Highland Warrior Woman (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (5 page)

“When a life is saved, that life becomes the property of the savior,” Ewan stated in a hard voice.

“Ye are no’…”

“Aye, we are,” Calum said, glaring at Alec.

“Just thee or yer brothers, too?” Alec queried.

“All of us,” Hamish answered.

Maeghan had no clue what they were conversing about, but a frisson of alarm skittered up her spine. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She looked from one Campbell to another and saw the steely determination in their eyes. Whatever it was, they weren’t about to back down.

Pain shot through Maeghan’s ribs when she moved, and perspiration formed on her brow. She reached for the table and clung to the edge until the pain began to recede. When she straightened slowly, a large, muscular arm wrapped around her waist. Lifting her head, she gazed into the eyes of Hamish Campbell. She hadn’t even heard the man move, and now he was sitting at her side.

He picked up her goblet, crushing something into the wine before he held it to her lips. “Drink up, love. This herb comes from our healer. It will help the pain.”

Maeghan didn’t have much choice. It was either swallow or drown. Hamish tipped the vessel and didn’t stop until the goblet was empty. Her vision began to blur and the room felt like it was swaying. The arm around her waist moved and then she was being lifted. She tried to protest, but her tongue felt so thick she couldn’t form words. Hard thighs warmed her bottom, and she was pulled up against a big, warm body.
I’m sitting in someone’s lap.
A giggle escaped before everything went black.

“What did ye give her?” Alec bellowed when Hamish Campbell lifted an almost-unconscious Maeghan onto his lap.

“She was in pain. The herbs in her wine will ease her,” Ewan answered. “Ye saw how stiffly she held herself. Do ye honestly think we would harm the lass?”

“Nay,” Alec sighed.

“Tell me something.” Calum’s soft voice caused the hair on Ewan’s nape to rise. “Why did ye no’ know how the lass cared for herself?”

“I have a clan to care for. Ye of all people should know how much time that takes. Her father was a good man, but his affairs were no’ mine.”

“Did ye no’ know that she survived by selling her loom’s work for supplies?” Hamish questioned.

“Nay.”

“Maeghan is no longer of thy clan,” Ewan stated.

“The hell she’s…”

Alec MacTavish trailed off, but Ewan still watched him closely as he stood in their hall, glaring at them with his hand on the hilt of his sword. Ewan could kill him before he even drew his claymore from his scabbard, but from Alec’s hesitation, he knew it. No one had ever bested him or his brothers with a sword. A few had come close, and perhaps Alec would be one of those few, but he wasn’t stupid enough to try it.

“Ye should have known that one of thy own needed food. An unwed female should have had the protection of thy keep,” Hamish said in an icy voice.

“Aye.” Alec removed his hand from his sword and sat back down. “Ye will be able to protect her better than I. When do ye plan to tell the lass?”

“As soon as possible, but I think we should give her body time to heal first.” Calum smiled.

“Ye are attracted to her,” Alec said.

“Aye.”

“She’ll give ye a fight.”

“Aye.” Ewan laughed.

“We are looking forward to protecting her.” Calum smiled.

“Ye won’t hurt her, will ye?”

“That’s no’ our way. Anyone weaker than us should be protected. We cherish all females, young or old,” Ewan said.

“I wish ye luck.” Alec rose to his feet and headed across the hall. He looked back over his shoulder. “Ye are going to need it.” Laughter echoed back to Ewan and his brothers as Alec left.

Ewan walked around the table and sat beside Hamish. His brother was staring at the small bundle of femininity in his arms. Reaching out, he brushed the hair back from her bruised face. She was so tiny compared to him and his brothers that Ewan was almost afraid to touch her. But then he remembered how she had escaped the clutches of the MacLeods. Maeghan Fraser was a lot stronger than she looked, and for that he was thankful. He was glad she was a strong-willed woman. She was going to need to be to deal with the three of them.

“Take her up to my bedchamber,” Calum commanded. “She needs to rest in comfort to heal.”

