Highland Vengeance (7 page)

“
Then come, lay by my side
and sleep with me tonight. We must rest for tomorrow.”

Olivia was grateful that he did not
want to touch her tonight but then she wondered if maybe the sight
of her did not please him enough. Camden pulled back the covers and
climbed into the large ornately carved bed. There were sheer drapes
all around it and the covers looked delicately soft and inviting.
She tried her hardest not to look at his bare flesh but it was a
sharp contrast against the white linens.

She walked over to the large bed and
climbed into it next to Camden. Olivia had a difficult time getting
comfortable with the large dress still on her body. She was not
used to this style of dress, let alone this much fabric. Camden was
a bit annoyed that the woman was so shy that she could not even
change into a sleeping gown.

“
I have told you that I
won’t touch you tonight. Your virginity is safe. Take that gown off
before sleeping, it is taking up the entire bed, wife.”

The more he harassed her about being
shy, the less shy she became. His opinion of her being a weakling
was irritating Olivia beyond her limits.

“
I am not worried about my
precious virginity,” she said harshly, “I just don’t know how to
get this damn dress off.”

Camden was instantly shocked at his new
wife’s sudden outburst. Maybe she was not shy at all.

“
Would you like some help? I
don’t know much about taking these dresses off either but I’m sure
I can figure it out,” he grinned.

Olivia sat up and threw her legs over
the side of the bed with her back towards Camden.

“
Well certainly a man with
your looks must have a great deal of knowledge on how to take a
woman’s dress off,” she said, sounding almost jealous.

“
And what looks might that
be? Do you find yourself attracted to me wife?” He said softly as
he moved close behind her and started to untie the corset of her
dress.

“
Actually, I find you rather
large and I wonder if it hinders your abilities as a warrior for
surely you couldn’t be very agile.”

As Olivia was finishing her sentence,
Camden leapt from the bed to stand in front of her and then he
quickly pushed her shoulders back on the bed and covered her body
with his. Their mouths were an inch apart and the tips of their
noses touched. The laird looked deeply into her beautiful eyes and
stared for what felt like eternity.

“
Never question my abilities
as a warrior, wife,” he ordered.

Olivia was shaken to the core by the
heat of his bare skin as it radiated through her dress. She was
suddenly aware of his perfect masculine body and she could not help
but touch his smooth skin. She became fascinated by the ripples of
his muscles and envisioned of how strong he must be. Olivia had
grown up watching men battle but they always wore armor or at least
clothes. She was certain none of the English men looked like this
underneath their tunics.

The more his new wife touched him, the
less control he had. Camden wondered if she knew the light touch of
her fingertips was driving him mad. He quickly moved off of her
before he broke his promise and took full advantage of their
marriage union. Why was she affecting him this way? The laird had
been with women before but now he felt a need to protect her as if
she were a fragile gift he had been given.

Olivia stood and tried to remove the
dress from her body. She was successful in the first layer and then
was stuck with the second. Camden watched with amusement and
wondered why she did not know how to remove her own dress.
Certainly she had done it many times and he thought maybe she was
just trying to stall coming to bed.

“
Do all English women have
such a difficult time getting out of their dresses?” He
asked.

“
Do all Highland warriors
find enjoyment in their wife’s problems?” She said not answering
his question but giving him one of her own.

Camden laughed out loud and the rich
sound of his laughter sent chills through Olivia’s body. Maybe she
would always make him laugh because she found great pleasure in the
sound. He left the bed, walked close to her and made her lift her
arms. He reached to the floor and pulled her entire dress up and
completely over her head. Olivia stood in only her chemise and then
started to take the pins from her hair. She hated having it pulled
back because it always made her head ache. Camden sat on the edge
of the bed and watched as she moved her body with
elegance.

“
You don’t seem to be very
shy with me any longer.”

She looked at Camden and his statement
seemed so ridiculous. He was the one fully nude in front of her and
he was concerned about her being shy. Olivia smiled at him and
through the firelight of the hearth, Camden saw the face of an
angel. He was grateful he was sitting for surely his knees would
have had gone weak.

“
I am far more comfortable
in only this shift than in that silly dress. I grew up in a convent
and never wore fancy dresses like that. That dress doesn’t even
belong to me and I only wore it because the king asked me
too.”

“
I assumed because you were
a countess that you always had fine clothing and jewels,” he said
as he continued to watch her.

Camden could see her feminine shape
that was visible through the thin chemise. He watched the swell of
her breasts rise and fall with every breath and he struggled to
control his senses. The laird moved back against the pillows and
pulled the covers over himself so she could not see how the sight
of her body was affecting his own.

“
I am sorry I have no fine
clothing but we do have family jewels. If you wanted a dowry you
should have spoken with my brother before we wed.”

“
I received the dowry I
wanted,” he said flatly as the thought of the land and the
Sinclairs brought him back to reality.

“
Of course, you got the
precious land that you wanted. Well I am grateful someone benefited
from this marriage,” she blurted out.

“
I take it you did not come
willingly to this marriage.”

Olivia finally had all the pins out of
her hair and she ran her fingers through it as she looked towards
the man she was about to share a bed with.

“
I only knew I was to be
married just minutes before it happened.”

She noticed her husband staring at her
and Olivia wondered if he was disappointed in her appearance. This
was the first time in her life that she wished to be petite and
dainty like the other women. The new bride felt as if she were
being examined with his stare so she quickly climbed into the
bed.

