Page 33

NIGHT SETTLED OVER Dun Ugadale, yet Rose couldn’t sleep.

She had too many thoughts churning through her mind, too many emotions that made her restless.

Time slid by, and around her, the broch quietened. However, sleep still eluded her.

Eventually, muttering a curse, she pushed back the covers and swung her legs out of bed before padding barefoot over to the window. Unlatching the shutters, she threw them open.

The moon was on the wane now, yet it hung overhead like a polished silver penny, winking down at her and frosting the walls below in silver. Its light reminded her of that magical night, just two days prior, when she and Kerr had given themselves to each other in that pine glade.

Was it only two days ago?

It felt as if a month had passed since then.

Today’s events had shaken her deeply. She still couldn’t believe that Father Gregor had managed to incite Maisie and her friends to do what they had.

It unnerved her that folk could be so weak-minded.

Nonetheless, it was worth remembering that the priest had found fertile ground here.

Of course, there was an undercurrent of superstition in most communities, yet the rift between the MacDonalds and the MacAlisters made it easy to divide the village.

Many of the MacDonalds had been looking for a reason to condemn Graham MacAlister’s daughter.

An owl hooted in the distance and Rose sighed, wondering where Hazel was hunting tonight. She’d miss the owl in her new life, but surely, Hazel would be happier remaining with Kenna?

Leaning against the window ledge, Rose continued to gaze out at the moonlit night. The cold wind of earlier in the day had died, and the air had a watchful stillness to it.

And all the while, the quiet just made the restlessness in her grow.

Kerr had brought a tray of supper up to her earlier, and they’d eaten together. But he’d left soon after, telling her that she should rest. He’d also reassured her that his chamber lay directly under hers, and to knock on his door if she should need anything.

Well, she did need something. Him.

As she’d pointed out earlier, she wasn’t an invalid. Bonnie had rubbed salve on the scratches to her neck and upon the bruises to her head and shin. Fortunately, her physical wounds were all superficial.

However, today’s events had bruised her in places no one could see. She longed for comfort and reassurance. For Kerr.

Pulse quickening, Rose padded toward the door. No, she didn’t want to be alone. Not tonight. She wore a thin night-rail, yet before leaving her chamber, she wrapped a woolen shawl around her shoulders—just in case she met anyone on the stairwell.

Out on the landing, she was relieved to find a cresset burning on the wall, illuminating the narrow stairs that wound down beneath her. It would have been dangerous, and difficult, to descend without light as there were no windows in the stairwell to let in the moonlight.

Reaching the floor below, she knocked on Kerr’s door.

Silence followed, and her heart started to race. What was she doing knocking on his door in the middle of the night? The man would be sound asleep. Just because she couldn’t settle, didn’t mean she had to wake him as well.

Rose took a step back and was about to turn away and climb back up the stairwell when the door creaked open.

Kerr stood there, owl-eyed and dressed in a hastily donned lèine and leather trews. Holding a flickering lantern aloft, he blinked at her, his brow furrowing. “Rose … is something wrong?”

She shook her head, warmth sweeping over her. She suddenly felt even more foolish. “No,” she murmured. “I couldn’t sleep … that’s all.”

Their gazes held before Kerr’s brow smoothed and his mouth lifted into a half-smile. He then raked a hand through his already mussed hair. “Would ye like to come in, lass?”

Rose nodded, swallowing. “Can I share yer bed tonight?” Her cheeks flamed hot as his smile slowly widened. “I mean … I don’t wish to be alone … not after everything that’s happened.”

His expression sobered at these words. He shifted back then, allowing Rose to enter, before shutting the door behind her. “I understand,” he said softly.

“Thank ye,” she murmured, wishing she didn’t feel quite so embarrassed.

This was Kerr, after all, and they’d already been intimate.

Yet she didn’t feel herself tonight. And although she was having difficulty holding his eye now, she could already feel the restlessness within her settle just a little.

Scooting around the edge of the bed, she cast aside her shawl and climbed in, rearranging his pillows and making herself comfortable.

Then she glanced up to find Kerr still standing there, watching her, an odd look upon his face.

Rose stilled. “What?”

Perhaps she’d overstepped, and he didn’t want her in here, after all.

“Nothing,” he replied, shaking his head as if to clear it. He then walked around to the opposite side of the bed, took off his lèine, and climbed in, the bed ropes creaking under his weight, pulling the blankets over them.

“Aren’t ye going to undress?” Rose asked, surprised that he was still wearing his trews.

“Best I don’t, lass,” he replied, a strained edge to his voice now. “Ye are still upset from today … it wouldn’t be right.”

Rose stiffened. She wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to worry about such things. Nonetheless, he was being considerate, and she didn’t want to embarrass him.

