Breckin couldn’t blame her, but tried to sound confident as he said, “Needs some fixing but I have a skilled group of builders who will see to the task. Before we know it, they shall have this place repaired and readied to live in.”
“It shall take more than a fortnight for skilled builders to fix this place.” She jumped and bumped him when a bird fluttered its wings and left its perch on an overhead beam.
“Nay, my builders are good at what they do. I promise ye, our home will be ready. I only ask that ye be patient until then.”
“I shall try, Breckin. But I want another promise from you.”
He held her face and gazed at her. “And that is?”
“You will not leave again without telling me. Because if you do, I shall be alone and will perish.” Her gaze told him that she spoke truthfully.
His hands shifted to her shoulders and he scowled at her words. “Perish? Surely, ye jest.”
“No, I do not jest. You might not have realized this but I… I cannot light a fire…have never done so in my life. I do not know where to begin to start a fire. And I cannot cook or clean. I am afraid that I lack the necessary skills to care for myself, or you, as a wife should. Servants cared for me all my life and I never had to learn such tasks. Clare told me there are no servants here. There, ’tis a sad admission but the truth.”
Breckin almost bent over and laughed from the absurdity of her passionate speech. It seemed to be important to her and he nodded. “I will not let ye perish, Eva. Aye, and I give ye my vow not to leave again without telling ye. ’Tis true that we have no servants but I might be able to persuade a woman or two to come and help ye. Now, let us return to Clare’s. I am famished and want to enjoy a good supper.”
She flapped her arm and shrieked. “Is that a…SPIDER? Sweet Mary, get it off, get it off!”
Breckin chuckled. “’Tis but a wee spider.” He flicked it off her arm and grinned.
“One more promise,” she said breathlessly as she pressed herself against him. “Make sure all the spiders are removed before we take residence.”
Breckin couldn’t resist and leaned toward her. He set a light kiss on her lips and then pulled her into his arms. As he peered down at her bonny face, he said, “Aye, any more promises?”
“One more…” she said as she wrapped her arms around his body and sensually kissed him.
He could stand there in the dilapidated longhouse with Eva kissinghim without care of time. Her sweet lips lured his with desire. Breckin pulled back, took her hand, and hastily led her from their future home, intent on giving her the “one more” unspoken promise that she’d hoped for.
Chapter Twelve
Awarm mouthpressed against the delicate skin of her throat and Eva moaned softly at being awakened in such a desirous way. She stretched against Breckin and his hard body kept her from shifting to his side of the bed. His hand caressed her torso as he pulled her closer.
“’Tis pleasant to have someone next to ye, to wake up to,” Breckin said as he nuzzled her neck with his lips, his bearded scruff brushing her skin.
Eva sighed in delight as Breckin continued to kiss and caress her. Her one more promise that she demanded of him, was that he fill her with desire. He’d done more than that twice during the night. She could get used to having him there, beside her, doing all the wicked and marvelously sinful things to her.
Morning arrived, and still, he seemed content to stay beside her. She did not even mind the small bed that they shared or that he took up most of the room. It meant that she could snuggle closer to him, reap the benefit of his warm body, and feel his masculine, hard muscles pressed against the soft curves of her body.
Breckin kissed her hard one more time and when he drew away, he flung his legs over the side of the bed. “Bollocks, I wish I could stay here all morn. Och, I forgot that I was supposed to meet Gideon on the training field at sunrise. He wants me to raise the morale of thesoldiers.”
“You sound as though that will be difficult.” Eva almost laughed at the sour expression on his handsome face. Her husband, she realized, was a man of little words.
“Nay, I am a great motivator. ’Tis just… I must incite the soldiers to train hard because…” his words trailed off when he turned back to her.
“Because you mean to go to war again and soon?” She wasn’t fond of the fact that Breckin sought to go to war but he was the leader of the Buchanans and she supposed she should get used to him leaving her. Yet, he’d only just returned and she hoped to spend a little time with him.
“Perhaps, and the weather warms so war is expected. I shall see ye later, lass.” He leaned over her and pressed a kiss on her head. “Do not laze about in bed all day. Get out and find something to do. Ye might want to check on the progress of the longhouse later. I mean to meet with the builder this morn after I leave the training field. Oh, and I need to bring Connor home before the end of the day. If ye want, meet me there near supper time.” Breckin finally drew himself away and lingered by the door as if he was hesitant to leave.
“He will be gladdened to come home.” Eva waved him away.
He dressed and left. As soon as he’d closed the door behind him, she flung the covers from over her and began her morning rituals. When she finished dressing and taking care of her needs, she hurriedly tidied up the bed chamber and reminded herself to fetch clean water for the basin she’d had Clare put in the room.
In the main area of the cottage, she found a trencher full of cut fruit, slices of bread, and two kinds of spreads. She poured herself a little mead and ate her morning fare. Fortunately, Clare was nowhere in sight and must have already left the cottage.
After she ate, Eva retrieved her cloak and the tartan that Breckin gave her and used it to cover herself as she left the cottage. Outside,the air was a bit chilly but not cold. She liked the land and being on the other side of the bridge and so she ambled there. Groups of people seemed to be headed toward the church and so she followed them. Eva entered the church and realized that Mass would soon take place. She sat on the last pew and listened to Father Murphy preach about acceptance.
Sweet Mary, the Buchanans could use a lecture or two on that topic.
