Surrender (37 page)

She murmured deep in her throat when his palm
rested above her secret spot and his long fingers delved through
her hair to play with her nether lips. He teased her with his
fingers, each touch bringing moisture there. When he touched her
nub, she arched against him, hoping he would enter her. He didn't
but cupped her instead, moving his hand up and down her slick
center until she reached for his wrist, held it still as she ground
herself against his palm.

So empty! She spread her legs wide, inviting
him. After he removed his hand, he thrust his right knee between
her thighs and rocked it against her center. His fingers returned
to tease her nub, gently tweaking then retreating. Each time she
built to a burning peak, he distracted her with a touch somewhere
else until she cooled. He brought her ardor to near ecstasy. She
heard herself moaning and begging him to give her release and
clamped her tongue with her teeth. Unable to bear the hot need, she
tugged at his arms, urging him to cover her. When she felt his
warmth and weight over her whole body, she sighed with relief.

Balanced on his left arm, he lifted his
weight off her. His tarse rubbed up and down her slick opening.
Each downward thrust, he entered slightly then retreated to slide
the silky head of his tarse over her sensitive nub.

Clamping her legs around his hips, she tried
to force him to enter until he filled her. He was too strong for
her. She screamed out in frustration. Only then did he plunge to
the hilt and begin to rock. He built a rhythm, slow at first then
several hard thrusts 'till she was sure if she didn't find her
release she would explode from the mounting tension.

Each time Graemme felt the slight tightening
of her stomach muscles preceding a climax, he distracted her with a
murmur or lifted his upper body off hers until the quivers
calmed.

She had challenged him to pleasure her to
ecstasy in the Great Room. He wouldn't stop until she screamed for
him. Every woman deserved a wedding night she would remember until
she was old and gray. Though they might test each other from dawn
to dusk, he determined when they were abed they would find a common
ground in bed sport.

When she banged her heels against his nether
cheeks and pulled his hair near out at his temples, he reached
between them and feathered his fingers over her swollen nub. She
tightened all around him, arched her back with her head pressed
tight to the bed and gave a lusty yell of pleasure. Only then, did
he stop thinking and let pleasure build until he thrust so deeply
he needed to hold her shoulders to keep her in place.

He wasn't sure who had yelled the
loudest.

Elyne? Or himself?

The night had gone too quickly, Elyne
decided, when she awoke at dawn. Why were her thighs aching when
she stretched? 'Twas like the first time she'd spent hours riding
astride. Her eyes widened and her vision cleared to see amused
near-black eyes watching her.

"Sore, wife?" His smile suddenly stilled.
"'Tis sorry I am I couldna get enough of ye last night."

"'Tis sorry I am when ye didna let me sleep
more than a few heartbeats between yer assaults."

"Assaults? Was I wrong and it was the old
crone cackling and making noises I thought were cries of delight? I
must admit I added mine to the tumult."

"When did ye get up?" Elyne asked when she
realized he was already dressed and ready to travel.

"Ye were snoring so loud ye didna hear me
when I slipped from the room afore first light."

"I dinna snore!" Insult stiffened her body,
only bringing the sore muscles more stress. She forced herself to
relax. "A lady doesna snore. Only men snore."

"Ask Ranald. He came to scratch on the door
thinking Squat had stolen into the room."

"I will prove ye wrong by asking him."

"Chief Broccin was there, also. Best ask him,
too, while ye're at it."

Ada spared her further embarrassment when she
came into the room, scolding him. "Lady Joneta told ye to let her
sleep. She had a hard night." A mischievous light came into her
eyes. "Screaming and begging wears a woman out, ye know."

Elyne pulled the sheet over her head and
ordered in her most commanding voice, "Get ye both from the room.
If Muriel and Catalin are about, I would appreciate their
company."

"Can't leave yet," Ada said, "the servants
are outside the door with a hot bath yer new husband requested for
ye." She shook her head. "If they hold the tub much longer, they
are liable to get tired and leave it in the passageway."

She went to the door and threw it wide,
letting them in. Elyne crawled down in the bed, mortified knowing
everyone in the castle had heard her last night.

