“Done!”
She panted, proud in nothing but her kerchief. God, she was beautiful!
“One,” he said as if finishing his count. He couldn’t stay away from her any longer. As he approached she straightened her back, lifting her breasts. He didn’t think she did it to entice him as much as to show her determination. Avoiding the jiggling temptation he lifted the square pinned to the top of her head. “What of this?”
She snatched the proof of her marriage from his hand and tossed it aside. “I keep forgetting that since I never wore one afore.”
“No?”
“Bertie’s parents didna wish a reminder that we were married. When I returned here my father was the same. No one spoke of my marriage until Duff.”
“I would like to hear of it.” He reached for her braid. “Later. We have more important things to do.”
Duff’s plaid hit the floor with a thud. She jumped, turning at the noise. Her eyes widened. Like his own, Duff’s body was covered in greenish-yellow bruises.
“Who tried to hurt you?”
“Every man in the garrison from Ramsay the Keeper, on down,” replied Duff. “Good thing ’twas only wasters they used.” He winced. “Wooden swords willna cut, but they bruise well.”
“They tested you.”
“They tested all of us.” Duff snickered. “Yer father took on three of the youngest lads at once. One got through and stabbed him in the arse with the point of his waster. The laddie’s seven, and had only been there a few weeks.”
She pressed her fingers over her mouth to hold back a giggle. “And what did the great Lord of Kintail, Chief of all the MacKenzies do when a laddie poked him with a wooden sword?”
“After whipping around and finding no enemy at shoulder level, he bent over, screwed up his face like a berserker, and bellowed ‘Tulach Ard!’ as if the entire clan was attacking.”
“Did Father scare him away?”
“Nay, though the rest of the lads ran,” replied Malcolm. It had startled him as well, though he’d heard the roar from other men at Castle Leod. The man he fought had looked away long enough for Malcolm to whack him with the side of the sword. “Seeing he’d just assaulted his liege lord the lad dropped to one knee, bowed his head and held up his battered wooden sword, hilt first.”
“Smart.” Kiera nodded. “The lad’s had some training, is a quick thinker, and fast with a sword.”
“MacKenzie said when he’s fourteen and a squire he is to be trained by the Chief of Clan MacKenzie, be it your father or your brother. But that didn’t stop wee Camden from getting tossed in the duck pond with the other lads to wash off.”
“And speakin’ of gettin’ washed,” said Duff, “we have plans for ye.”
“Aye?” Her voice cracked.
“Oh, very much aye,” crooned Duff. “First we wash yer hair. Then ye climb in yon tub and we wash yer body.” He waggled his eyebrows, leaning close. “Very, very carefully. Every crack and crevice.” He slid his hand between her cheeks. “Every bump and curve.” He caressed her breast with his other hand. Kiera panted, her mouth partly open, wide eyes on Duff. “And then we rinse and dry, just as slowly.”
“And then I wash you?”
“After,” said Malcolm.
“Aye, we’ll give ourselves a quick wash, and then we’ll show how much we missed ye.”
Duff upended Kiera, making her shriek. He carried her the few steps to the tub and set her down. Whether it was from being upside down or arousal, from her forehead to her hips she was now pink.
A few quick movements and Malcolm’s plaid dropped to the floor. Her eyes went to his thick, bobbing cock. Her hands made a clenching motion, and she licked her lips. He groaned.
“God, Kiera, I’d forgotten how beautiful ye are.”
* * * *
Kiera sat with her back to the fire letting her hair dry. She’d been carefully washed, both men remarking on every little thing that had changed in her body while they’d been gone. Then they’d repeated it, slowly drying her from her nose to the tips of her toes. And between the toes, as well, which tickled. One of these days she would have them at her mercy and would do some tickling of her own! Malcolm and Duff had washed themselves quickly, but no less thoroughly. And now they were acting like her brothers.
“Must you snap the drying cloth at each other like that?”
A silent look passed between them. The cloths were tossed aside. With matching grins and eager eyes they came toward her.
“At least with bruises I can easily tell you apart.”