They stayed together like that for a long time. He knew her well enough to know she wasn’t asleep and though he still wanted to ask her so many questions, some important as they might give clue to where Elspeth and John had gone, he would wait until she was ready.
Eventually, she turned to him and placed her hand on his cheek. Her tears flowed freely. He held her as her body released weeks of pent-up tension. She sobbed, which made him ache to take away the terror she must have felt wondering if she’d ever be found.
“William,” she whispered. “You are really here?”
“Aye, my love. I am really here, and you’re safe.”
“William, I have something to tell you,” she said.
His heart squeezed tight as he braced for bad news. He feared he would not be able to stand hearing of any abuse she might have endured, but he would remain strong for her sake. She needed that from him now.
“Go ahead, love. You can tell me anything and it will not change my love for you.”
A faint smile crossed her lips. “I am with child,” she said in a soft voice.
That voice, those words were like they’d been spoken by an angel.
“You are certain?” he asked trying not to explode with joy.
“Aye, I am. Are you pleased?”
“I have never heard of anything that gave me more joy other than the day you agreed to be mine.”
She kissed him on the cheek and snuggled into him. Before long, her breath evened out and she snored lightly. William didn’t sleep for many hours after that, pondering the future joy they would share together and how distinctly the stakes for their safety had changed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Agnes woke witha start and bolted upright. The walls around her looked different, but she was convinced she was still in that God-awful cabin until strong arms wrapped around her and a familiar scent of leather and the outdoors enveloped her. William.
She leaned into him and let him pull her down with him. He wrapped them up with the quilt and kissed the top of her head.
“Shh, love. I’m here and you’re safe.”
He could tell her that all day long, but it would not quell the fear threatening to overcome her every time she closed her eyes that she would wake in that place. Despite having enough food and water and all her attempts to remain hopeful, the truth of the matter was when William called her name, she was certain it was her mind having completely snapped. Five days may not seem like a long time, but when one had no idea if they would ever be discovered, it might just as well be five years.
She hated this.
Agnes snuggled into William even harder as if his presence alone could remove the anguish welling inside. No amount of sobbing could easily erase despair once its claws set into one’s heart like fingers of mist creeping down over the mountains, edging ever closer until all-consuming.
She closed her eyes and focused on William again. In her mind’s eye, she forced memories of their first meeting, their firstkiss atop their horses, their wedding night. Wrapping her arms around him, she drank in his scent, willing it to bring her back to herself. By God, she would not let this claim her. She had to find a way out of this darkness.
As if sensing what she needed, William leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. She returned the kiss with all the urgency and yearning she’d felt while they were apart. Waking up alone in that horrible place broke her heart a thousand times over. But she was there no longer. She struggled to put herself in the here and now with this man and their bairn growing inside her.
Agnes pushed him to lie on his back and straddled him. She splayed her hands across his chest while he lifted her shift up and as she lifted her arms, he pulled it over her head. His hands reached for her breasts and squeezed. Her body reacted immediately.
Lifting her hips, she positioned herself so he slid in completely. Agnes tossed her head back as the sensation poured through her veins like liquid fire. William grabbed her hips to temper her movements when she started to ride him too hard.
“Slowly, love,” he said as he guided her body to a delicious rhythm.
This, what they shared, was the only medicine that would cure her. This connection would block out any other feelings. It had to, for there was nothing she’d ever felt in her life more powerful than this.
Higher and higher she climbed trying to go faster, but William held her tight whispering soothing words, as if he understood this act and the love they shared could purge anything vile from her mind.
When she was sure she could take no more, and her mind was consumed only with him, he withdrew and flipped her onto her back and lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. Williamkissed her with such a passion as he entered her again with a hard thrust, withdrew, and slammed hard into her again. He did this so many times, she did not know how she’d survive her climax.
When it came, she tossed her head back and squeezed her eyes tight.
“Look at me,” he said.
