“Lie with me, Keeley. We both have need of rest. I’ll sleep better with you by my side.”Her eyes glowed and her cheeks pinkened, but she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to pull her down to the mattress.“ ’Tis the truth I’m tired,” she whispered.“Aye, you have every reason to be.”He slid his hand up and down her back and rested his chin on the top of her head. Gradually she relaxed until she was limp and soft against him.“Keeley?”“Aye?” she asked sleepily.“Thank you for giving me aid and for returning with my brothers to tend me.”She was silent for a moment, and then she slipped her hand into his. “You’re welcome, warrior.”***********Keeley sighed and burrowed closer to the source of heat. She gave a lazy yawn and nearly purred at the large hand rubbing up and down her back. ’Twas a wondrous way to awaken.Then she remembered that she was in bed with Alan and it could only be his hand wandering aimlessly across her back.She lifted her head and found him staring dow
She was almost to the keep when a strong hand clamped down on her shoulder and turned her around. She balled her fist and swung. Caleb’s eyes widened in shock just before he dodged his head to the side and popped up his hand to block her blow.“God’s teeth, woman. Stand down.”“Remove your hand from my person,” she snapped.“Keeley, I would speak to you,” Edward said in a grim voice.She looked beyond Caleb to see Edward standing a foot behind his brother. She wrenched her hand from Caleb’s grasp and took a step backward.“I think you’ve said enough, Laird.”“Nay, I don’t think so. Come inside. We’ll speak in the hall while I break my fast. Have you eaten yet? It’s my practice to eat with my wife. She sleeps longer now that she’s heavy with child.”Keeley issued a short nod and waited for the laird to precede her into the keep. Caleb backed away and with a last glance in Keeley’s direction returned to where the men were training.When they entered the hall, the places were being set a
Keeley returned fiercely to Alan. “Are you trying to kill yourself? Have you no care for your well being?” She poked him in the chest and rose up on tiptoe so she could look him more squarely in the eye. “If you tear my stitches, I’ll not repair them. You’ll have to bleed to death. The wound will fester and your flesh will rot away, but don’t expect any help from my quarter. Stubborn, infuriating man.”Alan placed both hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. “Keeley, lass, please. Calm down. I’m feeling quite well. My side still pains me. I know I’m not fully recovered, but if I spent one more moment behind the closed door of my chamber, I’d go mad. I needed but a bit of fresh air.”“Well you’ve had your fresh air,” Edward grumbled. “Now get your arse back to your chamber so that we can restore peace around here.” He pinned Mary and Keeley both with the full force of his glare. “And the both of you will return indoors immediately. When I agreed to a tour, I didn’t mean the whole o
Alan blinked and then glared at Caleb for intruding so rudely on his thoughts.“What the hell do you want?”“For you to pay attention. ’Tis important matters we discuss and you’re busy mooning over the lass.”Alan curled his fingers into a fist but didn’t respond to Caleb’s ribbing.Edward frowned as he stared between the brothers. “I was saying that I received a missive from Laird McDonald. He sorely regrets that your travel was interrupted. He sought to seal our alliance as quickly as possible. He grows more uneasy over the idea of Cameron taking over his borders. There is much unrest among our neighbors. They all fear Cameron’s might and are looking to us for aid and support.”Alan glanced at his brother, unease growing in his chest.“He doesn’t want to wait until spring to join our clans through marriage. He also knows I refuse to leave the keep with Mary’s time so close nor will I leave thereafter. He has offered to travel with Rachael after Mary’s babe is born and have the weddi
Christina’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened with shock. “Oh I couldn’t! Why, that would be brazen. He’d think me … He’d think me …” she sputtered to a halt, clearly unable to voice the word floating through her mind.“I wager he’d be too knocked off his feet to have such thoughts,” Maddie muttered. “Some men need a shove every now and again. A stolen kiss does not a harlot make. No matter what your mother might preach.”“I agree with Maddie,” Keeley said.“You do?” Christina turned to look at Keeley just as they stepped into the keep and were greeted by much warmer air. “Have you ever … kissed a man?” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she looked around to make certain they weren’t overheard. “I mean did you do the kissing?”“Aye,” Keeley said softly. “I’ve kissed and I’ve been kissed. ’Tis not a shameful thing, Christina. If it doesn’t go too far. Cormac is a good man. He won’t take advantage, and if he does, you scream loudly and I’ll kick him betwixt the legs.”Maddie dissol
The usually flavorful food was dry and unremarkable. She ate because there was naught else to do but eat and smile. Another bite. Another smile. Nod in Christina’s direction. Laugh at a jest from Mary. Watch Caleb scowl. And then look in Alan’s direction again.She sighed and moved the venison around with her cutting knife. She just wished the meal over with so she could retire to her chamber and try to lose herself in a few hours sleep.She chanced another peek at Alan and sucked in her breath when she found his gaze resting on her. He didn’t move away or try to pretend he hadn’t been watching her. His eyes like green ice delved past her defenses and threatened to crumble her on the spot.He didn’t smile. In his eyes she saw all that she felt. And yet she couldn’t make herself look away. Nay, if he could brave allowing her to see his torment, then she could offer her own in return. She wouldn’t pretend to feel naught.Beside her Mary cleared her throat, jerking Keeley from her locked
“And yet here we both stand, unable to sleep. Why is that, Keeley?” he asked softly. “Are we going to continue to deny what it is we both want?”“Nay.”He went still. So still that the room went deathly quiet and only the howl of the wind could be heard. Cold rushed through the room, blanketing it in frigid layers. Keeley shivered and gathered her arms around her. She looked so vulnerable that every instinct in him cried out to protect her from harm. To cherish her and lavish on her all the patience and understanding he had in him.Then he cursed when another blast of cold air rushed through the room. The flame in the hearth flickered and sparked higher, fed by the draft. He hurried to the window to pull the furs down and then went to Keeley and pulled her into his arms, shielding her from the chill.Her heart beat frantically against his chest, and she trembled from head to toe.“Come over to the bed so you can wrap up in one of the furs while I build up the fire,” he said gently.Ca
Keeley held her breath until she was light-headed and near to fainting. When she let it out, it came out in a rush that unsteadied her.Before her stood a man—a warrior—that had no equal. He was honed by the fires of battle. Muscled. Scarred. Lean. No spare flesh on any part of his body.He towered over her, his strength a tangible thing in the small space of the chamber. He could so easily hurt her, and yet she trusted him fully. His gentleness soothed her and made her ache with longing.But looking at his groin with his … appendage … jutting upward like a battle flag, she cast a doubtful look upward. “Are you sure … Are you sure we’ll … it’ll … fit?”She nearly groaned with her humiliation. How was she supposed to act like a grown woman who’d been on her own for the last years when she swooned at the mere sight of a man’s shaft. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t seen one before. She’d seen his for that matter, but they’d all been at rest. Not flagging upward like a battle-ax.It amazed