Chapter 14
“How was yer trip to the woods today?” Leod asked Shaw during the meal that night.
“See for yerself.” Shaw nodded toward the children who were eagerly showing everyone in the great hall their new bows.
“It looks like it was a huge success.”
“Most of it.” Shaw glanced over at Spring sitting next to him as they ate. Spring was busy talking to Baen and not paying attention to his conversation with Leod.
“Are ye talkin’ about that new wife of yers?”
“Aye,” he answered, scooping up another spoonful of a delicious cherry tart. “Somethin’ is botherin’ her and I dinna ken what.”
“Has she made friends with Donel yet?”
“Nay.” He looked down and played with his food. “She tried, but he willna have it.”
“But the visit to the Lowlands went well, didna it? Besides the attack in the forest.”
“Aye. Up until the part where Reed kept questionin’ her, thinkin’ she was his long-lost sister.”
“Really?” Leod flashed a smile and lifted a tankard of ale to his mouth. “Do ye think she is his sister?”
“I dinna ken. It could make sense, but Spring insists she is descended from a long line of Vikings and verra proud of it.” He used the tip of the spoon in small motions to pulverize the crust of the tart.
“Now, I think somethin’ is botherin’ ye, Brathair.”
“How so?”
Leod’s eyes dropped to the smashed tart. “Ye usually inhale cherry tarts without even chewin’. What’s got yer feathers ruffled?”
“I dinna ken.” He continued to smash the crust with his spoon. “I suppose I’m just frustrated because we’ve only made love once since we’ve been married.”
Leod was drinking and almost choked when he heard what Shaw had to say. “Once? Perhaps, ye should stop lettin’ her rule the bedchamber. If it were me, I’d throw her down and act like a man.”
“Ye ken nothin’ about lassies, Brathair, so stop with the talk. If it were ye, Spring would have been the one to throw ye down and it wouldna be in a friendly gesture. So, until ye have a woman of yer own, please stop givin’ me advice.”
“Advice?” Spring looked over to them, making Shaw’s heart jump into his throat. He didn’t want her to hear the conversation. “What kind of advice is Leod givin’ ye?” she asked.
“This is a good tart, lass. Ye really should try it.” Shaw scooped up a big spoonful and shoved it into his mouth.
“Tell me what ye were talkin’ about.” Her eyes darted from Shaw over to Leod and then back again.
“We were discussin’ the tart,” he said, opening wide for another bite.
Her hand shot out and clamped hard around his wrist. With her usual stone-like face, her bright green eyes met his. “I hardly think ye were askin’ advice on how to eat a tart, dear husband.”
“On the contrary,” said Leod, trying to come to Shaw’s rescue but only making it worse. “I told him he usually inhales cherry tarts without chewin’. I was askin’ him what was botherin’ him.”
“Ye are bothered about somethin’?” She slowly released his hand. “Does it have somethin’ to do with me?”
Shaw flashed Leod a grimacing look. Leod just shrugged and took a drink from his tankard.
“Try the tart,” Shaw said, slipping a spoonful into her mouth before she could say another word.
The essence of sweet cherries exploded on Spring’s tongue as Shaw fed her from his spoon.
The action was intimate and her eyes stared into his as she fell deep under his spell.
“Mmmm,” she said, reacting to more than just the tart.
His leine was opened slightly and she could see the crisp curls of dark hair on his chest. He retrieved the spoon from her mouth, staring at her lips now.
“Ye’ve got a crumb on yer mouth,” he said, starting to reach out for it, but pulling his hand back.
Her tongue shot out to lick her lips and she swore she saw him squirm in his chair. “Did I get it?” she asked.
“Aye,” he said, letting out a breath and shoveling more food into his mouth.
“Oh, now ye’ve got a little bit of cherry, right there.” She licked her finger and ran it over his lips. His eyes closed and he swallowed hard.
“Dinna do that to me, Wife, when ye ken how it affects me.”
She giggled and Shaw’s eyes shot open. “Did ye just – giggle?”
“Who, me?” Her mouth turned down and she shook her head. She needed to maintain control of her emotions. “Nay.”
“Ye did. I heard it,” he said. A big smile spread across his face and he had a playful look in his eyes. “Ye are no’ made of stone after all.” He poked at her ribs, making her laugh again. It felt good; she had to admit. No one had ever done this to her before.
“Stop it! Ye’re causin’ everyone to look at us,” she warned.
“And what’s wrong with that?” He looked so alluring when he smiled.
“I dinna want to make a scene.”
“I see.” He nodded his head, undressing her with his eyes. She felt a tingle flit across her skin. “Musicians,” he called out. “I’d like a little music so I can dance with my wife.”
