Ceci Giltenan(21)
“Nay,” said Malcolm. “Perhaps Laird Matheson has his eyes on expansion? Certainly one way of defeating an opponent is to critically weaken him first. Now you have sufficient funds, maybe your best option is to go on the offensive.”
“That really isn’t an option at the moment. A full-scale feud with Matheson would critically weaken us, regardless of our current financial state. I simply can’t risk it.”
“I’m sure ye know what is best for your clan. On a more pleasant note, I just had a nice visit with your lovely wife and Fingal. She appears to be recovering well from her ordeal. I thought perhaps ye would both join us in the great hall for the evening meal.”
“Certainly,” said Niall absently, but he wondered what the hell Fingal was doing visiting with his wife. Moments later, Fingal appeared with Tomas, who wielded a wooden sword. Niall’s jealously cooled when he realized Tomas had been visiting Katherine. Fingal merely accompanied him as ordered.
~ * ~
Agnes declared Katherine sufficiently recovered to make the trip to Duncurra. Since his guard had returned, Niall planned to leave the next morning. Therefore dinner would be something of a farewell feast. After bathing in the loch, Niall returned to their chamber to escort Katherine to dinner. The effects of the cold loch water vanished instantly when he laid eyes on his lovely wife. A bath had been brought up for her and she sat drying her honey colored silk hair by the fire. She wore a pale gold gown that hugged her figure provocatively. He hadn’t paid much attention to his lovely wife’s green eyes before, but now they mesmerized him. He wondered if the gold flecks had always been there or if her eyes simply reflected the gold gown she wore. Once again, Niall remembered Father James had called her radiant and he couldn’t find a better word to describe her.
~ * ~
Laird MacLennan spared nothing for the feast. His staff served an endless variety of delicacies and wine flowed freely. Malcolm could not have been a more charming host. It warmed Katherine’s heart to see the love and respect Niall had for Malcolm. After years under her uncle’s cruelty, she had forgotten what it meant to be loved as part of a family. Malcolm certainly had made her feel welcome and she realized how much she missed it. She wondered if Niall’s clansmen would accept her as easily when she reached Duncurra.
Until that evening, she had not left their bedchamber and she enjoyed herself immensely. The evening would have been perfect except she had the impression many of the women disapproved of her. She felt this most acutely from Duncan’s wife, Lana, who sat at the laird’s table with them. Lana made no attempt to hide her disdain. She barely spoke to Katherine, pointedly turning away from her and not engaging in conversation during the meal. Occasionally, Katherine caught Lana staring at her with contempt. Katherine couldn’t imagine what she had done, but she assumed it might be because she wasn’t a Highlander, so she tried to ignore it.
~ * ~
Although the feast showed signs of lasting well into the night, Niall told Malcolm he wanted to make sure Katherine rested well before they began their journey, so they retired early.
When they reached their chamber, the beautiful man she had married finally kissed her in a way he had only hinted at before. She shyly responded, opening her lips, and he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue. She put her arms around his neck, giving in to the wonderful sensations, returning his kiss with abandon. He stroked her back lightly and, with the pain from her injuries gone, she shivered with delight. He cupped one breast through the fabric of her gown, rubbing the nipple lightly. Awed, she felt it harden at his touch and was surprised to realize the throaty moan of pleasure she heard was her own. As he trailed kisses down her neck, she arched her head back, giving him greater access.
“Lass,” he whispered roughly, “I was going to wait,” claiming her mouth again, “until we were home...ye need to rest.”
“I don’t want to rest.” As he continued to caress her nipple, the warmth kindled with his kiss became a liquid fire spreading through her. The feeling of his tongue exploring her mouth, together with his hand on her breast, made her knees weak. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted, she only knew she wanted more. She needed more.
She felt him remove her belt before he stopped kissing her to turn her away. She had a moment of panic as she thought she might have done something wrong, but then he unlaced her gown and pulled it off her shoulders. He turned her back to face him again before continuing the tender onslaught of her mouth. He removed the rest of her clothes, letting them fall to the floor. He stopped kissing her for a moment and simply looked at her. Realizing for the first time she stood naked in front of him, she raised her hands up nervously to cover herself.