The Country Wife (11 page)

“Ah, Lilli, you torment me. I can’t hold back.”

“Then don’t,” she cried recklessly, but he remained steady until she moved against him. He was waiting for her then he shuddered against her.

“I’m sorry, lass, if I bring you pain,” he whispered and withdrew himself.

“No,” she cried, her arms and legs holding onto him.

But he didn’t withdraw completely, he thrust into her and she felt him reaching for that pulsing center within her, the one that made her want to scream with anticipation. She moved with him and felt his surprise as he gritted his teeth. He was stroking against her until her muscles tightened then she felt his release and gave way to her own.

She called his name and clung to him, lost in a swirling storm that threatened to consume her then the moment passed and she drifted slowly back to earth, back to the bed where Callum held her and whispered love words into her ear.

Chapter Eleven

“I have to go, lass.” Callum said, his gaze downcast as if unable to look at her. “I’ve stayed longer than I intended.”

“Then go, if you must.”

Her manner was abrupt, but she knew he saw the anguish in her face. Three days had passed since market day. Three days of incredible happiness, three nights of sensual delights such as she’d never imagined. She was a different woman now than that innocent young girl who’d blithely gone off to market. This woman knew the searing touch of the man she loved. This woman knew things about herself she’d never suspected. And more, she’d revealed a part of her soul to someone else, trusting she’d never be betrayed. Now fear sharpened her tongue. Had she been too trusting? Hadn’t this been Jane’s downfall? She shivered and straightened her spine, her chin rising proudly.

“I expected as much.” Bitterly, she turned away.

“Did you now?” He drew her against him. “And what did you expect?”

“That you’d have your fill of me and be on your way without a backward glance.” Anger made her slim body tremble in his grasp. She folded her arms across her chest, creating a barrier between them. Her lips compressed into a single line, and her chin jutted forward in an attempt not to cry.

“Lass, I’ll never have my fill of you,” he whispered gruffly. “You’re my wife. Didn’t we exchange words to bind us?”

“I’m just your country wife and such words can be forgotten,” she said stubbornly, and angled her head so she could study him from beneath wet lashes. She saw a slight smile on his lips.

“Don’t you have a laugh on me, Callum,” she said softly. “Remember I nursed you to health.”

“More than that, m’lady.” He ran his hands over her slim back. “You’ve given me a touch of heaven these past few days. Trust me, lass. I’ll not leave you save to gather my men, then I’ll be back for you and wee Rose.”

“Will you come back to us then?” She searched his face.

“Lass, have I not spent these last three days telling you so? You and Rose are part of me. I would take you with me now, but I fear who might be lurking on the way. Surely, word of my presence has reached Lister by now, and he’ll be looking for me. Let me gather my men at the rendezvous point, and I’ll be back for you. Take comfort in knowing I can’t go forward without you in my life.” His large hands cradled her hips, holding her close to him. His scent surrounded her, covering her with a reassurance of his protection and love.

His eyes twinkled as he met her gaze. “I’ll come back, Lilli. You belong to me whether you want to or not. I’ll come fetch you and Rose and we’ll go to my castle where you’ll reign as m’lady wife.”

She stiffened in his arms. “‘Tis not possible, Callum. If Sir Archibald finds me, he’ll kill Rose and me. To the rest of the world, I must remain a simple, Highland lass.”

“Lilli, I see the terror in your eyes, but you must trust me. I’ll not let anyone harm you or Rose. I pledge my honor on that.”

“But he’s one of the powerful men in the Highlands.”

“I’ll protect you or die trying.”

Roughly, he pulled her against him so she could not resist as he lowered his head and kissed her thoroughly. The feel of his hot lips against her own swept away her fears. His kiss changed, the plunging urgency of his tongue awakening a familiar passion within her.

When she was breathless from his embrace he set her on her feet and smiled reassuringly. The wind ruffled his dark hair and reddened his high cheekbones, leaving its mark on him as it had on her, making him one with the mountain and sky. She caught her breath, for never had she seen a man so wonderfully bonnie. Even now, he touched her heart so it skipped a beat. New life tingled through her, waking her body to the glory of living and loving. The past three days and nights had been filled with new discoveries and endless delights, and they were not enough. She wanted a lifetime in his arms.

