And, she thought as his movements led him to a place inside her that made her entire body tighten with pleasure, someone who could take her out of her head and bring her into herself, just tofeeland tobe.
Ewan’s movements grew a touch less coordinated, a little more erratic, and Ailsa realized, with a jolt of surprise, that she was about to find her pleasure again.
And then, scarce moments after this recognition, she did, her detonation coming only moments before Ewan’s guttural cry of pleasure, the sound buried into the curve of her shoulder.
He all but collapsed atop her, his weight pinning her deliciously to the mattress. On impulse, she brought one shaky hand up to stroke through his hair, though she’d only combed her fingers through the locks twice before she realized this might be too tender, too revealing.
She had promised herself that she would dedicate herself to this marriage, and she had meant that. But she couldn’t give him everything.
That would leave her nothing of herself. She’d go mad that way.
So she let her hands fall to her side as Ewan caught his breath, then gently withdrew from her body and tipped his weight to the side so he wasn’t crushing her. They didn’t speak, but then again, there really wasn’t anything to say.
Ailsa just closed her eyes and let Ewan tuck her securely into his side. She let herself enjoy the languor in her body and the heat of his skin against hers as he pulled a blanket over them.
All her worries would wait for tomorrow. Right now, she was safe in Ewan’s arms, where nothing else could touch her except the inexorable pull of sleep.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ailsa rose from slumber gradually,the warm pull of the covers threatening to drag her back under. With a murmur, she snuggled more firmly into the mattress, curling into a tight ball. Her knees pulled up to her stomach and…
Where was her nightdress?
“Are ye awake then, lass?” a quiet voice asked, lined with humor, and Ailsa’s eyes popped open, sleep forgotten.
Ewan. That was Ewan. Herhusband,Ewan, whom she’d gone to bed with the night prior—in all ways.
She felt twinges from the places in her body that were unaccustomed to being used as she had used them the night before, the memory making her blush as she scrambled to sit upright and pull the sheet over her breasts. She clutched the cover to her and looked up into her husband’s crooked grin.
“Good mornin’, lass,” he said. He was dressed, not in the grand plaid he’d worn the day prior, but in a simple shirt and trousers. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed that he was not as naked as she.
She cleared her throat. “Good morning,” she said. “Did ye… Did ye sleep well?”
Oh, Christ, this was uncomfortable. Or, at least,shewas uncomfortable. Ewan looked properly pleased with himself.
“Like a babe,” he confirmed. “I’ve business down at the distillery this mornin’, but it shouldnae take me long. I’ll be back before midday, aye?”
“Oh,” she said, trying not to show that it pleased her to be informed of his plans. She shouldn’texpectsuch a thing, of course. The night prior had been nice, extremely nice. Rather far beyond what she’d thought lovemaking could be. But that didn’t change the core of matters between them.
He was already giving her so much. She did not intend to ask for more than he was willing to give. She had her pride.
Apparently something about even her mild response amused her husband, for he gave her another chuckle, then bent, wrapped a hand in her hopelessly mussed hair, and pressed a firm, swift kiss to her mouth. It was over before she could properly appreciate it, before she could move beyond her astonishment that this was something he could justdonow.
“If ye need more rest, take it,” he advised. “There’s no shame in sayin’ that I wore ye out.”
He was gone before this meaning settled in, and lucky for him that her mind was working so slowly this morning, or else she would have pelted him with a pillow.
She did consider his words, but she was too awake after that brief, bemusing encounter to ever hope to return to sleeping.
She had sleptnaked!The whole night! WIth a man!
With a sigh and a blush, she stood from the bed and rummaged through the wardrobe, where another borrowed dress awaited her. She really needed to start thinking about how to acquire a proper wardrobe, particularly if she was now, officially, the future Lady of the Keep.
That thought made her pause as she laced up her stays. It really was an awful lot to get used to. Fled from her home,betrothed, married, and future lady of Clan Buchanan. And all in so little time.
No wonder she still felt, in many ways, weary down to her bones.
Or perhaps that was from… other exertions.
