Chapter 11
Fennella threw her head back and laughed as she finished the complicated dance steps, her heart feeling lighter than it had since her arrival here. Today she had done something that she would have never thought she would do for this clan, yet it felt so right.
Her time here felt right.
The music slowed to a mournful tune and she felt a hand touch her waist, finding Aleck staring down at her. “I believe it’s mah turn,” he murmured, pulling her against his hard body. “I much prefer these dances tae the others.”
Fennella’s arms moved of their own accord as she touched his upper arms, feeling the shift of his muscles under her touch. “Is it because you cannot dance my lord?”
Aleck threw his head back and laughed. “Aye lass, I have two left feet.” He then leaned down, close to her ear. “I have far better luck in other places, such as the bedchamber.”
Her heart crashed loudly in her ears as his words glided over her, making her acutely aware of his hand at her waist, the other lightly touching the bare skin at her shoulder, where her dress ended.
Lord this man, he made her lose all her senses with a mere touch!
“What Fennella?” he asked. “Do ye not have any words lass?”
Flustered, she tried to pull away from his touch, but he held her firm. “Ah Fennella, give mah time tae hold ye.”
She stilled, her hands flexing on his arms. What would he feel like under her fingers? Aleck was a warrior, his body honed to perfection and ripe for the touching. Suddenly she wanted to touch him everywhere. He was her husband after all.
She met his gaze and recognized the same intensity that she knew her eyes held in his, a quirk of a smile on his lips. “Fennella,” he said. “Let me love ye.”
Fennella was torn. To give herself to him again would be taking a piece of her heart away. The more she allowed him to do those things to her, to show his tender side, would mean that she would be losing herself in the process.
But to have his hands on her body again! Her skin heated at the thought. “Where?” she asked hoarsely, her eyes flitting to the keep.
“Nae,” he said, grasping her hand in his, the roughness of his skin caressing hers. “I’ve got another place I would like tae show ye.”
Against her better judgement, Fennella allowed Aleck to whisk her off to the stable, where his horse was waiting. He didn’t bother to saddle the animal, swinging up onto his back with ease before reaching back to her. “Do ye trust me lass?”
Fennella drew in a breath. Did she trust him? Not completely. She couldn’t. He was a man and men had intentions, especially men in a position of power.
But Aleck was also her husband and he had sworn his allegiance to protect her with his life.
Grabbing his hand, she allowed Aleck to pull her up in front of him, her body relaxed against his.
Aleck reached for the reins that were still attached to the bridle that the horse was wearing, and they shot out of the stable, heading away from the keep.
The wind tore through her hair but Fennella just laughed, glad to be away from the keep for a little while.
One of the things she had enjoyed was racing her horse against her bandit members over the moors, feeling like she was one with the earth for that moment in time.
It was the same feeling now.
They rode a little way, Aleck’s strong heartbeat like a soothing rhythm against her back, his arm draped around her waist to hold her onto the horse. This man was her husband. Fennella could scarcely believe it still.
Finally, he pulled the horse to a stop and slid off its back, reaching for her. They were at a cavern of sorts, its yawning mouth beckoning them in. “Is it safe?” she asked, as he reached for her hand.
He winked. “Of course, lass. I wid not bring ye into danger.”
Nervously chewing her bottom lip, Fennella allowed Aleck to pull her into the cavern’s mouth, surprised when he reached behind a bush at the entrance and produced a flint, along with a lantern. “You’ve come prepared I see.”
“Ye will see why in a minute,” he answered, lighting the wick before stepping inside.
The smell of sulfur hit her full force and Fennella wrinkled her nose, the air becoming warmer the deeper they went. She tried not to huddle close to Aleck, but it wasn’t long before she was pressed against his back, her nerves on edge.
“Scared lass?” he asked.
“I just don’t like the dark, ’tis all,” she shot back. “How much farther?”
“We are here.”
Fennella stepped around her husband and a gasp slipped between her lips as she surveyed the massive opening, the steaming pools reflecting in the lantern light. “It’s a hot spring!”
“Aye,” Aleck stated, setting the lantern down on the solid ground. “We willnae be disturbed.”
Her body shivered for another reason as she turned to her husband, seeing that he was eyeing her warily. “How many other women have you brought here before?” she asked abruptly.
“None lass,” he answered, reaching for her. “Ye are the one and only.”
Her heart constricted at his declaration and Fennella launched herself at her husband, her lips colliding with his.
