“Aye, the way you look right now. The way the muscles in your shoulders move fascinates me. There is such power there that it’s impressive, and yet, I never fear you’d use that strength against me. I can see the muscles in your chest straining as your arms and shoulders bear your weight, and your stomach makes me want to trail my fingers over every groove.” Allyson did just that before moving down to grip his backside, discovering notches in his hips where her hands fit perfectly. “Besides, I like being able to reach.”
When Allyson raised her chin for a kiss, Ewan gladly accepted the invitation. He eased his weight onto one forearm while his free hand brushed the backs of his fingers over her breasts before gliding his fingers over her ribs to her hips, then slipping beneath her to grasp her bottom. He pressed his arousal against her, and their sounds of need echoed in the chamber. Ewan rocked his hips as Allyson squeezed her thighs against them, using her heels to give her leverage to meet each thrust.
Their movements were slow as their eyes locked, their intense gazes conveying more than words would. Allyson was certain his rod lengthened and thickened as they continued to press his sword and her sheath together. Ewan reached back for one of her hands, drawing it under his plaid until he guided her fingers around his cock. When Allyson attempted to pull his plaid free, Ewan grasped her wrist.
“If we’re both naked, there is little chance either of us will stop before I’m buried to the hilt inside you.”
“I still don’t think that’s such a bad thing, but you’ve said no. I won’t take advantage of you.” Allyson winked but released her hold on his plaid, preferring to rest her hand on his shoulder. “Teach me.”
Ewan rolled onto his side, and Allyson followed. “Cup my rod as you are and stroke up and down without letting go.” Ewan’s head fell back as he clenched his jaw. The need to thrust and spill swept over him with a speed that hadn’t happened since he first began palming himself as an adolescent. He drew deep breaths in through his nose as his body calmed after the initial drive to climax subsided. Allyson experimented with speed and tightness, watching Ewan’s reaction and noticing what made his cock harden and twitch. It wasn’t long before she was confident in her newfound skill. Ewan’s insistent kisses and massages of her breasts also confirmed that he enjoyed her touch. When she noticed the tip of his rod grow slick, she spread the liquid over the taut skin but released him. His groan sounded more like agony than enjoyment, but he growled as he watched her lick her thumb. He rolled them once again, shifting to the center of the bed. It was Allyson’s turn to shimmy down Ewan’s body until she kneeled between his legs.
“I want my turn,” was all Allyson said before she flipped his plaid back and swiped her tongue from the base of his rod to the top, swirling it around the tip then lapping up more of the viscous cream that appeared. Allyson held her hair back before lowering her mouth and taking as much in as she dared. She’d watched Ewan’s expression when she ran her tongue over him, but now her eyes drifted closed as she reveled in the sensation, both new and exciting. Ewan couldn’t take his eyes off the sight of Allyson sucking his cock with such abandonment that he believed she enjoyed what she was doing. He’d experienced this pleasure countless times before, but he knew some women viewed it as a burden and did it for their livelihood. Others enjoyed it, but that came from a satisfaction of knowing it brought a man to his knees. Allyson’s interest was genuine and unassuming. Watching her explore his body and how it reacted to her touch made it a new experience, one unlike anything that existed before Allyson.
“Ally, I canna last much longer,” Ewan whispered as he attempted to pull away, but Allyson swatted at his hands. When she looked up, her expression was one of determination and warning. She returned her focus to Ewan’s rod as she noticed it tighten before a tangy fluid filled her mouth. She didn’t care for the taste, but she rejoiced in a rush of success, knowing she caused his release. She kneeled upright, licking her lips as she watched Ewan’s heaving chest, noticing the sweat that had broken out on his brow. “Praise the saints and all angels, that was divine. If I didna ken, I’d think ye’d done that before. I—I—St. Columba’s bones, I canna think straight.”
Allyson grinned as Ewan’s labored breathing continued, and he mumbled to himself in Gaelic and forgot about his burr. When he held his arms out to her, she flipped his plaid down and nestled against his side.
“You really enjoyed it that much?”
“I’ve surely died and gone to heaven.”
“You are such a Highlander. You exaggerate.”
