Chapter Twenty-One
Watching his wife fall apart nearly undid him. He hadn’t been lying when he’d said the first time would be over quickly. He’d barely seated himself inside her when she thrust up against him, and he erupted.
He might have felt shame for it, except he was hard again immediately and able to continue as he’d wanted to.
He thrust into her as she arched up to meet him each time, her body moving in perfect time with his.
Unfortunately, he soon became distracted by the pain in his leg, which threatened to give out on him from the exertion.
“Bloody hell,” he said, and Brenna looked up at him, clearly confused. He reassured her quickly, not wanting her to think she displeased him in their bed. “’Tis my leg. It is not used to such effort.”
Always a willing healer, she asked, “Do you want me to rub it?”
“Nay,” he said as he rolled over, bringing her above him without breaking their contact. Her eyes went wide as she looked down at him. “Ye don’t need to rub my leg, but I would be much obliged if you could take over.”
“I—I’m not sure…” She frowned but moaned in pleasure as he pressed up from the bed into her.
“Move as you like, however you like.”
She did, and after a few moments, she found her stride. Her eyes closed, and her head fell back in pleasure, exposing herself to his gaze. He reached up and caressed her breasts, making her gasp and jerk by playing with her nipples.
He’d never seen anything so beautiful in all his days as his wife riding him toward their pleasure.
There had been many times over the years he considered taking pleasure with one of the women who offered it.
When his need became more than he thought he could endure.
But now that he was here with his wife, he was glad he hadn’t.
She’d been prepared and even expected such, but he knew now it would be different between them had he strayed. Their loyalty to one another made this reunion all the sweeter.
“Ye are mine,” he said amongst his other ramblings of how lovely she was as she cried out his name. He hadn’t thought much about it as it crossed his lips, but hearing the words in his strained voice sounded right.
His wife responded with a moan and a confident, “Yes. Only yours.”
But he wouldn’t allow it to be one-sided. She was his equal, and he wanted to make it clear. “I am yours, Brenna.”
“Yes,” she said. “Only mine.”
As he reached his peak this time, she joined him, taking everything he had to give, body and soul.
She collapsed atop him, her unruly curls covering his face, unleashing the honey scent as he caught his breath.
Her heart raced against his chest as he smiled for the sake of smiling.
Eventually, she shifted and managed to throw the covers over them.
He wasn’t nearly done making love to her, but he’d take advantage of a rest.
“Was it how you remembered?” he asked her.
He felt her shake her head, though her answer came a few breaths later.
“Nay. It was better.”
“No pain?” he guessed, remembering the reluctance he’d felt to hurt her when he took her maidenhead.
“Well, yes, but that was not what I thought.”
“How was it different?”
“We know each other a little better than we did then. There is a comfort in that.”
“Aye. You’re right. I’m glad we’ve not taken our pleasure with anyone else,” he said. He was still holding her close, so it was easy enough to feel her body tense. The silence went on for some time.
Rolling her onto his back, he looked down at her.
“Have you taken your pleasure with another?” he asked. She’d told him she hadn’t lain with another while he was away, but it had been a long time. If she had… She merely shrugged.
“Is it a difficult question, wife? Has another man touched ye and made you tremble as I have?” He tried his best to keep the anger from his voice, but the thought of another man touching her… He couldn’t bear it, even knowing he would have to accept it.
He was the one who left. Brenna bit her bottom lip and winced but shook her head. “What is it?”
She looked away, but he nudged her chin back to meet his anxious gaze. “Please just say it.”
She let out a breath and the words in one quick exhale. “I brought pleasure to myself.”
He could feel the heat of her blush and see it even in the dim light of the room. He smiled and rolled back over, pulling her against him.
“Did you think of me when you touched yourself?” he asked, knowing she would be embarrassed to discuss it further but having many questions all the same.
“Of course. Who else would I think of?” she said into the protection of his chest. Again, he coaxed her face up to look at him. He wanted her to see how happy he was and how he accepted her.
“I thought of ye when I touched myself as well.”
This surprised her. And then she blinked and glanced away, clearly not believing him. She’d been told she’d displeased him, scared him to France. He needed to convince her that she was everything he desired.
“It was rare for me to have enough privacy to take care of my needs. And when I did, it was only a few minutes, so I conjured up images to help me finish the job quickly.”
She still avoided his gaze as he continued.
“Sometimes, I thought of the sounds you made, though those memories faded quickly no matter how desperate I was to hold onto them. I thought of the way ye responded when I touched ye. The way you cried out my name when you reached your pleasure. When it had been a long time since I’d had a release, it didn’t take much at all, and I would think of the curves of your arse when you hopped down from your horse that first time we met. ”
“In my trews?” Her brows rose in disbelief.
“Aye. That buttery leather held you the way I wanted my hands on you.”
“Now I know you jest. You couldn’t find it attractive when I wear men’s clothing.”
“I may jest, but I assure you, my cock is not a humorous fellow.”
She laughed, and the sound warmed his heart. To prove his words, he pushed against her. She gasped when she felt his arousal yet again.
“Are you thinking of me in my trews now?”
“Nay. I’m thinking of you touching yourself and want to see it for myself.”
“I couldn’t possibly—”
“You asked me to promise you honesty. Do you remember?”
“Aye.”
“I will ask you for something as well.”
She nodded.
“I want us each to feel safe with one another. It is safe to ask for anything or tell each other anything we need or want without fear of being shamed or judged. Our bed will be a safe place to share our desires.”
