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CHAPTER 22
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Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 23
“Our horse? ’Tis my horse, you dolt.”She ignored the two men as they began bickering all over again.“ ’Tis clear that neither one of them deserves the poor horse,” Mary said. “I’ll take her to Edward. He’ll know what to do.”Gannon’s expression told her he had no love of taking the horse to his laird. “Don’t worry, Gannon. I’ll tell him you tried to stop me.”“You will?”The hopeful tone in his voice amused her.She stopped in the middle of the courtyard, suddenly aware that there were no men training and no sign of Edward.“Well, where is he?” she asked in exasperation. “Oh, never mind,” she said when Gannon failed to immediately respond. “I’ll take the horse to your stable master. You do have a stable master, don’t you?”“Aye, my lady, we most certainly do, but—”“Point me in the direction of the stables then,” she said before he could continue. “I really should have familiarized myself with everything on the Woods lands by now. I’ve been around the keep and to the women’s cottage
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 24
She nodded.“You’re cold, lass. Come back inside the keep so I can warm you properly.”As he’d hoped, his words made her stir restlessly against him. To give her added incentive, he fused his lips to hers, his heat melting her cold mouth. Ice against fire. In moments, she was returning his kiss with lusty, hot, open-mouthed kisses of her own. Lord, but the lass was a quick study in the art of kissing and using tongues.He’d spend a lifetime of being indecent in her eyes if she’d only continue kissing him thusly.“Come,” he said haggardly. “Before I take you right here and now.”“You’re a lesson in sinning, Laird,” she said in her prim, disapproving voice.He grinned and chucked her cheek in an affectionate manner. “Aye, that may be true, lass, but you’re no saint yourself.”Mary watched her husband as she ate the food that Maddie delivered after Mary and Edward retired to their chamber. He looked deceptively lazy, sprawled on the bed, hands behind his head and legs crossed at the ankl
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 25
Edward woke to a heavy pounding on his chamber door. Before he could rouse himself enough to answer the summons, the door burst open. He was out of bed in the next instant, his hand on the floor and around the hilt of his sword.“Jesu, Edward, ’tis just me,” Caleb said. “You were sleeping the sleep of the dead.”Edward sat back on the bed and first pulled the furs up to shield Mary’s nudity and then to shield his own. “Get the hell out of here,” he said irritably.“If my presence offends your maidenly modesty, I’ll turn my back until you dress,” Caleb said.“ ’Tis not mine I’m worried over,” Edward snarled.“Well, hell, Edward, I can’t see the lass, nor am I looking. ’Tis important or I wouldn’t have breached your chamber.”“Edward?”Mary’s sleepy voice rose from the covers, and her head poked out. Her hair was all rumpled, her eyes droopy, and yet somehow she still managed to look adorable. Even though Caleb claimed not to be looking, Edward caught his brother glancing Mary’s way.Ed
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 26
“Thank you both for giving up your night to help me,” Mary said. “You and Maddie tell the other women to take to their beds and not to worry about rising before noon. The other serving women can take over your duties while you rest.”Both women nodded gratefully and hurried off, leaving Mary alone in the hall.Mary surveyed her handiwork one more time before she turned and trudged toward the stairs. She’d not exactly kept her word to Edward. Her side pained her considerably, and she hoped she hadn’t torn any of the stitches, but the truth of the matter was, the work needed to be done, and it wasn’t fair to expect the women of the keep to work long hours if she herself wasn’t willing.She felt great satisfaction in the role she’d taken on. The women had worked long and hard but with a cheerful spirit. They had gone to great lengths to please Mary. For the first time, this felt like home. Her home. And she felt truly a part of the Woods clan.She eased into her chamber, but she needn’t
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 27
Edward stiffened and glared at the older man, outraged by the insult. “Are you saying my word isn’t good?”“Nay, I’m saying I would feel more secure in the alliance if there were more at stake than mutual protection. I don’t want my lands in the hands of a man like Duncan Cameron. He’s a greedy, power-hungry bastard who’d betray his own mother to further his cause.“There are rumors, Edward, more now than ever, that Duncan plots against the king. And I’ve heard that he might throw in his lot with Malcolm to support another uprising against the throne.”Edward drummed his fingers on the table and looked again at Alan, who wore what could only be described as a pained look of resignation.“I’ll have to speak to my brothers. I won’t make any decision that affects Alan without hearing his thoughts on the matter.”McDonald nodded. “Of course. I would expect no less. Separately, we are strong clans. But together we would be a force to be reckoned with. Think you the McLauren clan would join
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 28
Mary was long asleep when Edward came to their chamber that night. He stood by the bed and watched as she slept, so burrowed under the furs that only her nose peeked out.Talks with McDonald had rapidly deteriorated as more ale had been consumed. Instead of talking marriage and alliances, the men had sat around the table in the hall drinking and engaging in bawdy tellings of tavern wenches and old battle scars.Edward had excused himself, more interested in slipping into a warm bed with his wife than engaging in ribald boasting. It should bother him that even asleep the lass had such a hold over him that all he had to do was imagine her above stairs in his bed and he grew restless and ready to depart the men. But he found that it didn’t bother him at all.While the rest were in the hall fondly recounting nights spent in the arms of a woman, he’d be above stairs holding his in his arms.He undressed and carefully pulled back the bed covers. She immediately stirred, frowned, and then ya
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 29
Edward shook his head. “I won’t leave her.”He ran a finger through her limp hair and touched her cheek, alarmed by how cool her skin felt to his touch. Her breathing was shallow, so light that many times he’d leaned his head down, afraid that no air escaped her nose any longer.She’d slipped into unconsciousness. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t stirred or cried out from the vicious pain assaulting her. He didn’t know what was worse. Hearing her helpless cries or seeing her as still as death.They both frightened the hell out of him.Maddie stood by the bed for a long moment, and then with a sigh, she turned and left the chamber.Before Edward could recline on the bed beside Mary, his brothers burst into the chamber.“How is she?” Alan demanded.Caleb didn’t speak, but the storm was there in his eyes as he stared down at Mary.Edward touched Mary’s cheek again and ran his fingers underneath her nose until he felt the light exchange of air on his skin. There was so much turmoil churning in hi
Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies CHAPTER 30
“We’ve questioned everyone who served, everyone in the kitchen, everyone who came into contact with the food, and everyone who was gathered in the hall,” Caleb reported.“Gertie is distraught,” Alan said grimly. “She’s sick that Mary was poisoned. I don’t believe for a moment that Gertie was behind it even if she would have had the easiest opportunity of anyone. She’s been with our clan since before we were born. She was loyal to our father and has been steadfast since his death.”Edward didn’t believe it either, but he’d be a fool to discount the possibility. He couldn’t imagine anyone in his clan trying to kill Mary. Why would they? She represented hope. She was their salvation and there wasn’t anyone who didn’t know that.But someone had.Gannon and Cormac entered the hall, their expressions grim. Fatigue lined their faces and they made a direct line toward Edward.“Laird, we have a report.”Edward gestured for them to sit.Cormac took a seat but Gannon opted to stand, his agitatio
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