Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (52 page)

“Very well, but you must promise to play.”

“Aye, now remove the offending garment.”

When she was as naked as he was, she continued her
early morning game, determined to see those lust-filled blue eyes of his. Her
hands stroked his lean body as she trailed kisses down his chest and stomach.
She noticed that his eyes were still closed, but he now wore an arrogant,
satisfied grin.
Well, we will see how long that lasts.

No longer having access to her firm, taunt bottom,
Gavin languidly moved his arms behind his head and was intent on enjoying his
innocent wife’s attempt at seduction. There would be time enough to teach her
all the erotic things couples did with one another, but for now he would allow
her to ‘play’ as she put it.

However, when she continued to move down his body and
her fingers lights grazed over the hardest region of his body, his breath
hitched. When her hands stroked his thighs, blood pumped fiercely through his
heart and his breathing became labored. He fists tightened behind his head at
the feel of hot breath enveloping his painfully hard erection. He was about to
give up the pretense of indifference, but then remembered she had not so much
as even taken him in hand. With that thought, he prepared himself not to expect
much, but he quickly learned that he was a fool to have underestimated his
wife.

It was maddening that her husband could just lie there
with his eyes closed, seemingly unaffected by her touch. Ella’s only
encouragement was his heavy breathing, which was enough for her to encroach
further upon his serenity. Apprehensively, she wrapped her hands around his
hard phallus, fondling its length. The muscles in Gavin's stomach and chest
instantly went rigid.

When she boldly cupped him with gentle fingers and his
eyes still remained closed, she decided she had enough of his lack of
participation. She may lack experience with such intimate acts, but she was not
ignorant to them.

Gavin’s control hung by a thread as her hands worked
feverishly upon his flesh. Desperately wanting to see her radiant face, he
opened his eyes to the sight of her sensual mouth engulfing him. His passion
flared like an inferno. On the peak of exploding, he flipped her onto her back
and thrust hard into her welcoming heat.

“My God woman, a life time with ye will nae be enough
to have my fill,” he croaked as he began to make love to her.

His hands moved all over, wanting to touch every part
of her lithe, little body. He kissed her hungrily, plunging his tongue deep,
tasting her sweetness. Their fervor soared higher and higher, until together
they reached the pinnacle of raw sensation.

They clung to each other with their gazes locked,
allowing their breathing to ease and their heartbeats to calm.

“I enjoy this playful side of you, wife,” he whispered
as he stroked her face.

“It took ye a long time to actually play back.”

With a soft laugh, he said, “Ye dinna ken how hard it
was to hold back and let ye have yer way with me. I wanted to give ye the
opportunity to learn my body, as well as I ken yers. Yer words and yer touch .
. . ye please me verra much.”

He gave her a long, thorough kiss, then stretched out
on his side, and pulled her close before asking, “Where in God’s name did ye
learn-”

Not letting allowing him to finish, she replied, “When
I was younger, I heard the women in the village talk about such . . . acts. I
told my aunt what I had heard, and she explained in detail.”

“Was it easy to talk to her about such sensitive
topics?”

Aye, I never was embarrassed to ask questions to
either her or my uncle.”

“What kind of questions did ye ask your uncle?” Gavin
was highly amused thinking about a young, curious Ella asking Sir James, a
seasoned knight, about the intimacies of coupling.

“I asked him why the church viewed such acts as
sinful. Why men can have sex afore marriage, but women cannot.”

Gigging at the thought of one question in particular,
she blurted, “I believe I was ten and three when I asked Uncle James if he had
ever made love to a woman.”

“What did he say?”

As she left the bed and began to dress, she replied,
“He told me he had been with many women.”

“I suppose that’s when ye asked him why a man can bed
a woman afore marriage?”

“Aye,” she giggled. “He explained that the church does
nae view men and women equally. That they cast women in an evil light, stating
a female must remain pure until marriage or they are unworthy of a husband.
Uncle James also told me that men are weak when it comes to women’s flesh. And
since it is men who make church laws, women will be punished while the sexual
relations of men prior to marriage will be condoned.”

“Aye, he speaks the truth.” Gavin belted his plaid
around his waist, then helped her to dress as he said, “Especially the part
about men being weak for women’s flesh.” To emphasis his point, he kissed the
swells of her breast just above her chemise.

His tender ways made Ella foolishly cling to the hope
that they could have a future together. He had told her that no matter her past
he would always care and protect her. Unfortunately, previous experience taught
her the danger of trusting another.

Before her mother’s death, Ella trusted her father to
always shelter and defend her, but he had turned his back on her when she
needed him the most. Her brothers, too, had abandoned her. Yet, how could she
blame them. Philip had explained that the men who attacked her and her mother
that fateful day would not have killed them, but instead ask for ransom. Her
mother would still be alive if it weren’t for Ella’s rash action.

Her train of thought was broken by a sudden knock on
the door.

“Laird Macleod, a message from Alex Mackenzie,” a
guardsmen said in the corridor.

Instantly, she stiffened in fear. Had her father
discovered that his most trusted friend was wed to the hated daughter he
banished eight years ago?

“Aye, I will meet the messenger in the hall shortly,”
Gavin replied, before tilting her chin up.

“All will be well, little one. Go about yer duties,
and I will come to you later.” He kissed her forehead, and then left the
chamber.

All morning she felt powerless against the cold knot of
dread that formed in her stomach. It was noon when Gavin finally appeared in
the stable yard and divulged the contents of her father’s missive.

