Harlequin Historical May 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Notorious in the West\Yield to the Highlander\Return of the Viking Warrior (31 page)

Just so.

* * *

The door latch dropped and so did she, falling, or melting rather, to her knees. Sweat gathered on her neck and trickled down her back and down the crevice between her breasts. She ached in places she'd never paid attention to before from his kiss. His hands touched her as no other man ever had, with wanting and desire in every caress.

Was she the whore her father named her those years ago? To react so to the touch of a man she was not married to? To, worse, crave it more? If she was to be well and surely damned to hell for these sins of lust, why did she want more—more of him, more of that kiss, just more...?

She wiped her hand across her heated forehead, pushing her hair out of her face and lifting the weight of it off her neck so she could cool there.

What should she do? What could she do? Her body told her one thing and her heart said another. Or her honour said another. For even if no one but she knew she had not lost her honour to him before Gowan died, how would she face herself if she gave it to him now?

The fire popped again, drawing her attention. How long had he been there while she slept on in the chair? He'd built a fire in the hearth with wood already cut into pieces, she noticed, not peat. The basic foodstuffs filled the jars and tins on the shelf in the cooking area. The large bed waited, covered in clean sheets and warm blankets.

Looking around now, she noticed that full night had fallen, so it was too late to return to Muireall's home. Climbing to her feet, she walked aimlessly around the large room, trying to decide what to do. Exhausted from nights of too little sleep and days of too much work and shame, Cat made the only decision she decided to make this night—she banked the fire and walked into the bedchamber.

The bed was too inviting to ignore, she discovered, so she washed with water from the jug someone had filled and placed there on the table. The tips of her breasts tingled as she drew the tunic over her head. The slide of the fabric over them reminded her of his arousing words...his promises, really...about stripping her naked and having his way with her. Moisture pooled between her legs as she reacted to only the memories of his words.

Her eyelids drooped in spite of her arousal as she washed quickly in the chilled chamber, and when she slid under the bedcovers and the clean sheets she was falling asleep as she rested her head on one of the pillows there.

The rest would have to be faced in the morning.

Chapter Ten

‘G
ood day to you.'

Who would think that just four words, spoken with a pleasant tone, could demonstrate the power of the earl's heir in influencing how she was treated by the merchants and villagers? But, when it was uttered by every person she passed and called out by those who saw her walking along the paths of Lairig Dubh the next day, it was hard to miss or to misunderstand.

The butcher sold her his best piece of beef. The miller promised the finest milled flour would be sent to her house on the morrow. The weaver offered her some lengths of fine cloth for new gowns. The alewife spoke of a brew that Aidan favoured and assured her some would be sent to the house when it was ready. The village women smiled and nodded, greeting her and asking how she fared.

How could their treatment of her change so much from just one day to the next?

Aidan MacLerie.

He'd changed her from cuckolding wife to the heir's favoured leman with one signature on one deed. All attempts to hide his efforts and intentions regarding her before Gowan's death brought gossip and disdain. His purchase of a house for her—and all that supposedly meant—now that she was a widow brought acceptance.

As he'd said, no one would dare to insult her while she was under his protection. The news of that protection raced through the village even as she stood in that house and tried to decide her answer and her fate. The MacLerie kith and kin took the choice out of her hands and made it a thing already done.

If he was true to his words, nothing of what they believed mattered to what, if anything, happened between them. The power to say aye or nay remained with her. Muireall's words of advice, spoken early this morn when Cat returned to her cottage, echoed in her thoughts all day as she made her way back to the house.

In spite of sharing the beds of many women since gaining manhood, he has never made these kind of arrangements with any woman. No matter how this began, you are a widow now with no family. More importantly, for the first time in your life, this is your choice. Accept the house, accept him in your bed, or do not. It is up to you.

So, if Cat could believe it, this was not something he did often. He was offering her not just protection, but property of her own. He offered her a future better than she ever expected, which was more honourable than she had expected.

Muireall was a practical woman and she understood the MacLeries better than Cat ever could. And though married twice, Cat had never felt part of either clan or place. If everyone believed she was Aidan's mistress, she would have a chance to meet more people and gain friends. Then when it was over, for it would have to end, she would have a house and have more friends.

