Highlanders (13 page)

“What will you teach me, Jamie?”

CHAPTER SIX

W
HAT
WOULD
HE
teach her?

She already loved him. She already wanted him. She’d pledged herself and her life to him. And she made him burn hotter than any fire.

What could he teach her?

James stepped closer and touched only his mouth to hers, leaving a few inches between them. Lifting his mouth while staying so close he could feel her breath against his lips, he revealed some of what he wanted to show her this night...and every night of their lives together.

“I want to teach you how good it can be between us.” He kissed the edge of her chin and trailed a path of kisses along the line of her jaw until he reached her ear.

“I will teach you the way you like to be touched,” he whispered into her ear. He traced the curves of her ear with his tongue, finally gaining the sigh he wanted to hear. James felt her body tremble and move an infinitesimal amount toward him. He wanted her panting and hot and ready for him and he knew from this morning how to make her so. Her breasts were very sensitive to his attentions.

“I will teach you how to seek and gain pleasure.” Now he moved to stand behind her, easing the length of her hair to one side and biting the cord between her neck and shoulder gently. The gown she wore was no barrier to what he did, for she did shudder then. His own body reacted now, his flesh ready to join with her. Now.

James unlaced the back of her gown, kissing his way down her spine as he slid the garment off her shoulders, allowing it to fall to her hips. After pulling his shirt off, he touched her from behind, moving his hands along the bottom of her ribs, around until they rested just below her breasts. She leaned against him then, sending shocks into his body. Her hot, smooth skin against his inflamed his desire for her even more.

But, he would control the need that simmered within him and make their first time memorable...and immensely pleasurable for her. James kissed her exposed neck as he cupped her breasts in his hands, pulling her back so that she could feel how much he desired her. She gasped over and over as he rubbed his thumbs across her nipples until they tightened.

“Jamie,” she whispered on a sigh. “You undo me.”

He smiled then, knowing what more was still to happen between them. He had only just begun his seduction of her. When he covered her breasts and massaged them, then teased the tips again, she rolled her head against his shoulder and moaned aloud.

Now, he traced the lovely mounds before moving lower, onto her stomach then lower still, pushing the gown until it slid the rest of the way to the floor. Naked but for her stockings and low boots, she arched against his hands, pressing her beautiful arse against him. He closed his eyes and imagined her bent over as he plumbed her feminine depths from behind. He thrust then, losing control for only a moment, but she felt his hardness and rubbed that arse against it harder.

He placed his hands on her hips and moved against her. She gifted him with another delicious moan, but the sound he wanted to hear came when he crept his fingers down across her belly and touched her mons. Her mouth dropped open and she began to pant. James smiled and moved his fingers lower until he felt the wetness there between her legs. Using both hands, he caressed her there until he felt her allow her body to relax on his. Then he rubbed harder and faster and deeper until he found that tiny bud buried within that would make her scream.

“And I will teach you to scream,” he said as he increased the pressure and pace against that part of her that would give her both pleasure and then release. “Scream for me, my love.”

She did then and his body thrust at her from behind, his erection aching and so ready to take that final step. The lovely, lustful sound of her voice, raised and rough, as her release did happen, nearly unmanned him. He nearly lost his grip on her, but he held on and continued to push her body on and on until he’d wrought a full measure of release from her.

He thought she would melt limply against him, so her next action surprised him. She reached up and drew his head down, taking his mouth in a kiss so deep and so hot that it left him breathless. She turned in his embrace and now held onto him. James scooped her up in his arms, their mouths yet touching, their tongues still tasting and stroking deeply, and laid her on the blankets spread there.

Elizabeth reached up and unbuckled his belt, loosening his trews and pushing them down. His cock was freed, and she leaned back and watched him. James moved to kneel between her legs and she shifted to allow him there. He bent over and kissed her, using his hands to make her ready for him. When her hips lifted to meet his caresses, he knew she was.

“Elizabeth. My love,” he whispered as he held onto her hips and brought them up off the blanket. “I will have a care for you in this, lass,” he promised.

The touch of her hand on his and the expression in her gaze surprised him. Not exactly dread, but clearly she was not as fearless as she’d been only moments before. Then, it was gone and she laid her head back and closed her eyes.

It was time to claim her and make her truly his.

Finally.

He leaned down and began to enter her, slowly but without hesitation. He’d not bedded many virgins, only one before her, and the tightness did not surprise him. Her flesh fit around his as he moved deeper within her. James did not pause until he was completely buried inside her. Only as he began to move, sliding out a little then thrusting back in, did he realize that there had been nothing to resist his entry.

