Mysty McPartland (20 page)

She turned her attention away and on to Payne and stared at him thoug
htfully. Just maybe he could be talked in to taking her for a ride tomorrow. All afternoon, she’d paced her chamber wondering who she could persuade to help her.

If she could just get
to the McDowell’s without her husband knowing, she could hopefully speak privately to the man’s wife. Letting out a heartfelt sigh, knew she would probably send Rieph into another fit of rage if he ever found out. Well so be it, someone had to something for the poor couple.

Tomorrow
, she would try and speak to Payne and also she would have to apologize to Gabe. No doubt the poor man took the full brunt of her husband’s wrath. And thinking about the man she peeked at him from beneath her lashes and frowned. He was looking quite relaxed and happy this evening.       

From under half closed lids, Rieph watched his wife carefully. He could practically read her every thought. He wanted to laugh out loud knowing that she would try to wheedle his brother into doing her bidding. Oh, he knew exactly what she was up to. Her sweet innocence no longer fooled him, she was downright sneaky.

Already
, he’d spoken to his brother; she would never be able to be able to talk Payne into taking her for a ride. In fact, everyone had been warned not to. No matter what excuse or story she used, they were not to take her out riding.

It would be he who would be going to speak laird McDowell, not his wee wife, however, he wasn’t going to tell her that now. Later tonight, when they were alone and he would warn her of the dangers of riding out alone with only one escort.

Also, he would have to caution her about what he thought might happen with Lord Phillip if the man managed to get his hands on her. He needed to have her promise that she would start to take care and be alert to the dangers that may happen to her. And he was most definitely going to talk to her about lying to him. Oh yes, most definitely they were going to discuss that particular subject.

He hated doing it and he didn’t want her living in constant fear but until the threats were over she must be made to keep vigilant and protect herself against them. She was so damn naïve and trusting and he would do all he could to protect her from danger.

When the meal finished b
oth Trista and Jaccy left the hall together and following her sister into her room, she wanted to know how she felt about Quinn.

“
Oh Trista, laird Quinn is so nice. He is everything I could ever want in a husband.” Jaccy said dreamily.

Pleased and smiling at her younger sister, she was happy for her but still she felt a little pain twist her heart. How she wished that she felt the same way when she first met Rieph. Shaking the thought away, she hugged her sister. “I am so happy for you, Jaccy, and Quinn is a wonderful man. I’ll say goodnight now and will see you tomorrow.”

Thoughtful after taking her leave from her sister, she changed into her nightgown and after braiding her hair slipped beneath the covers and stared up at the ceiling. Alone in their big bed her thoughts once again turned to what it might have been like if she had not been forced to marry her husband.

Would she have found him attractive if the
y met under different circumstances? Would she have liked him? Fallen in love with him? She let out a long unhappy sigh. She still didn’t know if he only cared for her or if he loved her. She wondered if she would ever know, her husband wasn’t a man who expressed such sentiments and it was a sad fact that perhaps she would never know how he truly felt.

              Chapter Eighteen

Many miles away in another castle, Kevin McGovern
, after making love, lay naked in bed with the lovely Devena. “’Tis said the McKays and his Sassenach wife are barely speaking and his clan detest him for what he did to her. I still ken that if we can get our hands on her, he willnae like it.”

Spitefully pleased over what she heard, just thinking of that English bitch made
her furious. “And what will ye do when ye have her?”

“Jealous
, my love? Ye need nay be. I wouldnae touch the Sassenach wench, but if we had her, I am sure there would be something we could find that she is frightened of.”

Excited and sitting up,
she smiled with viciousness. “Aye, I ken what it is. The bitch was forced to marry the Black Warlock because she refused the king’s favorite Lord Phillip.”

Kevin s
urged up and hugged her. “Och, lass ye are a sly one. Tomorrow, I will send someone to England and to this man Lord Phillip. Even though I dinnae like having an Englishman in my home I think I will be able to put up with it if it will destroy that bastard the Black Warlock once and for all.”

Easily hiding her feelings and thoughts from
her lover, she had her own plans and they did not have Rieph being destroyed. All she wanted was for the Sassenach bitch to suffer and be gone. She already had things set in motion for Rieph and she would not let Kevin ruin them.

Unaware of his lover scheming against him l
ying back down, he stared up at the ceiling thoughtfully, he was going to relish bringing the Black Warlock to his knees. He’d waited for the last two years to finally have his revenge and now it was so close he could taste it. Getting his hands on the McKay’s wife would be the perfect payback.

It would also be
immensely satisfying when the bastard McKay learnt that his wife had been stolen away and taken back to England. It would be the ideal time to strike because the man would be so busy searching for his wife, his home would be defenseless. Long into the night he plotted and planned every detail while Devena slept beside him.

****

Though disappointed to find his wife already in bed, Rieph sat down on the edge of the mattress and pulled off his boots. Leaving the one remaining candle burning, he stretched out on top of the covers. Rolling onto his side, he wrapped and arm around Trista and drew her up beside him.

When she snuggled up against him
, he sighed in contentment. He rubbed his cheek against the side of her head and closed his eyes. He would have to wait until tomorrow to speak to her however, when she started wiggling knew she was awake.

Though he had no liking for this particular conversation
, it would be best to have it over and done with. “Are ye awake, sweet?”

“Yes, Rieph
, I am.”

He gave a grunt and let his
hand slide down her arm and up again before he spoke. “I have something important to discuss with ye, wife. And ye must listen well to everything I say.

