Page 31 of A Promise of Love

J udith was beyond humiliation .

Alisdair only grinned .

He emerged from the water with her draped in his arms as if he were Adam and she a humiliated Eve. The people on the shore, especially the men, winked their approval. The women only glared .

"Do they have nothing to do but gape?" Judith hissed, burying her face against his chest. She tried to pretend that she did not hear Malcolm's curt greeting, or the MacLeod's jaunty response .

"Good morning, Granmere," he said, responding to his grandmother's shaking head with a broad smile.

Judith groaned something that sounded suspiciously like, "Oh, God," and buried her head further into his armpit.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to pretend that she would awake in a few moments, in her own bed .

Sophie smiled, watching her naked grandson carry his equally naked wife up the stairs. Judith's past had resulted, not in disaster, but in the final impetus to bring these two together .

The MacLeod released her and Judith bounced upon the bed, grabbed the covers, burrowing into them until she had at least two layers of cloth around her .

"You are a barbarian, MacLeod," she said angrily .

"So I might be, Judith," he agreed complacently .

"Must we have relations in broad daylight, though, MacLeod? And in front of others ?"

"If I'd not been so carried away by you, Judith, I would have noticed the others.

I refuse to accept all of the blame. Neither of us were paying much attention to the shore, were we?

" He turned, that stupid grin still playing about his mouth, and began to wash, not affected by the chill water in the ewer.

"Besides, Judith, we did not have relations," he added, turning to face her, "we made love . "

He walked back to the bed, sat on the edge of it, and hauled her close to him. "Daylight or dark, Judith, there is nothing to be ashamed of ."

"But in the cove, MacLeod ?"

"Yes, Judith, in the cove. You were, perhaps, too occupied with treading water to fear me so much, were you not ?"

She looked at him, the truth apparent in her eyes. Although one part of her had not believed he would let her drown, the fact that she could not swim had occupied most of her mind. There had been no room for terror, or anything other than the thought of all that water beneath her feet .

At least at first .

She blushed and he thought that she had never looked so lovely.

Her hair was mussed around her face in damp curls, her skin still held a rosy glow - although how much came from his loving and how much from simple embarrassment, he did not know - her lips looked swollen and well kissed.

It was the expression in her eyes, however, that caused his breath to still and his heart to turn over in his chest .

They held no fear .

They were, however, still misted with anger .

He bent down and kissed her, hard, and for the briefest of moments, she opened her lips under his. She moved away and he chuckled .

"Get used to it, Judith," he said softly, "we will do it often, I think. And now," he said, rising, "get dressed. I have many things to do today, and wish you with me ."

"Perform your own chores, MacLeod, without me. I have my own duties," she said, emerging from the other side of the bed, the sheet wrapped around her .

"No," he said, the smile still playing around his lips. "Not today." He did not tell her that he wanted her with him to spare her long thoughts. She would do nothing but hoard up her embarrassment until nightfall .

She only saw the implacable set of his chin, and sighed .

"Very well, MacLeod," she said stonily. "But," she announced, her own stubbornness adding a glint to her eye, "do not expect to tumble me on the moors ."

"Judith, your inventiveness intrigues me. Think you the sheep will mind ?"

She wished she had something to throw at him .