“Do ye nae wish ye had joined them?”
“Nae, I do not. I am right where I wish to be, next to my lovely wife. There will be ample opportunities to go hunting later. Tomorrow, they will visit the barley fields and farms so they can discuss possible expansion of crops and livestock for yer clan. One day we may jointly grow grains to produce combined whiskey for our clans.”
“Aye, that would be wonderful. But I ken it will take a lot of hard work and time to produce.”
“Nae time like the present. When they return, they will undertake it with a gift of barley from our clan to yers.”
Elayne’s eyes widened in surprise. “That is great! Hopefully we will harvest grain in the fall.”
“I have gifted them with young goats and sheep that they will place on several farms with families who are struggling.”
“Elayne clapped her hands with happiness. Jumping out of her chair, she threw her arms around her husband and kissed him. “Thank ye, husband. Ye are kind, thoughtful, and wise.” Cailean grinned at his wife and kissed her back fervently, lunch forgotten as he picked her up in his arms and laid her on the bed.
He untied the belt on her robe and exposed her blushing skin to his gaze. He locked and barred the door again and slipped off his robe, his hard erection jutting proudly as he crawled up and over Elayne. He settled between her legs, resting over her on his forearms as he kissed her lips and then the rest of her body, tugging her out of the robe completely.
Cailean made love to his wife that afternoon and night several times, introducing her to the delights of pleasure and passion. With the merest of touches, his very heat aroused her, and she desired him passionately. Cailean was insatiable for his wife, and Elayne matched his ardor.
They awakened early the next morning and Cailean ordered breakfast for them. After breakfast, they lingered at the table, drinking tea and discussing their plans.
“I will give ye coins and ye can purchase fabrics at the summer fair to design yer castle. Ye can purchase anything else ye’d like to take with us to Ballindalloch Castle. Today, if ye are nae too sore or tired, we can ride to the loch and enjoy a picnic lunch, if ye like. I ken it has been a very long time since ye have been there.”
“Thank ye, Cailean. Aye, I would love to ride there today if we can. I missed ye most of all, and I missed being at the loch with ye.”
“Tomorrow we can meet with the elders of yer clan before they journey home. Ye can gift them with lanterns and other things to take back to yer clan. I’m sorry I dinnae have more time when I visited them to take stock of the status of their storerooms, linens, and other things ye will be concerned with initially. We will travel with a large wagon and my warriors to safeguard all on our journey. Ye can invite yer parents and Thomas to come visit us whenever ye like. They will miss ye and ye will miss them when we leave.”
“Thank ye. Did ye mean that I can return to work in the forge tomorrow after meeting with our clan elders?”
“Aye, for a few hours. Ye will want to question the elders about the stores and status of specific items. We can break our fast, meet with them, and then walk to the forge and ye can work for the rest of the afternoon until ye need to prepare for dinner.”
Elayne kissed her husband on his lips, wrapped her arms around his neck, and stroked his raven hair.
“Lass, if ye continue, we will not have time to go to the loch. I am happy to entertain ye in my chambers, should ye rather remain here,” he chuckled.
“I love yer kisses, Cailean and would enjoy staying with ye here, but I would like to ride to the loch if it pleases ye.”
Cailean helped his wife dress in a gown suitable for riding. They walked to the kitchens to see Bessie, who packed a picnic with mead for them. Cailean, with a sword strapped to a leather sheath at his back, took their lunch in a sack to the stables. The grooms quickly saddled two horses.
Cailean and Elayne rode to the loch on a beautiful spring morning with clear skies and the birds chirping in the branches of the tall pines. Wild flowers, including many shades of bluebells, flame azaleas, and fragrant purple heather, abounded in the meadows and over the hills. There were still a few primroses that peeked out from shaded areas. The sight captured her breath.
“Cailean, before we leave, do ye think we can dig up these flowers to take with us to plant in the gardens? Then we could keep a piece of this place and yer home with us.”
Cailean dismounted and tethered the horses so they could graze. He lifted his wife out of the saddle, and she slid down the front length of him and gasped in pleasure at their closeness. Cailean’s eyes grew smoky with desire. Elayne could tell her husband had ulterior motives in mind for her. Shyly, she smiled at him until his lips grazed hers.
Holding Elayne in his arms, he said, “Aye, we can dig up plants and flowers to bring with ye and settle them in the wagon. Although I was born here and I love my family and clan, I wantye to ken my home is with ye and yer clan. Now we are married and ye will become laird. Yer clan is now mine, just as ye are.”
Cailean cupped her face in his hands and kissed her passionately. Releasing her, he carried their plaids and picnic and walked to a secluded area with a view of the loch. Eagerly, he scooped up his wife in his arms and laid her on the plaid, where, between kisses, he undressed her until naked beneath him. Feverishly he kissed his wife, making ardent love to her on the hills of the loch, as he had fantasized over the years. Cailean’s fantasies dinnae compare to the reality of feasting on his wife.
Afterward, he helped her to dress, and he dressed in his kilt, leaving his chest bare. He served their picnic lunch, and afterward, they lay down next to each other. Elayne propped herself on one elbow and tentatively caressed her husband’s broad chest with his soft hair. Cailean picked up her hand and kissed her palm, sending waves of heat deep inside her.
Sensuously, Elayne stroked his sculpted, muscled arms, marveling at the heat and texture of his skin. Slowly, she traced the hair on his chest, down his abdomen to his waist that led to a V and disappeared under his kilt. She heard his gasp of pleasure as she softly stroked his skin.
To Elayne’s surprise, Cailean placed her underneath him and kissed her, hoisting her skirts as he slid his feverish hands over the insides of her thighs to her curls, where he caressed and inflamed her desires. He lifted her legs high over his shoulders so he could thrust deeper into her. Cailean lifted her arse close to him as he knelt between her legs and thrust inside her.
In moments, she moaned in pleasure as she arched her hips to meet his fervent and powerful thrusts. She screamed his name as her release exploded like a thousand stars in the sky and his release burst as his seed pulsed hot and deep inside her.
In the aftermath, they panted for breath. Cailean sweated from his exertion. Sated and replete in her husband’s arms, Elayne fell asleep. They awakened late in the afternoon. The sun had blazed a scorching, fiery trail of light and colors across the sky in gold, amethyst, vermillion, and sapphire as it set in the west. Cailean and Elayne beheld the splendor reflected in the loch's water, nestled in each other’s arms.
“I have never seen a more glorious sunset. Thank ye for bringing me here to the loch today. I shall always treasure the memory of this day with ye.”