Hamish stood and gently adjusted Maeghan in his arms and then carried her from the room.

“She is such a fierce little thing,” Ewan said.

“Aye. I mean to keep her safe. I spoke with Lilith.”

“Och, aboot time.” Ewan sighed. “Lilith is a cold one, Calum. I donnae know how ye could stand to keep taking her to yer bed.”

“I have no’ bedded her for some time now. Ye bedded her, too.”

“Aye, but only twice. Once with ye and Hamish and once alone. Ye bedded her more than Hamish and I did. What did ye see in her?”

“She is a beauty, Ewan.”

“On the outside, but she has a cold heart,” Ewan said. “Maeghan’s such a bonny wee lass and will be more so once the bruising and swelling goes. I’ve always admired an independent, fiery woman. Hamish is just as taken with her as ye and I are. I can tell she has a kind soul, too, Calum. How are we going to go aboot getting her acceptance?”

“I know no’.” Calum sighed and reached for the urn of wine. “I want to know her. She is obviously a strong woman, although from looking at her ye wouldn’t think so. She’s different from all the other women we know, Ewan, and that attracts me. We will have to get closer to her and give her time to come to know us. She’s not enamored of Hamish.”

“Aye.” Ewan laughed. “I’ve never seen our brother so puzzled over a lass before. It will do him good to have to fight for affection rather than having it handed to him.”

“Hmm. She’s going to be a handful.”

“Just what we’ve always dreamed of.”

“I won’t change for her or anyone else.”

“Nor will I.” Ewan drained his goblet and refilled it. “It will take time and patience to woo her. Most females like to be courted by a man, but I’m wondering how she will react to being courted by three.”

“We’ll know soon enough, brother.”

“Aye.”

* * * *

Maeghan yawned and stretched as her body awakened. Her mind tended to rise more slowly, so she lay quietly. She shifted again, and her hand connected with a warm limb. In shock she opened her eyes, but that didn’t help. No candles had been left burning, and no light showed from beyond the furs hung over the window

Her body still ached and she didn’t want to wake her companion—she figured Gerty had been made to sleep with her to keep an eye on her health—so she scooted across the bed with as much care as possible. She congratulated herself on moving quietly until she tumbled to the floor with a squeak of fright.

She froze when she heard movement from the bed. She held her breath, trying not to give her position away. Flint scraped and then a small pool of light formed across the room as a tallow candle was lit.

“Where are ye, lass?”

That was Calum’s voice.
What is he doing in my bed?
Maeghan looked down to see she was once again wearing his shirt. She felt practically naked with her legs bare from the knees down and nothing but the lawn material covering the rest of her.

She heard Calum moving around on the bed. She stayed where she was, still hoping he would give up looking for her and leave her be. Looking around the room in the dim light, she finally realized she wasn’t in her cabin but still in the Campbell castle. Where was Alec? Was he still here? He had to be. They must be leaving for MacTavish land at first light.

A pair of bare feet stepped in front of her. This time she
hadn’t
heard Calum move. She followed the muscular legs up and up until she was staring at Calum, dressed only in his plaid. His chest was bare, and she couldn’t help but admire his naked skin. Muscles rippled when he placed his hands on his hips, showing the unmitigated strength beneath the surface of his lightly bronzed skin. She’d thought Laird Alec was strong, but Calum’s display showed her how wrong she’d been. The man was huge, with bulging, rippling muscles, and no matter how hard she tried to look away, she couldn’t.

Her breath hitched, and she felt as if she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs. Moisture formed in her pussy and then dripped down onto her inner thighs. Never had she seen such a fine example of masculinity, at least not one that affected her so. When he extended a hand toward her, she reacted automatically and placed her hand in his. His warm, callused palm sent tingles of heat running up her arm and over her chest, causing her nipples to pucker and harden and her pussy to clench.

