"Aye, indeed."
He pressed his cock into her, stretching her body with his girth. She arched towards him, moaning with enjoyment. Her sheath gripped his hard flesh, enjoying the nips of near pain that ran through her because of his absence. Her clitoris began throbbing in earnest, begging for friction.
"Verra warm and welcoming."
His words didn't shock her tonight. They fanned the flames higher, sending more heat racing towards her passage. He moved, withdrawing to the tip of his cock. She echoed his motion, lifting her bottom when he began thrusting back into her.
A harsh cry left her lips as his length rubbed along her swollen clitoris. Her body shuddered, sweat popping out on her skin. She was too needy. Felt too hot. Her body was greedy and starving for his. She gripped his thick biceps, her fingers curling into the firm muscles.
"Aye, lass, hold on to me. I'll nae leave you wanting."
His body made good on that promise, riding her with a steady, pounding rhythm that shook the bed. Her cries filled the bed curtains, pleasure flooding her. The hard flesh riding her sent delight through her entire body. Her lover hissed through his teeth, growling as he moved faster, sinking his cock deeper into her with each hard thrust. Her pleasure began to tighten around his length as she felt him swell larger. He bucked and she gasped, her lungs freezing.
"That's it, milk me."
He snarled as his body thrashed, bearing down on hers, burying his cock with a savage grunt. Pleasure burst through her and it continued while his seed spurted against the mouth of her womb. Time froze, unmoving as she heard only one heartbeat and then waited for the next one.
When it came, she fell back onto the bed, her muscles spent. Satisfaction rippled along her limbs while Brodick rolled off her. He captured her body, pulling her against his chest.
"I've a good mind to ride out every day for the rest of our lives just so I can be welcomed back."
His hand smoothed her hair, gripping the braid she'd secured it into before lying down.
"I dinnae like your hair plaited."
"Yes, my lord." Anne drew his title out, fatigue taking away her worries. While the dark hid the rest of the world, she could enjoy being his lover. For now he wanted her.
She didn't have the will to deny him.
There was no fire in the chamber.
Brodick knelt in front of the fireplace, a hand held over the cold ashes. A deep frown marred his features. Pink colored the horizon, dawn visible through the open curtains.
There hadn't been one laid in the chamber for at least a week.
He knew it. His gaze cut toward the bed, suspicion darkening his eyes. Anne was still sleeping, curled up in the bedding. Her feet tangled in the fabric to hold it close to her.
He looked at one candelabra and then walked to the next. It held a single inch of remaining candle. Fury filled him as he looked around the chamber to find other tasks that had been left undone while he was away. His temper flared into a full blaze and he did nothing to check it. The slim form of his wife lying in the bed only added more fuel to his anger.
His wife would never go without … not while he drew breath.
She stirred, reaching out for him. A lump formed in his throat as she frowned when her fingers found nothing but cool sheets. Her eyelids fluttered and she looked for him, searching the bed while a worried look took control of her face.
It was the most haunting expression he'd ever seen. That look of longing … for him. The lack of comforts in the chamber became personal as he watched her shake the remains of slumber away to look for him. It was the thing he'd coveted when seeking a wife but the reality was far more precious than he'd imagined.
She was reaching for him.
Gone.
Anne tried to keep a whimper behind her lips but failed. She sat up and looked across the chamber to find Brodick watching her. Relief pulsed through her and there was no hiding the smile that turned her lips up.
Brodick frowned at her.
"Why are there no candles?"
Anne looked away from his keen stare. She didn't want to sully the name of his household. She'd hoped that he'd leave at dawn giving the servants a chance to right the chamber.
It would seem that no one at Sterling was lucky this morning.
"It is nothing to worry about."
Stepping from the bed, she hurried into her clothing, fighting off a queasy stomach. Worry was filling her belly with nausea so thick, she had trouble keeping it down. She reached for some of the bread left on the vanity without thinking about it. Moving the cloth she'd wrapped it in aside, she pulled off a piece, desperate to calm her belly.