But, when she lifted her legs around his hips, bringing him deeper still, he lost the ability to think about anything but making her scream once more. Plunging deeper and harder as she urged him on, he felt her body tighten. His release was close. Too close. Reaching between their bodies, he found that sensitive bud and caressed it until her release began. James filled her and eased out, filled her and eased out, over and over until she shuddered and tightened around his cock.

He did not stop until she collapsed, panting and sweating beneath him. His seed exploded from him, dowsing her womb and making him grunt with satisfaction. Only when the last spasm emptied him did he stop, holding himself on his elbows so she could breathe. Then, still within her, James rolled them to their sides and he waited for the exquisite pleasure to ebb before pulling his flesh from hers.

Lying together, neither one spoke. He pushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead. Instead of meeting his gaze, she tucked her head under his chin in silence. He caressed her, rubbing her back and holding her close as he tried to come up with the words to say.

For what did a man say to his beloved, the woman who would be his wife, when he now knew he had not been the first inside her.

Elizabeth had not been a virgin when he’d claimed her.

* * *

Y
OUNG
D
OUGAL
PACED
the yard outside Broch Dubh keep, waiting for some order from the earl. Surely Connor MacLerie would not allow this insult, this kidnapping, to go unanswered. No matter that it had ended well for his friend Tavis and for Ciara—they were married now, only hours ago, as everyone in the clan had always thought they would.

But, the Murrays’ heir had stolen another MacLerie, forcing her, according to the note he’d left, to leave with him. Elizabeth MacLerie would be ruined if James Murray did not take her as wife. Surely Connor would take action against him for this flagrant disrespect?

As Tavis’s second-in-command, young Dougal knew it would fall to him to carry out whatever orders the earl gave and he was ready, armed and packed to leave as soon as Connor gave word. Now, hours after James’s actions were uncovered and hours after Ciara and Tavis had married, no word had come. He had not been called by the earl.

The summons came well after dark and he strode through the keep to the earl’s chambers in the tower. Climbing the stairs, he was not surprised to find the lady also present. If it were unseemly for a woman to know a man’s business, the earl cared not. For as long as Dougal could remember, the lady was always at his side, giving counsel and sharing her opinions as was her wont to do.

Duncan, the man the earl relied on to negotiate the clan’s treaties, stood in the corner and Rurik, the commander of all MacLerie warriors, was there at his side. Both nodded as he entered but said nothing. Dougal walked to the earl and the lady and bowed, awaiting his orders.

“Dougal, you know that James Murray took Elizabeth?” Connor said. Dougal grimaced, but nodded. “I want you to select two other men and track them down. My best guess...” The earl glanced at his wife before continuing. He looked over and noticed the embarrassed blush spread across her face before turning back to the earl. “My best guess is that he heads to the village near the Glasgow road south. There is a priest of the old faith there.”

Dougal clenched his jaw and ground his teeth at this news. He must act on the earl’s orders and do nothing more or less than he said. No matter that Elizabeth was his younger sister and he wanted to rip this man apart, limb by limb, piece by piece, and make him suffer for kidnapping her. He took a deep breath and released it, holding onto his fury and planning to deal with it when he could.

“I know the place. We passed it on our journey here from Perthshire.” Already calculating the distance and time it would take to reach the village, Dougal realized they could reach it in a matter of hours if they pushed. Sooner if they used the mountain pass south.

“I want them returned here,” Connor said, his face giving away nothing of how he felt about the actions of this man. “I want him alive.”

“If he has harmed her or forced her, I will...” Dougal began, clenching his hands into fists.

“I want him returned alive, Dougal. Tavis assured me that you were ready to lead in his stead. If he was wrong and you cannot manage this task, I will get someone else.”

He need only return James Murray alive, the earl did not say he could not mete out some punishment—which was his right as Elizabeth’s brother. Piece by piece could wait until after the earl had levied his judgment on the man.

“I understand, my lord,” he said, nodding in acceptance of the limitations placed on him. “Do you wish me to leave now or at first light?”

Connor began to speak, but stopped when the lady touched his arm. They exchanged only a glance, no words, but some understanding was reached in that silent conversation.

“Now,” he said.

“Connor!” the lady said sharply. Dougal grimaced, waiting for the earl’s reprimand but all he heard was the soft laughter of the two men watching the exchange.

“Jocelyn, if he was true to his words, the deed is done and there will be no turning back from it. If he dawdled or delayed, I would have him returned here and deal with his lack of honor sooner rather than later. When things cannot be undone.”

