Chapter 30 #2
Every time he pushed in, he touched a spot that made her see stars and she could not get enough of him.
Her hips rose to meet him and, finally, release crashed over her in waves, stealing her breath and making stars burst behind her closed eyelids.
Tavish followed moments later, his body shuddering against hers as he buried his face in her neck.
They lay tangled together afterward, breathing hard, hearts racing in tandem. Rain continued to lash the windows, but inside the chamber, warmth enveloped them.
Maighread traced patterns on Tavish's chest, her fingers following the lines of old scars. "We should go."
He shifted, propping himself on one elbow to look at her. "What?"
"Leave the castle. Just fer a day." She met his eyes. "I'm tired of walls and watching eyes and council members hovering. I want tae be somewhere that's just… ours."
"Where did ye have in mind?"
"There's a waterfall about an hour's ride north. Hidden away in the forest. I used tae go there as a lass." She smiled. "We could pack food, spend the day away from all this."
"Running away taegether, are we?"
"Just fer a few hours." Her hand slid lower, making him inhale sharply. "Unless ye'd rather stay here and face another council meeting?"
"The waterfall sounds perfect." He caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. "When dae we leave?"
"Before dawn. Before anyone notices we're gone. The rain has stopped."
They rose as the first hint of grey touched the sky, dressing quickly in the predawn chill. Maighread pulled on riding clothes while Tavish laced his boots, both moving with quiet efficiency.
"We'll need food," she whispered.
"The kitchens?"
"Aye. Follow me."
They crept through empty corridors, the castle still sleeping around them. Maighread led the way to the kitchens, pushing open the door carefully. Inside, bread cooled on racks, cheese sat wrapped in cloth, dried meat hung from hooks.
"Grab what ye can carry," she said, reaching fer a loaf.
Footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. Both of them froze.
"Someone's coming," Tavish hissed.
Maighread grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the back of the kitchen. A small pantry sat tucked in the corner, barely large enough fer one person. They squeezed inside, the door swinging shut just as voices filled the kitchen.
"...need the bread fer breakfast," a servant was saying.
"Aye, and the cheese as well."
Pressed against Tavish in the cramped space, Maighread held her breath. His chest rose and fell against her back, his arm wrapped around her waist to keep them both steady. The scent of dried herbs surrounded them, mingling with the warm smell of his skin.
The servants moved about the kitchen, gathering supplies. Minutes crawled past. Maighread's legs began to cramp from standing so still.
Finally, blessedly, the voices faded. The door closed. Silence returned.
Tavish's breath stirred her hair. "That was close."
"Too close." She turned in his arms, finding his face mere inches from hers in the darkness. "We should go."
"In a moment." His mouth found hers, the kiss brief but thorough.
"Ye’re incorrigible."
"Aye. Ye love it."
They emerged from the pantry, grabbing bread, cheese, and a flask of wine before slipping back into the corridor. By the time they reached the stables, both were grinning like fools.
"That was the most ridiculous thing I've ever done," Maighread said, shoving supplies into a saddlebag.
"Hiding in a pantry or stealing food from yer own kitchens?"
"Both." She looked up at him, laughter bubbling in her chest. "What's happened tae me? I used tae be sensible."
"Sensible is overrated." He helped her mount, then swung onto his own horse. "Ready?"
"Aye. Let's go before me common sense returns."
They rode north as the sun climbed higher, leaving the castle behind. The forest closed around them, familiar paths winding through ancient trees. Maighread felt tension draining from her shoulders with each passing mile.
This. This was what she needed. Freedom and fresh air and Tavish beside her.
The waterfall appeared through the trees, its roar growing louder as they approached. Water cascaded over moss-covered rocks, crashing into a pool below that looked deep and inviting despite the morning chill.
They dismounted, tethering the horses to low branches. Maighread kicked off her boots immediately, wading into the shallows. The cold water shocked her system, but she laughed at the sensation.
"Come on," she called to Tavish. "The water's perfect."
He removed his own boots more slowly, watching her with an expression she couldn't quite name. "Perfect is nae the word I'd use fer water that cold."
"Coward."
"Practical." But he waded in anyway, hissing through his teeth as the chill hit him. "Ye’re mad, woman."