Most of all—do what you wish to do. You deserve some happiness and if you will get it from being with him, then be with him. No one can plan what will happen on the morrow, so seize what happiness you can now.

That had been her advice all along. Muireall knew Cat's deepest sorrow—to never bear children—and urged her to seek whatever would give her the happiness she needed instead.

So, the only decision she made that day was to take each day as it came. If Aidan wanted her, if he pursued her as he'd promised to do, she would do only what felt right to her. Accepting the house did not, so she would accept only the hospitality of it for now. Living there, living on her own, finding her own place among the people here, would give her a chance to set down some roots here.

Walking through the shady path that led to her...the house, Cat could not figure out why she was the target of his efforts. Her experiences in the marriage bed had been unappealing at best and painful and unwanted at worst. Though Gowan always had a care for her during those early, infrequent times in their marriage when he'd shared her bed, her first husband had not.

She shuddered then, forcing away the memories and images she swore would remain in the past.

Men certainly seemed to gain pleasure from joinings of the flesh, but she'd never experienced what so many women whispered about at the well or while gathered together to share chores. And she knew many happily married couples whose morning glances spoke of such pleasure. Cat wondered if the damage caused by losing her bairn prevented her from feeling such things?

Lifting the latch, she carried her purchases into the house. Across the room, she saw the spot where she'd stood during
that
kiss. Heat coursed through her now, telling her that pleasure might not be an impossible thing between Aidan MacLerie and the woman he wanted in his bed.

But could she allow it? Could she be happy as a wealthy man's leman?

* * *

This time, it was different.

Aidan walked up the path and noticed light from within. Smoke escaped up the main chimney as did the smell of something wonderful. His stomach growled in anticipation, even though he'd shared the evening meal with his family and even though he did not expect Catriona to cook for him.

She was not his servant. Nor would she become one.

Opening the door, he found her in the same chair where she'd sat last night. He nodded and closed the door behind him.

‘Good evening, Catriona,' he said, hanging the skin of wine on a hook near the cooking area.

‘And to you, my l-l-l—' she began and then stuttered.

‘Will you now call me Aidan?' He laughed. ‘If nothing else, no one will hear it but me.'

‘Good evening, Aidan,' she said softly. It was only one of the ways he wanted to hear his name coming from that mouth, but he would take it...for now. ‘Have you eaten yet?'

‘I have,' he said, noticing the table set with two bowls and spoons. ‘But the smell of it is making me hungry again.' He approached the table. ‘You did not wait your meal on my arrival, did you?'

She did not answer, she only put down the clothing she was mending and rose, going over to put some of the aromatic stew into the bowls. As he sat in one of the chairs, he noticed that her portion was smaller than his and his was not the same amount that he'd eaten the first time she cooked for him.

‘Are you not hungry? Especially since you waited?' he asked. Realising he'd brought the wine for her, he retrieved it and poured it into their cups.

‘My l—' she began to say and he frowned at her. ‘Aidan, I am not accustomed to such rich wines.'

‘Become accustomed,' he growled. He wanted her to savour the finer things he could give her now. He softened his tone. ‘Surely you would not refuse a taste to honour the first meal in your new house?' Instead of arguing, she lifted her cup up and nodded. ‘To many happy hours in your new house,' he said, touching his cup to hers.

‘To your new house.'

He laughed when she changed the words, but his laughter died as he watched her lift the cup to her mouth and drink from it. Her chin lifted, exposing her graceful throat to him. When the wine rushed too quickly past her lips and threatened to spill, she licked them quickly with the tip of her tongue.

Aidan stood and was leaning halfway across the table, wanting to taste the wine on her lips, when he remembered his vow to her. With a grunt, he sat back down and drank deeply from his own cup, hoping the strong wine could ease the powerful desire that coursed through his veins now. And he cursed his foolishness at giving such a vow when all he wanted to do was kiss her!

