“She was overly tired today, so I dismissed her after the evening meal.”
“She is not in the kitchens.”
Leila flicked a glance at the boys and they departed with their empty buckets.“I am not her keeper, Fergus.”
He laughed.“Nay, only her tormentor.I found it curious that she would have left the hall on such a night as this.”
“Perhaps she sleeps in some corner.”
Fergus sobered.“I thought I saw her, actually.At the stables.”
“Truly?”Leila could make no sense of that.“Why would she be there?”
“I do not know.Perhaps I was mistaken.”He smiled again and came to her, his gaze warm upon her.“Neither of us wish to talk about Agnes,” he said quietly and Leila smiled.
“I am glad to find that we are in agreement, my lord.”
“You owe me more of that tale,” Fergus reminded her.“The one of the queen in the garden,” he added.“But it will have to wait.”
“Indeed?”
“Indeed.”Fergus lifted a hand to Leila’s cheek, his caress making her tingle.He let his fingertips trail down her throat, then arched a brow when he found the cord with the two keys.“I have had good advice that we should lock the portal,” he whispered, bending to kiss her beneath her ear.
Leila closed her eyes and sighed contentment at the touch of his lips upon her skin.“An excellent idea,” she murmured in agreement.
Fergus slid his fingers into her hair and cupped her nape, tipping her face up to his so that her circlet and veil fell away.Leila did not care, for his mouth closed over hers in a most satisfactory way.He deepened his kiss as he had not in the hall and she leaned against him, welcoming his touch.His kiss was both languid and fiery, as if he had all the time in the world to sample her and coax her passion.There was a new demand in it, and Leila was fiercely glad.
Whatever had happened to cause the change.
When Fergus lifted his head, her heart was pounding and his eyes were shining.She raised her fingertips to the pulse at his throat and he captured her hand, then kissed her palm, never breaking his gaze.“My beautiful wife,” he murmured and Leila’s heart fluttered.“I hear you made a conquest of Farquar the smith this day.”
She smiled at the recollection.“He was most concerned about Nellie, the plow horse, and her injured hoof.I was lucky that my uncle’s solutions worked as well as they did, but of course, I will check upon her on the morrow.”
“You might sleep late on the morrow,” Fergus murmured, his lips tracing a beguiling path over her cheek.Leila nodded, knowing it was a distinct possibility if her husband was amorous.
Fergus lifted the cord with the keys over Leila’s head, brushed his lips across hers, then strode across the chamber to lock the door.She missed the heat of his presence immediately, but the look he cast her from the portal sent new fire through her.
Leila caught her breath, for the solar felt smaller and more intimate, simply because the door was locked.“You should bathe before the water cools,” she said, hearing the tension in her own voice.
“I would bathe with you.”
“I am sure the tub is not large enough.”
“I am sure it is.You are tiny, after all.”Fergus smiled and held her gaze as he shed his boots.He stood them by one brazier.His cloak had been cast over a bench in the hall, and Leila knew she should help him to disrobe.Instead she found herself watching as each increment of flesh was revealed.His leather jerkin was the first to be removed, though it was dark with water as well.He unbuckled his belt and laid it aside, then unwound the length of wet plaid.She made to take it from him, even as she admired his legs, but Fergus waved her off.
“It is too heavy in this wet state,” he said and spread it upon the clean floor.His chemise was cast aside next, and he wrung it out with a grimace before leaving it with the plaid.Leila watched the muscles ripple in his arms and shoulders as he moved, and felt her mouth go dry.His braies were abandoned then and he stood nude before her.His tan was fading, she noted, but he looked no less vital than he had when first she had met him.
And no less alluring, to be sure.
He smiled slowly and took a step closer.“I wanted you to know how I missed you,” he murmured.“And what prospect sustained me on this day.”
“I thought you would bathe to drive the chill away.”
Fergus chuckled.“There is more than one way to do that.”
There was a twinkle lurking in his eyes and she glanced down, blushing a little at the sign of his enthusiasm for their night together.He came to her then, kissing her cheek as he untied the sides of her kirtle with gentle fingers.The garment was quickly discarded and her chemise after it, a little growl of pleasure emitted by Fergus as he locked his hands around her waist and lifted her for his kiss.He held her fast against his chest, teasing and tasting her, keeping her captive to his salute, and Leila flung her arms around his neck, wanting only more.She liked the feel of his chest hair against her breasts and the strength of his grip upon her.She liked the new hunger in his kiss best of all, and the feel of his erection against her belly.
She thought when he took a step that he would go to the bath, but instead, she found herself cast atop the furs on the bed.Fergus laughed at her surprise, then claimed one of her ankles.“You cannot bathe in your stockings,” he chided, casting away her shoe.He bent and untied the garter with his teeth, his eyes gleaming and his breath sending delicious shivers over her thigh.Leila shivered as he slowly smoothed the stocking down with one hand.His palm was warm against her skin and he followed the stocking’s course with a row of kisses.
