Page 21 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“ B ut the guests,” Evelyn said, still moving backwards.

Her protest held little conviction. It was a last feeble attempt. A weak argument that, he imagined, she felt obligated to give out of some moral concern for those who had gathered to celebrate with them. But Edward knew Evelyn, perhaps more than she realized. He had witnessed her adamancy, her resistance, her stubborn determination. Her words held none of the defiance he had heard from her when she truly believed in something.

“I dinnae care a whit about the guests,” he growled back. “I only care about ye.”

Her face flushed at his words, but he could see beyond that. He noticed her lips parting, the rise and fall of those beautiful breasts as they peeked out of her blouse, he could hear the excitement in her short breaths as he drew ever nearer to her.

Eventually, Evelyn backed into the desk. It took her unawares, and she jumped a little, but she remained there, waiting for him to get to her. When he did, he lifted his hand and cupped her face.

“I havenae been able tae get ye out of me mind, Evelyn. Ye’re entwined in me every thought, wrapped around me very being. I want ye now as I have wanted ye from the moment I first laid me eyes upon ye.”

Her eyes flew open at those words.

“Och, aye.” Edward nodded. “That first day ye arrived in me faither’s castle, I lusted after ye, even when I kent it was a sin, fer ye were tae marry me braither. And yet, I couldnae help mesel’. Yer beauty stole me heart.”

“Just me beauty?” she said defiantly.

“Ye must ken, Evelyn, that ye turn heads wherever ye go.”

“It is a curse tae be born with a face such as mine, fer anything beneath the skin is barely appreciated.”

“That isnae the way I see ye. I will admit, I was struck at the first sight o’ ye. But I have grown tae ken ye since then.” He smiled. “As much as ye have resisted it, as much as ye have battled against me, I am now drawn tae yer stubbornness as much as yer loveliness.”

He was so close to her lips now that he could feel her breath. Soft, warm, and dancing against his skin. Tired of talking, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. She reciprocated by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him in to her. Opening her lips and bidding him entry, he explored that sweetness he had tasted only a few times before. His groin ached and hardened for the want of her, but he had other plans.

As fervent as the kiss was, he was too hungry for more, and thus, he dragged his lips down her throat, eliciting gasps of pleasure from her. His teeth nipped at her neck; his tongue trailed down the skin of her throat. Continuing on, he buried his faced in her bosoms, kissing the soft creamy flesh that had teased him all night.

“Me god, ye drive me wild, woman,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. He flicked his tongue over her skin. “I want tae tak’ ye so badly, but nae now. Now, I have other plans fer ye.”

Standing erect, he grabbed the back of her skirts and pulled them up to her waist. Evelyn’s eyes widened in wonder. Wrapping an arm around her, he then lifted her with ease, sitting her on the desk. Evelyn let out a whimper of surprise.

“Lie down,” he commanded.

Still looking taken aback, Evelyn did as he asked. Edward, panting with desire, placed his hand on her bosom. His fingertips grazed her silky skin for a second, before he slowly pulled his hand down over her body.

“Edward,” Evelyn whimpered, gazing up at him with desperate wanting.

“I ken, little bird,” he grunted.

Pulling the front of her skirts up, he tussled them at her waist, then, one by one, he lifted her legs, placing her feet on the desk. Pressing his hands on her knees, he pulled them apart.

A guttural sound left his throat as he gazed down at her glistening womanhood, already slick and waiting for him. “Och, god.”

Pulling at a nearby chair, he lowered himself onto it, bringing him directly in line with his prize.

“I cannae wait tae taste ye, little bird. I already ken ye’re going tae be as sweet as honey.”

Evelyn trembled as he slid his hands down the inside of her thighs. Already, she was aching for his touch, for her hips writhed in eager anticipation. She gasped when he swiped his thumb across her slickness. And then, taking his time, he softly caressed that tiny nub that begged for his touch.

“Oh. Oh,” Evelyn cried, moving in rhythm with him.

While his thumb continued its soft caress, Edward slipped two fingers inside of her. His manhood was solid as a rock now as he felt her soft, tight warmth. Slowly, he eased his fingers in and out while his thumb continued moving back and forth.

“Oh, me god,” Evelyn panted, her body gyrating under his touch.

“Ye are so warm, and wet, and ready fer me, Evelyn. I’m going tae mak’ ye feel things ye’ve never ‘afore experienced. Would ye like that?”

“Uh-huh,” she panted, hardly able to speak.

“Good. Now we’re going tae go a little faster.”

His two hands worked together, his thumb causing the needed friction, while his fingers plunged into her, sinking deeper and deeper.

“Oh. Oh. Oooh,” Evelyn cried.

He could already feel her tightening around him, but he still had other things on his mind. Pulling his fingers free and removing his thumb, he heard Evelyn moan in disappointment. He smiled to himself as he moved in closer, her soft scent arousing him beyond anything he could ever imagine.

His tongue curled past his lips and travelled over the softness of her entrance. Slowly, he tasted her, moaning with the delight, for she was as sweet as he had expected. He teased her for a little while, until Evelyn could take no more.

“Please, Edward. Please,” she begged.

Only then did he give her what she truly desired. His tongue flicked over the tiny nub, over and over, while Evelyn made sounds he had never before heard pass her lips. Her moans and whimpers only drove him even more wild, and, if they had had more time, he would have satiated himself by plunging himself deeply inside of her. For now, her pleasure would have to satisfy him.

Evelyn panted, clearly lost in the ecstasy of the moment. “Ah. Ah, Ah.”

