Page 34 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)

I n the early morning, Sorsha awakened to a sensual caress over her thigh.

She stretched but was immediately pulled back against Shaw’s hard body.

He pressed his chest to her back and the heat of his skin made her moan.

Shaw settled his head by her shoulder and he pressed the strands of her hair back.

He whispered and his warm breath played over her skin, “I cannot resist touching ye.” His hand roamed her body, sending pleasurable heat through her. “And kissing ye.” His lips pressed on her neck and then her nape.

“If you keep doing that…”

Shaw lifted her leg and pushed his hard erection into her.

Sorsha closed her eyes and moaned with pleasure at the sensation of him entering her.

His movement was slow and affecting, with desirous thrusts intent to drive her mad.

Sorsha held onto the bedding to keep herself from being propelled to the side of the bed.

Shaw’s fingers gripped her thigh, holding her in the perfect position to keep his momentum.

As he continued, Sorsha panted and suspected she would meet her end sooner than he would.

“Do ye know how bonny and alluring ye are?” He pressed his mouth on her neck again and suckled her skin.

The sensation of his lips there coupled with the desire that swarmed her sent her reeling. Her body seemed to weigh more than a crag as she spiraled out of control. Desire wound its way through her body and she could barely breathe. “Sh… awww , oho .”

“That’s it, love, join me,” he said and huffed. Shaw groaned and thrust hard one last time before he too succumbed to his culmination. His moans sounded almost painful but she knew too well that the pinnacle of the climax was both ultimate pleasure and torment.

Sorsha lay back against him, happily enjoying his hold, hard body, and the scent of their lovemaking. Gently, he pulled himself from her and lowered her thigh. His large hand caressed her leg until he reached her waist. His forearm trapped her against him and she pressed her hand to keep it there.

“I hope that you awaken me akin to that every morn,” she said with a bit of awe in her voice.

His chuckle vibrated his chest, against her back. “Aye, that can be arranged.”

Noise in the hallway came and their bedchamber door thrust open. Sorsha pulled away from Shaw and hastily covered herself. Shaw moaned and rolled onto his back. The children scampered into the room, shouting something unbeknownst to her.

Gillian jumped onto the bed and practically elbowed her stomach. “Mama, he pulled my hair again. So I pushed him and he felled.”

“I did not,” yelled Luthor. “She pushed me and tried to trip me.”

“Is it not too early to be rowing? You have not even eaten your morn fare yet.” Sorsha reached to take hold of Luthor’s hand. “Go on, both of you. Put your garments on and I shall meet you in the great hall shortly. You will sit quietly and think about how you can be kinder to each other.”

The children gazed at her as if they didn’t hear her.

“Mama, can we go to the loch, can we?” Gillian continued to spring herself upon the bedding in her excitement. “’Tis hot this day.”

Shaw set his hand on Gillian’s shoulder to keep her from springing off the bed. “Mayhap, but ye both need to promise not to fight. I will hear your pledges before we agree to take ye.”

The children nodded. Luthor sprinted from the chamber and Gillian crawled from the bed. Her daughter reached the door and turned. “I pledge, Laird, but if he pulls my hair again…”

“If he does, Gilly lass, come and tell me,” Shaw said. “I will punish him.”

Gillian nodded and then disappeared through the doorway.

Sorsha relaxed back and pressed her eyes. “We need to have several talks with those two.”

“Aye?” Shaw said as he threw his legs over the side of the bed. “What about?”

She sighed. “I need to find out what exactly Gillian saw before she was taken away at Tor. And I need to speak to Luthor about his answer…if he will belong to us. Then there is the matter of the two of them constantly haranguing each other.”

Shaw chuckled. “’Tis what siblings do, harrang each other.

My sister used to torment me when we were young.

They will sort it. As to what Gillian saw, she will tell ye in her own time.

And Luthor, no matter what he decides, will always be ours.

” He turned to her and pressed a hand over her hair.

“Now get moving, love, ’tis going to be a warm day, and spending it by the loch is a fair idea. ”

She shifted to leave the bed and grabbed Shaw’s discarded tartan to wrap around herself. “I shall have Edra pack us food and we shall stay there all day. But are you not too busy? If you have clan duties…”

“Naught is more important than family. I will go and meet with Trey and Walen. When I return, we shall leave.” He ambled to the door but turned back to her, reaching the bed in a quick stride.