“That sounds lovely.” She bit her lip as she considered his request. “I imagine the honesty we promised would also play a big part in this.”
“Aye, I believe so.”
“Yes. I agree.”
“Then will you show me how you touched yourself when you thought of me? And now it is what I desire.” He moved aside to give her room and helped by kissing her knuckles and placing her hand where it would be easier for her to touch herself.
As her fingers moved across her folds, he reached out as well, following her movements.
At first, her eyes remained open, focused on him, but as she stroked her warm flesh, her eyes fell closed, and her head tilted back.
Soon, soft cries of pleasure escaped her kiss-swollen lips, and he ached for release once more. He waited and watched his wife as she brought herself closer and closer to the edge.
Only when her breath caught did he shift and slide into her, feeling the tightening of her body around his as she shouted so loud that he expected everyone in the castle might have heard. He didn’t care if they did.
***
They were awakened hours later by loud whispers outside their room. For a moment, Brenna was confused until she felt the large, warm body pressed against her back. And the reason she could feel him so easily was because she was naked.
Ronan. The memories of the night before flooded her mind, bringing a smile to her lips until the whispering started again.
“I’m a-tellin’ ye, Mal, we should go get the axe and take down the door.”
“And I’m tellin’ ye, if you take an axe to this door, the laird will likely take an axe to you.”
“He’s not wrong,” Ronan whispered before kissing her temple.
She turned toward him with a smile. “We should at least knock and ask to see the mistress to be sure she’s not tied up.”
“Hmm… I might like to tie you up,” Ronan said. “Do you have any ropes about?”
She was not overly familiar with bedsport, but she could see why tying each other up might be fun. To torment the other by restricting their ability to touch. But alas, she had no ropes in their chamber.
“I suppose I should go to the door and tell them all is well,” Brenna said, though she didn’t wish to move. Even to appease her guards.
She’d relied on their thoroughness for the last few years to ensure her safety. And not long ago, being trapped in her bed chamber would have alerted them to the danger within. But there was no danger this day, far from it.
“I’ll take care of it.” Ronan cleared his throat and shouted firmly. “You on the door!”
“Aye?”
“Your mistress is well.” He squeezed her and whispered, “Well-loved.”
“If it is the same to ye, laird, we’d like to hear the mistress say so herself.”
“That’s it. I’m getting the axe,” Ronan grumbled but only snuggled closer to her under the covers.
“I am fine, Gabe. I don’t need anything.” Even conversing with them through the door when naked while Ronan nestled against her breast made her cheeks warm with a blush. One should not be forced to converse in such a state.
“Let’s not be hasty,” Ronan said and turned to shout. “Men. Your mistress is rather famished. Send for a tray, will you?”
“What, are we maids now?” Gabe grumbled from beyond the door. They had no idea of how easily they were heard.
Brenna giggled as the men stomped off, but her laughter was cut off in a gasp when Ronan stroked his hand up her thigh and over her heat.
“Again?” She could hardly imagine he had any strength left, even after sleeping the few hours they’d managed. She didn’t want to move.
“Can you still walk?”
“In truth, I’m not sure. I haven’t attempted to in many hours.”
“And I’ll see to it you won’t need to for many more hours.”
She’d remembered their first night together and how he’d woken her through the night to make love to her again until she was so exhausted she’d slept like the dead.
So still, she’d not roused when he’d packed and left her. That thought brought a shiver through her body and not the delightful kind that Ronan’s kisses inspired.
“What is it?” Ronan paused in his nibbling of her neck to look at her, concern evident on his face. She had no reason to worry he would leave her again. He’d said as much, and she decided she would believe him unless she had a reason not to.
Their bannocks and porridge were cold when they rose to retrieve them, but neither seemed to care as they dug in. Ronan had not been lying when he’d told her guards she was famished. She couldn’t remember being so hungry.
She could barely wait for Ronan to drizzle a bit of honey over her bite of pastry. When he spilled some of the honey on her hand, he watched her intently as he glided his tongue, cleaning her skin of the sticky sweetness.
From there, the honey barely made it to the remaining bread.
They made quite a mess as they found other places to dribble and delight.
When they were not caught up in passion, they napped and talked quietly.
She coaxed more stories from him about his time in France, and he asked her about a few of the clanspeople he’d met.
For all they talked, they avoided some topics as if they weren’t yet ready to discuss them.
“Oh my,” she said when his stomach growled. “Have we spent most of the day in our room? We must dress and go down for dinner.”
“I’m against anything that requires you to be dressed. I like ye just how you are.”
She slid from the bed and went to stand to wash. Eventually, with a loud sigh, Ronan relented and got himself ready.
“It is only because I am so hungry from my exertions that I agree to leave this room.”
She leaned up on her toes to kiss him. “Duly noted, my laird.”
When he was ready, she tucked her hand in at his elbow, and he escorted her into the hall. They made it a few steps toward the dais when someone hooped and started clapping. The rest of the clan shouted and clapped along as well.
Brenna felt her cheeks go red at the attention, but Ronan held his head high with a smile.
“Don’t worry, lass. If you’d like, I’ll tell them how grateful I am to have you in my bed and that wild horses wouldn’t drag me back to France.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she said. “So long as I know you are here to stay, that is all that matters.”
His grin slipped slightly.
“I never should have left ye the first time. I’ve learned my lesson, wife. I’ll never leave you again.”
She hoped that was true.