“I got married yesterday. I’m nae going to the lists, and ma bride isnae going to any storerooms. We can go to the beach or the loch. I’ll take ye riding, or we can sit in the gardens. We can stay here and talk or read. I’m spending the day with ye.”
“Is that so?” Greer cocked an eyebrow, but she shot him a sympathetic look when his face fell. She cupped his cheek. “I want to spend the day with ye, too.”
“What would ye like to do?”
“All of it?” Greer wiggled her nose playfully. Thor tickled her and followed her as she rolled onto her back to get away. He was careful to hover above her and not rest his weight on her. He continued to tickle her when all he wished to do was kiss her before ripping the chemise off to worship her breasts as he’d done the day before.
“Cheeky, wee one. Which would ye like to do first?”
“Mmm. Can we go swimming again? This time I willna kick ye or swim away from ye.”
“I will only chase ye if ye do. Aye. We can do that.” He dropped a smacking kiss on her lips before pulling away, but she wrapped her arms around him and pressed him closer. She lifted her chin and parted her lips. He accepted the invitation, far hungrier for her than the porridge that awaited them. When the kiss drew to an end, he shifted away from her. He feared her seeing his arousal and assuming he expected more. He’d been hard every time he’d woken during the night. He hadn’t told the entire truth. It was her arse rubbing against his cock that woke him, and he’d been in sweet agony when they came awake at the same time that morning.
Greer didn’t miss how Thor’s sword tented his leine as he tried to climb discreetly off the bed and gather the plaid he would wear. He hurried to pleat it as Greer straightened the covers and folded the plaid that would remain on the bed. They completed their morning ablutions before Thor positioned himself to wrap hisbreacan feilearound him and over his shoulder. He once again tied Greer’s laces before they donned their shoes and made their way belowstairs. They drew stares from everyone they passed. He wondered if he should make an announcement or wait for Blaine to say something at the feast that night.
They joined Rose and Blaine at the dais, and he nodded to Marcus. He still wasn’t on good terms with the man after the incident in the lists, and Blaine’s second-in-command appeared uneasy when he spied Thor and Greer walking up the dais’s steps, holding hands. Thor helped Greer into her chair, and without a word they passed each other the milk and honey. Greer poured the milk into Thor’s porridge, then her own, before he poured honey into hers but skipped his. They didn’t notice how people stared at them preparing each other’s food.
“Be careful it isnae too hot,” Greer warned.
“I need the loch to cool off anyway,” Thor whispered in her ear. She blushed at his wolfish expression, the same he’d worn the day before as he slid down the bed to pleasure her with his mouth. He squeezed her thigh before he gestured to one of the Sinclairs sitting at the tables below the raised platform. The man hurried over.
“Lady Greer and I are going to the loch. I want all the men to come.”
Greer’s hand clutched his plaid as she stared up at him, terrified. She shook her head, but Thor covered her hand, easing her fingers open. “Please, nay.”
“Leannan, they will spread out over the path and around the loch. Unless they hear us screaming aboot a monster in the water, they will be looking away from us. They’re guarding us from anyone who might approach. I’m nae comfortable taking ye outside the gates without that many guards.”
“Then mayhap we shouldnae go out.”
“I willna make ye a prisoner in this keep. We can enjoy ourselves, but we must take reasonable precautions. If they bother ye too much once we get to the loch, we’ll come straight back.”
Greer nodded, then looked at the Sinclair men sitting among the Keiths. She willed her heart to stop racing. She wasn’t comfortable around men she didn’t know and couldn’t predict. But she knew Thor would never put in harm’s way, and he would allow no one near her who might hurt her.
“Finish that bowl, and I’ll give ye another.” Thor jutted his chin toward her food.
“I canna eat that much, Thor. That’s a serving for ye nae me.”
“Ye’ve lost weight.”
“How would ye ken?”
Thor peered down at her before he leaned over to whisper again. “Because I ken every inch of yer body, and I dinna like that there are less of them to love. Ye were lighter at Dunbeath than I remembered, and ye’re even lighter than when ye arrived. I’ve carried ye several times, Greer. I ken the differences.”
“Ye dinna like how I look?” Greer murmured.
“I didna say that. I said I dinna like that there is less of ye to love. Ye’re still the most desirable woman alive. But I worry aboot ye. I call ye wee one because ye’re smaller than me, nae because ye’re tiny. I dinna want ye to fall ill.”
“Ye think I’ll become ill because I dinna weigh enough?”
“I dinna want ye to be underfed.”
“I’m nae a cow.”
“I’m making a right mess of this. Greer, I just want ye to be healthy and well. I will always like how ye look regardless of yer size. I fear hurting ye.”
“Ye would never hurt me on purpose, and I ken how careful ye are nae to do it on accident. I’m sorry I panicked.”
“Mo ghaol, ye dinna have to keep apologizing for how ye feel. There’s naught wrong with these emotions.”
