Page 11 of To Tame a Wolf

To everyone’s amazement, Alexandra was up, dressed and ready to go about her business at the crack of dawn. She hoped to be early enough to surprise Silas and catch him still asleep. Chuckling at the thought, she exited the chamber and found two men guarding the door.

“Oh no, not again.” She sighed. “Please tell me you’re not going to follow me around all day?”

Finn and McAlistair nodded in unison. McAlistair bowed and gestured her forward with his hand. “After you, m’lady.”

Might as well make the best of it she thought and led the way, at least until she had a few words with the McGregor.

She pounded on Silas’s door and did indeed wake him up. She refrained from smiling as he puttered about, muttering under his breath. They checked on the child, Fiona, and changed the wrap covering her arm. The girl was quick to remind Alexandra of her promise to go tree climbing. “I am looking forward to it,” she replied.

The rest of the day was spent at Silas’s table pouring over his drawings of medicinal herbs. He was a good artist, and she easily recognized his renditions. On the margins of the scrolled paper, he’d made notes as to usages and doses. Alexandra was impressed by the amount of time he must have spent working on the project. She came to the conclusion he was doing this for the benefit of his clan, should he pass on. Most of the herbs she was familiar with, but there were still many she had no knowledge of. Silas also showed her where he stored his supplies, pointing out the many near empty baskets he was eager to fill when the weather stayed warmer.

It was well into the afternoon when young Jamie showed up with Happy in tow. The guardsmen managed to keep them busy for a while, but it wasn’t long before the boy started pleading with forlorn brown eyes, for her to play. After throwing sticks for the pup and running races, Alexandra decided it was time to think of new games. The lad was smart; perhaps she could teach him the rudiments of chess. She knew Jamie preferred the freedom of being outside, but after he’d run off his excess energy, the game might be a good way to settle him down at night.

The main hall was fairly empty when they arrived back at the keep. A few women remained finishing up their wash, and the kitchen staff was busy preparing for the dinner hour. She and Jamie picked out a spot across from the center fireplace, and she set up one of the chess sets made available to all. Today’s lesson was easy. She showed him the pieces, their names, and how they were allowed to move across the board. It brought back loving memories of when her father taught her to play. Jamie proved an avid learner and before long, he recited the information back to her. He was eager to start a game, but as dinner would soon be ready, she told him it would give them both something to look forward to before tomorrow’s evening meal.

Maddie and Cook approached as she put the game away. “Cook would like to go over the menu for the special day,” Maddie said.

Alexandra turned and smiled apologetically at the portly cook. “I’m sorry. I can’t seem to remember your name.”

Cook gave a hearty laugh, “That’s because it’s been Cook for longer than I can remember. I don’t think I’d answer to anything else.”

They went over the menu together, and Alexandra told her it looked fabulous, and she thanked Cook in advance for all her hard work. The two women left her and headed back toward the kitchen. She had sent Jamie up to his room to get cleaned up for evening meal, so she sat alone with her thoughts before she too needed to change.

The wedding day was fast approaching. She managed to block it from her mind most of the time, unless someone brought the subject up, and then she’d feel her stomach drop. She wasn’t sure whether it was due to fear or anticipation or a combination of both. Was she jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire? Since her poisoning, she hadn’t seen much of Ian, except at evening meals.

“Excuse me, but I was told you might be able to help me?”

Alexandra looked up to find the red-haired, large-bosomed woman standing beside her. She remembered her from the first evening at the keep as the lady with the hateful stares.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve been introduced.”

Holding out her hand, the woman said, “My name is Debra. Debra McCaw. I am Robert’s woman.”

With reservation, Alexandra shook Debra’s hand, and asked, “How can I assist you?”

The woman dropped down in the vacant chair next to her and started unlacing her boot. As she did so, she told of having taken a bad fall on the ice a few weeks back, and of how her ankle didn’t seem to be healing.

