“Ye can turn around now. I will take my bath.”
Cailean grinned at her and sat on a chair with his back to her. Elayne undressed and stepped into the tub of delightfully warm water. She moaned in pleasure. “Oh, Cailean. I canna tell ye how wonderful my bath is. It is the first proper bath I have had since I left home. I washed in my room with a small basin of water and a cloth. It was difficult to wash and dry my hair. This bath feels so good. I could stay in here for hours.”
She sighed in pleasure, igniting Cailean’s arousal. He could imagine how her skin glowed in the bath, pink and rosy, which made him even harder.
“Thank ye for drawing the water from the well so I can bathe. Ye canna imagine how I dreamed of bathing in the loch or at home in front of the hearth.”
“It is my pleasure to care for ye, Elayne. I’m glad ye are enjoying yer bath.” He heard the water splashing and snuck a glance at her, still seated in the tub and washing her hair. Then he heard more water pouring into the tub and imagined the water running over her generous breasts, her curvaceous hips, and plump round arse. Hard with desire for her, he almost groaned aloud, but with great restraint, remained silent. Elayne dried off and quickly dressed. She dried her hair with the plaid and put on clean stockings with her boots.
“Ye can turn around now. I am finished.” Elayne combed her hair and sat by the fire. As she leaned over the tub, she washed clothes, rinsed, and wrung them out well. She laid them over the heavy screen by the fire to dry.
Cailean stood, after a few moments and adjusted himself, then walked to Elayne. “Is there anything ye need? Do ye need more water for cooking or washing? I want ye to bar the door and nae leave while I’m gone. The storm was fierce earlier, and I expect it will remain so.”
“If ye wish to get more water from the well now, I can heat it so ye can bathe when ye return from hunting and chopping wood.” Cailean did her bidding, hoping to lure her to wash his hair and back. He returned with another armload of wood and stacked it by the fire. Cailean carried two buckets out to the well to draw the water. Inside the bothy, he poured it into the caldron to be heated.
“I will leave to hunt on foot.” Before he ventured into the driving rain, Cailean hugged and kissed her. With his cloak clasped securely around him, he had ready access to his sword.Before he left, he heard the bar drop. Satisfied with Elayne’s safety, he walked swiftly and stealthily with his arrow partially drawn, hoping to see a rabbit or pheasant. The pewter skies never let up and continued their drenching rains. Although miserable in the rain, he did not mind as much since Elayne was with him. He could enjoy her close company and have her all to himself.
Stealthily, he crept to the river and stood under a tree, waiting. His patience paid off. He shot two rabbits, cleaned and dressed them, and then cleaned the pelts. Cailean returned to the bothy and whistled outside the door in a tune Elayne would recognize. She opened the door to him. Cailean removed his cloak and washed his hands after handing the rabbits to Elayne to cook.
She added it to a new pot of vegetables and water so they would have hot rabbit stew for dinner. Cailean hung the rabbit skins by the fire to dry. Elayne served him tea and oatcakes for a quick lunch with a bowl of fresh vegetable soup. Cailean appreciated Elayne’s loving care. Used to fending for himself, it was an added pleasure that Elayne cooked and tended to him. He finished the soup and oatcakes.
“Thank ye, Elayne, for the meal. It hit the spot. I am going out to chop wood nearby. I will bring it inside to dry out by the hearth. We have more wood in the stable. But I would like to leave a sufficient quantity for others who seek shelter. Please let me ken later what other things we should add to the bothy. I’d like make it better for other travelers.” He kissed her again before going deeper into the forest.
Cailean gathered dry fallen branches under tightly woven treetops and, when he had an armload, tied it into his plaid. He chopped low-hanging dry branches, carried an armload, andreturned to the bothy. The rabbit stew smelled good, and he saw Elayne had washed his clothes and strung a rope in front of the fire for his clothes to dry upon. Resourceful lass. He laid the dry wood next to the hearth. Elayne gave him another cup of hot tea and offered him another oatcake and dried meat, which he devoured. Chopping wood was laborious work and took a lot of energy. The larger and thicker the branch, the more energy it consumed.
“I will return with more wood. Yer stew smells delicious.” He kissed her and gave her a lusty smile. His eyes twinkled as he said, “I’ll be back to take my bath. I’ll drain the tub now.” He dipped buckets into the tub and filled them with the water Elayne had used for bathing and washing clothes, dumping them outside behind the bothy. Cailean made a second trip and then emptied the tub outside. He returned with the tub and set it by the fire.