The earl never raised his voice, yet Dougal cringed at the tone. The lady? She did not seem to understand her peril and continued to argue. Dougal forced his body still and fought the urge to take several steps back.

“Connor, I pray thee, do not...”

The earl stood so quickly that Dougal never even saw him move. Connor stood so that he blocked Jocelyn from everyone else in the room and no one could hear their harshly whispered words. A few very awkward minutes passed as they conversed, argued really, and then the earl sat back down. The lady wore a dark scowl on her face that matched his—clearly neither were pleased with how things were going.

“You can choose the men and leave this night.”

The words echoed in the chamber and Dougal waited for the lady to speak in protest. Silence filled the room, though from the mutinous expression on her face, the lady would not be silent for long after he left.

“Very well, my lord,” Dougal answered with a bow, offering a nod to the lady and to Duncan and Rurik, who followed him out.

He reached the bottom of the stairway, thinking about which men he should choose. This was his first command situation and his choice would reflect on him. Since it involved his sister and her reputation, he wanted men who could be discreet. And since he planned to bring James Murray back alive but not untouched, he wanted men who could be trusted.

Niall and Shaw.

“Dougal, wait a moment,” Duncan called out to him before he left the tower. “I would have a word with you.”

Dougal stopped until the two reached him. They were both among the most experienced and most loyal of all the earl’s men and their advice would be valuable.

“Do not let your personal feelings get in the way of your duty,” Rurik advised. “No matter that your sister is involved.”

Dougal nodded at the commander’s words, though in truth he would find it difficult not to remember his sister’s part in this.

“Do not let your temper loose,” Duncan advised. “Though Connor said only ‘alive,’ he would be furious if James Murray comes back too badly damaged.” So, the counselor had heard exactly what Dougal had. “Mistakes are made when a man’s blood is running hot, whether caused by lust or insult. Do not make a mistake in how you treat the Murrays’ heir.”

Good advice, even though Dougal had already planned how the man would suffer for having shamed his sister. He would be alive on his return—beaten, battered and abused, but alive. He nodded at the two and took his leave. Why the earl had waited this long before sending him, he knew not. Dougal only knew that he would find them and prevent his sister from making the biggest mistake of her life.

Within a few hours, the three of them were on their way south and west to track down his sister and the man who would dishonor her.

CHAPTER SEVEN

E
LIZABETH
LAY
WRAPPED
in his arms, fighting back the tears that had threatened for hours. Ever since...

Ever since the most wonderful experience of her life.

Now she waited for the rebuke and repudiation to come. If she was a coward for lying here in silence, savoring these last few moments in his embrace before the inevitable ending, so be it.

The first bit of sunlight found her still awake and wondering what Jamie would do and what he would say. She’d promised to teach him to make oatcakes, but would he even care about that this morn? No longer content to wait about, she slipped free of him and gathered her clothes and dressed. She smiled as she realized she’d slept, and been tupped, in her stockings and low boots.

She found his muddied clothes from his pursuit of the wayward horse and took them outside, brushing the worst of the dried, caked dirt from them. Turning them inside out and rolling them up, Elizabeth planned to wash them when they found a good place to do so. Then, she went back inside to do the thing she’d promised him she would do before everything between them had changed.

Within a few minutes, she was mixing together some of the oats, a bit of salt she’d found, a small amount of honey and some water. She had no butter to add, but these plain oatcakes would fill their bellies. After adding some peat to the low fire, she put the heavy griddle pan on to heat it. Stepping quietly so as not to wake him, she only realized Jamie was awake when he reached out and grabbed her gown as she passed by him.

“I have the oatcakes ready to cook,” she said, trying for a brighter tone than what she felt. And purposely avoiding any talk about what had happened between them.

He sat up then, pushing the blankets aside as he stood and stretched. And damn her eyes! Elizabeth watched every move he made in case this was the last time she would see him so. If he noticed he said nothing as he walked outside to see to his needs and to check on the horse...and the weather. By the time he returned, the first batch of cakes were cooking on the griddle, filling the small dwelling with the delicious aroma of oats baking. He dressed before saying anything to her.

“So what ingredients did you use?” he asked, walking up behind her as she took the first batch off and dropped spoonfuls of new batter on the hot surface. She felt the heat of his body from where he stood looking over her shoulder.

“Oats, salt, honey and water,” she said, trying to ignore the longing within her heart to reach out to him and beg him to forgive her for the deception she played on him. Instead, she concentrated on the words she could say. “I would have added some butter if I was at home, but they will turn out without it in a pinch.”

“I think this qualifies as a pinch, does it not?” he asked as he stepped away and began to gather up all the clothing they’d removed from their bags.