“Dance?” Her laughter was quickly replaced by fear coursing through her body. “Nay, I dinna dance.”
“That’s nonsense,” he said, getting up and reaching out to help her from her chair. “Everyone dances.” He left the dais, taking her with him, not giving her a chance to pull away.
The crowd parted and a few of the men of the clan hurried over to clear away the long trestle table to give them more room.
Before she knew what was happening, everyone gathered around in a circle, clapping their hands and urging them to dance to the music.
Bagpipes split the air and drums kept the beat.
“Come on, Spring. Dance with me.” Shaw bowed to her and held out his hand.
She stood frozen, feeling her heart about beat from her chest. Never before had she danced.
Often back home there was dancing, but she never participated.
Her father hadn’t liked dancing and said he preferred she just watched and cleaned their weapons instead.
“Ye do ken how to dance,” he said, holding out his arm, telling her rather than asking.
“Nay,” she blurted out softly, shaking her head. “I told ye I dinna dance.”
“Why no’?”
“My faither thinks dancin’ is the work of the devil.”
“Unless yer faither has met the devil himself and kens this for a fact, I’d advise ye to throw caution to the wind tonight and loosen up a little.”
“Spring, dance with Da,” called out Colina, clapping her hands.
“Nay,” she said, standing there like a board and shaking her head.
“Come on, lassie. If ye dinna ken how to dance, then I’ll show ye.” He put his hands around her waist and scooped her up, twirling her around in the air, making the crowd shout out.
“Stop it. Put me down,” she said.
“We’re dancin’,” he told her, this time picking her up in his arms. Her feet left the ground and she squealed.
Everyone seemed to think it looked like fun and, before she knew what was happening, they all joined in. Even Colina and Leith held hands and twirled each other around in circles. Everyone danced but Donel who stood across the hall scowling at her.
She couldn’t help enjoy the dance. It was fun and she giggled.
“Did I hear ye giggle again?” asked Shaw, putting her feet on the ground. The sound of bagpipes filled the air, mixed with the laughter and conversations of the crowd. It was a true celebration.
“I did giggle,” she admitted this time.
“And didna it feel good?”
“I dinna ken. I suppose so.”
“Mayhap, ye need to find out for sure.” He tickled her ribs and she swatted his hand away.
“Nay, Shaw, dinna do that.”
“Now that I found the warrior’s weakness, I’m goin’ to use it to my advantage.
” He tickled her again and she burst out laughing.
It felt good to laugh. It helped her to rid herself of pent-up worry and emotions.
She laughed and, in return, tickled Shaw.
His laughter started out as a low rumble and quickly turned into a thunderous guffaw.
It made everyone in the great hall stop and look, and they started laughing as well.
Taking her hand in his, he held tight. “Ye’d better stop that,” he told her, still laughing. “I’m warnin’ ye. Do no’ make me mad.” He burst out in a full bellow of laughter, bending over in the process while holding his stomach.
She smiled and turned to walk away, but his hand shot out and he slapped her on her rump. Her eyes opened wide in surprise and her spine went ramrod stiff. Had he honestly just done that in front of everyone? She turned back to him, her embarrassment turning to annoyance.
“I told ye to be careful and no’ make me mad,” he said. “Now, I’ve had to spank ye for bein’ a bad lassie.”
“I’ll spank ye,” she said, her hand shooting out, but he jumped out of the way and taunted her.
“Ye missed,” he said, still laughing.
Once again, she tried to hit him, but he spun out of the way, continuing to laugh.
“It’s no’ funny,” she spat, noticing everyone staring at them now.
“I think it is.”
“Get over here.” She took a step forward, but he jumped away and headed for the door of the great hall.
“Ye’ll have to catch me first.” He darted away and she took off at a run after him.
He laughed and taunted her, always staying just out of her reach. He ran up the stairs. She followed, wanting to teach him a lesson. Then he ran down the hall with his plaid kicking up behind him. She hurried after him, barreling into him when he came to an abrupt stop outside the bedchamber door.
She tried to hit him again, but he grabbed both her wrists in his huge hands and stopped her from doing so.
“I like it when ye laugh.” He reached down and kissed her, making her forget she was trying to be mad at him.
Then he scooped her off her feet, once again, kissing her as he used his foot to kick open the door.
The door creaked as it swung open, hitting the wall.
He entered the room with her in his arms. His kiss became hungry now and her hands reached up into his hair as her kiss became just as urgent.
“I’ll no’ sleep with ye again without our bodies touchin’,” he told her.
“Neither do I want ye to,” she said, aching to have him as well.
He kissed her harder now and one hand caressed her breast.
“Close the door, Shaw,” she told him.