"Shhh," she whispered, and she removed the underwear in a way that was somehow both awkward and sensual. She'd never taken charge like this before, and with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Cailean could not think of anything more attractive to him now than giving over the reins for a little while.
Her hand travelled further down, and when it found his manhood, he let out a low grunt and closed his eyes. Her touch felt indescribable, and when her lips pressed against him too, he barely knew how to control himself. She worked and kissed and touched and Cailean's body grew hot and impatient, hurtling toward release, but he would not let it go—not yet.
"Stop," he stuttered out, pulling himself up onto his elbows. "Stop."
Maeve stopped, straightening up. "Did I do somethin' wrong?"
"Wrong?" Cailean almost laughed. "Maeve, nothin' has ever felt soright.But I cannae take another minute without havin' all of ye. Come here."
Maeve didn't need telling twice. She fell into his arms, accepting his blistering kisses and returning with her own, and she didn't object when he flipped her onto her back and hovered atop her.
His hand slid down and pushed up her nightdress, exposing her to the night air, but when his fingers returned down to do their work, she said, "Wait, just…all of ye. Now. Please."
Cailean was a strong man, but not strong enough to resist that. He growled a little in his throat, then positioned himself over her, pressing into her slowly. Maeve gasped under him, writhing at the feel of him, and Cailean almost burst at the seams then and there. She'd already made him sensitive, and the way she felt around him was almost too much. But he would not let go yet. He started to move, and she moved too, slipping into their rhythm with now-practiced ease.
It was as easy as dancing, as easy as sparring, the way their bodies fit together so perfectly. Cailean moved harder, faster, kissing and touching her skin, her face, her breasts, desperate for all of her, and when he felt her go rigid around him and cry out his name, he at last allowed himself to come undone.
Once he was spent, he rolled off gently, laying on his back. He reached for Maeve, who turned into his arms without a word. They didn't speak more, just lay there together in each other's arms.
There was more to say, much more. There were words to exchange and fears to share and hopes to go over. There was a little knife, safe on the chest of drawers, that symbolized the danger that waited before them.
But for now, none of that mattered. For now, there were just the two of them, drifting to sleep, safe in each other's arms. The only place where Cailean would want to be.
The day that the party would leave for the McKenzie clan arrived with an overcast sky, which Maeve did her best not to take as an omen. It was drizzling slightly when Maeve walked out into the courtyard, and she found Breana standing there watching the men prepare the horses, Ferda by her side. Breana's face wore that same troubled expression that Maeve had noticed on the training grounds, and Maeve knew that she'd have to say something before she left.
She approached them, donning a smile on her face, even though she, too, was warring with extremely complex emotions about what they were about to do. Breana turned to see her and smiled, too, and the sisters embraced tightly.
"I cannae believe I just got ye back and ye're goin' away from me intae danger again," Breana told her after they'd separated. "Och, Maeve. How am I tae be here without ye?"
"I'm sad too," Maeve admitted. She hadn't meant to say it, but she found that she could not lie to her sister's face. "I wish… I wish I could stay with ye, Bre, I truly do. But I must go. Ye understand that, aye?"
"I understand perfectly. And I ken it isnae just about Cailean, either, before ye say it," Breana replied. "I ken ye need tae do this because ye love our country, and I admire ye for it more than ye could ken. I just wish that I could… come with ye, maybe. Do somethin' useful. Somethin'. Anythin'."
"Bre… yearebein' useful. Ye're helpin' out here more than ye ken. And I need ye tae be safe." Maeve touched her sister's cheek. "Besides, ye'll need tae keep Ferda company."
Ferda cleared her throat. "I'm goin' too," she said. "Nae with ye all the way, just as far as the next crossin'. I've been chosen tae go and find the Sparrows."
"Ye're goin' as well?" Breana asked, sounding truly miserable.
"But Patty will be here. And Eoin," Ferda told her quickly. "Ye willnae be alone, Breana."
"Nae for a moment," Maeve assured her. "This is our family now, Bre. And as long as we're with them, we're nae ever gonnae be alone. I swear it with all me heart and soul."
Ferda hugged Breana and then moved off, allowing the sisters a little privacy to finalize their goodbyes.
"And ye?" Breana asked. "Will ye be alone? What if somethin' happens? What if…?"
Maeve shook her head. "Somethin' may happen. I willnae lie tae ye and pretend that there's nae chance of danger. But I can promise ye that I'll never be alone, and I'll never be afraid. I will do everythin' it takes, move heaven and earth if I have tae, tae return tae ye. And I'll do me best tae do whatever I can do tae make sure I bring everyone else back with me."
Breana smiled slightly, though there was still sadness in her eyes. "I believe ye," she said. "I believe ye."
Just before they left, it felt like almost everyone in the rebel camp was gathered at the front of the castle to see the party off. Cailean, Darren, Fergus, and Maeve led the group, each of them wearing a look of determination and certainty on their face.Ferda was mounted as well, ready to ride with them for a few miles until it was time to set off on a mission of their own. There was no room for doubt anymore, no room for error—theywouldsucceed because they had no other choice.
Maeve spotted a face in the crowd and turned to Cailean, signalling to let him know that she needed a moment before she was ready to go. Cailean nodded, and Maeve slipped off her horse and hurried forward.
"Eoin," she called, and Eoin came to her immediately, allowing her to pull him to the side out of the earshot of listening rebels.
They stood alone to the side for a moment, then the two friends embraced, quickly but with meaning.