“After gaining the King of Scotland’s approval of our
marriage and disclosing the events concerning Gabriel, Mackenzie journeyed to
Winchester to expose Montgomery and Greystone to the King of England. Alas,
King Henry has been ill and unable to receive him, nor anyone else. Alex has
been ordered to await a summons. It seems yer king is eager to learn about Greystone’s
misdeeds.”

Assailed by profound relief, she replied, “Aye, Aunt
Eleanor often said that Philip never found favor with King Henry.”

“We will wait to decide our plan of attack until Alex
gains the king’s ear. And, if Henry dinna seek justice, then the Macleods and
Mackenzies will.”

“What do you believe King Henry will do?”

“Alex and I both agree that there is more to this
story then a simple abduction. There has been bad blood between Montgomery and
my clan, as well as Greystone and the Mackenzies. The death of yer aunt and
uncle will only condemn Greystone further. I suspect Henry will seek out the
truth afore justice is served. Nevertheless, Greystone’s and Montgomery’s
deaths are absolute.”

Starring at the battle-hardened warrior who was her
husband, she confessed, “I want vengeance for the death of my family, but not
at the risk of you, your clan or the Mackenzies.”

Cupping her face, he asked, “Ye worry for me?”

Ella nodded as she nibbled on her bottom lip.

“Ye have a good heart, lass, but there is nae reason
to fear for us. We are the two most powerful clans in Scotland. Irrefutably,
our men are blessed with the greater skill in battle, but to avoid war we asked
for a trial by combat.”

“A trial by combat?”

“Aye, ‘tis when two disputing parties fight in single
combat, the winner is proclaimed right. Mackenzie will fight Greystone and I,
Montgomery.”

He raised his hand when she was about to protest and
said, “I will nae quarrel over this with ye.”

She winced at his harsh tone and realized that to argue
would be futile.

“‘Tis been decided, so glare all ye like. When Alex
learned of Lady Eleanor’s death, the sister of his departed wife, he vowed to
kill the bastard. Regardless of my acceptance, a trial by combat was
inevitable.”

All she could do was nod as he pulled her into his
embrace.

“All will be well.”

“I have nae wish to lose you,” she whispered.

Insulted by her lack of faith, he abruptly pulled her
to arms length and insinuated, “Ye think Montgomery can defeat me, Gavin
Macleod.”

Refusing to be browbeaten, she retorted, “You
arrogant, dimwitted man! His greatest asset is nae strength nor skill, ‘tis
deception. That is why I fear for you.”

“Sheath yer claws, little one,” he said, stifling his
mirth. “I am well acquainted with his type of deception. Have faith in yer
husband.”

She conceded with a nod.

His lips covered hers before he acknowledged, “I have
nae earned yer faith yet, but I will.”

“I do have faith in you,” Ella professed. “The life
you have given me is so precious, that I fear it will be stolen, that . . .”
She shook her head then cried, “If something ever were to happen to you . . . I
. . . I,” her words trailed off as she wrapped her arms around him and buried
her face in his chest.

Humbled by the impact of her words, Gavin realized that
it was not lack of faith that brought on her fear, but rather her deep love for
him. He was silent as the enormity of her confession became clear.
Aye, she
loves me. And I vow she will ken the sheer magnitude of my love for her, every
moment of everyday, in this life and the next.

A fortnight later Ella’s intense desire for her
husband, his family and the Macleod Clan was insatiable. After speaking with
Father Logan, she decided to embrace the love in her heart for all those around
her. No longer would she allow the past to thwart her future. She could not
control the tide of the sea or the direction of the wind any more than she
could control the events of the days to come.

With each new day her love for Gavin grew stronger, as
did the need to confess her sin and reveal her identity. When night fell and
their bodies were sated, she made several attempts to divulge her heinous
secret, but words continued to fail her. And despite his numerous duties
throughout the day, he always found time to spend with her, giving Ella ample
opportunity to confess her sin.

Aware of the risk, she decided to reveal herself to
the one person whose honesty surpassed all. Paen.

“And where do ye think ye be heading off to, hellion?”

“Taking Apollo for a long ride as you well know. I
suppose Gavin sent you to be my escort?”

“Aye, ye have learned yer husband well,” Paen
chuckled. “Tell me, would ye have gone without an escort?”

“Nae, I acknowledge that such a ruse is disastrous.”

“Yer husband would nae only skin ye alive, but us as
well if we were to allow ye out of the castle unprotected.” He cocked his head
slightly as he added, “He love ye, ye ken.”

Momentarily flushed, Ella searched for words, then
whispered, “I pray you are right.”

“Give me a moment to saddle Righ,” he quickly replied,
sensing the import of this ride.

Clouds scattered in the sapphire sky, shifting morning
light on the long grass of the meadow the pair rode through a short time later.
Both competitive by nature, they raced to the pine trees that lined the edge of
the forest before slowing their mounts to a halt. Arth, faithful as ever, came
bounding along moments later.

“Do you know that Gavin only permits his blackguard to
ride with me when outside the walls of Doran Castle?”

“Aye,” Paen replied with a knowing smile.

“With the exception of ye and my husband, who act as
single escort, I must ride with at least two and sometime three of the guard.”

“Aye,” he said with a shrug.

“Why?”

Her vexation made him chuckle as he stated, “Yer
safety is paramount to Gavin, his guard and our people, lass. He dinna allow
the other men in the guard to act as lone escort for one reason.”

“And what pray tell would that reason be?”

“His words, nae mine, were that we are the only men
capable of out-riding his headstrong wife.”

“Headstrong?”

“Aye, headstrong, pigheaded, not a docile bone in her
wee body. I ken these traits well-”

“Since you possess them too,” she finished for him.
“Aye, I agree.”