Chapter Twenty-Two
Aidam was relieved that no one challenged them on their way out of the castle keep. The stables were also clear. It was easy for them to leave. Almost too easy. He kept his guard up for the ride to the cottage, but no one appeared to be following them.
Once they were inside and all their provisions for their journey packed, Aidam was finally able to take notice of Ellie’s mood. It was sour, and it wasn’t because she was worried, like him, that their plan wasn’t going to work. No, something else was bothering her.
“Lass, what’s on yer mind?” he asked, taking her hand into his own.
“I received a letter from my mother this morning,” she said. Aidam pulled back.
“Is Evander ill?”
“Nay, no, nothing like that. She was imploring me to be more agreeable. Word had already reached her of how Sinclair was treating me, and she, as is her usual selfish reaction, was blaming me. She is so terrified I will reveal her secret that she would take the side of a man who is indifferent to me at best and cruel at worst. Why? She is my mother.”
Tears began to flow, and Aidam saw the weight of her journey had finally begun to break Ellie. “Hush now, lass. ‘Tis all well. I will nay let anything bad come to ye.” It was the last thing he would allow to happen. Her mother was cruel to think that marrying her off was a solution to her own affairs. And his uncle played the role of bastard betrothed to a tee. “We’re away from all of that now. We’ll soon be on our way to a better life.”
“Aye,” she said, pulling back and wiping the tears from her eyes. “Yer right, I’ve shed enough tears for that woman. I’ll never understand how she could be so cruel to her husband and now to her only daughter. There is no use crying over it.”
“Ellie, yer the strongest, bravest women I ken.” He meant it. He had watched her grow from a scrawny tomboy into a beautiful lady. But besides that, she was powerful. She was strong, and he had never known another lass like her.
“Aidam, I would not be as strong without ye by my side.”
He leaned down and claimed her lips. She tasted sweet, with a hint of the saltiness of her few remaining tears. Aidam pulled her closer. Were he able to wash all her pain away with a kiss, he would do so or die trying.
She moaned and leaned into his, and he felt his desire stir. He deepened the kiss, but this time Ellie surprised him by claiming him with her tongue. She probed and tasted, exploring his mouth, and he matched her stroke for stroke. What started as a tender kiss of reassurance quickly blossomed into a passionate match of wills. He did not know where his mouth ended, and Ellie’s began, nor did he wish to find out. Her passion was igniting a fire within him that he cared not to extinguish.
Lifting her into his arms, he did not break their kiss as he carried her into the bed chamber and set her gently down, only lifting himself away to shed his coat and join her on the soft feather-down mattress.
She hurriedly divested herself of her own coat and grabbed him, pulling him closer to her.
“Aidam, will ye make me yers?” she asked as he nibbled at her jawline before using his tongue to trace the outline of her delicate ear lobe. She sucked in a deep breath and let out a low moan. He found another part of her that he could exploit for pleasure, and it drove him wild. He whispered in her ear.
“Yer already mine, lass.”
“Make me feel it,” she replied, grabbing his buttocks and pressing him against her. His cock stiffened, and he pushed himself down onto her, the fabric between them the only barrier between their bodies. She writhed and bucked, and he thrust into her, giving her a small taste of what was to come.
“Let me undress ye, lass. I want to feel all of ye.”
“Aye,” she moaned, still thrusting up into him. Whatever sadness she had felt melted away with each touch, each kiss. He dipped his head and tugged at her blouse with his teeth as he used one free hand to undo her buttons, the other busy lifting her skirts. His hand running up the length of her warm, fit thigh, Aidam thought to lose what little self-control he had left.
She was a woman in every sense of the word, and thoughts of claiming her ran wild in his head. She was his, every inch of her, and before they left this cottage, she would know it, he thought.
Finally, divested of their clothing, he pressed his body against hers again. He caressed her stomach, slowly moving his hands down to that one spot he craved. He had tasted her last night, but unlike most of his cravings, his small taste of her only made Aidam want her more. His fingers found the opening they sought, and he could feel the dampness of her desire, and he caressed her opening. He plunged a finger inside, and she called out in pleasure. Swirling and fondling, he used a second finger; he wanted her pleased and ready for when he took her. Her body enveloped his hand, and she began to buck and ride him. She was a quick learner, and Aidam liked that she was learning her pleasure so well.
“Och lass, yer already wet for me,” he moaned, pulling his hand up and licking a finger. “I taste yer sweetness, and like a bee for his queen, I want to claim yer honey.”
He wanted to relish this moment. The look on her face, the sweat beginning to bead at the base of her neck. All caused by her desire for him, and only him. This is what he had always wanted, even before he realized what he wanted—her complete surrender.
He dipped his head down and took one taught, pink nipple in his mouth. He swirled his tongue around her breast and gave the small bud a light nip with his teeth. Ellie responded by running her hands down his chest and grabbing him by his member. She stroked and cooed.
“Aidam, please, I need ye. I need to feel ye inside me.” She begged for him to release her. He began to unravel. Her touch was like velvet; her sounds like heaven. How could he refuse her anything?
“Lass, I’ve heard it can hurt the first time,” he said. He was throbbing with need of her, but he did not want to cause her any undue pain. Nor did he want her to regret being with him.
“Aye, I’ve heard as well, but I ken ye won’t hurt me on purpose, and it cannae hurt more than the ache I feel for ye now,” she said.
“Lass, I need ye, but if ye want me to stop…”
“Aidam Sinclair, please make love to me.” She was as clear as her need, and Aidam knew there was no going back. He took her lips in a gentle kiss and slid himself into her.