"Aye. Completely mad." She splashed him, grinning. "And ye’re stuck with me."
They swam briefly, the cold invigorating after the ride. When they emerged, dripping and shivering, Maighread led him to a flat rock warmed by the sun. They spread the food between them, eating bread and cheese while their clothes dried.
"Tell me about yer faither," Maighread said after a long stretch of comfortable silence.
Tavish went very still. "What about him?"
"The debt ye mentioned. The one ye feel ye owe me faither." She kept her voice gentle. "What happened?"
He was quiet fer so long she thought he wouldn't answer. Then he sighed, his gaze fixed on the waterfall.
"It was during a border raid. Five years ago. I was young, cocky, thought I kenned better than me commanders." His hands clenched on his knees. "There was a settlement under attack. I charged in without waiting fer reinforcements, certain I could handle it alone."
"What happened?"
"I nearly got me entire patrol killed. We were outnumbered three tae one, pinned down, about tae be slaughtered.
" He swallowed hard. "Yer faither arrived with his men.
Drove the raiders back, saved our lives.
Then he took the blame when me braither demanded tae ken who'd ordered such a reckless attack. "
Maighread's chest tightened. "He protected ye."
"Aye. Said it was his decision, his failure in strategy.
Fionnlagh believed him because yer faither is respected, his word trusted.
" Tavish's voice roughened. "But I kenned the truth.
I kenned I'd failed, and he'd covered fer me.
Three men died because of me arrogance, and he made certain nay one ever blamed me fer it. "
She reached over, covering his hand with hers. "That's why ye came when I needed help."
"I owed him. Owed him everything." He looked at her finally, his eyes dark with old guilt. "But along the way, it stopped being about wanting tae be the man yer faither saw in me instead of the reckless fool I actually was."
"Ye are that man." She squeezed his fingers. "Ye've proven it over and over."
"Have I?"
"Aye. Me faither sees it. I see it." She moved closer, until their shoulders touched. "Ye just need tae see it yerself."
Thunder rumbled in the distance. They both looked up as dark clouds rolled across the sky, blotting out the sun.
"Storm's coming," Tavish observed.
"There's a cave near here. We can wait it out." She stood, pulling him with her. "Come on, before we get drenched."
They gathered their things quickly as the first fat drops began to fall. The cave sat tucked behind the waterfall, accessible via a narrow path carved into the rock face. Maighread led the way, her hand finding purchase on familiar holds.
Inside, the space opened into a small chamber, dry and sheltered. The roar of the waterfall echoed off stone walls, creating a constant rushing sound that drowned out the storm building outside.
Tavish shook water from his hair, looking around. "Ye kenned about this place?"
"I found it years ago. Used it as a hiding spot when I needed tae escape court lessons." She settled onto a relatively flat section of floor, patting the space beside her. "Sit. We might be here a while."
He joined her, close enough that their thighs pressed together. Rain lashed the forest beyond their shelter, but inside, they remained dry and warm.
Maighread leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. "Thank ye."
"Fer what?"
"Fer staying. Fer being stubborn and refusing tae leave even when it would be safer." She turned her face into his neck. "Fer being ye."
His arm came around her, holding her close. "Thank ye fer dragging me intae this madness in the first place."
They sat in comfortable silence, listening to the storm rage. Eventually, Maighread shifted, angling herself to look at him properly.
"Tavish?"
"Aye?"
Heat flooded her cheeks, but she forced the words out. "D'ye remember what ye said? About me having tae beg?"
His breath caught. "Lass—"
"I'm begging." Her voice came out smaller than she intended, uncertainty warring with need. "Please. I want…" She faltered, unsure how to voice what burned through her.
His hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face up. "What dae ye want, Maighread? Tell me."
"I dinnae ken how tae say it." Frustration colored her words. "I just… I need ye. Need more than what we had last night. Need…" She trailed off, her cheeks burning.
Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed by something darker. Hungrier. "Ye trust me?"
"Aye."
"Then let me take care of ye." His thumb stroked her lower lip. "Let me show ye what I've been thinking about fer weeks. But ye have tae surrender control, lass. Can ye dae that?"
Her breath came faster. The idea terrified and thrilled her in equal measure. "I… aye. I think so."
