Chapter 14
Fourteen
Callie watched as Sin dressed, his muscles rippling with every move he made. He was gorgeous and yet as unreachable as the sky above them. How she wished she could think of some way to breech the distance between them.
“‘Tis amazing how well you can lace your armor without assistance. I thought knights usually had a squire to help them.”
Sin paused, then returned to lacing his hauberk. “I’ve never had a squire.”
“Truly?” she asked, surprised by his confession. He was always so patient and calm with Jamie that she couldn’t imagine why he detested being around children as much as he did. “Why not?”
He shrugged.
Before she could stop herself, she moved forward and poked him in the ribs.
Frowning, he rubbed his hand over the place where she had poked him. “What was that for?”
“You’ve got that serious face again. Remember what I said I would do to you should you get it?”
“You said tickle me, not poke me.”
She smiled impishly. “In that case...” She rushed him.
Sin stumbled back as she tickled him even through his armor. He laughed, trying to catch her hands to stop her, but she moved even faster than he did. His spur caught in the rug on the floor and sent him crashing to the ground with Callie on top of him.
Still laughing, he rolled over and pinned her to the floor beneath him. “You are the Mistress of Madness, aren’t you?”
“Aye, and I am maddest of all for you.”
His eyes were gentle and kind as he stared down at her with a hot look that made her breathless and weak. Leaning down, he rubbed noses with her, then he dipped his lips to kiss her.
Callie sighed at the passion she tasted. Och but he felt good on top of her even with the weight of him in his armor crushing her. He nibbled and teased her lips as his tongue swept against hers.
She buried her hands in his silken hair and held him close, delighting in the feel of him. The warm, masculine scent of him. Don’t leave me...
The silent plea burned through her and she wished she could bind him to her. Wished she knew the words or actions that would make him want to stay with her as much as she wanted to stay with him.
If only it could be.
Sin closed his eyes and inhaled the sweet lavender scent of her. Felt her breasts pressing against him even through his heavy armor. He wanted inside her so badly that he shook from it.
He would give anything to have her. Anything to run away from what Henry wanted him to do.
She saw only the best inside him and it scared him to think of the day her opinion of him would change.
Sooner or later the fresh bud of love always changed into something else.
If a man was lucky, it blossomed into a lasting friendship, but many more times it became hatred.
He was new to her now. Yet should he stay, and she learn more about him, she would see his faults with clarity and she would grow to despise him.
It was a chance he couldn’t take. For in his heart, he knew she alone could destroy him. She held the power in her eyes to do him more damage than any enemy or army.
She, alone, held his wary, shriveled heart.
“They will be waiting for us below,” he whispered, moving to rise from her.
“They say waiting is good for a soul. It builds character.”
Sin smiled at that. “Aye, but you went to such effort on my behalf that it would be remiss of me to not enjoy it.”
She snickered at that. “Blaming me, are you? Now there’s a fine thing. Very well then, we shall go, but tonight after we sup, you are mine.” She raked a hungry look over him that sent even more heat to his groin. “All mine.”
Sin hissed at the seductive look on her face as he pulled her to her feet. “When you speak like that, milady, you send chills down my spine.”
“Stay in this room with me, and I shall send more than that down your spine.”
His body reacted instantly to her words, growing hotter and harder than he’d ever been before. Against his will, he glanced to the bed and imagined the look of her naked and beneath him. “You are an evil temptress.”
She took his hand and kissed his knuckles. She ran her tongue over his flesh, sending waves of lust burning through him before she nipped his skin with her teeth. Then, she pulled him toward the door. There was an evocative swish to her hips that made his body sizzle even more.
“Any time milord is tempted, just let me know.”
Grinding his teeth to stave his desire, he very reluctantly let her lead him from the room.
They headed back downstairs. But instead of the family they had left, the hall was packed full of clan members who stood about talking until their voices were united into a loud, resounding drone.
People stood in groups, laughing and bantering.
Dogs ran loose between legs as people ate and drank while five men had taken up pipes and drums to play in one corner.
Callie froze at the sight, half-scared of why they were there. But as soon as the crowd saw Sin, a cheerful cry of greeting echoed in the room.
“You didn’t tell us you’d saved the town, lad,” Aster said, stepping forward to clap him on the back.
Sin bristled and she quickly noted just how uneasy he was with all the attention. “I didn’t really.”