She noticed he would glance over at her every so often and she waited for him to say something. But he did not. By the time she’d finished cooking the last of the cakes, he’d packed all their belongings and supplies and put them by the door of the shieling. Soon, they would leave and all evidence of what wondrous things had happened between them would be gone.

But not forgotten. Not by her. Not for a very long time.

Not ever.

She set the plate on the table and poured some water into the cups now. He took his place on the other stool and lifted one of the oatcakes to his mouth. She waited, his opinion being important to her after their teasing about her cooking abilities. He bit into it and chewed. Then he took more. She chose one but waited for him to finish his before beginning.

“For a bit of oats, salt, honey and water, these are delicious, Elizabeth,” he said. He smiled but did not meet her gaze. “Clearly you can cook oatcakes.”

Another deception on her part and one that had been going on for some time. Not even her mother knew of her true cooking abilities for, though skilled in it, she hated it. So, she purposely ruined meals until she was allowed to do the thing she enjoyed more—working with her aunt.

She thought on her aunt’s plan and realized it might be a godsend, for when she returned this time in shame, Connor would never let her stay. At least, he might consider sending her along with her aunt, far from Lairig Dubh in one of the cities.

“Jamie,” she began before losing any words she planned to say to him. How could she explain?

“You were not a virgin,” he said, softly. Neither his tone nor his expression gave away his feelings on the matter. He stated it as the fact it was.

“Nay.”

“When?” he asked without meeting her eyes. She understood the significance of his question even if it was asked in a calm voice.
Did she carry another man’s bairn?

“More than a year ago,” she whispered. “Jamie, I...” Again, unable to defend herself, she let the words drift off into the silence.

She reached out to touch his hand, but he moved it before she could. Did he think she would deny it? She waited for him to speak, but he said nothing while reaching for another of the oatcakes. They continued to eat their fill without speaking, with the only sounds being the water jug or the plate being passed between them.

Elizabeth rose and wrapped the ones left to take with them and used the water to put out the fire. Jamie checked it and once content that it was out, he began to carry the bags outside. By the time she’d cleaned and put away the griddle and water jug and gathered her own bag, he had the horse saddled and the rest of their bags secured.

He pulled the door of the shieling closed and tied the rope to keep wild animals and the like from getting inside. Then he mounted and held out his hand to her to help her up. ’Twas at that time she noticed the thick blanket he’d placed behind his saddle, where she would sit. At first, it confused her, but then the reason became clear—he thought she would be uncomfortable riding this morning.

Truth be told, she was sore, though not as much as she’d been that first time. Not a virgin, however she was not accustomed to tupping and not as vigorously as they had. Now, she felt heat enter her cheeks as she thought of just how vigorous it had been. Coughing to clear her throat, she accepted his hand-up and adjusted the skirts of her gown and shift and the length of her cloak around her legs. Trews were absolutely more convenient for riding, but her family and most of the village would be scandalized if they witnessed it.

Jamie guided the horse down the now-drying path at a slow pace. Though the rains had stopped several hours before, the mud would take longer to dry out completely—if it did before the next storms passed through the area. They made it back to the bottom of the hill and Jamie surprised her by heading south.

“Where are you heading?” she asked over his shoulder. Surely after last night’s discovery, he would call things off between them.

“To the village. Where else would we be going?” he said, drawing the horse to a halt. “Nothing has changed, Elizabeth.” And yet it had, in so many ways she could not even begin to identify or describe.

“And you still wish to marry me?” she asked. For was that not the primary question to voice?

“I gave you my word when we made our plans to leave Lairig Dubh. I will not go back on that even now.”

Was her heart bleeding? The piercing pain caused by his lack of enthusiasm and tone of entrapment took her breath away. Unable to speak, almost unable to remain upright, his truth tore her apart. He would marry her because he’d given his word. In spite of her lack of virginity and deception, he would continue in their bargain because he’d given his word. After breaking it with Ciara, she knew him well enough to know he would not do that again. But, where were the soft words of yesterday? The pledges of love and hope and a life together?

She really had no right to disagree, so she sat behind him holding on to the edge of the saddle to balance and barely touching him, as he guided the horse to the main pathway and they continued on their journey. He was once more trapped in a marriage bargain because he needed to do the right thing by her. But this time, she’d been the cause of it and would not be his escape but his captor.

* * *

J
AMES
HEARD
THE
pain in her voice and felt it in her body as she sat behind him, stiff as a fence post. Had she thought he would disavow her? Had she thought they would have an ugly, angry confrontation over her lack of virginity? Part of him did want that, that primitive part he buried deep inside and controlled and had planned it when he’d asked the question of her. The part more like these Highland warriors than the Scottish nobleman he was raised to be.