She twisted in his embrace so that she now stared up at his face. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“Nay
lass ye probably willnae.”

A breath huffed out of her. “Well then
you might as well get it over and done with before I go daft with waiting.”

Exasperated he
rolled his eyes. “I ken that ye have been hiding David and Elli and that is why ye visited lady Ferguson. Ye should have come to me, as laird ‘tis up to me to decide if they could stay, but ‘tis too late now. It also was a foolish thing ye did today riding out with only Gabe to protect ye.”

“I thought about telling you however, after hearing what you were saying about them at supper that night quickly changed my mind.”

Lord
, the woman maddened him at times. “Ye have nay given ye agreement that ye willnae ride out with only one man to protect ye.”

She
grimaced in the dark. “Fine, husband, I’ll agree.”

He
ignored her snappish reply. “’Tis for ye own protection, lass. Ye ken someone tried to kill me and until we find out who it was ‘tis too dangerous for ye to be gallivanting around the countryside. Also, I am concerned about this business with Lord Phillip. From what ye have told me, I ken that he isnae a man that will take it lightly to be thwarted or made a fool of twice.”

It was hard to keep talk
ing when she started to tremble, he forced himself to continue. “I want ye promise that ye willnae leave here until all this business is sorted out. Ye will take every precaution to protect yeself. ‘Tis not much I ask of ye just that ye are to keep yeself safe. Also, sweet, I will have ye word that ye willnae ever lie to me again. Just tell me the truth and we will save each other a lot of heartache and arguing.”

When he finally fell silent, she was relieved he wasn’t furious at her for not telling him the truth. She knew he wasn’t pleased with her, but he wasn’t angry either.

Truth be told she was more concerned about the threat from Lord Phillip and whoever tried to kill Rieph.
His warning though, frightened her. Could she have bought danger to him and the clan?

H
e seemed to think so and once again, she shivered, but this time with a feeling of doom. She snuggled closer to her husband’s warmth. “I’m sorry for causing so much trouble. I never thought that Lord Phillip would bother with Jaccy or me again. I will do as you ask, I will be careful and I promise that I will not lie to you again or try not to.”

Satisfied that she understood the danger, he knew she was frightened and feeling guilty. Her last statement of trying not to lie to him made him shake his head in exasperation. “That’s all I ask, sweet. All I want is for ye keep yeself safe and ye will try verra hard not to lie to me.”

She nuzzled her face between her his neck and shoulder and wrapped her arms around him, she breathed in his manly scent and the first coil of sexual desire stirred through her blood.

Easily noticing the change in his wife's breathing, he grinned wickedly. “Rest, sweet, I’m off to have a bath.” Seeing the disappointment on her face, he wanted to laugh out loud, but did not dare. He left her lying there and headed for the bathing room, hoping that she wanted him enough to join him there.

Annoyed with the man, she watched him walk away. She was feeling disappointed and frustrated. It was not like him not to follow through with the invitation she subtly gave him instead, the darn aggravating man left her.

Thoughtfully nibbl
ing her bottom lip, she wondered if she possessed enough nerve to join him in the bathing room and help him bath. Would it be wicked of her and would he think her wanton if she did?

Suddenly
, grinning mischievously, she decided why not. Sitting up, she removed her nightgown. Picking up the shawl, wrapping it around her and on silent feet walked over to the open door of the bathing room.

S
he stood just inside the doorway, and studied the broad, muscular back of her husband while he sat in the tub facing away from her. Lord, he had such a powerful, glorious physique, he was pure potent male.

O
nce again, the sexual heat coiled throughout her body. Licking her lips, about to take a step forward when he turned and stared at her, she froze. The heat and hunger burning in his gaze singed her to the core.

H
er breath caught in her throat, passion soaked every pore in her body and when he held out his hand the shawl fell from her shoulders, as she moved forward in a daze of desire.

The power of her potent gaze told him he
was no longer alone, he could feel the heat of her gaze burn the skin on his back. Swinging his head and without a word held out his hand wondering and hoping if she would join him. He sucked in his breath when her wrap slide from her naked body, he watched her take several hesitant steps. Och, she was such a bonny, desirable sight and he ached to bury himself inside her.

Instead of joining her husband in the tub, she knelt down beside it and taking the cloth from his hand ran it over his well-muscled shoulders and back. She could feel every muscle clench and jump, it was a heady feeling to know she had this power over him.

Neither of them broke eye contact and as she washed him, their need for each other only increased. She finished with his back moved in front of him, drawing the soapy cloth over his chest, she daringly moved it down lower until she came to the hardness between his thighs. Releasing the soaked material, she wrapped her hand around his arousal. As she stroked him her own breathing becoming erratic, the moisture flooded between her thighs.

He wondered how far she would go and when her fingers enclosed his erection in tight fisted velvet and his hips jerked. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Reaching down, he wrapped his hand around hers and showed her how to pleasure him.

O
nce she found the rhythm, he let her go and placed his fingers around her breast. Gently crushing it in his palm, hearing her soft whimper while he played with her lush mound, his hips moved with the rhythm of her hand.

So caught up in the pleasure she was having in seeing how much he enjoyed what she was doing to him, it surprised her when he removed her hand and stood up.

Knowing he could not take much more, he quickly put an end to it. Stepped out of the tub and with his gaze still on his wife, he reached for a towel. He was about to start to dry himself when it was suddenly snatched out of his hands, he didn’t bother to protest.