Mysty McPartland (11 page)

By God he wasn’t going to let it happen again, he wasn’t going to walk around with a cock that wouldn’t stay down or have his thoughts turned to
mushy porridge, be damned if he would. All he needed to do was get things in to prospective and gain control of his lust. He leaned over the neck of his stallion and rode hard; he was filled with determination that no wee angel faced wench would bring him to his knees.

Better women, more experienced and seductive lasses had tried in the past and none of them ever came close
to succeeding and one sly devious wench wasn’t going to get the better of him. Nay bloody way.  No female will ever cuckold him again, he wouldn’t allow it. Now he knew her character; he was armored and prepared against any of her cunning schemes.

Furious all over again over what she had done to
him; he slowed his horse down and scowled. How was he going to punish her for drugging him? There was no way in hell he would let her off scot free. She had to pay and she deserved to be reprimanded but how? A frustrated growl burst from between his lips knowing that he could never raise a hand in anger to her. So where did that leave him?

Should he starve her
? He pondered the idea for several seconds. There was very little of her as there was without her losing more weight. Hell, the crafty wench would probably sicken and die if he did and that was one thing he would never allow. He intended to keep his wife around for a very long time. She wasn’t about to escape him that easily. Nay, he wasn’t about to let her slip through his fingers so effortlessly. Not now he’d had a taste of heaven.

So where did that leave him? He snarled and swung his stallion around to head back home. Hell
, why didn’t he just admit it, he wasn’t going to punish her, but nevertheless he would never completely trust her again. Even to the day he died he wouldn’t forgive her for what she had done to him. It was a sad fact no matter how much he didn’t want to acknowledge it he was immensely disappointed in his wife and marriage.

Deep down he had hopes
that they could have some warmth between them. Lust he knew meant very little. It was fleeting, meaningless, there one day and gone the next. So what future would they have together when that waned? It was a desolating feeling knowing that once that died there would be nothing left but coldness and there would be so many years of emptiness stretching ahead of them. Perhaps it might be different when she started breeding and the babes came.

Hell, he didn’t know what to think anymore, it was a fact he was mightily disappointed in h
er character, but he shouldn’t have been surprised after all it was well known women couldn’t be trusted. When his stomach suddenly started to rumble, he decided to put the problems with his wife aside, hunger drove him to press his stallion to go faster. Later, he decided, he would ponder the state of his marriage and his wife. 

****

Slowly coming awake, Dalla stretched when she felt the soreness between her thighs, she froze and swiftly the horror and mortification consumed her. How could she have given in so easily, not once did she speak up or utter a protest? The humiliating fact was she wanted everything he had done to her, she acted so brazenly, and so demanding that she now cringed over how she behaved.

Gingerly climbing out of the bed, she moved over to the window, leaned out hoping the breeze would cool her burning face. Gazing around, she gasped softly as she spied her husband walking back from the loch, his chest was bare and his hair wet.

The sight of him held her spellbound.
He truly is a sinfully gorgeous specimen
. It was not just his powerful body; his strong jaw, straight nose and the wicked, black eyes that stared out from between thick, ebony lashes captivated her and despite her efforts, she could not deny that she found him scandalously attractive.

It
left her breathless just watching him move smoothly and powerfully towards the castle. She started to tingle all over and she gripped the wall as a potent wave of desire washed over her nearly bringing her to her knees. Why, why was this happening to her and why was it this man of all men that could have such an overwhelming hold on her senses?

Not even Robert made her feel this way, she only mildly enjoyed his kisses
and he was the man she loved. What sort of witchery had the McCain used on her? Would she ever be able to break the spell and did she really want to know that she had experienced such heavenly passion in his arms?

Was her husband a warlock? Did he cast some sort of lust spell over all the women he bedded? Her heart
shuddered at the thought and she shook her head, nay she was just being fanciful trying to find some excuse to blame for her own wanton behavior. No, she shook her head in denial, he was just a man like any other and even though she could not explain what occurred between them last eve, she knew he had cast no magic over her.

Admit it
she told herself, she was nothing but a lose doxy, a slattern who fell into a man’s arms without the slightest hesitation. No…that wasn’t true either, it was just her rutting husband’s she craved and it was humiliating to acknowledge that just looking at him now she yearned to be swallowed up in his powerful embrace and drown in his passion once more.