"Good girl." His mouth found hers, the kiss slow and thorough. When he pulled back, his eyes had gone dark with intent. "Lie down."
She obeyed, settling onto the cave floor. Her heart hammered against her ribs as Tavish knelt beside her, his hands moving to the laces of her riding clothes.
"If ye want me tae stop," he murmured, working the fastenings loose, "ye say so. Understood?"
"Aye."
He peeled away fabric, exposing her to the cool air. Maighread resisted the urge to cover herself, to hide from his intense gaze. When she moved to do so anyway, he caught her wrists gently.
"Nay. Let me look at ye." His voice had gone rough. "Ye’re beautiful, Maighread. Every inch of ye."
She swallowed hard, nodding. Her skin felt too hot, too tight.
Tavish released her wrists, his hands skimming down her sides. "I'm going tae kiss ye now. Starting here." His fingers traced her collarbone. "And working me way lower. Very, very slowly."
"Tavish—"
"Shh. I told ye, let me take care of ye." His mouth descended, pressing a kiss to the hollow of her throat. "All ye have tae dae is feel."
He kept his word, kissing a path down her body with maddening leisure. Each touch of his lips sent sparks racing across her skin. When his mouth closed over her breast, Maighread's back arched involuntarily, a gasp escaping her.
"That's it," he murmured against her skin. "Dinnae hold back. Let me hear ye."
His hands moved lower, sliding between her thighs. She tensed instinctively.
"Easy, lass. I've got ye." He pressed a kiss to her hip bone. "Just relax. Trust me tae make ye feel good."
"I dinnae ken what ye’re… what ye mean tae…" Her words dissolved into incoherence as his fingers found sensitive flesh, stroking gently.
"I ken ye dinnae." His breath was hot against her stomach. "That's why I'm going tae show ye."
He shifted lower, settling between her legs. Maighread's hands fisted in the fabric of her discarded clothes, uncertainty flooding through her.
"Tavish, what are ye—"
"Hush." He pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh. "I promise ye'll like this. But ye need tae be still fer me. Can ye dae that?"
"I…" She bit her lip, nodding.
"Good girl." His approval made something warm unfurl in her chest. "Now close yer eyes and feel."
The first touch of his mouth there made her cry out, shock and pleasure warring in her system. She tried to pull away instinctively, but his hands gripped her hips, holding her steady.
"Tavish!"
"I told ye tae be still." His voice carried gentle command. "Trust me, lass. Just feel."
He returned to his task, and Maighread discovered she couldn't have moved if she'd wanted to. Every stroke of his tongue sent sensation spiraling through her, building into something overwhelming. Her hands found his hair, uncertain whether to push him away or pull him closer.
"That's it," he murmured against her. "Let go. I've got ye."
The encouragement undid her. She stopped fighting, stopped thinking, and simply surrendered to what he was doing. The pleasure built higher, tighter, until she thought she might shatter from it.
When release finally crashed over her, Maighread did shatter. Her entire body went taut, a cry tearing from her throat that echoed off the cave walls. Tavish didn't stop, drawing out her climax until she was trembling and oversensitive.
Only then did he lift his head, pressing a final kiss to her inner thigh before crawling up her body. His expression was pure masculine satisfaction mixed with raw hunger.
"That," he said, his voice rough, "is what I've been thinking about since the first time ye smiled at me."
Maighread could only stare at him, still struggling to catch her breath. "I… that was…"
"Worth begging fer?" The smugness in his tone might have annoyed her if she had any energy left for annoyance.
"Aye." The admission came easier than expected. "That was… I didnae ken…"
"I ken ye didnae." He settled beside her, pulling her against his chest. "But now ye dae."
She buried her face in his neck, heat flooding her cheeks as awareness returned. "I cannae believe I let ye…"
"Ye can and ye did." His hand stroked her hair. "And there's nay shame in it, Maighread. That's what happens between a man and his wife."
"We're nae wed yet."
"Close enough." He tipped her chin up, making her meet his eyes. "And when we are properly wed, I'm going tae dae that tae ye every chance I get. Until ye forget tae be embarrassed about it."
"That seems unlikely."
"We'll see." He kissed her, slow and thorough. "The storm's passed. Let’s have a bite and then slowly head back before they send search parties."