Edward rewarded her delight with flicks of his tongue, faster, and harder knowing that was her desire. Her thighs tensed under his touch, for his hands gripped her in place. She writhed against him, desperate to reach the place he had taken her before. And then suddenly, her body spasmed, convulsing above him, her juices oozing out of her softness.

It took some time for her to come down again, but when her breathing calmed, and she looked as though she might actually fall into deep slumber right there on his desk, Edward took hold of her hands and pulled her up.

Her flushed faced betrayed the passion they had shared, the orgasm she had enjoyed, and the intimate connection between them.

Still, she was self-conscious once more, and struggled to look at him.

Edward tilted her face upwards until their eyes met. “Ye dinnae have tae feel ashamed, Evelyn. We are husband and wife. It is me responsibility tae bring ye such pleasure. A man ought tae tak’ care o’ his wife in all ways. This is one of many.”

Still voiceless, she nodded, seeming to accept his words.

He moved across the room. Once at the dresser, he poured a glass of sweet amber liquid. Handing it to her, he said, “Here. Tak’ this. It will settle yer nerves fer when we go back.”

While her eyes flew wide, Edward only grinned. “I’m teasing ye, Evelyn. Nae one will even ken we left.”

Whether she believed him or not, he could not be certain, but she downed the dram like it was water. He found himself chuckling. “Me God, lass. I didnae ken ye had it in ye.”

“There are many things ye dinnae ken about me, husband,” Evelyn quipped back with a smile.

“Och, really.” He gave her a wicked grin. “I cannae wait tae discover them.”

They entered the great hall a little while afterwards. As Edward had stated, no one had missed them, though, once they sat down at the table, Morgana leaned forward with her own inquiry.

“Where did ye two disappear tae? One minute, ye were on the dance floor, the next, I couldnae see ye.”

Evelyn was flummoxed at his sister’s question, but Edward quickly came to the rescue.

“We needed some air. Evelyn felt suddenly hot. She needed tae release a little tension.”

It took everything he had not to break into a smirk, for Evelyn did not move a muscle, and instead, stared straight ahead at some imaginary object at the back of the room. He imagined she was terrified to betray what that “release of tension” had been.

The music continued to play, and more food was served, as well as copious amounts of drink that none of the guests refused. Edward fell into a conversation with James about life back home, while beside him, Evelyn and Morgana seemed absorbed in a discussion of their own.

Desserts soon arrived and were served to all the tables in the room. There were gasps of delight for the blancmanges, and round cakes, as well as Plumb cake and shortbread.

“Och, I cannae wait tae try the shortbread,” Freya declared with wide eyes.

At that very second, a great cry of despair came from the middle of the room. For a moment, Edward was confused as to what had happened. Jumping from his seat, he hurried over to the crowd that had gathered. Pushing through the guests, he was shocked to see a squire lying on the floor. Beside him, a plate was splintered into pieces, the remains of what looked like Plumb cake broken apart beside it.

Spotting Craig in the crowd of onlookers, Edward caught his eye. “Get the healer. Now!” he demanded.

Spinning around, he ran back to the table. Still several feet away, he watched in terror as Evelyn lifted a forkful of the cake to her lips.

“Nay!” he bellowed.

Reaching her in seconds, he grabbed the fork from her hand and threw it to the floor, much to Evelyns astonishment.

“Edward! What the devil has?—”

“The boy on the floor is our food tester,” Edward declared.

Turning to face the hall again, Edward roared across the room. “The festivities are over. Everyone needs tae leave this minute.”

There were gasps and murmurs from the crowd, some surprised, others disgruntled. For a moment, everyone seemed too stunned at the announcement to move. Cleary, they needed a little more persuading.

“Return tae ye quarters immediately,” Edward demanded.

There then occurred a great flurry of activity. Those still sitting began standing and moving about, and slowly, with many murmurs and concerned conversation, a mass exodus headed to the doors.

“What the devil is the matter with ye?” Evelyn demanded, now standing by his side. “Ye cannae speak tae the guests in such a manner.”

James was now on his other side. “Edward, what is going on?”

Pointing to the young lad on the floor, now being attending to by several maids, he said, “The lad is our food tester. We need tae ken what he has eaten. If it was anything other than the Plumb cake, we could all be in danger. The guests included.”

“I will see tae it,” James replied firmly. He then swiftly left Edward’s side and headed down to the where the boy lay. Freya swiftly followed her husband.

At that same moment, Craig entered the great hall with Fergus, the castle healer running behind him. They made their way to the boy, the healer dropping to his knees immediately. For several moments, Edward watched on, waiting for some sign from the healer.

“He has been poisoned,” Fergus declared, much to the gasps of those remaining. Fergus then ordered some of the larger men to lift the boy to his cottage.

While Edward could not hear her words over the raucous, Freya said something to James, and then something to Fergus, and then, side by side, the two hurriedly left after the boy.

“This is madness,” Evelyn declared. “There isnae a chance anyone would try and poison us in our own castle.”

Edward turned to face her, feeling slightly frustrated at her naivety. “Ye have tae understand, Evelyn, there are people?—”

But he stopped speaking the second he noticed his wife begin to sway before his very eyes. With a furrowed brow, she pressed a hand to her stomach.

“Och, I?—”

“Evelyn. Are ye?—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Evelyn’s eyes fluttered closed and her legs gave way..

Launching forward, Edward flung out his arms, catching her only seconds before her head collided with the solid stone.