“Aye, and I think ye will look beautiful in the sun’s light.”
“Ye cannae mean to do it here?”
“Ye do favor saying that, sweeting. Aye, and I do favor showing ye that we can.”
He halted her other protests with kisses. When Aimil grasped at sanity long enough to recall that they were outside beneath a very bright sun, she was already naked. Parlan crouched over her, staring at her with eyes black with passion, and quickly shed his own clothes. Despite the fact that she ached for him, she felt the heat of modesty stain her cheeks.
“I was right, dearling.” Once free of his clothes, he eased himself on top of her. “Ye do look fine lying naked in the sun.”
“’Tis a scandal,” she whispered, and arched toward him when his mouth found her breast.
“Och, lass, it does a body good to have a touch of scandal in his life.”
It was beyond her to argue with that outrageous opinion. She was too consumed by the desire he awakened in her to form a coherent sentence. All thought and concern about where she was faded as the passion they shared became her world. Shock briefly broke her free of desire’s grip when his mouth moved that small distance from her inner thigh to touch the silken curls adorning her womanhood. Her embarrassed protest was short-lived as his hoarse love words and kisses drove her beyond thought.
He ignored her cries for him when she neared her crest. She had barely recovered from her intense release when he employed all his skill to renew her desire. Although he wanted to enjoy the way she was so wild and free when caught in passion’s grip, he finally had to answer his own need. He entered her, his passion too strong to control, but she met his fierceness equally and tirelessly. When he felt her inner tremors begin, he thrust more deeply and cried out as his own release tore through him. Collapsing upon her and holding her close, he savored the way her trembling body greedily accepted his seed.
Aimil lay very still, listening to the man sprawled half-atop her breathe. She was certain they had both fallen asleep after their wild lovemaking but was not certain as to how long they might have slept. Looking at the sun would give her some idea of time but that meant she would have to open her eyes and she did not really want to face the man she sensed was awake and watching her. With wakefulness had come the recollection of their unrestrained lovemaking in the bright sunlight, and she was feeling somewhat embarrassed. Knowing she was still naked did not help ease it.
Parlan smiled as he saw her eyelids flicker. He suspected that her reluctance to let him know that she was awake was due to embarrassment. It was growing late, however, and he could not allow her the luxury of hiding for much longer. There was another reason he hesitated and that was because he thought her glorious lying beneath the sun, none of her beauty hidden from his sight. Once he forced her to move, she would quickly put her clothes back on.
“Aimil,” he finally called softly, “I ken ye are awake.”
“Nay, I am fast asleep.”
“Keeping your eyes shut doesnae change the fact that I can see all your charms.”
She wondered if she could hit him if she swung toward the sound of his voice then decided that it was not worth the effort for he would undoubtedly block her blow with ease. “Aye, but I cannae see ye seeing it.”
“How sensible of ye.” He easily caught her by the wrist when she blindly swung one small fist at him then tugged her into his arms. “Are ye embarrassed, loving?”
“Nay, why should I be embarrassed?” She wondered if he knew how stupid a question that was. “I am only rolling about outside with my arse bared to the sun like some hedgerow whore. Why should I find that embarrassing?”
“Weel, if I now tossed ye a wee coin, patted that lovely arse, and strolled off, then ye might have a right to feel like some hedgerow whore but ye have naught to fash yourself about. Unless, of course, ye think ’tis true that the sun can burn tender skin.” He laughed when she suddenly covered her backside with her hands.
“Ye are a wretched, wretched man, Parlan MacGuin,” she grumbled as she pushed free of his arms and began to dress quickly. “Ye have no care for a lass’s sensibilities. Just because ye are accustomed to rolling about here, there, and God kens where.”
“Actually,” he interrupted even as he dressed with a little more leisure, “while I cannae say for certain that I have never been with a lass out in the air, I cannae recall having such a sweet time of it or planning it so carefully.”
“Ye planned to seduce me out here where all can see?”
“Weel, I didnae notice many folk hereabouts but, aye, I did.” When she finished dressing, he reached out to grasp her by the hand. “Lass, dinnae taint a free and beautiful moment with regrets and worries. Ye found pleasure. Where is the harm?”
“Ye dinnae understand. ’Tisnae where we did it but, weel, the way we carried on.” She sighed as words failed her.
“Ah.” He kissed her palm. “Look at me, Aimil. Come, look at me, for I want to be sure ye listen to me.”
Although she blushed, she finally met his gaze. “I ken ye dinnae treat me like a whore, but I cannae help but feel that I act one at times.”
“Nay, dearling, ye never do. Wheesht, lass, ye enjoy it and ’tis a rare whore who does. She seeks coin not pleasure, and she doesnae often get to choose her man but must lie down with the one who has the coin. Neither do ye lie down for any man like Catarine does, to feed vanity or a hunger that must have many men and often to be satisfied. Nor do ye do it to make gain in some manner, again like Catarine who is always plotting to catch a rich husband between her greedy thighs. Those are the things that make a woman a whore.
“As far as how we have acted here, t’was but our giving into our passion which runs hot and fine, and, only for each other. Neither am I given to strange ways or fancies. If I enjoy it and ye enjoy it, who can say ’tis wrong?”
“None really if t’was even their business to do so.” She smiled crookedly. “’Tis just all so new.”
“Weel, I hope it always will be in some ways.” He smiled when she looked confused, then he sat up straighter. “Now, there is one other thing we must talk on.” He hesitated, frowning at his hand which lay palm down upon the ground.
“Parlan?”
