“But I liked it, Fin,” Maggie told him. “Except, of course, for the pain. Ye made me feel as I never had before. I know I will enjoy our future couplings.”
He laughed low, rolling onto his side to look at her. “Ye found a bit of delight, for I saw it momentarily in yer face,” he told her. “But one day perhaps I will be able to make ye cry out with joy as we couple. I want that for ye, Maggie mine. I never cared about it with the women I used to slack my lust. Their bodies were for my delectation. I paid for them, and while I liked giving them pleasure, it didn’t matter if it was nothing more than a quick coupling. But with ye, my wife, ’tis different. I want perfection for ye, and I shall keep trying to attain it until I can give it to ye.” Leaning over, he kissed her mouth, pleased that she eagerly kissed him back.
She was surprised by his revelation. Was it possible if she used her body to please him that she would hold a certain small power over him? He had said something similar earlier, but she had not understood it then. Now she thought she did. Reaching out, she caressed his face. “Ye were careful with me, and I thank ye for it.”
“We are wed until death,” he responded. “I want us content with that. I want our bairns to grow to man- and womanhood in a happy home with parents who honor and respect each other. Had I simply satisfied my lust, ye should not have enjoyed this first coupling. Ye might have grown to fear our couplings, and I didn’t want that to happen.”
“I will not fear them now,” Maggie reassured him. “Will ye mount me again tonight? I still ache from our contest today, but I should not mind at all if ye wished to have me once again.”
Fin laughed again. Would he ever grow used to Maggie’s candid tongue? And it had proved a delicious tongue. Eventually he would teach that facile little tongue new uses that would surely surprise her at first. “Nay,” he said. “The deed has been done. On other nights I will enjoy making love to ye the night long, but tonight I think we both could use our rest. Look beneath ye, lass, and see the proof yer grandsire will be proud to display come the morrow.”
Maggie shifted herself, and was astounded to see beneath her the bloody stain of her virginity now turning brown upon the fine linen sheet. And she could see her thighs were smeared with dried blood too. She fixed her gaze on Fin. “Aye, we have done well, my lord, and Grandsire will not be shamed.”
He arose from her bed, gathering up their two night garments. Handing her hers, he put on his. Then he climbed back into bed with Maggie.
“Ye are not returning to yer own bed?” Many men preferred visiting their wives, and then sleeping in their own beds.
“Tonight I would be with ye,” he said as he gathered her into his arms. The delicious feel of her bottom pushing into him was intoxicating. Reaching around, he captured one of her breasts, and burying his face into her scented hair, sighed contentedly. Very quickly he was snoring lightly.
Maggie, however, remained awake a bit longer digesting this evening. This man she had been ordered to wed was turning out to be a better bargain than she had ever anticipated or even imagined. He was intelligent, and he was swiftly learning the ways of the Aisir nam Breug. He had quickly settled into the keep, and he had been easily accepted by all. The Kerr clan folk were usually not so quick to countenance strangers, but they had taken to Fingal Stewart as if he were one of them for all his life.
She snuggled against the sleeping man, enjoying the sensation of his hand clasping her breast. The coupling had been good. His restrained passion had opened a whole new world to her. Maggie could not help but wonder what that passion was going to be like when it was fully unleashed. And would she be able to match his ardor? She very much wanted to match it. Aye! She did! Her eyes were growing heavy, but before she fell into a contented sleep, Mad Maggie Kerr considered that she had never before pondered such a thing. Why was she contemplating it now? The coupling was for the purpose of creating heirs for Brae Aisir. That’s what the church taught. There certainly was nothing more to it than that.Or was there?She realized as she finally tumbled into sleep that she couldn’t wait to find out.
Chapter 7
To their mutual surprise they slept late, and no one came to disturb them. Maggie was amazed to find him still in her bed. His eyes were closed, his breathing even. She took the opportunity to look down at him. She had been correct in her observation the past night. He was handsome—not pretty like a lass, but in a masculine way, with his long straight nose, high cheekbones, and long thin mouth. He had shaved his face yesterday, but already a shadowy veil of black beard was beginning to show itself. His eyelashes were certainly thick for a man’s, Maggie thought. His eyes suddenly opened, and she found herself staring into molten silver.
“Oh!”
“May I assume ye like what ye observe, madam?” he teased, and the long mouth turned up in a smile.
“Aye, yer a bonnie lad, Fingal Stewart,” Maggie answered back pertly. She wasn’t going to blush and simper like some little fool, although his open eyes had surprised her.
“Yer a bonnie lass,” he responded. “We’ll make pretty bairns together.”
“The sun is way past dawn,” she said. “Why did no one come to awaken us?” She made no move to arise from the bed.
“I believe they were being discreet,” Fin replied. “They are giving me time to ravage ye again, for all here are eager for an heir.” The gray eyes were twinkling.
“Should we doitagain now?” Maggie asked curiously. “ ’Tis morning, and the sun is shining brightly.”
“Aye, it is,” he said. “But yer newly opened, love. I think we may wait until tonight to continue with our endeavors, madam. Unless, of course, yer feeling particularly lustful for my body,” Fin teased her further.
“Yer a fool,” she told him, but she laughed.
“Did ye enjoy the coupling?” he asked candidly. She had said last night that she did, but he wanted to be certain now in the light of day that he had not repelled her.
“Aye,” she answered him. “I did. After the pain. I must ask ye, husband, for I have no knowledge of these things prior to last night, but there was something more than just the linking of our bodies, Fin. For a brief moment I sensed something I had never felt before. Do ye know what it was? Did ye feel it too?”
“ ’Twas pleasure, Maggie mine,” he said. “Virgins do not usually have much pleasure, if they have it at all. The sweetness of passion comes with time. As to men, if they are with a lover who pleases them, they too gain delight from their togetherness.”
Maggie nodded. “I suppose we should get up. Hopefully the Netherdale Kerrs are already gone into the pass.”
Flinging back the coverlet, he climbed from the bed. “I’ll see Grizel comes to ye,” Fin said as he pressed the little rose carving on the wall. The door sprang open, and he was gone through it, leaving her alone in the bed.
It was almost an hour before Grizel appeared. “Ye look rested,” she said brightly.
“His lordship has gone down to the hall. I’ve had the tub brought to his chamber so ye can bathe before going down. Come along with ye now, my lady.” She quickly helped Maggie from the bed, hurrying her through the hidden door and helping her into the tub.