His eyes darkened. “Ah, lass, how can I walk away and leave when it causes me nothing but pain and misery. Come with me to the shieling while I fetch my steed. We’ll have a few more hours together before I go.”

“Aye, just let me get Rose and a bannock or two for your journey. How long will you be gone?”

“Only long enough to reach and gather my men. You’ll be safer here at Tollis croft than on the open road.”

“Aye, I understand. We would but hold you back. We’ll wait here so you can go more quickly.” She nodded regretfully and raised her head to gaze into his eyes, communicating all her love for him.

“I’ll watch the path a hundred times each day until you return and pray each night for your safety.” Her words sounded braver than she felt.

“I’ll be back as quickly as I can. Now hurry, so we can have some time on the mountain.”

With a lighter heart, she wrapped Rose in a makeshift sling for traveling. Callum fastened her so she rested against his chest. Rose gurgled her approval. Lilli carried the bannocks she’d put aside for Callum’s journey.

They set off up the mountainside to the shieling huts and the green pastures where the lowlanders would bring their cattle to fatten on sweet alpine grasses in the summer months. The day was glorious, the air heady, the sunlight a promise of spring and burgeoning life. What could be false on a day like this?

Rose rode in a sling across Callum’s chest and Lilli checked to see her dainty face was covered from the bite of the crisp mountain air.

“You worry over much, lass,” he teased her, but she noted he took extra care to see that the babe was well protected as they climbed.

When they reached the shieling huts, they paused to rest. Callum’s horses cantered to the edge of the stone fenced pasture to greet them and he handed Rose to Lilli so he could pat them and brush their coats, cooing soft endearments.

Lilli smiled, thinking he treated them with tender loving care much as she did with Rose. Watching the man and his beautiful steeds, she thought of the world he came from, a world of plenty and privilege, a world of intrigue and power, a world that had been denied to her and her clan despite their history and birth right. How simple she must seem to him with her humble life and country ways. Their lives were too far apart. Melancholia rose within her.

Walking toward her, Callum must have seen the slump of her shoulders and the sadness in her eyes.

“Don’t doubt me, lass,” he said, sprawling on the ground beside her, his weight resting on his elbow so he might study her face. “The time will go quickly and I’ll soon be back.”

Her searching gaze met his. “I’ll not doubt you, Callum MacAlister, for time will do the telling.” She sat on her heels, her skirt billowing around him, her fingers twisting a piece of grass. “And if you should forget me, I’ll understand. You’re a fine new chief, a laird of your clan while I, despite my noble birth, am but little more than a plain country lass. Our clan is broken. I have too many enemies and no clan behind me. I have nothing to bring you in a marriage, no dowry and no titles.”

“None of that matters to me.” His large hand cupped her chin, his dark gaze held hers, his message unspoken but all too clearly said in his touch and in his gaze. Suddenly, he leaped to his feet, pulling her up beside him.

“You don’t have faith in me, lass,” he accused. “You fret and call yourself a plain country lass, but you’re my wife and we haven’t had a ball to celebrate our union. Come, can’t you hear the bagpipes. Let us dance at our own wedding ball.”

“Our wedding ball?” She looked around in dismay.

“Aye, a magnificent ball here on the mountain top before God himself.”

He threw his arms wide as if encompassing the very heavens. Laughter welled, her heart beat rapidly and she gazed at him in open-mouthed delight.

“Come, plain country lass, don’t stand there gaping. Let us dance!” He spun her around.

She couldn’t help but giggle as he tugged her around in a facsimile of a country-dance, singing a well-known folk ditty in a lusty voice. The wind blew across scrubby grass and rock, seeming to echo their mingled laughter. At last, when they were both breathless, he released her and stood staring down at her, his chest rising and falling, his eyes sparkling. Then they grew somber and placed a hand on either side of her waist.

“I, Callum MacAlister pledge myself to you, for all time, Lilli MacGregor MacAlister. I vow to protect you and provide for all your needs as long as we live.”

She couldn’t speak. She felt something of wonder grow deep within her.

“Won’t you make your pledge to me again, lass?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.

Her heart swelled with joy. “I can’t speak for I have no breath,” she whispered. Tears trembled on her eyelashes.

“You must,” he urged, “or it will not be valid. Do you take me for your husband?”

“I do,” she said softly. “I pledge myself to you for all time. I’ll be obedient and faithful and do all things required of me.”

