Chapter 16
Dinner time came around, and Kate headed down to the dining hall where the table was lined with fine food which had been made with items they gathered from the harvest. Haggis and bannocks filled the table, with fresh roast pork shared out by the cook, and some apples and cheese.
Some wine was brought up from the cellar, and Hudson somehow managed to take the most of it, pouring it into the mug which Kate could only guess the man carried strapped to his waist somehow.
“This tastes amazing!” said Lily as she munched on her pork, looking up at Lady Grear, and then to the cook.
“Well, it is the product of all of our hard work,” said Grear, “Everyone at this table eats what they make, and we care for each other. Without the servants, there would be no McDonald estate, and without the McDonalds, there would be no place for the servants. Here, we care for each other, because we need each other to survive. It is the only way we can move forward in this home, and it is how we have done it for years.”
Kate smiled, looking up at Reuben as he sat next to his mother.
He had barely taken his eyes off her the entire time, taking only a few spoons of the meal before turning back to her.
As he ate his portion, his eyes seemed to scan the entirety of her body, making Kate a little shy about how he was looking up at her.
Kate turned away, trying to stop herself from blushing as he wondered what the Laird was thinking.
As they ate in silence, Willow suddenly put down her plate, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Wait, if ye didnae kill our parents, then who did?” Willow asked.
“Willow!” Freya scolded, upset with her tone.
“She’s right,” said Reuben. “We have no idea who it was that killed yer parents.”
Grear nodded beside him, turning to Kate, “Who do ye think would stand to gain the most with the demise of yer parents Kate?”
“We would. I and my sisters, why?”
“Obviously, it wasnae any of you. We have to think deeper, and see who else could stand to gain,” said Reuben.
“Obviously Uncle Max, he had been coming around more often just before our parents died. He was there, always playing nice with everyone.”
Kate shook her head, and she stared at all of her sisters.
It was the last thing she had thought, and yet she felt so stupid for not thinking it through.
Max Sweeney had killed her parents, and gotten them out of the picture, so he could lay claim to the McGowan estate.
The same reason he wanted to marry them was so he would have the throne even after his death.
He wanted one of the daughters of the McGowans to father a son for him, who would then lay claim to the throne.
Reuben stared at her, with his mind wandering.
He watched her lips as they chewed softly on the pork, her eyes as they would lock with his on occasion, and the sweet smile which jumped to her lips when she looked away.
Reuben had admitted it to himself, he was in love, and there was nothing that would change that.
He had found himself attracted to women before, but with Kate, there was something else.
He knew he had found someone he could connect with, someone who he could be with.
Kate was the one, and he would not stop chasing her.
After dinner, he sat at the table, watching as she helped clear the dishes off the table. Hudson drove an elbow into his side, pointing at Kate with the mug he held in his hand.
“Ye’ve been starin’ at her for so long now, go talk to her.”
“She’s a little occupied,” said Reuben, smiling at the little cup of ale in his hand.
“She’s left ye a smiling bampot, ye ken that, ye? I daenae ken what’s so special about this one, but I’ve never seen ye look this dumb.”
“I’ll have yer tongue for that, but…since I’m in a good mood, I’ll blame it on yer pint,” said Reuben.
Both men laughed and continued to drink. Grear turned from her end of the table to her son, looking at him with a twinkle in her eyes. The older woman said nothing, telling Reuben what he was expecting to hear from her. He shook his head, turning away.
“I havenae idea what yer talking about, Ma,” said Rueben.
“But I havenae said anything, and ye already have an idea of what I want to say. So tell me boy, what do I want to say?”
Reuben turned away from her, not wanting to speak.
But his mother was a great judge of character, and she could always tell what he was thinking.
She knew how he would react, and she would usually have a response to his reaction before he had gone ahead with it.
The reason he had managed to be so successful ruling his estate, was because his mother had been there to guide him every step of the way.
Even when he had gotten with a woman who had only wanted him due to his status.
But since the Lady Grear did not seem to want to stop him from going ahead with his desire for Kate, he believed she wanted him to.
Grear looked to the door where Kate and her sisters walked by.
The younger ones walked towards their rooms, looking to retreat to bed for the night, however, Freya and Kate stopped by the doorway, bowing and saying thank you to Reuben and Grear.
They accepted, and began heading towards their rooms. Reuben rushed to his feet and went after her.
Freya turned around, spotted Reuben and quickly walked into the room, shutting Kate out behind her.
Reuben saw this and chuckled, making Kate turn around. She stared at the Laird who was slowing down as he reached her, smiling brightly in the dimly lit corridor. “Did ye get in a fight with her?”
“Nae, she is just being silly,” Kate replied, trying to open the door. “Freya, open this door!”
When she got no response, Kate sighed. Reuben stood up straight, “Perhaps join me for a walk? Maybe by the time we are back, she would have changed her mind.”
“I’m sure she will in just a moment, and I would like to retire to bed now.”
“Aye, I see. Would ye like me to leave ye here, all on yer own?” Reuben asked, smiling deviously.
Kate shook her head. “Nae.”
Reuben held out a hand, and she took it.
He led her out of the castle and out to the grounds around the estate.
Kate had only been to that part of the castle when they had seen him working on the garden earlier.
Reuben walked into the garden, and pulled Kate along with him.
He spun her with ease, and held her tightly against him, their faces inches apart.
“Look,” said Reuben, pointing to some flowers which grew low to the ground, around their feet.
“What about them?” Kate asked.
“They remind me of ye,” said Reuben. “They’re stubborn, never stop growing, and very hard to take down.”
Kate frowned, shoving his chest. But Reuben held strong, pinning her tightly to his chest. He raised a hand above him and pulled on a branch that grew overhead, moving it out of the way.
