“I didna squeak,” he grumbled, then tried to speak with some air of command. “Put your clothes back on.”
“Nay.” With far more speed than grace she climbed into bed beside him.
“Ailis!” Alexander finally realized that Ailis was not really after some conversation, and he was a little surprised at how much passion had dulled his wits.
The sight of Alexander’s long lean body taut and beautiful in arousal had Ailis aching for him. She grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him back down onto the bed, then sprawled on top of him. Ailis knew his confusion was what made her aggressiveness such a success, but it was still exciting. She cupped his face in her hands and brushed her mouth over his.
“Ye have been very ill,” he protested in a hoarse voice. “Ye have just borne a child.”
“That child is two months old.”
“The fever only left ye recently.” He wondered why he was arguing so strongly for abstinence.
“Recently? ‘Twas over a month ago. I am hale and hearty. Prepare yourself, Alexander MacDubh,” she said in a voice that was rapidly growing thicker as she rubbed her body over his.
“Prepare? For what?” he asked in some confusion as, just as he finally reached for her, she pinned his wrists over his head with one small hand. He could easily break the hold, but he made no effort to do so, patiently awaiting her reply and very curious as to what she intended to do to him.
Ailis’s voice held a seductive mixture of passion and laughter. “Because ye are about to become the first man in all of Scotland to be forcibly taken by a desperate woman.”
The laughter that her playful remark stirred inside of him faded along with hers as Ailis eased their bodies together. Her aggressive game and his stubborn opinion that abstinence should be maintained a while longer shattered together. He was not sure who grasped the lead in the resultant fierce lovemaking, shifting as it did from one to the other until ecstasy’s release gripped them both, and he did not care. He held on tight and let the pleasure they shared sweep over him. It was a long time after their shared release that he was able to move or to think very clearly.
“I do feel a bit ravished,” he murmured when they finally stirred enough so that he could pull the sheet over their sated bodies.
“Only a bit?” Ailis snuggled closer to Alexander, rubbing her cheek against the hard warmth of his chest.
“Aye. Ye will have to try much harder next time,” he drawled, laughter invading his voice.
“Well, I fear there is a price for such ravishment, and ‘tis one ye may not be wishing to pay.”
“Oh? And what is that price?” He slowly combed his fingers through her unbound hair, savoring its thick silkiness.
“Three or more months without me in your bed.”
“It takes that long for ye to feel the hunger?”
“Nay. It takes that long for me to become so deranged with it that I grow this bold.” She laughed with him.
“I was becoming a bit deranged myself,” he murmured.
“To speak truly, I did think that ye were acting a wee bit strange . . .”
“Did ye, now.”
“Aye, I did. I canna think that ye have often told a naked woman to put her clothes back on.”
When Alexander finished chuckling, he turned so that he and Ailis were on their sides face to face. “Not that I can recall. I have certainly not thought on telling ye that since the very first time I set eyes on ye. Ebony and gold,” he murmured. “Soft night and warm sunrise.”
“Ye make the curse of my looks sound like a blessing.” Ailis flushed slightly with pleasure over his soft flattery.
“Sweet wee Ailis, your looks arena a curse. Ye have paid far too much heed to the talk of fools. I wouldna put my name on a whore. Nay, nor an ugly woman if I could avoid it. ‘Tisna ugliness that continues to set my blood afire each time I look at ye.” He gently kissed her. “Spanish women can be most alluring,” he said, smiling faintly as he saw the breathlessness his kiss had left her with. “Aye, and Scottish lasses can be very fair. Ye have the best of both breeds. How ye do blush when ye are flattered, lass.” He caressed the high color in her cheeks with his fingertips.
“I am unused to it, ‘tis all.”
“Aye, I canna see ye hearing many kind words from the MacFarlanes or the MacCordys. ‘Tis to my shame that I havena given ye much of pretty words and compliments. I used to be very skilled at such things.” He lightly brushed a few stray wisps of hair from her face.
“I dinna need pretty words,” she mumbled.
“What do ye need, sweeting?”
