Chapter 7
Fennella looked up at the Scot and her lips parted as she took in his appearance.
Now clean of the dirt and grime of the road, he was quite handsome, and her cheeks heated as she thought about the way her body had pressed up against his on the horse earlier, his hard length causing a swirl of emotions within her.
She had never had a man hold her in such a manner nor had she ever been so close to one that she wanted to continue the touch.
Fennella knew she should hate him, but he was making it hard for her to do so. “Fennella?” he asked.
Curiosity got the better of her and she placed her hand in his, allowing him to help her from her seat, and after saying her goodnights to her companions, out into the cool night air.
The air was heavy with the scent of rain, the lightning over the sea still a ways off.
“More rain,” Aleck muttered as they walked toward the sea.
“We will be floating into the sea if this rain does not cease.”
“Is it always this rainy?” she asked, folding her hands behind her back.
“No,” he answered. “’Tis unusual weather, but good for the crops at least.”
As they walked, Fennella noted the men high on the wall, their forms illuminated by the torches that dotted the keep. “Your keep is well guarded.”
Aleck chuckled. “’Tis yer keep as well Fennella. We have been caught off guard with an attack long ago. I dinnae wish tae have that happen again.”
“Your family,” she said slowly. “’Tis just you and your brother?”
He nodded, his expression pensive. “Aye, and mah uncle. ’Tis important for me tae carry on the bloodline.”
Fennella flushed as she realized what he meant. She would carry his heir one day, but hopefully not so soon after their marriage.
Aleck touched one of the outbuildings behind the keep. “This is our stores fer the winter. Ale in one; grain, corn, and jarred vegetables in the other.”
Curious, Fennella opened one of the heavy doors, surprised to see it filled to the brim with supplies. “Your clan did this?”
Pride infused in Aleck’s expression. “Aye. Everyone contributes and are welcome when the winter comes tae dine in the keep. We don’t have many, except the elderly, but the offer is always open.”
What sort of man have I married? Dearg would never allow his clan to do that, nor did his stores look anything like what Fennella was seeing.
It was obvious to her that the clan loved their laird, down to the lowliest servant in the keep.
She had not rested like Aleck had thought today, yet explored the keep and her new home.
The keep was well maintained and everyone she encountered greeted her with a smile.
It was far different than her own home.
Her chest ached as Fennella thought about her sisters. Here she was, enjoying her first day at her new home, yet her heart longed to be with her true family.
Her true clan.
“Fennella?”
Fennella looked up at her husband, giving him a faint smile. “I’m fine.”
He arched a brow. “I believe ye are lying tae me.”
She shook her head, yet the tears crowded her eyes anyway. “I was just thinking about my sisters.”
He drew her close to him, his hands warm on her upper arms. “Yer sisters will be safe in yer absence and once ye have settled in as lady of the keep, then they may come for a visit if ye like.”
Fennella met his gaze. “Why are you being so kind to me?”
His expression did not change. “Because ye are mah wife.”
She did not like the warmth that she felt and brushed past him, angry that she had allowed him to get under her skin so quickly. Aleck caught up with her, falling in step beside her instead. “Would ye like tae look at the sea?”
“Aye,” Fennella said softly, glad that he had changed the subject.
Aleck led her to the edge of a cliff, the loud sound of the sea crashing against the rocks below. “When I am gone from this place, this is the sound I hear in mah mind. It reminds me of what I have waiting for me, a reason to come home.”
In the moonlight, Fennella could see the white foam as it cascaded over the scraggly rocks, the dark, churning water that seemed to go on endlessly. “’Tis intimidating.”
“There is a beach,” Aleck replied, pointing in the distance. “When the weather improves, I will take ye doon there. There are bathing pools that many of the villagers use in the summer.”
She had never been in the sea before and the mere thought made her want to walk down there in the dark, to dip her toes in the angry water. “I would like that.”
Rain started to fall and Aleck sighed. “Come. I dinnae wish tae be soaking wet again.”
Fennella turned, stumbling on a rock she did not see.
Aleck had her against him in seconds, his hard body pressed against hers.
She could feel the fast beat of his heart under her palm as it rested on his broad chest and unable to help it, she looked up at him.
