Chapter 48
“My lady, this was as many as I could gather from the chamberlain,” Nella heard Kameron huff while wiping his temple on his sleeve as he trudged over the threshold into her chambers.
“Which chamberlain?”
“All.”
“Brillant, lad, place them about the chamber.”
Kameron looked puzzled. “Where?”
“Any place a wee bit of space presents,” Nella advised and stole ten lanterns from his grasp.
Two there. Nella laid the pair of lanterns onto the table beside the bed. “Callum is still walking through the bailey on a final check for the eve?”
“Aye,” Kameron replied, setting three lanterns along near the hearth, “he ordered me to remain at your side with Sir Brayden who is…”
“Just here.” Brayden popped his head inside the doorway. “Congratulations on the betrothal, my lady.”
“Aye, my lady.” Kameron paused while setting the first lantern alight. “Sir Callum kept grinning the whole while when he entered the bailey.”
“Aye,” Brayden concurred, “scared the shite from a few of the guards who thought your knight never possessed teeth.”
Nella giggled. “Thank you both.” Nella kept smiling while illuminating dozens of lanterns from a rush lit by the hearth’s flame.
“Uh, my lady, is there a personal Beltane festival present this evenin’ in your chambers?” Brayden quipped at the blinding glow taking root.
“A festival of sorts,” she said. Made only for two, she added silently. “Thank you for your help.”
***
A short time later, a slight knock sounded at the door while she checked the tie on her robe.
“Nella?”
Her steps that of a sparrow, she reached the threshold, releasing the latch. Callum’s lashes became wide at the sight of the entire chamber appearing part bonfire by brightness. “This is rather grand.” He grinned.
Scents from tallow with grassy peat floated the air while he stepped inside before he secured the door behind him after setting down his bow and quiver.
She leaned up on her toes, brushing her lips over his.
The kiss meant to be soft in greeting turned firm soon as their flesh met, igniting heat which rivaled the flames surrounding.
Salt and wine and her knight. Delicious.
A growl from him rumbled against her torso as his hands cupped her backside, dragging her close.
“Grandest greeting ever.” Callum grinned against her lips as they finally broke for breath.
“Oh, there is more,” she promised.
His palms tightened, pressing her harder against his arousal already pulsating against her loins through their clothing. “I certainly hope so, my lady. The lanterns are charming. The occasion?” He cocked a brow at her and she set into motion at his wonderment.
“First,” she began, reaching for the strap on his scabbard.
Clank. The blade hit the floor with her fingers seeking his chainmail tunic next.
He helped her when his height and the woven metals weight after it became too great for her to pull it over his skull.
Briskly it fell beside the blade. They made short order of his woolen tunic, chausse, boots, till only his braise tight over his arousal remained.
Her fingers skimmed over his jaw then lowered to the linen straining against the front of his braise. He groaned, leaning his brow against hers. “Lay upon the bed, my knight, all will be revealed,” she vowed.
Reluctantly he left her touch, settling himself on the bed after shedding the braise. She went for a lit candle; there were still four more on the table across the chamber needing flames. Pausing at the candle, she met his eyes. Don’t look at his eager loins or the words will never air.
“The first time you sought me, I extinguished every candle in the bedchamber before you entered at Lady Alaina’s.” Nella lit the wick. “Times from the past haunted me. I felt ashamed about how I appeared, with a fear you would turn away in disgust.”
His brows furrowed by intensity. “Never, Nella.”
“This I know now but in the moment, I bore such concern! Then hidden at the inn, I was mortified you almost completely undressed me after the lightning nearly cast me unawares.” She lit the second wick.
“Each turn your adoration and desire for me gave a hope and passion I never thought possible.” A third wick turned into light.
“However, when you saved me by the river you wished to see me in the sunlight. My uncertainty swallowed me once again and I ordered your eyes shuttered.” The final candle brightened.
Stepping away from the table, directly center in the room, she took a deep breath as her insides shook from a swirl of want and worry and determination. Her fingers pulled at the knot on the robe.
“I wish for you to see all of me, Callum MacCade.”
Whoosh. Her woolen joined his clothes on the floorboards, and he leaned forward, his gaze raking over every speck of her.
A primal grin appeared. “Devine, my lady.”
He.
Thought.
Her.
Beautiful.
A bold strike swept her emotions as she reached down for the nearest lantern. Holding the light in her grasp, she slowly edged toward the bed. Once beside him, she handed him the lantern.
“Gaze as you wish, my Callum, I am yours.”
His fingers covered hers on the lantern’s handle, which he raised between them. His lips brushed her knuckles as they held the illumination together.
“The lantern is a symbol, my lady,” he declared, meeting her eyes. “A bright future lies ahead for us. For too long we have lingered in the darkness. Just like when one emerges from a cavern, the light is more blinding by intensity. Our days ahead shall be brighter than ever before.”
