He chuckled softly, tightening his arm around her as smiled down at her, lifting his head and kissing the tip of her nose. “Aye, it was beautiful, like ye, Annie. Ye’re special, ye ken that? Very special.”
“Am I?” She loved hearing him say it. To be told by Ewan Ballentine she was special somehow meant the world to her in that moment. Yet, not hearing her true name from his lips still hurt.
“Aye, very. And now ye ken me secret, how much I’ve been wantin’ ye all this time,” he sighed, stroking her hair from her face and peppering her with kisses. “Ye’re delicious, Annie, and the things ye were doin’ tae me, well, I dinnae have words…” He smiled and shook his long dark locks in delighted wonder, looking at her with soft eyes.
Seeing her own feelings reflected there, she reached up and stroked his cheek with her fingertips. “I can still feel ye touchin’ me, feel ye inside me,” she whispered, gazing at him wonderingly. “I’ve wanted ye too, Ewan, so badly. Lyin’ with ye next tae me night after night… it was so hard sometimes, I thought I’d lose me mind.”
He hugged her close, chuckling deep in his throat. “Aye, me too. I tried tae resist me own urges, I really did. But ye dae somethin’ tae me I’ve nae felt before in me life.” He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. “And I want more,” he said into her mouth.
“But d’ye nae wantae go all the way?” she asked hesitantly, idly trailing her fingers down the line of fine dark hair leading from his belly to his groin.
He shook his head. “Nay, nae yet. Much as I want ye, we should wait. With things as they are, there’s nae tellin’ how things are gonnae turn out. I could be dead tomorrow.”
“Dinnae talk like that!” she chided gently, saddened by his words yet at the same time knowing they were true. He added, “Besides, ye’re still a maid. ’Tis better if ye stay that way until all this is over.”
“Ye dinnae mind waitin’?” Isla asked, secretly rather shocked by how disappointed she was. Her body was still buzzing with the afterglow of their recent passionate interlude. Ewan had given her her first taste of ecstasy, and now she wanted more.
“Good things are always worth waitin’ fer.” he said, pressing his lips to her hair. Isla smiled, content to be with him. She laid her head on his shoulder and breathed in his pleasing musky scent as she listened to his heartbeat.
But as they lay quietly, their limbs tangled together, cold reality—in the shape of the conflict they were both enmeshed in—gradually chipped its way into her consciousness. She could not forget the threat Allan posed to all their futures, hers, Gregory’s, and Ewan’s. It hovered above them like some bloody specter from a nightmare, wearing the warmongering, corrupt laird’s features.
She heard Ella’s voice in her head, telling her that she was in a unique position that she could affect how things would turn out. That if she cared about Ewan and Gregory, she would have to do all she could to bring peace between them.
The challenge had always been how to turn events towards a peaceful resolution. With the potion she would pick up the day after she would be able to actually buy herself enough time to get into the castle and warn Gregory without Ewan’s knowledge before he launched his attack through the tunnels.
It would provide her with the means to steer Gregory and Ewan towards a peace that would unite their forces against Allan.
Isla decided that waking up in the morning in a feather bed with her naked limbs entangled with Ewan’s was the best way to ever wake up. She came awake slowly, emerging from the most restful sleep she could remember having, with Ewan’s hips pressed against her behind, one of his legs thrown over hers, and his arms encircling her waist. Her hands were entwined with his, and she kissed his fingers softly, full of love for him. She smiled to herself for his nose was resting against the nape of her neck, and every time he exhaled, the feathery warmth of his breath made her skin tingle.
Snuggling beneath the covers, she sighed with deep contentment and flexed her limbs slightly, savoring the feel of his naked body against hers and luxuriating in the memory of all that had passed between them the night before. There was a pleasurablesoreness between her legs, and her breasts, her entire body actually, felt slightly tender, but it was a wonderful feeling. A womanly feeling, she decided happily.
If this is how it feels tae be ravished by the man I love, then I want more. And I love him, I dae. I want him tae make love tae me, I want tae ken how it feels tae have him inside me, tae be his completely. Why should we wait? What if we both die tomorrow?
She was startled out of her thoughts by Ewan nuzzling and nibbling her neck. His embrace tightened around her as he pressed his body into hers. “Mmm, good mornin’, beautiful,” he murmured, his breath tickling her skin, making joy bubble up inside her. Wanting to look at him, she wiggled around to face him, careful not to hurt him. He was adorably tousled, and one look into his sleepy, dark eyes had her melting again.
“Good mornin’, handsome,” she replied and kissed him leisurely on the lips. He kissed her back with enthusiasm.
“Well, this is how I’d like tae wake up every mornin’,” he told her, his deep voice still hoarse from sleep.
“Aye, ’tis lovely,” she agreed. She looked at his bandage. Somehow, it was still in place, but she was still worried about the wound. “How are ye feelin’?” she asked. “I hope we didnae pull yer stiches last night.”
He touched the bandage tentatively. “I think I’d ken it if we had. It feels very sore, but better than ye might think. I’ve had worse,but maybe ye’d best make me some of that tea Ella gave ye afore we go back tae the camp this mornin’. But dinnae make it too strong else I’ll be droppin’ off tae sleep again.”
“Aye, I will,” she promised, stroking his face with her fingertips lovingly. “I wish we didnae havetae go back. I wish we could stay here like this all day.”
Forever.
“So dae I, me bonny lassie,” he said ruefully. “Can ye nae tell?” he pressed his hardening manhood against her.
“Oooh! He’s awake again,” she cried, delighted and amazed, going to take hold of him. But he laughed and pulled away, kissing her nose and gently brushing her hair from her forehead. “Dinnae tempt me, Annie. We must get back. Ye ken how much is ridin’ on me plans fer today. Much as I’d rather stay here with ye and ravish ye all over again, we must get up and get dressed. We’ll have breakfast back at the camp with the rest of the men. I want tae get an early start, and Colin will be wonderin’ where we’ve got tae.”
“All right,” she agreed. They kissed once more, then got out of bed and got dressed. Within a very short time, Isla assumed the disguise of Harris once more and then helped Ewan into his coat and boots.
“It feels like we’re leavin’ our safe little bubble,” she remarked sadly as they left the room and started down the stairs.
“Aye, it does,” Ewan agreed, giving her behind an affectionate squeeze, “but mayhap we’ll have another time like this, eh?”
“D’ye think so, Ewan?” she asked, thrilled at the suggestion they might have a future together.
