As he sank deep into her welcoming body, he sucked in his breath and then murmured against her mouth, “You have my permission to tumble me anywhere and as often as you like.”
CHAPTER 23
Rionna viewed the courtyard with an unhappy grimace as Caelen lit into a group of the warriors. The McDonald men weren’t happy with Caelen’s dressing down. Many of them glared defiantly at their new laird while others cast sullen glances in his direction and then openly defied him by turning away.
Simon and Hugh did their best to back their laird, but even they weren’t successful in rallying the men from their anger.
’Twas hard to hear that they were deemed inferior. ’Twas even harder to hear that they weren’t putting in enough work and they fought like women.
That last line drew Rionna’s ire, considering she fought better than most of the men. There was no need to insult women when drawing attention to the men’s inadequacies.
For a week now, since Caelen’s brother’s departure, Caelen had worked the men from dawn well into the night. The warriors had grown increasingly more vocal in their displeasure and more defiant with each day. Rionna worried that if things continued on their present course, Caelen would have a full-scale rebellion on his hands.
She shivered and pulled away from the window. She didn’t want Caelen to know she was observing. He had very distinct ideas on how he handled the men and he didn’t brook any interference. ’Twas the truth she wanted to step in and soothe the warriors. Remind them of what they fought for. And Caelen likely knew how tempted she was because he headed her off by warning her that he’d tolerate no intervention on her part.
She trudged back to the great hall and stood by the fire, smothering the yawn that overtook her. She was weary to her bones and it was God’s truth she hadn’t done much this day.
Malaise had gripped her for days and at first she’d worried she was taking ill, but she suffered no malady other than fatigue. ’Twas the truth her husband interfered with her sleep with his insatiable demands. Demands she met with many of her own.
She woke every single morning before dawn to him deep inside her, possessing her with ruthless determination. Always he left her with a gentle kiss after taking her roughly, and then he’d leave her to sleep when he departed the chamber.
They began the night with loving and they ended it thus.
She yawned again and wondered if she shouldn’t take to her bed a little earlier this night in preparation for the vigorous bout of loving she knew they’d indulge in. How Caelen met the daily demands of training and survived on so little sleep she’d never know.
She stuck out her hands to the fire to ward off the chill that had set in deep and stared into the flames as her eyes grew heavier and heavier. ’Twas unlike her to be so listless.
She shook herself out of her fog when Gannon strode into the hall.
“My lady, Caelen is ready for your lesson. He says if you’re wanting to practice, you’re to hasten. He’s only set aside an hour’s time for you today while the men are breaking.”
Rionna frowned. “Does he never plan to take a break?”
Gannon looked at her oddly as if ’twas a ridiculous question, and she supposed it was. Caelen was inhuman in his stamina.
“Let me fetch my sword,” she said.
“I’ll fetch it for you, my lady. You go to Caelen.”
Rionna murmured her thanks and then hurried toward the door. She stepped into the snow and grimaced. Caelen would lecture her about forgetting her cloak but ’twas much easier to spar without it.
He waited for her on the outer perimeter of the training area where they practiced every day. Rionna had never been tempted to beg off, but today she’d give most anything to crawl into her bed and stay there the rest of the afternoon.
She refused to say a single word to Caelen. She’d fought too hard to get him to agree to let her continue practicing with the sword. She’d give him no reason to forbid her from it again.
“Where is your sword?” he asked impatiently.
His mood was black. He’d be unrelenting today. She wanted to groan but bit her lip.
“Gannon is fetching it.”
Caelen cast an impatient glance over his shoulder and then turned back to her.
“We’ll practice hand to hand until he arrives. If you lose your sword in battle, you must rely on your wits and your hand-to-hand skills to remain alive.”
She looked warily at the glint in his eye. He was spoiling for a fight today, but she didn’t want to give him one. He’d crush her like a bug.
She nearly wilted in relief when Gannon strode up and handed her the sword. Caelen looked faintly disappointed.