Mysty McPartland (21 page)

How magnificent he looked, his large hard body glistening with water, she was nearly faint with desire just gazing up at him. From beneath her lashes seeing what he was about to do stood up. She took drying cloth from him and started to pat the moisture from his body.

He stood as still as a statue as he let her dry him. Once she saw that his upper body was no longer damp. She again knelt down at his feet and taking one foot at a time dried them and up to the knee. She moved behind him and ran the towel over his tight buttocks and the back of his thighs, each touch drove she could tell nearly him beyond his endurance.

When she moved
around in front of him, drying the front of his thighs, he could feel her hot moist breath on his erection, a growl rumbled in his chest. He jumped slightly when the material made contact between his thighs, gently rubbing at his full sacs.

But it was her hand wrapping around his erection that tore another growl from his lips, made his heart beat accelerate and his breathing become labored. With slumberous eyes he watched her every move.

The heated satisfaction she received from administrating pleasure to her husband was so intense. Now as she knelt before him, her hand stroking his erection, she could not tear her eyes away from what she was doing. Licking her lips, she knew that he was right, she wanted to taste him as he tasted her.

Without hesitation or embarrassment, she leaned forward and licked the tip of him and heard the low rumbling sound of pleasure he made. She tasted the saltiness of his seed and heard her own soft moan. Her lips parted and she took him inside and as she pleasured him with her mouth, her hand still moved up and down the length of him. She felt his hand on her head holding her there as he moved his hips. She continued drawing his hardness in and out of her mouth.

Dear God in heaven, even though his wife might be still very innocent, the rapture she gave him was beyond belief and he could not hold back the small ejaculation of his seed. He clenched his jaw as she licked, sucked and stroked him.

Of their own accord is hips started to pumping automatically between those moist lips. His fingers tightened in her hair and tossed back his head as ecstasy consumed him. When he knew he was close to exploding, he tore himself free. Before she could object he leaned down, swept her up in his arms and carried her out of the room and over to their bed.

Without a word, he shifted her in his arms, she now faced him and her legs wrapped around his hips. “I cannae wait, sweet.” Taking her lips in a hungry devouring kiss, he lifted her up and then bought her down and with one stroke gloved himself in her tight heat. Both of them cried out at the intense pleasure. Putting one knee on the bed he lay her down and with mindless rapture made love to his wife.

Totally overwhelmed, she gave herself completely to the raw hungry need that grew wildly and painfully inside of her. With each plunge of his body into hers, she answered with her own eager rising hips, until every muscle tensed and suddenly her world exploded. Crying out his name she let the fire and sparks shower through her.

Feeling his wife tense beneath him, he was ready for her climax, but he never expected it to be so shattering that it caused his own and shuddering, his seed burst from him so powerfully that it left him weak and completely drained.

****

Trista woke early the next morning finding herself wrapped around her husband and his arms surrounding her, she smiled contently. Last night she shared something wonderful with Rieph, something that had never been between them before.

A
closeness, a trust, a bond and she knew then that she was deeply, forever in love with him. However, until she knew that he held the same feelings for her, she would keep what lay in her heart to herself.

Rousing from a contented slumber, he blinked awake and smiled tenderly when he saw his wife smiling happily at him. “Mmm ‘tis a lovely way to wake, sweet.” And moving her slightly, he sheathed himself inside of her heat and took her lips in a soft but erotic kiss.

This morning his love making was tender and slow, wanting to prolong the pleasure and with each long slow stroke, he let their climaxes build gradually. Then they were both reaching for their release, it might not be the fire and mindless explosion of last night. It was gentle, tender, but never the less just as powerful.

Between dressing and kisses they finally made it down to break their fast. When they finished eating
, she reluctantly watched her husband leave with his brother, friends and men. With a heartfelt sigh she went about her duties.

None of the clan missed their lady Trista walk around all morning with a wistful smile on her face. And their laird had a wide grin of contentment on his. The intimate glances that passed between the two of them were sizzling. Everyone looked at them knowingly and with wide grins on their own faces.

Mid-morning, Rieph searched out his wife and finding a private place, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her soundly. “I am off to see McDowell. Promise me, lass, that ye will take care and try nay to get into any mischief while I’m gone.”

Dreamily, she gazed up at her husband after he kissed her, but her brow furrowed over his words and let out a sigh of resignation. She cupped his cheek. “I promise I won’t leave the hall until you come home. However, tomorrow can we go for a ride or mayhap fishing?”

Grinning down at her he laughed softly. “Lord, woman, ‘tis unnatural this craving ye have for fishing. I dinnae ken about taking ye after the last time ye pushed me into the loch. But I promise ye that we’ll do something. Now give me a kiss goodbye and I’ll see ye later to do what ye eyes are promising me.”

Her eyes shining brightly, holding her husband’s head between her hands, she kissed him, but not the kiss he expected it was passionate and full of fire. She was immensely pleased when she heard the growl rumbling in his chest.

“
Witch, we’ll finish this when I return.” He said with a grin on his face and he gave her a hard quick kiss before he finally left her.

An impish smile lifted the corners of her mouth, she was eagerly looking forward to her husband’s return. Since she promised not to leave the hall, she along with her Jaccy went upstairs to sort out the things that her father sent to her.

             
Chapter Nineteen

A
t dusk, Rieph returned home he could not have been more pleased with the outcome. At least that is one problem solved. Before he went into the hall, he would speak to David and Lady Elli to tell them the news that their families would welcome them both home.

