“No. She was to be a nun, and in her heart she still is. She spends more time on her knees than in our bed.”
“I’m glad!” she said fiercely, and he understood.
“The child—?”
“Is Dom’s. There is no doubt, Niall. I swear it! Do you think I would be here if it were not?”
“Have you learned to love him then?”
“I will never love him, but I am his wife as you are Darragh’s husband,” she said quietly. “And now, my lord, bid me good night, for we are fast becoming the center of curiosity in the hall and I see Dom coming.”
“I will find another opportunity to speak with you,” he said. He did not leave her side, but stood waiting until Dom joined them. “Your wife is fatigued from the dancing, O’Flaherty. You must take good care of her since she carries your heir. You’re very fortunate in that respect.”
Dom, taken off guard, was speechless. Niall bent over Skye’s hand, briefly but tenderly kissing it. “Good night, Lady O’Flaherty.” Then he was gone across the floor to rejoin the dancers.
“Will you escort me to our room, Dom? I am very tired.” She fought to keep her voice flat. Dom must not know! Not even suspect!
“Of course, my love,” he answered, his voice sweet. Helping her up, he walked her slowly from the hall. When they had gained their room she asked him to call her maid. “Nay, love, I’ll maid you myself, Skye.” His voice had become soft and caressing. It was a dangerous sign. “There wasn’t a woman tonight who could compare with you,” he murmured. “Every man envied me my beautiful wife. Every one of them imagined what it would be like to stick himself in you, but I’m the only one who can do that, Skye,aren’tI?” He had her bodice unlaced now, and drew it off. His fingers swiftly drew her gown and her petticoats down and off. Then her chemise,and finally she stood naked and shivering in her embroidered stockings with their gold ribbon and silk rosette garters. Slowly he let his eyes wander over the new fullness of her breasts, and the sweet swelling of her belly. His hand caressed the living roundness, and Skye, barely breathing, prayed he would be satisfied by this show of ownership.
“Kneel on the edge of the bed, Skye.”
She shivered. “Dom, please! It’s not good for the child.”
“Kneel, you little bitch! Or do you want me to believe what my eyes told me when I looked across the hall tonight to see the fine Lord Burke bending solicitously over my wife, ogling her tits? And you! You encouraged him!”
“No! I didn’t!” Every muscle in her body tensed. Then, sighing, she knelt on the edge of the bed, her knees drawn up beneath her. Her hands were clenched into tight balls. There was no fighting him. Resistance brought further punishment.
He looked down at her, so meek, so obedient. He was angry with her, and tempted to sodomize her, for he knew how she hated that particular degradation. But he feared for the child. It washis son, and it bound her irrevocably to him. Without the child she might run to Niall Burke and become his leman, making the O’Flahertys the laughingstock of all Connaught.
He did no more than loosen his codpiece and his organ, swollen already, burst forth. He saw her shiver again, and the feeling of power her fear gave him aroused him further. He easily found his way inside her, sliding his hands beneath her breasts to play with the very sensitive nipples while he moved himself with long smooth strokes. “Your hound does it this way to the bitches in my kennel. I’ve watched him many a time,” he murmured, biting the back of her neck. She said nothing. To her relief he was finished quickly. “I’m going back to the hall now,” he said. “Get some rest, Skye.” Fastening his clothes, he was gone.
For a few moments she lay quietly, her face wet with silent tears. Then she stood and, removing her stockings, wrapped herself in a soft woolen robe before lying down again. If she could have boiled her body she would have done so, but even that would not rid her of the memory of his touch, the smell of his lust on her skin.
She could not stop the tears from flowing. It had all been too much. Learning that her father and the MacWilliam had conspired to keep Niall from her had come close to breaking her heart all over again. It had been easier when she could simply hate Niall. Exhausted, she slept.
The sudden sound of the door latch rasping woke her and she tensed. Dom was back, and probably drunk. She lay quietly, hoping he would believe she was sleeping.
“Skye,” came the soft whisper.
“Niall!” She sat up. “Are you mad? In God’s name go quickly before Dom returns! Please, my lord!”
He shut the door quietly and drew the bolt closed. “Dom is lying in the hall in a drunken stupor with his friends. My page is watching. Should Dom awaken the lad will warn us long before he can get here.” Dearest Heaven, she was beautiful, her black cloud of hair swirling about her shoulders, her eyes enormous and dark with concern. Niall sat on the edge of the bed and drew her into his arms. “You’ve been weeping.” It was a statement.
“It was easier when I thought you’d betrayed me,” she said softly, believing he would understand.
“For me also, my darling.” He reached out and caressed her dark hair.
“Your wife—?” She had to ask.
“Is keeping one of her interminable vigils in the chapel. She does it to avoid me, but I care not. Bedding her is like bedding a dead thing.”
“Oh, Niall …” Her voice broke, and she buried her face in his shoulder.
“Skye! Ah, love, don’t weep! Damn, Skye, you’ll break my heart!” His mouth gently found hers. Sighing deeply, she slid her arms about his neck, and gave herself over into his keeping. His hand found the swell of her breast, and it seemed so natural, so right. She pulled her lips away from him long enough to whisper, “Yes, Niall! Oh, please love me!” Then her mouth fused fiercely to his again, and she was lost in a burst of searing passion that swept over her body instantly, nearly rendering her unconscious.
His hand gently caressed the ripening mound. “I wish to Heaven he were mine,” he muttered huskily. “God! You’re so beautiful with the babe growing in you, like one of the old Celtic fertility goddesses.”
“I prayed so hard,” she whispered. “When I was at St. Bride’s I prayed you’d gotten me with child. How I wept when I found it wasn’t so. Eibhlin says they feared for my sanity. Then Dom came …” her voice trailed off.