“Love me, that’s all I require,” he said and pulled her into his arms. His dark head lowered, closing out the sunlight and blue sky, leaving only him to gladden her heart.

He lifted her in his arms and carried her a short distance from the sleeping baby. Gently he lowered her back against the fragrant, wind-swept grass, his gaze smoldering with the passion she’d tasted before. She welcomed him with her slim arms, her willing body and her ready heart. She gave him her passion, her heart and love.

Leisurely, he removed her clothes and rose above her, his gaze sweeping over her body and face.

“The sun has never shown on such a beautiful wild Highland flower,” he murmured and planted little kisses over her face and throat and down to her breasts.

His teeth settled around the bud of her nipple and he suckled first one then the other. She lay gasping, her head thrown back, her hair fanning around her in the grass, her gaze filled with the sky and clouds. She was part of something much more than just herself, she thought briefly before his mouth slid downward. He parted her legs and lowered his head and she felt the brush of his tongue across her clitoris. She jerked and cried out but opened her knees even more. In the past three days, she’d come to anticipate the fiery awakening his intimate kiss brought her. Her hands stroked his hair, her fingers wove through his dark locks. His wicked tongue brought her to the throes of passion and she gave way to the waves of completion, sharp as a knife, as she fell off the mountain and into a land of wonder such as she’d never imagined. He rose above her, raising her knees high as he slid into her moist channel. She felt his invasion and for a moment, caught up in her own climax, resisted, then she felt his cock inside and opened herself to him, yet again. The wind bent the grass, revealing its blue-green underside and rattled around the huts, howling and whistling as if it, too, must express its own euphoria. She wrapped her legs around his waist, ensnaring him with her body and heart, wanting to hold him close always and knowing they must part. As he loved her with his hands and mouth, caressing her, claiming every part of her very soul, she forgot all else. When he’d brought her to climax, so she seemed to soar over the very edge of the great mountain and ride the wind, she cried out his name, scattering the birds that had settled on the rocky outcroppings nearby.

“The mountain moved,” she gasped later, gazing at the cloudless sky above.

Callum had collapsed beside her, his body still shuddering, half covering hers, his face against the soft hollow of her neck, his hot breath like a benediction.

“Aye, lass,” he said hoarsely and pressed a swift kiss against the ivory column of her throat.

They lay thus, unspeaking, slowly returning to the reality of the world around them until the wind chilled them. They rose silently to dress without looking at each other, the reality of their parting heavy on them. Pensively, she watched as he saddled one of his steeds. “I’ll leave Clach in case you need him. He’s the gentler of the two. His saddle’s in the shieling hut.”

“I’ll check on him while you’re gone.” She looked away, not knowing what else to say. The wind had sharpened, its capricious nature turned against them now.

Callum lifted Rose and placed a kiss on her sweet face. “Farewell, wee little bairn,” he crooned. Rose opened her blue eyes and stared at him, then waved her tiny fists and gurgled. “Ah, she’s talking t’me. She’s telling me she believes in me and knows I’ll come back safe and sound.” Callum smiled at Lilli and handed the baby over. “Be like Rose and believe in me, lass,” he whispered, brushing her cheek with a gentle finger. His dark gaze was somber.

He mounted his steed and looked down at Lilli. The wind blew her hair around her face and whipped at her skirts, but her fierce gaze was steady on him.

“Lass, I hate to leave you,” he said roughly and held out his hand.

She placed hers into it, clinging to him. “Then don’t go. Stay here on Tollis Hill with Rose and me. We have no need of anything else.”

“‘Tis not so simple. Someone else would become laird and they’d have say over your mountain and our lives. I must go to protect us all from our enemies.”

She withdrew her hand and stepped back. “God go with you then, Callum MacAlister. I’ll be awaiting your return.”

She watched him ride away, down the mountain she must traverse. Then he was gone, hidden by rocks and scrubby pines. The wind raised a shiver in her, as cutting as a sob. Wee Rose protested and Lilli drew her shawl around the baby, tying it into a sling so she rested against her breast. She didn’t look back at the meadow where they’d lain. She couldn’t bear to remember, not now. She’d have tomorrow to remember and the next day and the next, perhaps the rest of her life. She’d remember and grieve, but she’d never regret.