This man would destroy her.
He grasped her as his mouth plundered hers, the kiss far different than their first time together. Fennella yanked his shirt out of his breeks and pushed her hands under the fabric, her fingers exploring the hard planes of his abdomen. She needed to be close to him, skin to skin.
Aleck growled and broke their kiss, pulling his shirt over his head before starting to work on the row of buttons at the back of her gown, his large fingers fumbling with the buttons. Fennella stepped back, her breaths coming in short gasps. “Aleck.”
He stilled. “What lass?”
“Just rip the bloody thing off.”
His lips curved in a feral smile. “Mah pleasure lass.”
The dress came off in a hurry and Fennella blushed as she stood there in her shift, letting her husband ogle her body. There was no fur to hide behind, no bed to burrow down in.
She didn’t want to. “Your breeks,” she breathed.
“Yer shift,” he answered, his voice rumbling through her. “’Tis only fair lass.”
Fennella’s lips lifted in a small smile as she grasped the edge and pulled it up, seeing his eyes widen as she revealed more of her body. There was no shame, only curiosity of what he might do once she removed it completely.
She hoped he did some wondrous things to her.
Pulling the shift over her head, she threw it on the ground, seeing that he was rapidly removing his boots and breeks, baring himself to her.
Had that really been in her? Fennella blushed furiously as she thought about the whisperings of the women of her own clan. Her husband was someone they would giggle about.
“What lass?” he asked, a grin on his handsome face. “Yer staring.”
“So are you,” she forced out, trying to find her voice.
“Aye,” he answered, his eyes heating. “And I cannae wait tae get mah hands on ye.”
Fennella turned suddenly and stepped toward one of the pools to hide her heated face. “Is it deep?”
“Nae,” he answered, coming up behind her. His lips grazed her shoulder and she shivered, wanting to lean back against his naked form. “Go on.”
She did, dipping her toe in the warm water before sighing in contentment as she lowered herself in. “This is better than a warm bath.”
Aleck eased in beside her, the water coming up to his waist. “Aye. That is why I haven’t shared it with anyone else.”
Fennella laughed, her breath stuttering in her chest as Aleck’s hand wound around her naked waist. He pulled her closer and she reached out, her hands on his chest. She didn’t know what to do now.
Aleck’s other hand eased behind her head, cupping her neck. “Relax lass,” he said, lowering his head. “This time, ye will enjoy it.”
His lips captured hers and she was lost, her hands burying themselves in his hair to pull him closer. His cock pressed into her stomach, his need apparent.
She wasn’t frightened. No, she wanted him all over her body.
His hand slipped from her neck to her breast and Fennella uttered a noise against his mouth as he rolled her nipple between his fingers before breaking their kiss to take her breast in his mouth.
Oh dear. “That...” she started, unable to find the words, her hands holding his head there.
He chuckled low in his throat. “Aye,” he said, his breath hot on her breast. “Ye like that lass?”
Her knees weakened as he took her other breast, his hand sliding down her stomach and into the folds of her nether region. “Och lass,” he said against her breast. “Yer wet and willing for me.”
Fennella whimpered as she clung to his shoulders, his finger doing amazing things to her body. This was not like the first time they had been together.
He was right. She was enjoying it.
Aleck pressed his lips to her shoulder, increasing his pressure on the swollen area of her body below the water.
When she cried out, he groaned into her shoulder.
“Bare with me lass,” he said, picking her up by the waist. Fennella gasped as Aleck slid into her still quivering folds, clutching at his shoulders.
He swung her around until her arse was resting against the lip of the spring. “Wrap yer legs around me,” he panted.
She did as he asked and they groaned together, her forehead resting against his chest. “Aleck,” she whispered, her emotions getting the best of her.
“Fennella,” he answered, gripping her hips tightly. “Mah wife.”
She didn’t answer, unable to find her voice, and he shifted, slamming back into her. Fennella arched her back, her entire body shaking with need, and rode the wave of pleasure that peaked within her.
Pleasure that only Aleck had given.
Soon she was meeting him thrust for thrust, her throaty screams echoing off the cavern walls. Aleck’s voice roared in her ears as he stiffened before collapsing on top of her.
For a moment, Fennella didn’t move, the stone ground warm on her back. She felt wonderful, as if something that had been missing in her life was finally moving into place.
The thought scared her as well as the new tender feelings she was having for her husband.
What had he done to her?