Alexandra lifted the injured foot and set it on her lap. Fading black and blue bruises lined the inner side. She gently palpated for broken bones but found none. Placing the foot back on the ground, she said, “I don’t think there’s a break, but there is still some swelling. You should stay off it and elevate it as much as you can. It will take some time to heal.”

“Thank you so much for taking a look,” Debra said. “I am sorry if I did not make you welcome when you first arrived.” Resting her hands on her knees and looking down at her feet, she said, “I have very bad memories of the English, but I know I am wrong to blame you personally.”

Alexandra was warmed by the woman’s apology. She briefly touched the woman’s hand and said, “Let’s put the past behind us. We can move forward and get to know each other for who we really are.”

****

Alexandra woke from a nightmare. Startled, she rose to a sitting position. Tears coursed down her face and she choked back a sob. Visions of the horrible dream played in her head. The McGregor was held captive again, chained to the floor. But this time, her cousin Niles sliced and jabbed at him with a sword. The Sullivan held her tightly, laughing at her struggles to push him away, and prevented her from going to Ian’s aid. She woke just as Niles raised his sword over his head with both hands, ready to plunge it into the McGregor’s heart.

Taking deep breaths, Alexandra lay back down and tried to calm herself. The nightmare brought back all the fear and ugliness of her past. Bile rose in her throat. She swallowed it back and pushed herself from the floor to splash cold water on her face from the basin. The nausea subsided and the memories faded like tendrils of smoke, but their stench remained.

Tomorrow, she was to be married. Time had passed too quickly, and she didn’t feel any better prepared. Now new questions entered her thoughts. Was she putting the McGregor at risk by marrying him? Surely not? Since they would be married, there was no need for him to pick up a ransom from Niles. Soon she would be the property of the McGregor, and Niles could do nothing about it. Even if the unthinkable happened, and Niles somehow managed to kill Ian, she would then belong to her husband’s family, so Niles had nothing to gain by those actions, except of course, to torment her.

Calming herself with reassurances, she dressed quickly, anxious to get on with her day so she could think about something or someone other than herself. She found Jamie and Silas waiting and wondering about her whereabouts. She brushed off their questions and asked who they were off to see first. Leading the way along the snow-melted, muddy path, Alexandra turned her attentions to Jamie, and asked him to recall the names of the chess pieces.

No major illnesses needed tending that afternoon. Silas supervised as Alexandra stitched up the palm of a warrior’s hand. His training opponent had been young and a little too eager. They also distributed a cough tonic and medicinal rub to several families. By the time their day was finished, her skirts and her boots were caked in mud, making it difficult to walk. Both Jamie and Happy were filthy from head to toe and seemed pleased about it. When the trio arrived back at the keep, Alexandra walked them around to the back servants’ entrance off the kitchen, where she turned Jamie and the pup over to his dismayed nursemaid.

****

The eve of the wedding, Maddie had Alexandra’s dinner sent up to the room. She missed the laughing companionship of the McGregor and his clan while she ate alone. She had not seen him on the practice field that day either. She didn’t have much of an appetite, and she pushed the food around the plate. Maddie knocked on the door and entered.

“The McGregor said to inform you he will not be joining you in the bed chamber tonight. He will see you at the ceremony tomorrow.”

Alexandra was both relieved and disappointed at the same time. “Did he say what he was doing?”

“I think he plans on spending the evening with his brother.”

Maddie left with the food tray, and Alexandra restlessly paced around the room. She was nervous, and she doubted whether she’d be able to sleep at all. Tomorrow, she’d be a married woman. Married to the Wolf. Dear God, please tell me I’m doing the right thing, that this is Your will. No doubt being married to, and having the protection of the McGregor, was a much better alternative than being in her cousin’s monstrous hands. Perhaps this was God’s answer to her prayer for escape, but would Ian ever love her?

After several hours of pacing, the big bed started to look inviting. She crawled in under the furs and sank into the softness. The fire she had just stoked burned brightly, and she lay back and watched the shadows dance upon the walls. She fell asleep in the midst of praying.