She had given herself to a man before him.

Had she
loved
that man before him? If so, why was she not married to him? How had he not heard of her disgrace? Or had she managed to keep her fall a secret?

This, he realized, was what came from living for passion and making decisions based on lust and love rather than calm, rational discussions and reasons. He’d broken the code he’d lived by and now he would pay the price for such arrogance and bad judgment.

He shifted and glanced back at her to see how she fared this morn. James had not noticed her moving with any obvious pain or discomfort and she’d given no sign that he’d hurt her when he’d bedded her. Remembering for a moment the sheer pleasure of their joining, he tried to understand why she’d lied to him.

Was her past experience the reason for her enjoyment of the physical pleasure between them?

Now her acceptance of his touches and caresses took on a new meaning. Did she compare him to whomever she had in her bed before him? Did she regret what they had done? She’d never paused or shown any reticence in the act or anything he’d done. Would she be so at ease in bed if she’d been forced in the past? Was that how she lost her virtue?

That would explain some of his confusion, for why would Ciara remain friends with a woman who had no honor? Why would Connor allow her to remain in Lairig Dubh if she brought shame on her family? She would have been sent away if this had happened in his family. So, why did Connor allow her to stay?

If she had told him the truth, told him of her lack of virtue, would he have pledged his love or promised to marry her? Would he have risked everything—family, fortune and future—to be with her? Would he have fallen in love with her? At this moment, he just did not know. At this moment, she could be carrying his child so that let him fewer choices.

She sighed then, a soft sound he doubted she even was aware of, but he heard it. His body heard it and he fought to keep the desire he had for her, even now knowing what he did, under control. Until they cleared things up between them—though he was not certain he wanted to learn the details of her past—he would not lie with her. It might be too late to turn back, but it was not too late to try to gain some honesty between them.

The sun broke through the clouds then, promising an easier path this day. Pushing off the doubts and the questions, he took the road’s measure and decided they could safely ride faster.

“Hold onto to me, Elizabeth,” he said over his shoulder. “We must ride faster to make up some of the distance.”

Elizabeth said nothing but he felt her arms encircle his waist and her hands take hold of his cloak. And the way her breasts, those wonderful, sensitive, responsive breasts that had risen to tight peaks in his hands, pressed into his back. His cock rose until it nearly reached where she rested her hands. If she moved them a slight bit, she would touch him there. He shuddered at the thought, causing her to shift against him.

It was heaven and hell all in the same moment.

They traveled as long as they could, stopping only twice to refresh themselves. If they ran into more storms, they would be forced to delay locating Father Ceallach another night. James had no doubt that they would be pursued at some point—one did not break with the Earl of Douran on his own lands and not answer for it. So, each delay could be the one that allowed their plans to be thwarted.

Due to his unfamiliarity with the lands here, he’d overestimated the distance and the time needed to reach the village and the priest. It was midafternoon when they reached the first of the village buildings—a smithy from the sound and smell of it.

There would be time enough to stop at the inn for a true meal and to buy some necessities before seeking out the good father and finishing this escapade. Then they could begin the marriage based on deception and dishonor.

* * *

D
OUGAL
AND
THE
men reached the peak of what should be the last hill before reaching the road that James must have taken with his sister. It was the only road into the village to the south and then through to Glasgow. And just beyond the village lay the old priest’s dwelling and small chapel.

Their luck had held for the storms that had plagued the land all of the day before, had broken apart in the skies above and eventually the nearly full moon’s light showed the way. Stopping only to relieve themselves, they ate or drank as they needed while they rode, intent on stopping the Murrays’ heir from taking advantage of his sister and to return him to face the earl’s justice in the matter. They could rest once he was their prisoner.

Niall spied the shieling just before they reached it, for it was hidden from above by the turf roof and the way it was built into the side of the hill. That protected it from the worst of the winds and created a small, sheltered place where animals could be covered. As they pulled to a halt, Shaw pointed out the tree that had burned, struck by lightning most likely.

The shieling looked undisturbed and his hope that they would catch the two inside faded as he untied the rope and pulled the door open. It was empty. Dougal walked inside, waving off the others, and he took in all the signs of a recent use. What struck him as he had pulled open the door was the unmistakable, musky odor of sex.

Christ! The man had already taken Elizabeth. He was too late to save her from shame. He kicked the stool near his feet, sending it crashing into the wall. It was not as satisfying as he’d hoped. But, he would get satisfaction when they caught up with the pair. Young James Murray would pay.