Calum pulled her to her feet, but instead of letting her go, he gave a gentle tug, drawing her up against his big, hard body. She gasped for air and slowly tilted her head so that she could see his face. He was looking at her with such a heated intensity another flood of cream leaked from her vagina.

He released her hand and wrapped his arms around her waist. The heat emanating from his chest ratcheted her desire up another notch, and she thought she might pass out from lack of air. Then with indomitable strength, his grip firmed around her hips and he lifted her until she was on eye level with him. She clutched at his shoulders for balance and stared at him uncertainly. Calum had such dark-blue eyes that as she looked into them she felt as if she were drowning in a stormy sea. She watched with nervous fascination as his lips parted and he moved his head in closer to her. His heated, moist breath tickled over her own lips, and she licked them uneasily. She did not know what to expect since she’d never been kissed before but at the same time knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Calum was going to kiss her.

The first touch of his flesh to hers caused shivers to race up and down her spine. Her fingers dug into the muscles of his shoulders. He was so hard that his flesh had no give. The thought of him being able to control and dominate her sent another thrill shooting through her, heating her blood even more.

With patience she wouldn’t have expected in the laird of a clan, his lips moved over hers almost cautiously, as if he was worried he would frighten her. Then he began to kiss more assertively, his lips opening and guiding hers apart. Since this was her first experience, she copied his moves. A deep, rumbling groan vibrated up his chest, and he pulled her into his body even closer. The tips of her clothed breasts brushed against him, causing the sensitive peaks to ache even more.

Maeghan whimpered, but the sound was muffled as he slanted his mouth over hers and thrust his tongue between her lips. Heat engulfed her from the inside out, and she felt as if she would burst into flames. Her pussy was so wet that juices leaked out and dribbled down the inside of her thighs. Tentatively, she moved her tongue alongside his and almost smiled with elation as he exhaled another groan into her mouth.

She’d never known such pleasure existed. Feeling as if she were floating on a cloud, she was only half aware that Calum was moving. Softness enveloped her back, and then his weight was bearing down on her, but not enough that she felt crushed. As he released her to the bed, his hands began to lightly caress her from just beneath her armpits to the tops of her thighs, but he was careful to avoid all her injuries or touching her with too much pressure. Not once did he break the connection of their mouths.

Maeghan whimpered when both his hands brushed the sides of her breasts, and she slid her fingers into his shoulder-length black hair. His hair was cool and felt like silk against her heated flesh. She cupped the back of his neck, and the tangible strength of the muscles beneath her hands excited her and made her edgy at the same time.

One of his hands caressed her face, and Maeghan flinched when he touched her bruised skin. It seemed to break the spell. Calum pulled back instantly and pushed himself away from her to sit on the side of the bed. Maeghan panted for breath and watched warily as he rose to his feet. He didn’t turn to face her. Instead he looked back over his shoulder at her.

“I’m sorry, little one. That won’t happen again.”

What does that mean?
She felt entirely lost and blurted, “Will my laird take me home tomorrow?”

“Nay. He has returned already.”

He had returned without her? Maeghan couldn’t make sense of that.

Then the conversation in the great hall came back to her. The men had all seemed to make some sort of arrangement, and then she’d dropped off to sleep.

Maeghan had a sudden suspicion that they had decided something while she slept. It would be like men to do so. Lairds in particular were so arrogant. What if Laird MacTavish had decided to marry her to Calum, forcing her on the Campbells to get rid of the responsibility for her, and they couldn’t say no for fear of causing a clan dispute? That was the only reason she could think of that he would leave her here.

Before she could ask, Calum said, “Go back to sleep, Maeghan. Ye need yer rest to heal.”

She watched with confusion as he left the bedchamber without looking at her again. Maeghan rolled to her side and curled up into a ball, cursing her stiff and sore muscles and bruised face. Who would have thought her first kiss would make the man apologize? She knew she was no great beauty, but she didn’t think she was ugly. Why had he stopped kissing her? She’d thought he had liked kissing her, at least at first. Maybe she was too inexperienced and he didn’t like the way she kissed him.