“And he’s modest too,” Peg said.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were a Highlander?” Angus asked. “And a MacAllister, no less. We should have known our Callie wouldn’t-”
“Angus,” Callie said, cutting the man off before Sin grew any more agitated. “What are all of you doing here?”
Morna came forward, leading a herd of servants bearing baked goods and treats from the village. “After the two of you left, the village decided it was time for a wedding celebration.”
Sin looked bewildered by it.
Morna smiled up at Sin. “Then after we got here, Aster told us this is the anniversary of your birth, so now we have a double celebration.” She went off to direct the servants.
Smiling, Callie approached her husband who was looking almost sheepishly at the ceiling. How very strange. “Is something amiss?”
“Aye, I am wondering at what point the roof will collapse down upon us and kill us all.”
She frowned at his doomed prophecy. “I beg your pardon?”
Still, he continued to inspect the walls and ceiling. “Nothing good comes without a steep price. I’m merely afraid of what limb I shall have to sacrifice for this moment.”
She shook her head at him. “Ever the pessimist.”
“Relax.” Braden handed him a mug of ale. “I would say you’ve paid the price and this is the reward.”
Sin didn’t believe it for a minute. Something bad was going to happen. It always did. Every time in his life when he had thought himself safe or even at peace, something horrible had disrupted it.
He watched as several of the villagers cleared a space in the center of the hall where people could dance to the music the five men played. Food and drink flowed freely while everyone made merry with the day.
Sin watched as woman after woman came up and talked to his wife and oddly enough spoke to him as well.
Oh, this was evil. Truly, truly insidious.
He half expected the devil himself to crash through the wall and swoop Callie up and run away with her.
“You have the look of a deer caught by a poacher,” Simon said as he came to rest by his side.
“I feel more like the deer who knows the poacher is near and can’t sight him.”
Morna joined them and offered Sin a small cake. “‘Tis tradition for the groom to eat it.”
Sin took it from her hand. “Thank you, milady.”
She blushed and ambled off.
Simon leaned over. “That smells delicious.”
Sin smiled. “You and your stomach, Simon. I swear, one day your gluttony shall be the death of you.”
Callie came up and took him by the hand. “Come, my Lord Ogre, I want a dance with you.”
Sin handed the cake over to Simon and followed after his lady.
Callie was amazed at how well Sin danced. In all honesty, she’d expected him to protest or tell her he didn’t know how, but that was far from the case. The man was a wondrous dancer. “I thought you said you never danced.”
“I haven’t before, but I’ve watched others enough to know.” As she twirled around behind him, she raised up on her toes and placed a sweet kiss on his cheek.
The look on his face made her laugh as a cheer went up through the crowd.
“You are an amazing woman,” he breathed.
“Not hardly, my lord, but I’m glad you think so.”
When the song ended, they left the floor. Morna handed Callie her bride’s cake.
Callie turned to him. “We’re supposed to eat them together. Did you eat yours already?”
He indicated Simon with his thumb. “I gave it to Simon, but I’m sure it’s gone already.”
“It’s supposed to be good luck to eat them together.”
Morna clucked her tongue at Sin. “It’s supposed to guarantee fertility. A child for every poppy seed the two of you consume.”
He passed a wicked smile to Callie, not believing the superstition in the least. Still, he wouldn’t insult the woman who had been kind to him. “Well in that case, I’d best go claim it then.” He winked at his wife.
Sin crossed the hall and it was only then he saw Simon looking a little pale. “Is something wrong?”
Sweat beaded on his forehead. “I can’t breathe.”
Sin heard Jamie yell that one of the hounds was ill. The dog limped to the center of the hall and collapsed.
Sin’s heart stilled. “Simon, did you feed anything to one of the hounds?”
“The cake,” he said, his voice ragged. “It didn’t taste good so I gave some to the dog.”
“Poison.” Sin narrowed his eyes on Callie. “Fetch me a purgative.”
He grabbed Simon’s arm and wrapped it around his shoulder, then headed for the stairs. “We have to get you upstairs before anymore of the poison gets through your body.”
Simon stumbled so much that finally Sin picked him up and carried him like a babe.
To his amazement, Simon didn’t argue. That, more than anything, told him the severity of his friend’s illness.
By the time they reached his room, Simon was trembling and sweating sheets of perspiration.
Callie quickly joined them. She gave Sin a cup of her potion and held a bucket.