No one argued and they made their way to Laurel’s house only to find that Lorraine and Bethoc had left. Hearing that Bethoc had talked of stopping at her house, Callum rode there. He suspected Walter would be visiting Lorraine when Sir Simon and Uven headed back to the cave. The thought that all he had to do was send Robbie off and he might have some time alone with Bethoc caused Callum to nudge his horse into a faster pace.
* * *
“I could have done that,” Robbie said from his seat at the table.
“Kerr was my father in the only way he kenned how, and this needed cleaning up. I dinnae think the lads should see it.” Bethoc scrubbed the last of the blood off the floor, tossed the scrubbing brush into the bucket, and set back on her heels. “Why would any person do such things to another person?”
“They wanted him to tell them something. Pain and fear loosen the tongue,” Robbie replied, and drank some ale.
“So poke at him a wee bit, threaten to cut his belly and pluck his innards out one by one, or mayhap cut off another bit he was so proud of.” She glared at Robbie when she saw he was grinning.
“Bloodthirsty wee wench,” he said. “What they did meant less blood, but plenty of pain and fear. I suspicion they wanted him to tell them where Cathan was and when they didnae get what they wanted they turned ye o’er to the sheriff who was more than willing to add ye to their game.”
Bethoc shook her head as she stood up and stretched. “Six men dead, mostly innocent men, and three innocent women hanged. Laurel and Lorraine’s husbands were nay good men, but they are dead and didnae really deserve that. The same with Kerr, although he did redeem himself in the end. All dead and they would have hanged us, too. For what? These places are nay worth that much.”
“All together, with mayhap a few more added to the lot, aye, they are.”
“Mayhap, but I still dinnae understand how anyone could do such a thing.”
Robbie had no answer, and she took the bucket of bloody water into the back garden and tossed it under the bushes. To make certain no stain remained, she got a fresh bucket of water from the well, washed her hands clean in it, and then tossed that under the bushes. Pleased that the boys would not have to confront Kerr’s blood when they came home, she walked back inside only to discover Callum sitting where Robbie had been. A quick glance around revealed no sight of Robbie.
She looked at Callum and he was grinning, a definite glint in his eyes. Bethoc managed to subdue a blush but her heart picked up its pace. He smelled of cinnamon and she knew what that meant. A part of her was not sure it was wise to give him what he so clearly wanted yet a bigger part of her was very eager to do so.
Callum stood up and slowly walked over to her. “We are actually alone. No boys, no little girls, no sheriff and his men, no ladies. Wonder what we should do with this precious time?” He reached out and pulled her into his arms.
“I believe I ken what ye think we should do,” she said, making no effort to break free.
He kissed her. It was a slow, seductive kiss and Bethoc swiftly gave in to the power of it. She curled her arms around his neck, bringing her body up hard against his. He lifted his head enough to kiss her neck then nip at the lobe of her ear and she shivered with pleasure.
“Where is your bed?” he asked, his voice soft, deep, and husky, caressing her.
Bethoc pointed toward her small bed. He kissed her as he walked her backward toward it. His kiss was still seductive yet there was an increasing ferocity to it. Something inside of Bethoc rose up to meet that ferocity and she reveled in it.
When the back of her legs hit the edge of her bed, she gave a little squeak of surprise. Callum chuckled softly, lifted her up into his arms, and set her down on the bed. Even if she had felt inclined to say anything there was no time to do so before he joined her on the bed.
“Your leg,” she said as he took off his shirt.
“Is fine.” He began to undo her gown. “Has been fine for a while now. Thinking it is healed.”
“I could check the bone for ye.”
“Later.” He looked at her breasts, the tips hard and beckoning to him. “Much later.”
Bethoc cried out softly when he began to kiss and lick her breasts. She threaded her fingers into his hair and held him close. The feel of his warm lips against her skin clouded her thoughts and heated her blood. She smoothed her hands over his broad back, delighting in the warmth of his skin, the taut muscles beneath her hands. Even the weight of him sprawled in her arms was welcome.
He slowly kissed his way up to her mouth. Bethoc ran her hands over his back, down as far as she could reach, as she luxuriated in the power of his kisses. No one had spoken of love, even hinted at marriage, so she knew she was doing something everyone would consider wrong. Bethoc realized she just did not care. Some things were worth becoming a social outcast for.
Callum stripped her of her clothes so skillfully she was barely aware of it until she realized they were skin to skin. For just a moment she was intensely aware of the fact that she was utterly naked in front of a man, she who had not been naked in front of anyone since she was a tiny infant. Before that realization could dampen the passion she felt, Callum’s hand slid over her belly and between her legs.
She tensed, shying away from such intimacy, but then he kissed her. His kisses soothed her even as they roused her dimming desire, pushing it back to full life. Cautiously, yet with a strong hint of greed, she opened herself to his stroking fingers and shuddered with the pleasure he gave her.
When he moved his mouth to her breasts, she wove her fingers into his thick hair to hold him there. Her body was on fire. Even though they had only made love to each other once, she knew she was going to have to have him inside her soon. She moved her hands down his back and stroked his backside. He groaned and she ran her fingernails over his hips. Then he was there, where she needed him. The hard ridge of his manhood rubbed against her and she felt the aching need in her grow greedy.
“Callum,” she whispered and he brushed his lips over hers.
A moment later he thrust home and she cried out softly in welcome. He kissed her as he moved slowly. Bethoc reveled in the slow tightening in her belly as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She had the wild thought that she could do this for hours but then the demands of her body began to grow fierce. Callum moved faster as he kissed her throat. Her legs tightened around him and then the tension broke, pleasure sweeping over her. She held on tight as he slammed into her several times before joining her, calling her name as he spilled himself inside of her.
As Bethoc’s breathing slowed, she idly ran her hand up and down his back. A soft protest escaped her when he separated them. He nuzzled her breast and then rolled onto his back, pulling her into his arms. Bethoc settled her cheek on his chest and closed her eyes, enjoying the lazy aftermath.