“
The marriage had to be
quick for reasons beyond my control. I am sorry that you are
dissatisfied with our arrangement,” he said.

“
I never said I was
dissatisfied but I never thought I would even marry let alone have
it happen so quickly.”

“
Why?”

“
Why what? She
asked.

“
Why did you think you would
not marry? You are a beautiful royal countess. I should think that
would make you every man’s prize,” Camden said
sincerely.

“
I don’t want to be any
man’s prize. I never wanted any of the things that most girls
wanted when they grew up.”

The woman was truly a puzzle to him and
he found her words to be intriguing. Camden was not use to talking
to a woman much less wanting to hear more of what she had to say.
How much would she tell him and how much should he tell her, he
wondered. Olivia was glad that he thought she was beautiful. She
had a peculiar need inside to please him for some
reason.

“
We have a long ride ahead
of us tomorrow. You must get some sleep wife,” Camden said as he
rolled close to her and pulled her gently next to him.

His arm draped across her small waist
and Olivia felt his chest against her back as it moved with each
breath he took. The size of him surrounding her made it seem like
she was in a cocoon of protection. His body was bursting with heat
and she welcomed his warmth in the chilly night air. Olivia was
restless laying so close to him and she wondered if he was sleeping
yet. Maybe they would always sleep together so intimately, she
thought.

“
Are you going to move like
this through the entire night?” He asked her curtly.

“
I am sorry but I am not
used to having a giant man in my bed.”

“
Well get used to it quickly
and stop fidgeting.”

“
If anyone is rightfully
allowed to be angry here it is I,” she insisted.

“
I am not angry. Just go to
sleep,” he ordered.

“
Of course you are angry and
I have done nothing wrong.”

“
Alright I am angry. Every
time you move, it makes that thin little slip you are wearing move
further up your bare thighs. The more I feel your silky skin, the
more it drives me mad with want to take you and make you mine. If I
do that, then I will not be a man of my word because I promised not
to touch you tonight. Unless you are willing to give yourself to me
freely and take that shift off so I can explore every inch of your
body with my mouth, I suggest you lie still and go to
sleep.”

Chapter Four

Olivia did not move a muscle, in fact,
she was afraid to even breathe. His pure honesty was shocking to
her but she was grateful he explained why he was so agitated.
Somewhere deep inside she was satisfied knowing that her new
husband desired her physically. Olivia knew other men did and they
seemed so shallow to want to court her just for her appearance. She
actually admired Camden for the sensible act of marrying to gain
the land he wanted. The countess was curious though as to why he
valued this property so greatly.

“
Do you find me pleasant to
look at?” Olivia asked him.

Camden sighed into the dark. “Yes,
please go to sleep.”

“
Are you pleased you married
me, other than for the land of course?” She persisted.

“
I hardly know you well
enough to answer that question,” he said honestly.

Olivia moved again and her exposed
thighs pressed against his heated body. If she had known the power
she held over him right now, she would have definitely taken
advantage of it. Camden moved his mouth the nape of her neck and
slowly began to kiss the soft skin. Olivia exhaled deeply and his
touch sent chills down through her body. What was he doing to her
and more importantly, she wanted to know why he was doing
it.

“
Why are you kissing me like
that?”

“
Because you keep moving
against me and I want you to experience just a moment of what it
would be like if you gave yourself to me willingly,” he whispered
into her ear.

“
I know what is expected of
me in the marriage bed. I was taught what my duties are as a wife
from the nuns at the abbey. I will not stop you if you wish to
perform the act.”

Camden smiled against her skin finding
his new wife’s comments humorous.

“
I have told you already
unless you come freely to me, I will not take you tonight,” he said
as he continued kissing Olivia’s neck.

The laird then started moving his thumb
so it brushed underneath her breasts. Her chemise was completely
pulled up around her waist now and Camden knew he was to the point
of no return. He needed to hear her say the words. He needed her to
want him as much he wanted her.

She turned to face him. “What should I
call you? You only call me wife and I am not sure if it because you
are supposed to or perhaps you just don’t remember my
name.”

“
Olivia, you talk too much,”
he smiled.

Camden brought his mouth to hers and
tenderly kissed her lips. He was gentle as first, but when he heard
a soft moan escape from her mouth, Camden swept his tongue inside
to taste her. Olivia had never expected a kiss to be like this and
she now never wanted it to end. As he continued to move his mouth
against hers, the young countess started to feel a burning down
below and an ache that needed to be fulfilled.

“
Tell me that you want this
Olivia,” he whispered against her neck while he let his hands
explore her body.

“
I am not sure what it is
that I want but there is a need and I…,” she said breathlessly
before he stopped her with another kiss.

Camden had never felt this way before
and he was losing control way too quickly. He pulled the chemise
over her head and dropped it to the floor. He moved back from her
slightly and looked at her lean muscular body in the
firelight.

“
My God you are
perfection.”

He realized his bride had great
strength from the way her body was toned and the muscles curved.
Her breasts were flawlessly beautiful and as he brought his mouth
to her nipple, Olivia clutched his hair with her hands. She did not
know that husbands did such things to their wives. Camden could
feel her moving restlessly against him and he knew she was burning
inside.

“
Olivia, you must want me
freely or I will stop this now,” he said as he looked into her eyes
and saw the passion burning there for him.