Shaw set his hands on her hips and pulled her toward him.

“My thanks for a good morn.” He pecked a kiss on her lips and left.

Sorsha took her time getting ready for the day.

She washed, dressed, and tidied up the bedchamber.

Though she looked forward to spending the day outside, a pang of guilt came because she should help Edra care for the keep.

They had planned to do a thorough cleaning of it.

Perhaps she could delay their tasks until the morrow?

She’d have to speak to the maidservant and maybe offer her a day of rest. The woman worked too hard as it was.

Her hands pressed the cream cloth of her overdress and she shook the length of skirts to fall at her ankles.

After she slipped on the matching leather slippers, she quickly braided her hair and pulled the knots back into a coif.

Then it was time to see about the children.

She closed the door to their bedchamber and walked spryly down the stairs.

Upon reaching the great hall, she noticed Corliss standing by the hearth with her hand clasping Luthor’s arm with force.

Gillian stood by, wailing as if she were hurt.

An instant sense of protectiveness swarmed her.

The heat of her ire reached her face. Sorsha marched to the woman, took hold of Luthor’s other arm, and gently pulled him away from the horrid woman.

“What in heaven’s name do you think you are doing?” She glared at Corliss, intent on hearing from the woman some sort of apology or explanation.

“This wee heathen almost knocked me down.”

“I am certain the lad did not mean to.” To Luthor, she said, “Did you apologize to Lady Corliss?” He nodded. Sorsha ruffled his hair and smiled. “It appears that the morning meal will be delayed. Go on and get to the kitchen and we shall eat there. Take Gillian with you. I will come in a moment.”

Luthor took Gillian’s hand and led her from the hall, both their faces wet with tears.

Sorsha waited until the children were out of hearing distance. “If you ever lay a hand on either of those children again, I shall not be responsible for my actions. I will be akin to a lioness and will protect my children no matter what the cost.”

“There is no need, Sorsha, for such protectiveness or your anger. I did not intend to hurt the lad but he is a wily one and I had to hold him still so I could get him to apologize.” Corliss passed her and reached the table.

She grabbed a cup and held it. “I long to be friends with ye. Will ye not meet me halfway?”

She wanted to scoff at the woman. Friends? Since the day Corliss arrived, she’d been nothing but vindictive and surly. Why would she ever want to befriend her? Still, she was Shaw’s sister and he cared for her. Sorsha realized that she must make some effort to keep her appeased.

“If you wish it so, then aye, I would like nothing more than to be friends.”

Corliss took a sip of her drink and set her cup down. “That makes me gladdened, Sorsha. Now, I must go and find Idris. He is probably at the training field.”

Sorsha didn’t wait for her to leave but turned and headed to the kitchen. She crossed the small lane that led to the kitchen doorway which had been left open. When she reached the opening, she couldn’t help but listen to the conversation.

“There, there, lass. Lady Corliss did not mean to hurt Luthor. Cease your weeping,” Edra said. “Now, there are two bowls of sweetened pottage on the worktable for ye. Go on and eat.”

Sorsha was pleased that Gillian had been concerned for Luthor. Perhaps there was hope that they would befriend each other. She wanted them to be close, as dear as siblings.

“Good morn, Edra. ’Tis a beautiful day and shall be warm.”

“Oh, Milady, good morn to ye. Aye, the heat already has me short of breath this day.”

Sorsha poured herself a heaping amount of pottage.

It smelled so good that her stomach rumbled.

“Then I propose that we forgo our caring for the keep this day. Shaw wants me and the children to spend the day at the loch with him. I bid you take the day to rest too. We shall see to the cleaning on the morrow.”

Edra sat on a nearby stool and fanned herself. “I shall be gladdened to take rest this day. The heat never lasts long. It shall be cooler on the morrow.”

Sorsha ate her pottage and then cleaned up the children.

She grabbed a basket and set inside various foodstuffs for their picnic: a loaf of bread covered with white linen cloth, four apples, an empty flask for water, slices of cheese, and a small sack of strawberries.

That would hold them over until they return for the late-day meal.

“I shall keep watch over the laird’s grandmother whilst ye are gone.” Edra rushed to the food shelf and grabbed something. “A chicken for your basket, Milady.” She wrapped the cooked chicken in a cloth and added it to the helpings.