****

The time had arrived. Alexandra, dressed in the blue velvet dress, sat in the chair facing the fire while Maddie removed remnants of rolled, tied cloth from her hair. Running a comb through the individual curls, Maddie exclaimed, “Your hair has turned out even better than I expected. The Wolf will not be able to take his eyes off you.”

At the mention of the McGregor’s nickname, the butterflies in Alexandra’s stomach fluttered. She was both anxious and nervous to see the McGregor. Was he having any second thoughts?

Maddie worked with Alexandra’s hair, adding dried flowers and ribbons as she saw fit. Finally, she stepped back and said, “Perfect.” Maddie herself was dressed in a blue woolen dress, and Alexandra thought her untamed red curls looked lovely against the dark blue.

“I’ll see if they’re ready for us yet,” Maddie said and slipped out the bedroom door.

As Alexandra waited for her to return, she heard the rumbling of many voices coming from below. How many people were here? Maddie reappeared several minutes later.

“It’s time!” she said excitedly, her face flushed.

Alexandra walked to the door and paused. Taking a deep breath, she slowly let it out and then nodded. Maddie handed her an arrangement of dried flowers and opened the door to lead the way. Surprisingly, she still had two guards outside the door. They smiled as she walked by. Would she continue to be guarded after she was married?

Alexandra and Maddie paused when they reached the top of the stairs. Looking down, she saw the hall packed with familiar faces. The entire clan, including the children, appeared to be present. As the two women approached, silence, like a wave, washed over the crowd, and they divided leaving a pathway open to the McGregor, who stood waiting in front of the priest.

****

Ian, with his brother by his side, turned to face the steps. He stared, stunned at the beautiful vision who walked toward him. Alexandra looked like an angel. Her long hair flowed and curled around her, and she wore a form-fitting dress that clung to her womanly curves and matched the color of her eyes. Feeling his brother’s hard elbow poke him in the ribs, Ian shut his open mouth but continued to stare. He offered his hand as Alexandra drew close, and clasped her hand in his, but she did not meet his eyes. He turned with her and faced the priest. The clergyman droned on for several minutes about something, but Ian wasn’t paying much attention. His focus was on the woman standing next to him. He could feel her small hand trembling within his like a bird trying to escape. The priest suddenly stopped speaking and looked expectantly at him.

“I do,” he replied.

The priest spoke more and then paused, and looked in Alexandra’s direction, waiting for her reply.

She stood frozen. The McGregor gave her hand a squeeze and caressed her knuckles with his thumb. She took a gasping breath and said, “I do.”

Alexandra’s eyes widened when Ian pulled a gold medallion ring from his pocket. It was far too large to ever fit her hand, but he had it on a delicate, gold chain. Lifting her hand, he placed the ring in her palm and closed her fingers around it. As the priest pronounced them husband and wife, a roaring cheer erupted from the clan, followed by shouts of “Kiss your wife!” Ian placed both hands around Alexandra’s waist and hoisted her up in the air as if she weighed nothing. With her feet off the ground, she grabbed his upper arms in surprise, and he brought his lips to hers in a lingering kiss. The crowd roared and cheered once more.

Alexandra’s face was flushed when he released her. The clan members then immediately surrounded them and offered handshakes, slaps on the back, and hugs of congratulations.

****

Debra sat stiff and unmoving during the ceremony with a smile plastered on her face. Bitter gall rose up in her throat, and she swallowed repeatedly. She wanted to scream. She wanted to hit and punch and rip someone’s hair out. Preferably blonde hair. Her breathing quickened as did the rise and fall of her chest. Tears of frustration trespassed into her eyes. Nooo! Finally, the ceremony concluded. People rose to their feet, cheering.

“Happy tears. Happy tears,” she said to Robert and to the couple standing next to them and dabbed her eyes with her kerchief.

****

The celebrations started immediately with pints of ale and tables laden with food. Cook must have started baking the minute she received the news. Ian escorted Alexandra to their usual table where James and Jamie joined them.