"Ye look like a mole. Best watch out if Squat
does come in. He's likely to take a nip out of yer hind end afore
he realizes 'tis ye."

Elyne stuck her hot face out and scowled at
him.

"Has no one taught ye the proper way to greet
yer husband when we get to the Highlands?" Graemme looked at Ada
and saw her blank expression. He sighed. "'Tis the custom to start
the day off with a kiss and fervent thanks for giving ye a robust
swiving during the night."

When Elyne's eyes widened in disbelief, he
explained further.

"The Highlands are bitter cold most of the
year and we retire to bed when the light lowers. The only way to
stay warm is by vigorous bed sport." He shook his head solemnly,
but his eyes sparkled. "We have many bairns in the castle come
early summer."

"Ye are telling a mistruth, and I'll not
thank ye for something ye enjoyed even more than I."

"Fair enough."

Graemme crawled on the bed, lifting his kilt
to give his legs freedom. His weapon of pleasure drew her gaze only
to see if it was as worn out as her pleasure center was. It was
not. She put up her hands to keep him back, but he didna come
closer.

Cupping his hands on her cheeks, he gazed
softly into her eyes until she looked back. In a low voice, he
began. "Thank ye, wife. Ye have pleased me greatly. 'Twas the most
gratifying night I have ever spent with a woman. Yesterday was hard
on ye and I am sorry. I hope I made up for it a little by giving ye
an enjoyable night to remember."

He rose up on his knees and took a box from
the pocket in his kilt. The wood was deep brown with amber streaks
and was beautifully hand-carved with Celtic symbols of eternal love
knots. He moved back so she could sit up and take the box on her
lap.

"The wood reminded me of yer hair. Esa helped
by knowing a Welsh trader who specialized in wedding boxes. 'Twas
fortunate he was at Clibrick when I arrived. Look inside."

Elyne opened the box to find a scarlet cloth
cushioning a lovely neck chain with clear green stones embedded in
twists of thin gold around them. Surrounded by the curled up chain,
a gleaming ring caught the light coming from the window. It flashed
shimmering green lights around the stone walls. 'Twas the most
beautiful thing Elyne had ever seen.

With great tenderness, Graemme picked up the
ring and put it on her ring finger alongside the gold wedding band
he'd placed there yester eve.

A knot formed in Elyne's throat, for his
expression was tender and he was as gentle as handling a bairn when
he placed the ring on finger. He couldn't have been more sincere
looking if he'd truly loved her. Her heart gave a twinge and she
realized how very handsome Graemme was. Far more than Magnus or
even Ranald. 'Twas strange, for she had never thought anyone more
pleasant to the eye than her brother.

"Thank ye, Graemme. Yer morning after gift is
most beautiful."

"It should be. Ye have pleased me so greatly
ye deserve everything beautiful I can give ye."

Aunt Joneta interrupted by coming into the
room like a summer breeze. Ada followed close behind her. She
seemed excited to be moving to the Highlands with her mistress. Her
adventurous spirit was the reason Elyne had chosen her as her
personal maid.

"Have ye not allowed the poor lass her bath?
Get, Graemme! Go below. Magnus needs ye to help form the line of
horses and wagons. There are three wagons now. One for Clibrick's
tents and chests of clothing, one for Elyne's things from Raptor
and the third filled to the hilt with food from Cook.

"Oh, and Ranald packed a box of special
herbs, unguents, and salves. We selected what we thought ye would
have a hard time finding in the Highlands."

"But I dinna want to empty yer own medicinal
preparations."

"Pfft! Girl, you know my herbal hut is filled
to overflowing, so 'twas a good time to clear room there."

Turning around, Lady Joneta flicked the backs
of her fingers to Graemme and smiled at him. "She canna prepare for
a journey if you keep looking at her like she is a fruit pasty and
you are starving."

Graemme laughed and turned to leave the room.
He looked back when he reached the door and found she'd thrown off
the sheets. The sight near made Graemme tell her aunt to leave the
room or else be shocked, for he wanted to swive his wife again. She
was incredibly beautiful with her sleepy eyes and curling hair
falling all around her face. Her rosy nipples peeked between locks
of curling hair, and her skin looked like light cream above the
curly dark hair guarding her woman's place.