“Fennella, lass,” he breathed, his large hand pressing into the small of her back.
When Aleck dipped his head, her eyes fluttered closed, eagerly anticipating the brush of his lips over hers.
His lips were warm and he tasted faintly of the ale they had consumed at dinner, his woodsy scent surrounding her as his hand slid into her unbound hair, angling her head.
Fennella’s breath caught as Aleck increased the pressure on her lips and she moaned against his mouth, not sure what to do with her hands or her lips.
After all, he was the only man she had ever kissed.
His tongue slipped past her lips and Fennella froze, a peculiar sensation threading through her body. It wasn’t unpleasant, yet made her yearn for more.
Och, she wanted the Scot.
Pulling away, she put some distance between them, her chest heaving from both the kiss and what she had just realized. She thought she heard him sigh, the thunder growing louder over the water. “Go on to the keep Fennella,” he stated. “I will be there directly.”
Fennella wasted no time doing as he asked, not caring if he got struck by lightning standing on that craggy ledge, his fists at his side. He made her feel things she did not want to feel for him and when he did come into their chambers tonight, he would be touching her again.
Kissing her again.
The thought had her all but running to the keep and up the stairs, to the safety of the bedchamber. At first, Fennella had felt as if she was an outsider in this large room, yet the large roaring fire had pulled her in. The bed was inviting, now turned back for them to sleep in tonight.
Together.
Her cheeks heated and Fennella pressed her hands to them, willing herself to calm down. She knew about coupling, how the man would plant himself in her body and claim her proof of innocence.
However, if their kiss was any indication, Fennella imagined there was more to the story, more to the whisperings of the married women in her clan.
Groaning, Fennella started to unbutton her dress, pushing it over her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. What did one wear to their wedding night? Did she put on her warm nightgown and climb into bed, laying still as a corpse until he climbed in next to her?
Did she put on any sort of clothing at all?
A clap of thunder shook the keep and Fennella jumped, laughing nervously as she did so. She was thinking far too much into this. She would stay in her shift to give herself a barrier between her skin and her husband’s warm hands.
After placing her dress on the back of the chair near the window, she climbed into the massive bed, marveling over the softness of the sheets. There were thick furs on the top, as well as a brightly colored tartan blanket that Fennella knew matched his kilt.
Her new colors.
A pang of loneliness struck her as she ran her fingers over the tartan.
How were her sisters? Was Dearg heeding to her husband’s warning and keeping himself away from them?
She hoped so. If he harmed them in any way, she would have no qualms about running a sword through his gut.
She didn’t love Dearg like a sibling. He had brought too much sadness to their clan, to their family, and only cared about himself.
The door opened and Fennella froze as Aleck walked in, shutting the heavy door behind him.
Suddenly the large chamber seemed a bit smaller as he filled the space, his eyes on her.
Fennella pulled the tartan blanket up around her body, not because she was embarrassed for him to see her, but more so that he wouldn’t see the flush that was spreading over her skin from his piercing eyes.
“Are ye warm enough lass?” he asked, as he unstrapped the dagger from his side, placing it on the table near the bed.
“Aye,” she said softly, watching his every movement. “Has the rain started?”
He nodded, his fingers reaching for the hem of his shirt. “We are in for a nasty storm it seems.”
Thunder cracked again and Fennella let out a laugh as they both jumped. “It always catches me off guard.”
He shared in her smile. “Me too. I used tae run and hide as a wee bairn, afraid that the sky was falling in.”
Fennella tried to picture the large Scot doing so and failed.
There would be nowhere to hide him now. Aleck pulled the shirt over his head and she sucked in a breath, getting her first glimpse at her husband’s naked form.
His chest was well formed and sprinkled with the same colored hair on his head, his shoulders as broad as she thought.
Her eyes traveled downward, following the trail of hair on his abdomen until it disappeared into the waistband of his kilt, and she blushed.
Och, she was about to see what the other half of him looked like! Fennella doubted Aleck was the sort of man to wear smalls, which meant he was naked under that kilt.
Oh she wasn’t going to survive this!
“Fennella.”
Her eyes flew up to his face and found him watching her intently, his hands at his sides. “I dinnae want tae make this awkward for ye,” he said, blushing himself. “But I dinnae know how not tae.”