Page 38 of Bride Takes a Laird

While they ate, his closest comrades joined them at the table. Wyren and Marny sat across from him and Kendra. Hale was tucked in his father’s hold. Winston sat with Gloria. Hayden and Osmond took up the rest of the space. Sigge wasn’t far behind and sat next to him, thumping his tail against the ground, vying for his attention and pieces of his mutton. Magnus petted him and gave him what he wanted. His dog gulped down the food thrown at him. Before long, Jake strolled along and joined them too. Magnus thought to give direction now for the morrow since it was unlikely he would see them after they finished the meal.

“On the morrow, we will leave to confront Aldo and find out the truth behind Ned’s death. Wyren, you’ll stay here and look after the keep. Ye will need to ensure our men are ready to face any threat from the Chattans. Winston, since ye are newly married, I give ye leave from duty for the next day. After that, ye will ensure Kendra’s safetywhilst I am gone. I’ll have my da watch out for her until ye return to duty.”

All stared at him. He felt Kendra’s eyes piercing him but he needed to assert his dictate. “I will take Jake, Hayden, and Osmond with me. The three of ye select one other to go on the trek. There will be six in all. I will select a small regiment of men to accompany us as well. We know not what we will face when we confront Aldo, but I want answers and I mean to get them.”

His men grumbled and grunted. As each left the table after their supper, they stepped before him and bowed their heads in silent acceptance of their mission. Not that they could refuse, but the men he chose to attend him were the most trusted, fiercest soldiers, within the clan. His brother Jake seemed surprised that he’d asked him along. This was the first time he’d take him on a mission but it was time for his brother to show his mettle.

When his brother stepped before him, he stopped him. “Jake, I hope ye know that I value ye and wanted ye to gain experience before I asked…”

“Ye do not need to explain, Laird. I am ready to serve and protect ye now. My sword is sharp as well as my mind. We shall find our foe and I will be gladdened to be there when ye do.”

Magnus was taken aback by his brother’s pledge. It was the most he’d spoken to him at once in a long time. He rose and clasped his brother in a brief embrace. “My thanks, Jake. Do not linger out here all night. Ye need a wee bit of shut-eye before we head out.”

His brother nodded and set off.

Magnus waved to Wyren and Marny as they left to put Hale to bed. Now he sat alone with Kendra and he rose to stand behind her. She left her seat and turned to peer at him.

“You are leaving again. How long will you be away?”

“Probably a few moon rises. Come,” he said and took her hand. He guided her toward the gates. They continued onward until hestopped on the wooden bridge that led to the island. The moon, now higher in the sky, shone on the waters that flowed beneath it.

Magnus kissed her cheek and took her hand again. They traipsed along and when they reached the darkened woods beyond the land’s embankment, he pulled her into his embrace.

“Magnus, there are others about.”

“Aye, it’s part of the rite. All within the wood this night will couple with their women. Next winter there will be a great many Cameron bairns born.” He grinned, thinking about that and hoped that perhaps he and Kendra would be blessed to welcome their first child.

Kendra wrapped her arms around his neck and he lifted her into his arms. When he found the perfect spot, a soft, grassy place between the thick trunks of pine trees, he set her down. Magnus was careful when he disrobed her. Her overdress was of delicate materials and he was careful as he unpinned the brooch he so remembered from when he was a lad. When she was only clad in her shift, he leaned back and removed his garments. The crisp air of the night did nothing to cool his ardor for he was filled with lust and longing.

Magnus wanted their time together to be special. He wasn’t sure when he’d see her again but it would be a long while. Too long.

He lay beside her, gently caressed her, and aroused her body to respond to him with light moans. She was soft and sweet. Kendra tried to pull him to her for a kiss, but he pressed her back. “Let us take it slow. We should enjoy this time together.”

In the dimness of the woodland surrounding them, he could barely see her. Magnus wanted to bring her pleasure and so he set his mouth at her apex and used his tongue to lash at the heat of her vagina. In his ministration, he heard her rasps, murmurs, gasps, and moans. Then, she succumbed to the pleasure and thrashed about. He grinned to himself, but now, he was hard and hot for her.

“Magnus, please, let me.” She straddled him and gyrated her hips to take him in again and again.

As he lay back, enjoying the pleasure of his wife’s body, he pressed his hands on the dewy grass near him before he lifted his hands to reach out to Kendra’s face. He pressed his dew-covered palms on her cheeks. She peered at him inquisitively.

“’Tis believed that if ye wash your face with the early morn dew, ye will be blessed with good fortune.” Magnus settled his hands on her hips and pulled her toward him. The movement of her body against his sent him reeling once again.

“I already received good fortune and need no more,” she whispered.

Her words pleased him and he was caught up in the desirous motion that it only took a moment for lust to engulf him. His moan echoed in the woods along with those of many men that night, purposely pleasing the Goddess Flora who would ensure the transition of the season of rebirth.

After their romp in the woods, Magnus held her hand on the return to the keep. They didn’t come across anyone on their walk back. At the keep, he led her to their bedchamber and they readied for bed. Magnus undressed and waited for her to do the same. Once she was settled, he joined her and held her close. He thought about the excursion on the morrow and what he needed to do. Would he finally gain the answers he sought about Ned’s death?

Chapter Fourteen

On the journeyto Fassiefern, Magnus somehow contained his fury. They didn’t leave the holding until well past midday. He’d wanted to leave at first light but several of his soldiers hadn’t arrived at the gate as instructed. Others were sent to roust the men, and finally, when all assembled, he led the group onward. When they reached the thickly pine-covered land on the lane toward the village, he slowed his pace.

Two men lagged behind and retched in a thicket of yews. Served them right for imbibing too much the night before. Magnus grunted and hoped they had headaches and sore stomachs, for it was well-deserved. He considered leaving them behind and selecting others to take their place, but they eventually showed themselves.

“What has ye so agitated, Laird?” Hayden asked. “Are ye thinking about how we will confront this Aldo fellow?”

“Nay, I am piss-arsed that none of ye listened. I bade that all be at the gate early because I wanted to confront Aldo in the early morn. Now, we will arrive later than I had hoped.”

Hayden lowered his head. “I should have ensured the men followed your orders, Laird.”