It had been a stroke of luck finding both the
ir parent’s together. It seemed his wife’s talk with lady Mary worked after all. But his smile died, he might have solved one problem when another one raised its ugly head. The news that lady Devena was now Kevin McGovern’s lover didn’t surprise him as much as he thought it would and no doubt it only boded ill for him that those two were now together. Taken aback when he walked into his own hall, he could only stare around in amazement at even more changes that had been made to his home.

N
o longer were there rushes on the floor but mats placed in strategic places. There were bright cushions on the big chairs by the fire and on the main table lay a white table cloth and silver candelabras. There were so many other changes too numerous to take in.

His wife's doing he knew and he shook his head in wonder, the wee woman was full of surprises, but this one pleased him greatly. No longer was his hall cold and unwelcoming but warm and inviting. When he did not see her in the hall and asked one of the maids if they knew where she might be. His eyes widened with disbelief when she told him that her mistress was working in the kitchen.

Now what could the infernal woman be up to, he thought and heading for the kitchen, he found her busy working at the table. Laughing and talking at the same time, leaning against the doorframe, he stood watching her and admiring her beauty. It filled him with pleasure to see her so happy.

Noticing that everyone suddenly fell silent, Trista glanced up from what she was doing and seeing her husband standing in the doorway, relaxed with an indulgent smile on his face. Brushing her hands clean, she rushed over to him and threw her arms around him.

Extremely pleased and laughing, he swept her off her feet and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “What have ye been up to, lass? Ye are covered from head to toe in flour.” He leant down and whispered in her ear. “I ken ye need a bath.”

Her tinkling laughter floated around the room and he could not stifle a groan. Wrapping his arms around her knees he swung her up in his arm and he carried her from the kitchen. Ignoring the wide knowing smiles on everyone’s face, he carried her upstairs up to their chamber.

They never went down
stairs for supper that night, by morning their hunger drove them down to the hall and as promised, Rieph spent the day together with his wife. Over the next few weeks, Quinn and Jaccy joining them often and therefore it was no great revelation when his friend asked to speak to him in private.

“
Since ye are Jaccy’s only male relative. I would ask ye permission to wed the lass.” Quinn stood proudly before his friend, not letting him see just how nervous he was feeling.

Grinning back, he clapped him on the back. “’Tis about time ye asked and aye, Quinn, ye have my blessing and proud I will be to call ye brother.”

Relieved, Quinn relaxed and grinned. “I just hope Jaccy will be as happy about it as ye are when I ask her.”

Pleased that the problem was taken care of he laughed loudly. “Why nay go and find out.”

Quickly turning serious, he gave a nod of his head, went in search of lady Jaccy and prayed that she would agree to be his wife.

Going in search of his own wife, Rieph told Trista that Quinn asked him for permission to marry her sister. He was unprepared for her reaction.

Angered and feeling that she’d been kept out of a major decision, she stamped her foot. “This isn’t fair. I should have been asked what I thought about it as well.”

Somehow he was not surprised by her words and shaking his head, he sighed; it seemed his wife still did not understand the way things were here. “As laird, ye husband and ye sister’s only male relative here, I am the only one who has the right to decide.” He never realized that he sounded so stern and arrogant.

Her eyes narrowed not at only his words but also his tone, she stood with her feet planted apart and her hands on her hips. “You are a very arrogant and narrow minded man, Rieph. We are married and if decisions have to be made they should be made between us, as husband and wife.”

Not liking the tenor of her voice or her words, he stiffened. “I am not arrogant or closed minded, wife. I am laird and therefore I need nay ask ye opinion or permission on any of my decisions.”

Hurt and gasping, shocked at his superior commanding attitude, she shouted. “Why, you pompous ass. It’s no wonder I had to be forced to marry you. No other woman with any sense would have you.”

Losing his temper at her verbal abuse and roared loudly. “Dinnae dare say another word to me, lass! Nay another word until ye apologize for ye insults!” Without uttering anything else, he turned away from her and stomped out of the room closing the door with a slam that echoed throughout the building.

Infuriated and standing where he left her, she glared at the closed door, her husband was to full of his own importance. And she grew determined it would be a wet day in hell before she would apologize to him.

****

The following week was tense for not only Rieph and Trista but everyone else. They all noticed the distance and anger simmering between their laird and their lady. They also knew that they were occupying different bedrooms. Everyone wondered what could have suddenly changed the happy fun loving couple to the two spitting adversaries they were now.

After the argument with his wife, Rieph refused to share the same bedchamber with his wife. Knowing that he would be tempted to make love to her and forget that she owed him an apology for the terrible insults she threw at him.

T
he strain began to tell and he was short tempered and mean to nearly everyone. And as he watched her covertly, knew that it did not seem to be affecting her at all. And that certain fact did nothing to help his own anger.

Trista tried not to let the fight between her and Rieph affect anyone else, but at times it became nearly impossible. As hard as it was to sit next to him at every meal and ignore him it was nearly impossible to disregard the desire bubbling through her veins from just being near him.

It annoyed her immensely though that he never felt anything by being close to her. She wondered if he could also be finding it hard to sleep as she did. Yet, gazing at him from beneath her lashes earlier today, she doubted very much he was having any trouble at all sleeping. Damn rat.

Morosely, she admitted it was getting harder and harder each night to fall asleep. It was lonely in that large bed without the heat and the feel of her husband’s large body beside hers. And she knew that things were never going to change unless she lowered herself and apologized, but her pride wouldn’t let her. A heartfelt sigh easing out of her, she wondered if they would ever be together again.