Heaven help her
, she could find no way to fight this wicked attraction she found for her husband. She could only hope it died a quick death and it would no longer rule her. A shiver of excitement tickled down her spine just thinking of what would happen if it never went away and the rest of their lives together was ruled by it. Her lips quirked up in a wicked little smile.
Mmm, mayhap it wouldn’t be too bad after all.

****

Unhurriedly he moved towards his home, Tarrel felt some unknown power take hold and he stopped, gazing up he was awestruck at the sight of his wife hanging out the window. Her light colored hair floated on the breeze her neck and her bare shoulders glistened in the sunlight.

His body became
inflamed with red hot lust and when she stepped away and he could no longer see her, he let out the breath he’d been holding. He started running towards the steps. He ignored everyone’s surprised stares as he rushed across the hall and up the staircase, not a single thing mattered other than having his aching flesh buried inside his wife. It consumed him so powerfully that nothing would stand in his way.

Swiftly stepping into the bedroom, his eyes were glued to his wife and her enthralling nakedness. Though he was surprised to find her completely unclothed because he’d only caught a glimpse of her glorious skin, he shoved the though aside. He slammed the door shut behind him, tossed his shirt on the floor and pulled off his boots. Moving over to her, his hand came up and he smiled when he saw the red marks covering her breast, grinned with satisfaction he stared at them. “It pleases me to see that you wear my brand.”

The very second the door flew open, Dalla
desperately tried to cover her nakedness with her hands. She glanced down and let out a horrified cry when she noticed the marks covering her flesh a chuckle rumbled in his chest and he brushed a lock of hair over her shoulder. “Wife the power of your beauty blinds a man so strongly that he canna think straight.”

Nose wrinkling,
she sniffed in disbelieve. “Ye need nay flatter me. Ye ken ‘tis a sin to lie.”

Laughing over her tart reply, he was pleased
, at least she wasn’t vain about her looks which was a good thing. “Well then I willna lie to ye again.” His lips twitched when she threw him a disgruntled glare. “I want ye again wife, tell me if ye are still feeling tender?”

The hot fiery blush,
she knew it covered her whole body, embarrassed she dropped her head. “I’m a wee bit uncomfortable.” She whispered.

He caught the soft spoken words and lust surged through him, reaching out he ran his hand lightly over the top of her head. “I will be gentle wife. Have nay fear.” When no reply was forth coming,
he drew her up close to his body, raised her chin and took her lush mouth in a tender kiss.

Chapter
Twelve

Tarrel ended the kiss, his eyes never leaving hers; he swept her up in his arms, carried her to bed and placed her down on the mattress. Wanting her so badly, he stripped off his kilt, every muscle in his body tightened as she devoured every inch of him with her gaze. A growl rumbled in his chest, he couldn’t control the lust for her a second longer, he knelt on the mattress and covered her with his body.

H
is mouth once more claimed hers as he slipped himself inside her already primed body. Once he was fully buried in her, he felt himself being taken to that special place he knew he would find when they were intimately joined, his whole being was captured within a thumping heart beat and he was addicted for eternity.

He rei
gned kisses down over her face, along her chin, down the curve of her neck and finally he latched on to the tight nipple. He had no wish to hurry and took long, slow strokes inside her. He buried his fingers in her hair capturing her head trying to keep control of her wriggling, demanding body.

However, it was an impossible feat to hold back the tidal wave of passion building inside them.
When his wife started thrashing eagerly beneath him and making those incredible husky moans, he went a little mad and lost himself completely. The rocking of his hips increased, each stoke of his cock became faster, more demanding.

Unable to withhold
his release, he raised his head and tossed it back. His jaw clenched tight, he plunged into her glorious body in desperation. Only when her nails dug into his shoulders and he felt her tighten around him, he let out a growl as her sweet heat and inner muscles surrounded him. He drove into her powerfully once more and roared again when she shuddered beneath him. He became obsessed with his own climax. His bollocks tingled and tightened, he gave a bellow of unmitigated rapture when his seed rushed out leaving him weakened, but overwhelmingly sated.

Before he collapsed on top of her
, he rolled over and fell face down on the mattress. Breathing heavily and his heart pounding erratically he didn’t have one sensible thought in his head. Everything else ceased to exist and time had no meaning. For the first time in his life, he was completely and utterly lost. This particular moment in time was all that mattered.