"Have ye been supping here as well? On naught but stale bread? Little wonder yer face is thin." He sounded deadly now. "Where's Helen? I've a few questions for her."
Anne lifted a hand to feel her face. Her cheekbones were more pronounced.
"Aye, madam, you've lost a stone if I'm nae mistaken." He moved toward the door and pulled it open.
"Helen!"
His voice bounced around the lower tower.
"She is not here. Her daughter gave birth the night you left. You mustn't be cross. Family is very important. I do not begrudge her the time."
Brodick turned a hard glare on her. "Then where is Ginny? There's maids a plenty in Sterling. Helen would nae have left without assigning the duty to another. She's served at Sterling for too many years for such a lapse."
"I do not need pampering."
"Pampering?" Anger flickered in his eyes. "Nae even the stable lads endure without warmth and light in this castle. Did ye tell Ginny to leave ye without?"
Brodick didn't wait for her answer. She was still closing her doublet when he shook his head in disapproval.
"I dinnae care, she should never have listened to ye if ye did command her to do such a foolhardy thing. 'Tis nae warm enough at this time o' year to be without a fire on the second floor. Ginny knows Sterling better than ye. There be nae reason for such an oversight. Ye were shivering last night."
He was out the door before she knew his intention. Pushing her body after him, she frantically tried to think of a way to dissuade his anger. Yelling at his people would not endear her to them. She refused to be like Philipa receiving false respect while the gossips griped about her in the kitchen.
"My lord, it takes time for acceptance to grow. You must not be cross."
He stopped on the main floor of the tower, turning to look at her, aghast by her words.
"What? There is no question of acceptance. Yer my wife." He paused for a moment, trying to regain his composure. His temper looked frayed. "Tis nae that I do not value yer opinion, but this be a matter of yer health, madam. I'll nae be told to ignore it. I'd be cross if I discovered the young lads in the smithy enduring such. Discovering my wife huddled in a surcoat in her own bed is cause for far more."
"Yet I have told you that I am not frail and I am English. The surcoat kept me warm, I was not without comforts. Do understand there are a great many years of distrust between our people."
He stiffened as though fighting to regain his composure and not shout. A muscle on the side of his jaw ticked.
"I'm nae the one to be understanding, and ye, my sweet wife, will nae shelter anyone who's behaved shamefully while I'm away protecting this castle."
He captured her hand. This grip was very different from the one he'd used to pull her out of the stable. Her hand was a caged prisoner in his larger one. He tugged her along with him, her feet hurrying to keep pace with his longer strides. At the entrance to the eating hall, his cousin Druce stood watching them approach, a frown on his lips.
"My lord, there are many other matters that are more important."
Brodick froze, his shoulders stiffening. His head turned to catch his cousin in his sights.
"Hold onto my wife, Cousin. I've a few issues to sort out with my staff."
"Brodick … "
He pressed her into his cousin's embrace, a hard look on his face. It was the sort of anger that she'd known he would have in him if he was ever crossed. That thing that she feared would be cast unto her when he discovered her true identity.
"Yer too kind, Wife, for yer own good. I'll nae tolerate such from any member of this house. Nor will I have ye use my name to wheedle me into bending when I have good reason to quarrel."
"Tolerance is a virtue that brings many rewards."
Brodick shot a stern look at Druce. "Hold her here. I'll deal with her when I've finished with my staff."
Brodick didn't wait for a response as he turned in a tightly contained motion of lean strength. Fury radiated from him as he shouted for Ginny.
Anne stepped after him only to have Druce grip her upper arms. She turned an incredulous look on him, having to look up to see the man.
"Release me, sir."
"Now dinnae go getting all flustered. Ye heard the man." The large Scot gave her a stern look but she found that it didn't impact her in the same manner Brodick's displeasure did. All Druce stirred in her was temper.