“I may be a Highlander, lass, but I dinna lie aboot this. I didna ken aught could feel so good. I may expire once I’m inside ye. I can only imagine how exquisite that will feel if this was any hint.” Ewan’s fingertips drew lazy circles on Allyson’s shoulder before his hand skimmed over her back. The sensation made her shiver but was soothing at the same time. Ewan peered down at Allyson, who watched the flames flicker and dance. He wanted nothing more after such intimacy than to cover them with a blanket and fall into a deep sleep with Allyson pressed against him, but he recognized they’d sequestered themselves away too long. The sun had shifted and inched toward the western horizon, and Ewan suspected Eoin had taken up residence at the base of the tower to ensure no one would intrude upon his time with Allyson. It explained why no one knocked to clear away the bath. He refused to take Allyson’s maidenhood to protect her reputation, but he would irreparably destroy it if anyone learned of what they’d done that afternoon, and Ewan feared that being out of sight for so long would lead Alice or Mary to claim he’d been tucked away in a love nest with one of them. “Ally, I dinna want to move, but we must. If we stay much longer, people will ken what we’ve been up to. Everyone in the bailey saw me carry ye in here, and nay one has seen hide nor hair of us since. Even if we didna go all the way, people will say we did.”
“That ship has sailed and sunk. There’s no chance that people aren’t already talking about you bringing me in here. There’s naught in this tower but empty chambers. Servants carried a bath and steaming buckets in here. No one needed to guess who they were for. Even if Eoin pretended to both of you, no one has seen me for hours, and no one will have seen the two of you together. That’s unusual in of itself. They will assume the worst. We may as well have coupled.”
“That may be what everyone assumes, but we ken we didna. If yer mother insists Berta examine ye again, there’ll be nay denying the truth.”
“I’d rather not. When Berta examines me, it’s intrusive and humiliating. It couldn’t be further from what it feels like when you make my toes curl and my eyes roll back.”
“I make yer toes curl, lass?”
“And my eyes roll back,” Allyson grinned. She stretched to drop a kiss on his nose before moving to the other bed where the servant left her fresh clothes. He hurried to put his leine back on and secure his plaid with his belt and sporran. She halted when she looked at the clothes for the first time. “These are Mary’s.”
Allyson looked back at Ewan. Anger, distrust, frustration, and sadness warred within her. He came to stand behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Tension that hadn’t existed minutes ago radiated from her. Ewan recognized her suspicion, and while it hurt that her trust wavered so easily, it hurt him more that anyone in Allyson’s clan assumed he’d chosen one of her sisters and assumed he’d brought either Alice or Mary to his chamber. She picked up the kirtle and ran her thumb over the embroidery before dropping it on the bed. Her shoulders sagged as she leaned back against Ewan’s chest. While he was relieved her suspicion was fleeting, it still hurt him to see her so resigned to being marginalized.
“They assumed you chose Mary. I know this speaks more to her unchasteness than your trustworthiness, but it hurts so much. Despite a crowd of people watching you carry me in here, people still believe you’re tupping Mary. None can fathom that you would pick me.”
“Ally, I canna standby and keep watching this. Beside the fact that I want naught to do with ma name linked to hers or Alice’s, I abhor how everyone treats ye. I think this is just as bad, if nae worse, than tossing insults in yer face. It’s more underhanded, but that makes it even more insidious. I ken ye prefer to ignore it and nae give it any attention, but I willna stand for it. I willna turn a blind eye and remain silent any longer. Ye’re to be ma wife, and I willna accept anyone hurting ye any longer. What kind of mon allows the vulnerable to be abused? Nae the kind who deserves to be yer husband.”
Allyson turned in Ewan’s embrace and wrapped her arms around his middle, the sound of his heartbeat both soothing and bolstering. She absorbed the strength and steadfastness that seemed to radiate from Ewan’s body. When she was sure she was strong enough to stand on her own, she nodded.
“It’s time my family realizes I’m not a kitten to keep kicking. I may not hiss and spit, but I have claws. They’re all in for a surprise when I arrive at the evening meal on your arm and in Mary’s clothes.”
“That’s ma lass.” Ewan helped Allyson into the kirtle, tying the laces behind her while she folded his plaid into an arisaid she pulled around her. She glanced at the pile of soiled clothes and the sopping wet Elliot plaid. She grimaced, knowing she had to take them to her chamber before joining the evening meal.
“I’ll meet you by the Great Hall, but I must take these to my chamber first.” Ewan was hesitant to agree to Allyson going anywhere on her own where she might encounter her family, but he wouldn’t dictate her coming and going. “I’ll be all right, mo leannan. It’ll take me but a few minutes.”
She slipped around him and scooped up the wad of wet clothes and moved to the door. She squared her shoulders and straightened her spine. She shot Ewan a smile before leaving the chamber.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ewan froze when the door opened, but he sensed immediately that it was Eoin. He supposed it was twin intuition.
“She wore a bonnie smile when she reached the bottom of the stairs,” Eoin grinned, not bothering to hide his burr while speaking to his brother. “And if that wasna enough to make people look sideways, she’s wearing yer plaid. I dinna think it’s possible for ye to make a louder announcement than that.”
“Aye, we can. The maid brought Mary’s clothes instead of Ally’s. She’s wearing them to the evening meal.”