A groan rumbled in his chest when the mattress beside him dipped, he cranked one eye open
, groaned again and slammed it shut. Damn it to hell, what in the blazes just happened to him? The very second he buried himself in his wife the world and everything in it faded. This can’t happen again he told himself, but he moaned once more knowing that at the moment he was powerless to stop it from recurring.

Yet there had to be away, it was too dangerous and he wasn’t about to let any wench have such a potent
, perilous hold over him. He would find a way to eliminate this nonsense before it sucked him under and he completely lost himself. Grunting, he opened his eyes, rolled over on to his side and took a swift peek at her. He was pleased to see her cheeks were rosy, her lush mouth swollen from his kisses and she wore a wide, satisfied smile.

What he needed to do now was escape
the tempting woman and gather up his self-discipline. He sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, sweeping up his kilt; he quickly donned it and went to collect his shirt and boots. Completely dressed, he turned back to her and his stomach knotted in guilt when he saw the puzzled frown on her brow.

Damn it to hell
, he wasn’t going to be sucked in again until he had a way of fighting this unwanted web she’d wrapped around him. He spun away and opened the door. “Come wife ‘tis late and we both have duties waiting for us.” Without another word, he left the chamber and cringed when he heard her outraged shriek. 

Dalla leaned up on her elbows and stared at the empty doorway in disbelief. Why
, the rutting goat, how dare he slam in here and ravish her then walk away as if nothing happened. The insensitive pig. She fell back on the mattress and muttered a few good curses. How could the cold hearted clod treat what just happened between them as nothing?

Lord help her
, she’d been swept up in the heat of his kiss from the very second their lips touched. She’d welcomed him into her body with eagerness, the force of his strokes drove her to heights she not only found a little scary, but also made her crave for more. She’d been completely undone from the experience.

Even afterward
her body was still feeling the ecstasy ebbing, when he moved off her, she watched him from beneath her lashes and couldn’t help the tiny smile lift the corners of her mouth. It had seemed at the time he was just as overwhelmed as she had been and for some reason it pleased her immensely. At least she wasn’t the only one that was affected by what happened, she’d thought.

It had taken her
completely by surprise when he suddenly sat and she couldn’t believe the haste in which he dressed. He acted so desperate to leave her. She scowled angrily. Maybe, it was only her that felt such bliss and wonder. That it was of so little significance to him and was nothing out of the ordinary. It made her furious to think that all she meant was just another eager vessel to slack his lust in. Damn rutting rat.

Another thing that was bothering her was why
he wouldn’t look at her for more than a few seconds. Did he find her so ugly and repulsive? She blew out a breath of angry frustration. It was embarrassing and rude, and be damned if she was going to go through the rest of her life conversing with her husband when he would not even have the decency to meet her eyes when he spoke to her.

To hell with it, she was going to have some answers, slipping of the bed she hastily dress
ed, brushed her hair and slipped her feet into her slippers. If the debauched fiend thought he was going to sneak away before she had her answers, he could think again. She marched out of the room and clomped down the staircase, when she reached the hall she noticed everyone staring at her. “The whole blasted clan was rude. Darn it, she wasn’t that ugly was she?” she mumbled as she hurried to where her husband sat.

Annoyed and gritting her teeth
trying to disregard the stares coming from everyone in the room, all except her husband of course who completely ignored her. She sat and ate her breakfast while she half listened to him explain her duties. Lord, the man went on and on and as the long list grew, she wondered if she would ever be able to go to bed at night. Did he think she was some sort of super slave? Did he think that twenty people lived inside her? The fool was as thick headed as a rock.

Eyes narrowed
, she glanced at his stern rigid face, and she shook her head as he stared out over the hall. A mischievous smile turned up the corners of her mouth when an idea popped into her head and she wondered if it would work. Placing her hand on his arm, she waited to see if he would turn to look at her and even though she was disappointed, she expected that he would not turn to face her. Damn coward, so what if she wasn’t beautiful, she knew she wasn’t hideous to look at.

Instantly stiffening at his wife’s touch, Tarrel refused to respond, if he did he would lose his train of thought. But his eyes widened at her question.

“Ye ken ‘tis verra
rude to converse with someone and nay have the decency to look at them. If I am that ugly why did ye insist on marrying me?” She readily admitted she was more than a bit peeved at her with the man.