“Father says I can call you Aunt Alexandra now.” The boy grinned from ear to ear. “And you don’t ever have to leave. We can play every day! Forever!”

Alexandra smiled at the boy’s enthusiasm. “If I’m your aunt, then you must be my nephew. I’ve never had a nephew before.”

Ian filled her glass with wine and put food on their plates. She realized she was still clutching his ring. She’d been holding it so tight indentions were left in her hand. The ring was beautiful. The gold shimmered in the candlelight. Etchings of a full-bodied wolf were on one side and a wolf’s head was on the other. As she turned it she noted an inscription inside. She read both of their names and the date. Her eyes filled with tears at his unexpected thoughtfulness. She glanced over at him, but he was in conversation with James. She slipped the delicate chain over her head and lifted her hair free.

Alexandra looked at the mound of food he’d piled on her plate and knew that she wouldn’t be able to do it justice. She patted her leg under the table and Happy responded by leaving Jamie’s side to come sit at her feet. While everyone was talking and laughing, she snuck large morsels of food to the pup. Pushing her food around on the plate, she tried to taste everything since Cook had gone to so much trouble.

Ian leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You keep that up, and he’s going to get fat.”

She hadn’t realized anyone had noticed. “I don’t want to hurt Cook’s feelings. I guess I’m just not very hungry.”

Ian leaned over again and brushed her hair back from her neck. “And what, I wonder, is on your mind?” he whispered, and placed a gentle kiss on her neck, just below her ear.

Alexandra blushed and looked to see if anyone was paying attention. Many smiling faces turned her way.

“Come to think of it, I’m not very hungry either,” Ian said and pushed himself up from the table. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her up from her seat and led her from the hall. As people noticed, shouts and teasing comments followed them. Within seconds, the entire hall cheered once more.

Alexandra was shocked and speechless. Surely he wasn’t taking her to bed in the middle of the afternoon? Ian led her up the steps and to the bedchamber. She paused in front of the door, and Ian gave her a gentle push into the room.

She wasn’t mentally prepared for this; she thought she’d have until late that evening. Clearing her throat, she said, “Shouldn’t we be entertaining our guests?”

“They can entertain themselves.” Ian advanced toward her and as he did, she backed away until she felt the bed behind her knees. Ian continued to walk toward her until she put her arms straight out with both palms planted against the middle of his chest to hold him away. Ian pulled her hands from his chest and brought them up to his lips. Staring seriously down into her blue eyes, he whispered, “Have I ever given you cause to fear me?”

“No,” she replied and reminded herself how honorable he was. She relaxed a little as her instinct told her she could trust him.

Ian gently pulled her into his arms. Hugging her, he ran his hands over her back and hips while he nuzzled her neck. Goose bumps broke out over her skin as he sucked and kissed the line from her neck to her jaw. She wrapped her arms around him and he brought her closer, his lips covering hers. Cupping her buttocks, he drew her up against him. Their tongues met and danced before his plunged deeper into her mouth. He made her feel so good, so alive. She wanted to get closer to him. She needed to get closer to him. He undid the back of her dress, and his warm hands caressed her bare skin.

Alexandra had the sudden desire to feel his skin beneath her hands. She lifted the hem of his shirt and stood on tiptoe. Ian raised his arms and helped her remove it. He stood silent and unmoving as she explored his body. She ran her hands over his muscular chest and arms. Under her fingertips, his skin was soft and smooth, belying the hidden strength beneath in the rippling muscles. She inhaled his clean woodsy scent and leaned in to press her lips against the jagged scar on his arm. Ian yanked her flush against him with one arm and lifted her chin with the other hand. He bent and engulfed her mouth in a deep, slow kiss which she hungrily returned. She felt his hands on her shoulders, and he slowly lowered the top of her gown to her waist and held her sleeves as she pulled her arms from the garment. He then slid the gown over her hips and let it fall to the floor. He held out his hands to her. She clasped them and stepped out of the dress. Ian stared at her and heat rose up over her cheeks. She fought the urge to cover herself, knowing the thin cotton shift did little to hide her nudity. Ian gathered her close once more and kissed her tenderly, teasing her lips with his tongue and then more fully until she was breathless and aching for more. He stopped kissing her only long enough to pull the shift over her head.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered and pulled her naked body back against his. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once. Down her back, to her buttocks and thighs, before he cupped a breast and rubbed his thumb across her nipple. Alexandra gasped and moaned as a jolt of pleasure went straight to her womb.