The meal passed and they spoke of Ord Dubh and his father's wish that he move there soon. He did not want to mention betrothals or wives to her. As she asked questions about the southern holding, he wondered if she would move into his keep and be with him there? As he finished the savoury stew, he knew there would be time for all of that.

‘So, have you decided to keep it?' he asked, as she cleaned the table, washed the bowls and put things away.

He was more familiar with the large keep, a large family and servants to do what she was doing, but watching her fascinated him. This is how it would be to live with her. Not that the son of Connor MacLerie would ever be allowed such a wife or such a life, but it appealed to him in some way he could not explain.

‘I have only decided to live here for now. Muireall's cottage is too small to add me to it. She even asked if I would give this house to her and Hugh and live in hers instead.' A smile brightened her face and made her eyes sparkle. ‘I think she was serious.'

‘It is yours, though I wish you would keep it for yourself. Mayhap take in your friend's family as boarders?'

Catriona looked around the room and then at him, her unease clear in the way a frown marred her brow. She took a step towards the chair and then back. Another in the direction of the door and then back.

‘What is wrong?' he asked, approaching her and fighting the urge to take her in his arms. Would resisting that urge ever get easier for him? Or would he reach the point when he gave in to it?

‘I ken not what you expect of me now. What should I be doing?'

‘Have you never had a time of leisure to yourself, Cat?'

She shook her head. A forlorn expression darkened her eyes now as she shrugged. ‘I am not accustomed to being lazy or free from chores or errands to be done. I would rather work hard.'

‘Ciara said she invited you to visit with her. That will be hard work.'

He'd learned his letters and numbers as he'd learned how to wield the sword. For him, it took little practice to read or write, but he watched as others struggled with each. Aidan did not underestimate just how much effort would be needed to master such tasks. And, in working with Ciara, he knew that his cousin would include other topics and introduce Cat to others who were influential in the clan.

‘I would not want to embarrass you if I failed. Not if her offer to me was truly in regard for you,' she said.

‘Again, you miss my point, Cat,' he said. ‘Just as this is your house, spending time with my cousin, learning to read or write, is for you. Those skills could help you when...' he paused just before uttering the words he'd first thought of—
I marry
‘...when you might need them.'

She thought on his words and nodded. He'd seen signs of her bright mind and had no doubt that she would succeed at whatever task she set herself to.

‘But you have not told me what you expect from me when you come here if, as you say, you will visit each night.'

‘I expect nothing other than your good company,' he said. And that was true. In that moment, he did want only that.

A laugh escaped from her, a wonderful sound to his ears, and she gifted him with the smile he'd wanted to see. It was the first sign of joy in her face in weeks.

‘And you expect me to believe that? After you have all but promised to seduce me into your bed?'

She did not appear to be opposed to it, so he would bide his time. ‘I would not mind that either,' he admitted.

Sometimes, in battle, a warrior must sacrifice in order to win the war. Aidan could tell this was one of those moments when a retreat might be the strongest move he could make.

‘I will take my leave of you,' he said, stepping back. ‘If you ask what I expect of you, I would say I want you to make this house your own.' He nodded and turned to the door, but her words stopped him before he could take a step.

‘Aidan,' she said in nothing more than a whisper. ‘Kiss me.'

He shook his head, standing his ground when his body urged him otherwise. He tried to speak, but words dissolved before he could say them. He only knew that if he kissed her, he would have her. As long as he stayed where he was, she was safe.

Did she know the danger that she faced right now? Clearly not, for she began to take one step and then another towards him, all the while his breaths becoming laboured as though he was going into battle. Then she was in front of him, gazing at him with desire and curiosity, and only a few scant inches separated them.

‘Do not do this, Cat. If I begin, it will not end with a kiss. I will not be satisfied,' he said. Knowing his proven abilities to give pleasure to the women who'd shared his bed, he assured her, ‘You will not be satisfied.'

‘Kiss me. I pray you, kiss me now.'

He'd warned her. He'd given her notice that he would not stop at just a kiss. It was in her hands now. Then she said the words that threw his world off-kilter.

‘I trust you, Aidan,' she whispered.

Aidan shrugged. ‘More fool you,' he said as he fell towards what he knew would be his damnation.