When he gave her his most passionate leer
while looking at her nekid torso, she turned rosy red.

Her aunt chuckled as he eased the door
closed.

o0o

Never had Elyne seen Raptor Castle so busy.
She peered out the heavy doors into the Great Hall to see guests
were still riding out through the barbican while others were
sitting on the keep's steps while grooms prepared their horses. The
men held their heads in their hands, trying to stop the pounding
from too much drink. Their wives didn't give them any sympathy, but
instead seemed to talk extra loud, considering the men's wincing
faces.

Catalin, Muriele and Ysabel were still at the
table breaking their fast. Elyne hurried over, thanking the good
Saints because two of them would be with her when she left. 'Twould
be less hurtful to leave, knowing she would have friends in the
Highlands.

She grabbed Aunt Joneta's hand when she came
into the room.

"Come, Aunt. Have ye broken yer fast?"

"I waited to eat with you, dear one." She
blinked and turned her face as she busied herself making sure the
servants brought out hot food for the travelers.

An empty pit formed in Elyne's stomach as she
saw men begin to file into the room. When her father and Ranald
arrived with Graemme and Magnus behind them, she began to feel a
panic she never thought could happen to her. Where were all her
brave feelings? She'd thought she would welcome the day she left
the heavy-fisted control of her father. Instead, she longed to
throw her arms around him. And leaving Ranald was like losing him
again the first time. She could still see the cart and hear its
squeaky wheels when it carried her brother across the barbican to
be lost in Kelso for the greater part of her life.

Ranald must have known her thoughts, for he
came and put his arms around her. She knotted her fists in his
black tunic and held him tight.

"Lass, we are not going to be lost to ye.
Young Graemme and his brother both have promised to bring ye for a
visit once a year when the weather permits. And knowing the
Morgan's, they will keep their word.

"But a year is such a long time," she said in
a broken whisper.

"Nay, sweet lass. A year from now ye may be
bringing yer son or daughter to show off to Father. Dinna worry. I
will continue to check on him often to see he doesna do anything
foolish. Aunt Joneta plans to return to Raik and his family, now ye
are settled."

"Ack! Are those tears in my sweet wife's
eyes? They must be tears of joy, since I heard it from her own lips
she ne'er cried!"

Elyne stiffened her back, and in the
protection of Ranald's chest, swiped her fingers over her eyes.

"Huh! Ye see things which are nay there."

When Graemme came over, Ranald released her
with a somber smile. Before she could turn, Graemme wrapped his
arms around her and snuggled his face in her neck and sniffed.

"Mmm, ye smell sweet, wife. Did ye roll in
heather whilst my back was turned?"

"Ye have done yer job, Sir Graemme," Grunda's
gravelly voice said. "'Twas the right time of the month to plant
yer seed." She chuckled. "From the sounds of it, ye plowed the
field enough to bear fruit afore a year is out."

Embarrassed, Elyne pulled back. She had tried
to be quiet after the first time she climaxed, but she must have
failed. She felt Graemme's chest moving in silent laughter. She
glared at him, daring him to speak. Thank the good Saints he held
his tongue. She sighed with relief when her father came charging
into the room.

"Dinna forget to take this misshapen dog with
ye," he roared. "The hellish little hound tried to send me
backwards off the landing."

As he came through the doorway, an impatient
Squat scampered around him. His tail whipped against Elyne's skirts
as he tried to tunnel between them.

"We thought to leave him with ye so ye
wouldna miss Elyne," Graemme said.

His tone sounded so wistful Elyne shoved him
away.

"Dinna fear, Father, we thought no such
thing!" Bending down, she scooped the dog into her arms and went to
sit beside her aunt.

Who knew a night of bed sport would make
anyone so hungry? She near drooled seeing her aunt had already put
honey and butter on her porridge. She broke off a piece of warm
bread and gave it to the dog when she put him down. Before she
finished eating, she glanced up to see everyone watching her and
grinning

"What?"

"Ye look about to eat what is left in
everyone's bowls, lass," Graemme said. "If bed sport makes ye this
hungry, ye will be twice yer size in near a month!"