She smiled and they set the lantern on the table beside the bed – together. Callum leaned up as his palms circled her lower back, pulling her near while she still stood with his lips finding the tip of her breasts as aroused as he was at his thigh’s juncture.
Her fingers wove into his hair as his name turned a moan on her lips when his tongue began circling her taut nipple.
One palm remained at her back, holding her to him; his other caressed a path toward her garden of curls.
His fingers began to frolic in her petaled treasure.
Her moans turned louder, quicker, but before she crested, he paused then lay back on the bed, bringing her with him to drape her over his body.
“Nella,” he murmured, “I have a wish as well.”
She looked down at him, her hair a veil about them. “Aye?”
“You remain atop.”
“Atop?”
She gasped at the strength he commanded when he grasped her hips, lifting her to place her in a straddling position above him, so her damp petals teased his shaft.
“My wish is for you set our rhythm as I yearn to keep my hands over this glory here.” Her lips formed an O when his palms raised, covering both her breasts. “Perfect fit, my lady,” he growled. “Flawlessly made just for me.”
She covered her palms over his then lowered her hips to his – hard. Again and again and again, she lowered, till the room began echoing with cries by pleasure as the drapes on the bed shook by passion.
***
Flawless!
Her courageous display had taken his breath as much as how she rode him in wild abandonment. He heard her panting matching his as he brushed his lips over her damp brow while they lay side by side.
“Nella, did you care for being atop?” He wove her closer to him till she draped over his torso as he lay back.
“Aye.” She sighed the word.
He grinned, resting his head on the pillow while her lips nuzzled kisses up his neck. Their bodies still quivered slightly by the fierceness in their mating. “There was only rapture this time, nae pain.” Her words were muffled against his flesh.
He spun her about, letting his palm trail down the curve belonging to her side. “It shall be this way, always.” His lips found a trail down the delicate curve on her collarbone while her fingers splayed across his slick back.
“Oh, my knight, may we remain here – always?”
If only they could. “We may; however, I believe the king and delegation may take issue.”
She giggled, causing her breasts to tickle his taut torso. He groaned. Again, he had to have her at least two more times before dawn.
“Callum, once the treaty is done, shall we stay here or Stirling?”
His lips paused – for the moment. Leaning back, he looked down at her. Cheeks flushed, hair spread about the pillow same as a peacock’s fan. How the hell had he managed this feat of having her here with him again?
“Callum?”
“Pardon, my Nella, the moment took me,” he admitted. “Your gesture here.” He glanced at the candles glowing about, causing his mind to revisit the moment she had shed her robe… He began hardening again. Talk. They needed to talk first.
“You cared for it?” she asked, hopeful.
“More than words may express, my bonniest lady,” he replied, his voice roughened from shouting her name when they crested. “To your original query, we shall travel with the king’s court as deemed required.”
“I believe Lady Dagny may be joining King Alexander’s court shortly as well.”
“Oh?”
“When Sir Sean spoke with her at the feast, they shared tales of an enemy.”
“Sir James.”
“Aye, something about it seemed to take a deeper root in connection between them. Lord Kolson’s fears regarding her reputation were unfounded.”
“Northman,” Callum cursed under his breath.
“Thank you for settling the feud once and for all with him. I believe the drink made him bolder.” Nella caressed her nose against his tenderly.
“Aye.” He grazed his lips over hers. “Kameron seems ‘settled’ in his fresh post of squire.”
“Very much. He helped me in delivering many of the lanterns here and spoke with almost a giddiness that he would be sending word to his ‘lass’ about his new station and seeks for them to be wed.”
“Speaking of wed, there is a matter I have yet to convey.” Her brows rose in question.
“Being the wife to the captain of the royal guard, there shall be many times as this eve where duty will claim my time. In many other circumstances, as with other married guards, the wives normally wait for their husbands’ return.
Well, we are a unique pairing, Nella. I would hope for you to be at my side on as many tasks which lay ahead, ensuring we are together more. Would you be amicable to this idea?”
“You worry Sir Nathrach has other possible sympathizers to Simon’s cause among us?”
His fingers brushed the damp hairs from her brow. “I believe threats to the throne will forever lurk in the shadows. Even those from a rival kingdom.”
“You fear Henry III? He is the King of England, but Alexander’s queen consort is Henry’s daughter.”
“Aye, Henry would never invade Scotland, but I worry for the future regarding Henry’s heir. Edward, some call Longshanks. I do not care for him in the least.”
“Callum.” Nella pressed her fingers upon his heart. “I am at your side always and would be honored to keep watch with you as deemed needed. Circling the bailey in a conveniently planted herb garden will do very nicely as a way to remain close without arising too many suspicions.”
He grinned before claiming her lips again.