Not wanting to be the only one completely naked, she tugged downward on his pants. His hands left her body to untie the drawstring. She took a step backward when she saw his large, throbbing manhood.

She stuttered. “I-I-don’t see how this can possibly work.”

Ian laughed. “Believe me; you are going to be surprised at just how good this is going to work.”

Alexandra remained doubtful but let Ian lift her onto the bed. Joining her, he tugged her slightly stiff body back into his arms and caressed her. He said, “I will take things as slowly as you need me to. The first time can be painful for a woman, but I’m told the pain is fleeting.”

Their legs entwined, and the hard ridge of his manhood pressed against her stomach.

He kissed her and moved his hands up and down her body. She relaxed again and simply enjoyed the sensations he aroused. Ian rolled her onto her back and rained kisses down her neck and collarbone before he cupped a breast. Lowering his head, he flicked the nipple with his tongue until it puckered and she arched off the bed. He took the nipple into his mouth and gently sucked and tugged on it. She felt she was melting and yet filled with a yearning she didn’t understand.

Ian turned his attention to her other breast and moved one hand caressingly down over her stomach and then lower. He stroked the insides of her thighs with his fingertips before settling his hand over her mound and finding the small nub of her womanhood. He gently feathered his thumb across it, and she bucked in surprise at the intimacy of his touch. Dear God, what was he doing to her?

She breathed heavier. She needed more. This was an exquisite type of torture. Ian settled himself between her thighs and positioned himself. He leaned down and kissed her intimately, and thrust deep into her. A sudden stab of pain elevated her out of the fog of desire. She groaned into his mouth and tensed.

“Shhh. Just let it pass,” he whispered. Holding himself still, he brushed the hair back from her face and kissed her hairline. He tenderly kissed her until the tension left her body. He began to slowly move inside her.

The sensation was not totally unpleasant. Her body was stretched to the maximum, but the pain was nearly gone. He nuzzled her neck, and the movement inside her quickened, until he suddenly stopped moving and stiffened. With a guttural sound of release, he collapsed on top of her. After several moments, she couldn’t breathe and she attempted to push him off. Ian rolled over onto his back and pulled her with him, tucking her head onto his shoulder. Neither spoke, and it wasn’t long before she heard him snoring.

Alexandra lay awake thinking about what had just happened. So was that the marital duty she’d heard some women talk about as being so distasteful? It wasn’t that bad. In fact, a few parts of it were rather nice. She supposed she’d be able to fulfill her wifely duties whenever the McGregor desired them.

****

Alexandra’s body glistened with sweat and she panted faster and faster. Her head was tilted back and her hair lay splayed out against the pillow. She clutched Ian’s biceps as her pleasure grew and intensified. She was climbing higher and higher toward some unattainable goal just out of her grasp, until finally, an explosion of satisfaction washed over her bringing waves of immense pleasure and release until she floated back to earth.

Ian rolled onto his back pulling Alexandra with him until she lay completely on top of him, her legs between his, and her head resting on the center of his chest. Still breathless, she lifted her head and met his brown eyes. “That…was absolutely amazing,” she whispered.

Ian grinned, obviously very pleased with her reaction. He gave her bottom a quick smack, and boasted, “Of course it was. I am good at everything I do.”

She should have known better than to compliment him. Sinking her teeth into his chest, she playfully nipped him, which earned her another swat on her bottom.

“Go to sleep woman, you’re going to need your strength.”