Page 35 of Bride Takes a Laird

Kendra stopped in the lane and faced him. “He is troubled, Winston, and I mean to help him. I must have your trust and as your laird’s wife, do I not get to make requests of you? Are you not as devoted and loyal to me as you are to him?” She kept her expression serious and had hoped to sway the soldier by insulting his honor.

“Och, Milady, our laird has never been married before and I do not know what my duty to ye is or should be. Yet I see the way he looks at ye and I suspect he cares for ye. If ye promise not to reveal how ye came about the information, I should be able to help ye. And whilst I seek your answers, ye must promise to stay inside the keep’s walls.” Winston whistled and a large hound came barreling from the lane directly at them. By the dog’s wagging tail and wiggling body, she could tell he didn’t mean any harm no matter how fearsome heappeared.

“Oh, is he yours?” She petted the dog’s head and knelt so she could allow him to get her scent. “You’re a handsome dog, aye you are.” The hound was huge with scraggly grey hair and his long tail flapped eagerly. Though he appeared mangled, he was still handsome in her view.

“This be Sigge, the laird’s hound.”

“He belongs to Magnus? Why don’t I keep him with me whilst you are attending to your, ah…task? During my walk, I promise not to leave the walls. I intend to visit briefly with my father and then I shall return to the keep.”

“Very well, Milady. I would feel better if Sigge stayed with ye. I’ll return shortly.” Winston sauntered away and disappeared beyond the keep’s tower.

Kendra called the dog to her and he followed. She traipsed to the end of the lane where Hugh’s cottage sat. Neither her father nor Hugh were home or nearby and must have gone fishing as they’d mentioned the day before. As much as she wanted to search for her father and Hugh, she would keep her promise to Winston and not leave the walls.

She returned to the keep and continued her assessment of the manuscripts. Sigge lay on the floor beneath the table and stretched out with his head settled on her foot. Kendra found the volume that went from the present back to the previous summer season. She decided to use that volume to assess the numbers and go from there. Her eyes perused the accounts of livestock, grain stores, meat stores, each clansmen’s holdings, and the clan’s coins. When Winston returned with the latest count, she could figure out if there were any discrepancies.

Her back ached from sitting still most of the afternoon. Kendra stretched and left the chair. Sigge lifted his head briefly and then settled back. She walked to the window and gazed through it at theclan’s people near the keep. The door opened and she almost jumped. Magnus had returned. She had thought it might be Winston, but surely, he wouldn’t enter without knocking.

Sigge groaned but didn’t move from his spot under the table.

“What are ye doing, hiding in here?” he asked and set his discarded tartan on a trunk.

“I thought to take a rest before supper. Are you through with your duties for the day?”

Magnus sat on the edge of the bed and removed his boots. He shuffled back and leaned against the bed’s headboard. His brows rose and he almost smiled. He twitched a finger at her and patted the bed covers beside him. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Kendra did as he bade and she sat on the edge of the bed. He pressed his hand on the side of her neck and pulled her forward for a kiss. She set her palms on his chest and kissed him back.

Sigge crawled from beneath the table and stood by the door. It was Magnus’ turn to groan as the dog whined to leave. Kendra tried to get up to let his pet out but her husband held her fast. But then a knock sounded and again, Magnus groaned, but this time he let her go so she could hurry to the door to open it. Winston had returned. She tried to give him a subtle warning that Magnus was within, with wide eyes.

“Milady…”

She shook her head, silently letting him know it was not a good time. Sigge forced his way past her and reached the soldier.

Winston was astute. He quickly hid the parchments behind his back. “I just wanted to… I had hoped ye returned to your chamber and wanted to make sure ye were within the keep.”

“Who is there?” Magnus asked from the bed.

“Just Winston, making sure I am where I am supposed to be.”

“Tell him to go away.”

“I shall find you later,” she whispered and closed the door. She returned to Magnus. “You didn’t answer me. Are you finished yourduties for the day?”

“That depends,” he said and pulled her over his body. “…if ye want to spend a wee bit of time with me.”

Kendra giggled when he pressed his hands on her backside and yanked her hard against him. “I could be persuaded…” She didn’t finish her words but set her mouth on his.

His hands roamed her body and he took little time removing her garments. Kendra helped him and pulled his tunic over his head. She set a smattering of kisses on his chest and straddled his hips. Face to face, she sighed at the desirous way he gazed at her. His greenish-brown eyes darkened. She took her time taking him in and caressed the sides of his face.

Magnus shifted her and she spread her legs to give him easier access to her. He entered her and she leaned her head against his. Gently, she rocked against him and as she did, he pressed his hands on her breasts. Their movements, in unison, were slow and oh-so-affecting. Kendra’s legs shook and though she wanted to wait to reach her pinnacle, her body gave over. She drew in a breath and latched on to Magnus as ecstasy took control of her.

“Ye are so bonny, sweetheart, when ye reach the wee death,” Magnus said and held her face. He kissed her passionately, turning his mouth over hers, sweeping his tongue against her lips, and sending more warmth and pleasure through her.

Kendra wouldn’t let him shift her and she set her hands on his shoulders. She leaned upward and with effective strokes of her body, she met his hardness, fully encompassing him. Magnus pressed his face against her shoulder. His open mouth against her skin heated her with his heaving breath. Her body met his forcefully, keeping the pace of his thrusts until he shouted his release and tilted back his head. She leaned forward and set a gentle kiss on his throat, the side of his neck, and his muscular shoulder.

She didn’t move off him directly after but continued to hold him. “What did you mean by ‘wee death’?” Kendra almost laughed at his words but really didn’t understand why he’d spoken them.

“’Tis what the French callla petite mort, aye, the wee death…when ye come undone amid passion. Ye reached it, aye?” He spoke so fervently that she believed him.