The Marriage Contract (14 page)

But Anne was a deeper, more intelligent woman than he’d known. A headstrong lass who kept him on his toes.

He hadn’t ever thought he’d admire a woman who challenged him. But he liked it. And he liked her. Very much. Maybe even too much.

In the stables, he rubbed Beaumains’ nose and caught himself fantasizing about Anne. Her skin would be as soft and velvety—and then he laughed. Imagine comparing a woman to a horse’s nose. Anne would laugh, too. She had a sense of the ridiculous…

Suddenly, Aidan wanted to see her.

He strode with purpose into the house. Impatient, he bounded up the steps to the hallway. He knocked on her door.

There was no answer.

He knocked again. “Anne?”

Nothing.

Puzzled, he opened the door. The room was dark but the light from the hallway torch showed the bed empty. Where could she have gone?

She could be in the kitchen or servants’ quarters. It was also possible she could have gone visiting. In a short amount of time, she had integrated herself in the lives of his crofters.

She obviously wasn’t upset.

He hit his head lightly against the door. He was fool. A fool who was in danger of falling in love if he wasn’t careful.

He shut the door and headed for his room. It was all for the best. Tomorrow, he would put her on a coach for London if he had to tie her to it.

Aidan shoved open his bedroom door with one shoulder and then stopped.

Everything was as he liked it. A fire burned in the hearth. Several candles gave the room a soft glow and his torches provided light for reading. His soap was dry and in its place. His towel hung over the chair.

But there was one difference, and it was a huge change—Anne was soaking in the tub.

Anne heard the door shut.

She and Aidan were alone.

Even though she dared not face him, the hairs on the back of her neck tickled with anticipation…and fear. Her courage abandoned her.
She was being a fool!

She sat upright in the tub, hugging her knees to her chest to hide her nakedness the best she could. Pretending her presence was a mistake, she said, “I did not expect you to come to bed so soon. Please give me a moment’s more privacy and I’ll leave.”

Her words sounded stupid to her own ears—but Aidan should do the gentlemanly thing and allow her a graceful exit.

He didn’t. Booted footsteps crossed the stone floor to her. A heartbeat later, he sat in the chair by the tub.

Anne couldn’t meet his gaze. She concentrated on the fire in the grate. “My towel, please.”

Instead, he captured her hand in his and ran his thumb along the sensitive skin inside her wrist. It tickled, and yet she didn’t laugh. She could barely breathe.

He lowered his head. She turned then and watched as he pressed his lips where his thumb had touched, right on the pulse spot. Suddenly, the room grew warm. Hot, even. His tongue brushed her skin and the fingers of her other hand moved to stroke his blue-black hair.

He raised his head. His gaze followed the curve of her breasts pressed against her knees, up the line of her neck to her face, lingering a moment on her lips before meeting her eyes. “You do like me, even a little?”

I love you.
“Perhaps a little.”

“A little is enough.” He laced her fingers with his and started to rise.

Anne panicked.
What had she been thinking?
She wasn’t ready to be naked in front of him. Her stomach coiled with anxiety. She grabbed the other side of the tub with her free hand. “It was a mistake. I meant to be gone before you came to bed.”

He chuckled softly, not believing her excuse. “For the past four days you’ve managed to avoid me very well.” He kissed the hand he held. “Trust me.”

“What are you going to do?”

He reached for the towel. “Dry you off. Will you let me?”

Anne had never heard a more scandalous suggestion in her life—or a more tempting one. “I’m afraid.”

“I know. You needn’t be. I won’t do anything you wouldn’t wish.”

“I know.” But it still didn’t make this step into the unknown easier.

Aidan didn’t move, but waited patiently.

She released her grip on the tub and let him help her to her feet. Water dripped and ran in rivulets off her. The chill in the night air made her wet skin tighten. Her nipples puckered. Her instinct was to cover herself with arms and hands, but she wouldn’t. No more hiding.

For one wild second, her arm floundered in the air and then she dropped it to her side. “I suppose there will be no secrets between us now,” she said weakly, in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.

Aidan hadn’t known what he’d expected, but it hadn’t been this curvaceous, sensual creature who had risen from his tub. Her high-waisted gowns had effectively disguised what was beneath.

In reality, she was a sea nymph come to life with cautious gray eyes and silky hair down to a waist that was narrow enough that he could measure the distance with his hands. The curving flare of her hips gave way to long, long legs. The kind that could wrap themselves around a man and hold him tight.

