if his sister fell ill.
But what could have caused it? Moira racked her brain, but nothing came to mind.
Niall had dismissed the notion of poison, but what did that leave?
Her eyes drifted towards Grizel, and then the fine hairs rose on the back of her neck.
Is it possible that the spirits hae something tae dae with this?