Chapter 35
If Jamie had meant to put on a good front, to deceive his guests into thinking all was well, he failed miserably. Sheena did not return to the hall. And more than one person had seen her leaving shedding dismal tears.
How he wanted to go after her! Yet how could he? It had become a matter of pride and where pride was concerned, Jamie was too vulnerable. Pride had always mastered him, not the other way around. She had made their argument public.
It was all Jamie could do to wait until the hour when he could retire without notice.
It grew quite late, but there were still many guests in the hall.
The Gregorys and the Martins were stout drinkers and would no doubt be at it long into the night.
Deciding there was no discourtesy in it, he rose to leave.
He had had a few hefty tankards, but had been careful not to drink too much.
Jamie opened the door to his room. It was quite dark. The room was chilly, the fire out. She wasn’t there. In a moment or two he had a blaze going, but it was still chilly. And empty.
He sat down on the bed with a sigh. Should he go searching for her?
He should just let her stay wherever she was.
There were any number of lasses who would warm his bed.
Jessie, of course, had signaled that she was available again.
She had ignored Black Gawain all evening, staying by her cousin, Dobbin, which put her closer to Jamie, as close as she could get.
He could remember the warmth of Jessie’s body, so soft and yielding.
Never would he get anger from her, only heady passion.
“Who am I fooling?” Jamie muttered aloud in the cold room. He listened to the silence, then got up and left.
He tried the room he had put Sheena in before their wedding. And there she was, curled up in the small bed, fast asleep. She had no business being asleep, looking so peaceful.
He didn’t wake her, just removed her covers gently and scooped her up in his arms. She made a faint noise of protest but remained asleep and snuggled into his shoulder as he carried her back to where she belonged.
Jamie laid her on the bed, then stood back ready for the fight to begin.
But Sheena only stretched slightly without opening her eyes.
Jamie grinned. She was making this very easy for him.
He would have her at his mercy before she even woke up.
And with that delightful thought, he quickly divested himself of his clothes.
He began by slowly easing her thin woolen shift up her legs, running his fingers along the smooth skin as he did, stopping whenever she made a noise, beginning again when she was quiet. How he delighted in the silken feel of her, her legs so shapely, so firm yet pliant.
When her shift couldn’t be moved any farther without disturbing her, Jamie left it alone, gently lifting only the front above her waist. He then devoted his full attention to the tender warm nest between her legs, touching her ever so gently, his fingers teasing, beckoning a response.
It was long in coming, but when she began to respond, his fingers glided easily over the moist surface. She was ready for him, but he held back.
He knelt by her side and tugged her shift from under her hips, but she still didn’t waken. He positioned himself between her legs, then swiftly pulled the shift up.
Sheena woke instantly, but before she could speak, he was pulling the shift over her head. Her cry of outrage was smothered as his mouth covered hers.
She tried to turn her head away, but he held her still, plundering her mouth with his fiery tongue. His pulsing manhood glided smoothly into her.
Sheena was shocked by the ease with which he entered her, filling her totally. More shocking was the way her body reacted, welcoming, arching toward him.
I canna! her mind screamed. I canna let him master my body!
But he was doing just that, and with such expertise. Sheena succumbed quickly. She wanted him. Despite everything, desire soared in her with a fluid rush. He was filling her, filling her to bursting. Nothing mattered but the heat inflaming her, and Jamie.
Release remained just out of reach, maddeningly so.
Jamie wouldn’t quicken his pace, and it was driving her crazy.
He would bring her just so close, so near, then he would stop.
Her entire body screamed for that last release.
She moaned, her nails raking his back. But Jamie was determined to prolong this exquisite torture.
Finally she realized that Jamie was no longer kissing her. Her eyes flew open, and she found him staring at her with such a pained expression that she knew what he was doing to her was hurting him, as well.
Why? He told her soon enough, his voice beseeching yet insistent. “I’m your husband. Say it!”
Her thoughts were too jumbled for understanding, so she gladly told him what he wanted to hear.
“You’re my husband.”
“You’ll never deny it again.”
“Nay, never.”
His body pummeled hers with a violence then that was sweetly savage, and Sheena thrilled to it, met it with equal fervor. She was starving, and he was the nourishment, and she could never get enough of him, never….
To have thought intrude on that delicious languor was regrettable, but intrude it did, after the fury was spent.
When Jamie rolled over and pulled her body into the crook of his arm, when he began to move his fingers over her, caressing her with such tenderness, as if their lovemaking had settled everything between them, she couldn’t hold back anymore.
She spoke up quickly, before his hands had a chance to work their magic again.
“You took advantage of me, Jamie.”
“Och, now, sweetheart, I didna do anything you didna want me to.”
“You’re wrong, Jamie. I dinna know why you’re able to stir such passion in me with your touch, but there is a great difference in what I felt then and what I feel now. You can only rob me of my will for a short time. I have it back now. Nothing has changed.”
“Ah, but it has, lass, it has,” Jamie breathed softly.
“You’ve learned you canna deny me, no matter your wanting to.
Whatever the future brings, we will still have this.
And I’ll no’ stop wanting you, Sheena.” This was spoken solemnly, in earnest, almost like a threat.
“And you may wish it otherwise, but you’ll no’ stop wanting me, either. ”