Just as he did, the moonlight came rushing in, bathing them with light from the celestial body.
Kate gasped for a second, as she stared at the flowers.
“But, when ye see them for what they truly are, ye see just how beautiful they are, and how they glow, brighter than anythin’ ye’ve ever seen.”
“They’re beautiful.”
“Aye,” Reuben replied. “Ye are.”
Kate looked up at him, her eyes searching his own, and this time, she kissed him without a sense of betrayal in her heart.
She was free of everything which held her back, and Kate kissed the Laird as she wanted, taking his face in her hands, and pulling him closer and closer, as though she wanted their bodies to mend into one.
“Who’s there? Show yerself!” a servant called out, cutting them short.
Kate quickly pulled away, and Reuben turned around to see the servant who was making the rounds around the estate.
He had not seen them walk into the garden, and was only doing his duty, protecting the perimeter.
“Laird Reuben, I didnae see ye there. I’m sorry. ”
“No harm done, ye are doing yer duty. Back to it,” said Reuben.
“Aye sir,” the servant replied, walking in the opposite direction. Reuben turned around to see Kate with a smile on her face. He reached for her cheek, touching it gently for a moment.
“I think we should head back in. It’s getting late,” said Kate.
Reuben opened his mouth to argue for a moment, but then he nodded. He would never make her do anything she did not want to, and so he agreed. “Alright.”
They both walked back to the castle, and Reuben spotted Willow, Freya and Lily by the window staring at them as they made their way back in. The girls all had smiles on their faces as they saw their sister and the Laird, and Reuben smiled back up at them.
“I believe this is where we say goodnight,” said Reuben, as he got to the end of the corridor that was just beside her room.
“Aye,” said Katherine. “Goodnight, Reuben.”
“Goodnight, Kate.”
Just before he turned, Kate reached up and kissed him on the cheek before walking to her door. Reuben turned around with a smile on his face, heading back to his chambers for the night.
Kate shut the door behind her and let out a breath, feeling her cheeks flush. Willow, Lily and Freya were already asleep, and gladly, they had left the door open for her. She walked up to them quietly, staring at them as they snored.
They would sleep well for the night, Kate, however, felt she wanted something else.
She did not just want to go to bed and have another dream.
She wanted a reality; one she could feel and touch.
She walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind her, and made her way to Reuben’s room.
She knocked quietly on the door, and it fell open.
Kate walked in, looking around, to find Reuben standing by the window, staring at the moon.
“Kate, what are ye doing here?” he asked.
“I came to…say thank ye…for…” her voice trailed off as she saw the way he approached her. She began backing up slowly, and her body pushed against the door, closing it properly. Reuben reached her, using both arms to pin her against the wall.
Reuben kissed her slowly across the neck, and moved behind her earlobes.
Each kiss had her body tightening with expectation.
Reuben pulled away and stared at her in the candlelight.
His face with brimming with desire, and his voice drove her crazy with want.
“I’d never do anything to hurt ye, Kate. Ye can stop me, whenever ye w…”
Kate drove her lips into his, cutting off his sentence before he could finish speaking.
His hands moved behind her and fastened the deadbolt, before pulling her away from the door.
Their bodies bucked in an animalistic fervor, one which they had fought off since, the had met each other.
Kate wanted Reuben, and seeing just how much he wanted her drove her mad with desire.
Reuben made her stand still by the bed, taking off her clothes one item at a time. With each new body part he exposed, he brought his lips down on it, kissing with desire, almost worshipping her body. Kate moaned with excitement, her body sensitive to the experienced touch of the Laird.
When she was completely naked in front of him, Reuben lifted Kate from the floor, and carried her over to a wolfskin rug on the floor.
He placed a pillow by her head to keep her comfortable, and another at the small of her back, raising her up for him.
Reuben put his hands between her thighs, rubbing her sensually, as his lips went to work at her nipples.
He sucked and rubbed, keeping both motions simultaneous.
Kate bucked in pleasure, feeling him increase the pressure and pace ever so slightly.
He had her at the precipice, and she bit down on her lower lip.
The laird continued his ministrations for several minutes, making Kate let out several labored breaths, with moans escaping from her mouth with each flick of his wrist, and each time his tongue would brush slightly against her nipples.
The Laird suddenly pulled away, bringing his face up to her, and kissing her across the lips, before he began trailing down her body with his lips.
He moved from her lips to her neck, nibbling on her slightly.
He moved his arms up, caressing her breasts in his arms as he moved down to her stomach, kissing it tenderly.
Kate could no longer stand the suspense. She moved her hands and grabbed his hair, pushing his head down between her legs, and holding it there. Reuben brought his lips down on her most sacred orifice, his tongue rubbing lightly against her insides. Kate shuddered as a chill ran up her spine.
Reuben started slowly, taking his time with his tongue as he licked her.
Kate felt the pressure begin to build as he continued at the same pace.
She wanted more, but at the speed he moved, she would not get the relief she wanted.
She lifted herself into him, her mouth speaking gibberish.
Reuben heard what she had said, understanding in a way that neither could explain.
He picked up the pace, with his hands going up to her breasts, He rubbed her nipples firmly as he licked her, his tongue stroking quickly, darting up and down in quick succession.
He pressed into her, increasing his pressure.
Kate let out a loud moan, pulling at his hair as she felt her body reach the edge.
She had been balanced on a knife edge, with pleasure on either side.
The laird had brought her to this point, and had her in the palm of his hands.
Kate felt the sparks go off in her head, and her body began to spasm as she orgasmed.
Reuben held on to her as she squeezed her thighs shut, holding him in place as the waves of pleasure shot through her body.
Kate let out a moan, feeling the air leave her lungs.
Reuben held on to her firmly, and in a matter of moments, Kate found herself squirming from intense pleasure.