But what really captured his attention were her breasts. Anne had plump, beautiful breasts with dark brown aureoles that aroused something vitally primal inside him. The tightened nipples begged for his touch.

He leaned forward, wanting to capture those impudent little nubs with his mouth. To taste their texture and warm them—

She jumped out of the tub and he kissed air. “I’m growing cold.”

Only then did he come to his senses and remember his promise to dry her off—a promise he intended to keep. He slid his arm around her waist. “Let me warm you.”

She was still skittish, her eyes ready to swallow her face. He started with her arms, relaxing the tension in them…but he couldn’t help but move to her breasts next. He weighed them in his towel-covered hand. “You are beautiful.”

She’d been studying a point in the corner of the room. Her gaze now shifted to him. “Do you mean those words?”

The doubt in her tone surprised him. “Anne, I’ve always thought you lovely, from the first moment we met.”

“You couldn’t have. My clothes were torn and my hair was blown every which way.”

“’Twas not clothes or hair styles that attracted me.” He moved the towel down her back and over
the curve of her buttock. Her skin was smoother than cream.

“Then what was it?” She asked the question almost fretfully.

He grinned. “It was your spirit. Not many lasses would have attempted to geld me.” He referred to her whacking him with the stick.

Hot color flooded her face. In the haven of his arms, her gaze dropped to his chest. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Yes you did, but the damage wasn’t permanent, as you will soon find out.” He tossed the towel aside. It landed in the tub and he couldn’t care less. He lifted her up in his arms, wrapping those lovely long legs around his waist, her breasts against his chest.

She looked up in confusion, her mouth opening, and he silenced any questions with a kiss. A kiss that let her know he was done with talking. A kiss that would seduce.

Instead, he soon discovered himself being seduced.

She was an innocent, new to the art of kissing. She started to pull back. He wouldn’t let her. He held her as one would a child, an arm under her buttocks, a hand on her back to press her close, while he claimed her mouth, begging, pleading, schooling her into what he liked.

And she kissed back, a willing pupil. He broke off
the kiss, but her lips chased his. Her arms came around his neck and she took the kiss deeper still.

He stroked her with his tongue.

A low, happy laugh escaped her. They stared at each other, nose-to-nose and almost cross-eyed.

He nipped the tip of her nose and slid her body down a notch until she could feel the strength of his arousal against the most intimate part of her. Nothing separated them but the leather of his breeches. He could feel her heat.

For a second, her eyes widened and he watched, fascinated, as understanding dawned in them. He smiled. “I’m going to have you, Anne Black. I’m going to carry to that bed and make a woman of you. My woman.”

She bowed her head. He thought she was laughing, but a tear landed on his chest.

Stunned, Aidan said, “Anne, is something wrong? What have I done?” She tried to duck her head to avoid his scrutiny, but he’d none of it. “Anne, what is the matter?”

“You’ve done nothing.” She raised her head to look at him. Her nose was turning a little pink and her eyes were shiny with huge tears. “I’m just happy. That’s all. I’m a goose, aren’t I?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he carried her over to the bed and laid her down on the sable throw. “You are beautiful,” he whispered, pulling his shirt off over his head. He threw it aside and with a leap landed on
the bed beside her. The bed ropes bounced, rolling her against him. He caught and held her fast.

Her eyes were sparkling now with joyful laughter. It transformed her into a seductive creature. If she was like this from only a few kisses, what would she be like when he’d buried himself deep within her?

He knew without saying it was going to be good between them. They had been destined for this moment.

Almost reverently, he cupped her breast. Dear God, he wanted to inhale her. To taste and touch every inch of her—

A knock sounded on the door. Anne scrambled to cover her nakedness, but Aidan wouldn’t have any of it. He caught her wrist. “Whoever it is can go to the devil. We’ve got other things to do.” He pressed her back against the bed.

Someone knocked again. “Laird? It’s Davey. Hugh sent me.”

Mere inches from her parted lips, her body warm and pliant beneath his, Aidan froze. “Davey?”

The Danes had come. It was starting.

“Laird, they—”

“I’ll be right there, Davey,” Aidan said, cutting him off. It would not be good to say anything in front of Anne.

“What is it?” she whispered.

He sat up with a groan. The Danes’ timing couldn’t be worse.

“Are you all right?” she asked anxiously.

He looked at her. She’d pulled the sable up to hide nakedness, but her hair was tumbled and messy, her lips rosy and a little swollen from his kiss—and he wanted nothing more than to give her a quick one. But he couldn’t. This would be her first time and it must be done right.