Ugly? Where in the hell did she get such a ridiculous idea, was she daft?
He could not help himself, he turned to glare at her and knew it was a mistake, but before he completely lost his senses, he stood up and glanced away. “Ye are nay hideous, wench, and that’s the damn trouble.” He whispered harshly as he stormed out of the hall.

Wide-eyed, she watched him go and suddenly smiled. Well that certainly cleared that up. Though she still didn’t quite understand what he meant, at least he didn’t think she was ugly. She was about to shift her gaze away from the doorway but stopped when he came storming back inside. She bit back her laughter when he roared at his men.

While
he stood on the steps Tarrel cursed his foolish tongue, he should never have said anything to her. Well it was too late now. With a growl, he spun around again and opened the door. “Are ye all going to sit there all day?” He roared and felt some satisfaction as he saw his men scramble to their feet and rush towards him.

With a laugh and a shake of her head
after the hall cleared at his bellowing, she stood up and her gaze moved over the great room and when she saw the servants clearing the tables, shrugged. Since they seemed to have everything in hand, she thought that she would go outside and have a look around her new home, and hopefully meet some of her husband’s clan.

In the
bailey, her eyes swept the area and spying the thatched roofs in the distance, headed towards them. It was hard to ignore the stares as they followed her, but she gripped her hands in the folds of her skirt, thrust her chin in the air and pretended not to notice.

****

Over his earlier annoyance and after training with his men, Tarrel decided to go into the hall at noon to see how his wife was managing and to eat. Looking around the massive chamber, he was surprised not to see her, waving to one of the servants he moved over to the high table and sat down. “Sara, bring me my lunch and tell me where is ye mistress.”

The maid rushed over to her laird, when he asked about his wife and something to eat, she paled and stood nervously in front of him. “Our lady dinna say to prepare a noon meal; she left the hall early this morning and we have nay seen her since.”

It was and effort but he held on to his temper and rose to his feet, strode across the hall and outside, he stood on the steps.
Damn woman, where the hell has she taken herself off to now and why wasn’t she doing her duties. He specifically told her what he expected of her and it seems she did not take one wit of notice.

His eyes narrowed as he searched for any sign of her and he wondered where he might find her. Taking off towards the village, he had a fair idea that he would discover her there. He would not stand for her disobedience, she had duties to perform and by God she would see them done. His irritation sizzling, he stopped at a crest of a hill.

He had been right, he grumbled when he spotted h
er and he wasn’t at all surprised to find her playing happily. Hell, he didn’t know if he should be angry or amused when he heard the sound of her tinkling, soft laughter, he groaned. It wrapped around him and a shiver of desire swept over him, but he ruthlessly shoved it down. Now was not the time to let his lust possess him.

I
mpatiently he waited for her to finally notice him, when she finally did he waved her over and he grunted in satisfaction when she started walking towards him, he lifted his head and gazed up at the sky.

Out the corner of her eye, Dalla spied her husband and sighed in aggravation.
She gritted her teeth when he signaled for her to come. “No sense putting it off,” muttered under her breath. A little vexed, she waved the children goodbye and unhurriedly strolled over to him. She scowled with displeasure when she realized he was once again staring over the top of her head.
Damn insensitive clod
, she had a good mind to clip him over the ear, but clenching her jaw, refrained from doing so.

He grunted in displeasure when she took her time arriving.
“I thought I explained that ye have duties to perform and can nay go running off to play with the children.” He spoke harshly to let her know how irritated he was with her.

The moment he opened his mouth and started speaking she took offence to his tone, raised a brow, placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. “I am nay servant and I will nay take orders from ye or anyone. If I want to play with the children I will.”

A deep growl rumbled in his chest
at her defiance, he turned his gaze away from the sky and glared at the top of her head. No matter how tempted he was to look at her, he fought it down. “Aye, ye are nay servant but my wife and as my wife ye have duties and those duties are to see to my comfort.”

Comfort! Why the egotistical arrogant swine.
But the impish part of her couldn’t resist and a wicked idea popped into her head and she grinned, oh she’ll give him
comfort
all right. “Well ‘tis sorry I am.  Ye are right husband I forgot for a moment that now I’m a married woman. If ye will excuse me I will be about seeing to ye
comfort
.” Not waiting for an answer, she took off in a hurry.