Cailean closed the door and the bar fell. He ran to the same spot he had chopped wood before, but ventured farther among the pines to find branches to be chopped. As he loaded his plaid and tied it to his belt, he carried another large armload back to the bothy. He remained alert as he walked, his warrior training second nature.
Elayne opened the door and welcomed him with a smile that warmed him up. Quickly, he set down his load and untied his plaid, and released the wood to the stone floor. Cailean checked the wood, and it was dry enough to be stacked.
He barred the door and shrugged out of his wet cloak, socks, and shoes. After he removed his belt and weapons, he saw Elayne had poured steaming hot water into the tub for him and had a bar of soap and a plaid for him to dry with nearby. A pitcher of warm water stood on the floor ready to rinse with.
“Lass, now it is yer turn to turn yer back, unless ye’d like to watch me bathe,” he teased, and noticed her deep blush. “Would ye mind washing my back and hair for me?” he entreated her.
“I’ll be happy to, Cailean. Check if the temperature is right for ye. Ye may not want the water as hot as I have it for ye.” He checked the temperature and added part of the bucket of cool water. Elayne turned around before he divested himself of his liene and sat in the large tub.
“Aye, I think ye were trying to cook me in such hot water. Did ye wish to feast on me? I’m in the tub, Elayne. Ye can wash my back and hair anytime ye like.” Elayne shyly approached from behind him, took a cloth and the bar of soap, and knelt behind him to wash his broad back and massive shoulders and arms. She enjoyed touching him and feeling the soapy water caress his skin as she ran the cloth and her hands over his sculpted muscles. Cailean leaned over his knees to give her better access to his back and closed his eyes. Her hands caressing his skin excited him further. He enjoyed the pleasure of her touch and wished it would never end, but in the meantime, he had to contend with a raging erection.
Elayne poured water over his hair, soaped it, and then scrubbed and massaged his scalp before rinsing away the soap and leaving his hair squeaky clean. Elayne was sorely tempted to wash his chest but bit her bottom lip to refrain from the further temptations of his taut and toned warm body.
“Thank ye, Elayne. Yer washing me felt divine. I will rinse and dry off now. Ye can turn around.” She did, and he dried off and dressed. Elayne took the remaining clothes from the rope she had strung and folded them on top of the bed. She stirred the rabbit stew and made oatcakes. When it was time to eat, she placed a bowl of stew and a cup of tea on the table for Cailean,with hot oatcakes in a cloth, and then served herself before sitting down beside him.
“This was a productive day,” Elayne commented. “It is a different satisfaction than working at the forge. By the way, I looked around, and I think the bothy could use a garden for growing more root vegetables besides what is kept in the cellar. More dishes and an extra blanket would be helpful. I think we should leave my lantern here for others to use with the candle and flint. Extra candles, cloths, and soap would be welcome additions too.”
“Aye. I will instruct the steward to assign these tasks along with bringing a wagon of hay and oats for the horses. They can add to the wood piles while they are here.” Cailean ate another couple of bowls of the rabbit stew, praising her cooking and seasoning.
“Ye look sleepy, Elayne. Get into bed and I will clean the dishes.” Elayne yawned, feeling content after her wondrous bath and a hot meal. She relaxed, knowing she was safe and cared for by Cailean. Over the last six months, she had to be constantly on guard and consistently tense lest anyone discover her secret. Finally, with Cailean here, she could release her pent-up tension and be herself.
She sleepily kissed him good night, crawled under the plaid, and fell instantly asleep. When he was done cleaning up, Cailean lay next to her and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, her head on his chest as he tried to forget about his demanding arousal. What was he to do about Elayne? Her nearness nearly drove him insane with need for her.
He longed to caress her and introduce her to love making. How soon could they be married? Would his family forgo an enormous feast and allow them a simple wedding? Caileanintended to ask Elayne what she would like for their wedding and agree to her wishes as best he could. Finally, amid the turmoil of his thoughts, he fell deeply asleep.
The next morning, the weather remained the same, with torrential rains and wind that pelted and alternately lashed at the trees. Beside the fire, they conversed about their wedding plans.
“I want to have a wedding for ye and our families Elayne. I want the clan to ken ye as my wife.”
“I trust ye and yer family to do what ye think is best for yer clan and future alliances with other clans.”