Moments passed before she asked. “Will ye still hold me though? I might be able to sleep then.”

Kerr cleared his throat, “Of course.”

Rose wriggled close, a sigh escaping her as she found him. She then snuggled against his chest, nestling her cheek into the hollow of his shoulder. In response, Kerr wrapped his arms around her.

They lay like that for a while as Rose slowly relaxed.

The smell of him, the heat and strength of his body against hers, was a balm. When Kerr held her in his arms, she felt as if nothing could touch her, as if everything was well and always would be.

But, after a while, as drowsiness started to tug her eyelids downward, she realized his body was tense. She might be about to drop off to sleep, yet he wasn’t. His breathing had grown shallow.

“Kerr?” Rose murmured, running her hand over his chest to where his heart now thumped against her palm. “Is something amiss?”

He huffed a soft laugh. “Don’t worry about me, lass … just get some sleep.”

“Are ye not comfortable lying like this? Maybe we should roll on our sides and ye can put yer arms around me from behind.”

He made a strangled noise at this.

Rose tensed. “What?”

“I think that’ll make it worse.”

“What worse?”

“This.” Gently, he took her hand that lay upon his chest and moved it down, over his belly, to the hard bulge straining against his leather trews.

Rose gasped, excitement quickening in the cradle of her hips. “Oh,” she said quietly. “I didn’t realize.”

He shifted her hand back to his chest. “Just ignore it … it’ll go away … eventually.”

Rose didn’t reply. It was noble of him to suffer in silence, yet she didn’t want to ignore it. Now that he’d made her aware of his arousal, the drowsiness disappeared, and in its place rose a keen awareness and hunger.

Wordlessly, she slid her hand back down the bed, trailing her fingers up the length of his erection, from the base to the tip.

“Rose,” Kerr gasped, grabbing hold of her wrist. “What are ye doing?”

“What we both want,” she replied firmly. “Can we have some light in here?”

Moments passed, and then Kerr murmured an oath under his breath. He released her wrist and rolled sideways. He then climbed out of bed and fumbled with the shuttered window. An instant later, he’d opened it, and silvery moonlight flooded the bedchamber.

It was surprisingly bright and frosted Kerr as he stood before the bed.

Rose rolled onto her knees and drew back the covers.

Her breathing quickened as her gaze feasted on the outline of his swollen member against the tight leather of his trews.

Then, without second-guessing her instinct, she reached down, grabbed the hem of her night-rail, and pulled it over her head so that she crouched naked before him.

Kerr’s breathing hitched.

Rose scooted across the bed and perched on the edge, before reaching out and unlacing his trews, releasing his shaft from its leather prison.

A sigh gusted out of her at the sight of it, thick and proud, and bone hard. Its tip was swollen and wet, and need twisted low in her belly.

Lord, how she wanted him.

“Teach me how to touch ye,” she whispered, tearing her gaze from his groin to his face.

Kerr was watching her with a sensual, hooded gaze, his chest rising and falling sharply now. “Are ye sure?”

“Aye.”

“Then wrap yer fingers firmly around the base of my rod.”

Swallowing, her mouth dry now, Rose did as bid. Hades, it was hot and hard, the skin silky.

“Now, slide yer hand up toward the tip, keeping yer grip firm.”

Rose eagerly followed his instructions and was rewarded by a low groan. “Aye, good lass.”

Wetness flooded between her thighs at the gravelly edge to his voice. She loved listening to him slowly unraveling, hearing him encourage her. He’d done the same when they’d lain together at Beltaine.

She continued to slide her hand up and down his shaft, feeling it grow larger and harder still under her grip.

“What else?” she breathed.

“Ye can kiss it, if ye like?”

Excitement twisted inside her. She’d been hoping he’d make such a suggestion.

She slid from the bed to the floor, kneeling there before him.

She then leaned down and brushed her lips over the slick crown of his shaft.

And then, with a sigh, she took him into her mouth, letting him slide in deep until the tip hit the back of her throat.

Kerr’s ragged groan rumbled through the chamber. “Sweet Jesu, Rose!”

His hands tangled in her hair then, holding her firm as she dragged her mouth up and down the length of him. He was too big to take in completely, and so she continued to work the base of his rod with her hand.

The sensitive flesh between her thighs ached now, desire twisting tighter with every groan she dragged from him, every gasp.

She was intent on bringing him over the edge, on making him spill in her mouth. However, Kerr prevented her. He pulled her up and lifted her onto the bed. Then, he spread her legs wide and shifted between them.

Panting, Rose gazed up at his face. His cheeks were flushed, his gaze hot. “It’s my turn now,” he growled.