He’d have to wait.

He prayed his errant body could.

“I’ll manage.” He tore his gaze from her and went to his wardrobe. He pulled out a black shirt and threw it over his head.

“What could Hugh want that is so urgent?” she asked.

“The horses,” he answered noncommittally. “I asked Hugh to keep an eye on Doublelet. You must be careful when a horse is in foal.”

She nodded, accepting his excuse. It made him feel ill-at-ease to lie to her.

He crossed to the bed and gave her a great bruising kiss. “You wait here and we’ll finish what we’ve started when I come back.”

“Don’t be long,” she whispered.

Sweet, sweet Anne. He left the room, the sooner to return.

Anne stretched out on the bed, her body still stimulated and humming with excitement. The fine, thick fur felt good against her bare skin. She hoped noth
ing serious had happened to Doublelet. Everyone at Kelwin knew Aidan anticipated great things from her foal.

Perhaps she should join him in the barn. It would be easier than waiting.

And she could be close to him.

She rose from the bed and started dressing. Fussing over her hair, she hurried to his wash basin by the windows where she’d left her pins.

It was cloudy but the moon was full. A lover’s moon, she reminded herself. It came out from behind the clouds just long enough to wink at her. She almost laughed at it, she was so happy, but then she noticed movement.

Anne peered into the darkness. There, on the cliff path, were walkers. Who would be out at this time of night? The cloud shifted again, and she recognized Hugh.

And Aidan was with him, as were several of the other men from the clan.

A sense of foreboding came down on top of her, crushing her earlier well-being.

Why would Aidan tell her he was going one place and then go to another?

Anne backed away from the window. She should go back to bed. But she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

And when he returned—?

For a moment, she wavered in indecision. She didn’t know if she could stand the pain of discover
ing his passion was nothing more than a ploy to hide his subterfuge. A successful ploy.

The suspense of waiting for him to return was unacceptable. She wanted answers now. Hurrying to her room, she changed into her blue cambric dress and followed her husband out of the castle and down the cliff path.

Her kid slippers were not the best for climbing down a rocky path at night. She had to walk slower than she wished lest she slip and give away her game.

Halfway down the path, she could see a group of men on the beach. What were they doing? She traveled as closely as she dared. Fang’s middle sons served as watchers but they weren’t doing a good job of it. They were more interested in what was happening at some point out at sea.

Anne strained her eyes to see what they saw. All was inky darkness…and then she heard a sound of oars in the roiling water.

She settled behind a rock and waited. A few minutes passed like hours. Against the sand of the beach where she and the girls had danced the morning away, a dinghy was pulled to shore. She caught sight of her husband’s tall form. He helped land the boat as men jumped out of it. They greeted him in a language foreign to her but which Aidan knew passably well.

They didn’t talk long, but set to work unloading
small kegs. He’s smuggling, Anne realized, and didn’t know whether to be relieved or worried.

Another dinghy came ashore and the Scotsmen quickly helped to unload it. The line of kegs along the beach rapidly grew.

Aidan called his lookouts to the beach. Anne moved closer. She had to know what was in those kegs. It couldn’t be brandy. Aidan had no taste for it and he was wealthy enough through his family. What could he need with smugglers’ booty?

The dinghies pulled away from shore, their cargo unloaded. In the distance, Anne could see the lights of a ship she’d not noticed before. The Scotsmen waited, it seemed, until the boats were too far out to see what they were doing. They lifted the small kegs on their shoulders and started to walk toward the far cliffs.

Anne knew there was a path there leading along the coast, but they didn’t go toward the path. They seemed to disappear.

She frowned. She had to get closer.

Aidan’s watchers were busy helping to carry the kegs, and she took advantage of it. She even dared to go all the way up to the nearest one. She sniffed. Besides the smell of salt air, there was the scent of something acrid. It made her nose tingle.

The men were coming back empty handed. She dashed to cower behind some rocks close to the water. The edge of her dress started to get wet, but she didn’t dare move.

Three times she watched the men perform their task. She strained her ears for any clue for what could be in the kegs and where they had stored them, but they were grimly quiet.

Her vivid imagination took over. There must be a cave in those cliffs. A smuggler’s cave. A shiver went through her that had nothing to do with the chill in the water lapping at her hem.

When they’d finished, it was as if they vanished into the night. One moment they were working, the next they were gone back to their homes and families.

But where was her husband?

“You can stand up now, Anne.”

Aidan’s voice startled her. She looked up and found him looming over her rocky hiding place. He held out his hand.