“What was that feeling?” she asked him sheepishly.
He propped himself up with his elbow, a sad expression carved into his face. “Ah would guess ye’d never felt it before. Ye deserve that every day. Any time ye lie with yer lover ye should feel that.”
Astonishment and disbelief crowded in her mind. She missed out on that much? It never felt like that with Hume. Baile kissed her again and helped her to her feet. “Best be getting back, love.”
“What about ye? Ye didn’t satisfy yerself.”
He took her by the hand and led her to the cottage. “Yer wrong. Ah am very satisfied.”
Chapter 8
Baile had been too busy preparing for the trade agreements to have time to spend with Siusan and Mazey. They kept themselves busy while he worked through all the delicate intricacies. Each day brought a new adventure for Siusan, and every day Mazey learned how to better love and care for her charge. Mazey’s belly was much rounder, but still smaller than she should be. The baby could make an appearance anytime. She felt pains she thought must be signs of childbirth, but usually ended as suddenly as they started.
Today, Siusan was in a good mood. Garia let her help make cake, and she was proud of how well they had tasted. Garia had also let her lick the bowl clean. They were back in Baile’s study playing together with dolls.
“No, ye have some cake. Ah want none cause ah got a baby in my belly.” Siusan’s doll was pregnant like Mazey.
Mazey’s doll wasn’t pregnant, according to Siusan. “If ye got a baby in yer belly then ye’ll be extra hungry and ye’ll want all the cake.”
“Aye, ah’m not sharing with ye.” The rock Siusan deemed a ‘spoon’ pulverized the mud cake she made.
“Ah don’t want any. Goodbye!”
Both girls giggled and continued until Baile entered the room.
“Ah have some good news, Nguyen.”
“What is it, Faither?” She bounced up and down on her toes like she did every time she was excited about something.
“Yer sister could get time to come back home. She’ll be staying here for a while with her new husband Oidche.”
Siusan squealed so loud, both Baile and Mazey put their hands to their ears to preserve their hearing.
“Can ah sleep in her room?” Siusan asked excitedly.
Baile and Mazey exchanged a look that Siusan still wouldn’t understand. “Nay child, she’s wed now. She’ll stay with her husband.”
Siusan’s face fell, and she looked sad for half a moment before getting excited again. “Ah’m gonna go pick her flowers.”
She ran out of the room, leaving Baile and Mazey alone. Mazey should have chased her out of the room, but she was so tired lately, and Siusan knew better than to leave the keep by herself.
“How are ye fairin’, lass?” Baile moved closer to her.
She felt her mind go fuzzy with his proximity. It was almost like the closer he got, the harder it was for her to think and reason. “Um, good.” The light shadow of hair growing on his chin distracted her. It gave him a rugged look. He shaved his beard this past week.
“Ah’m sorry ah have had little time for ye and Siusan. Ah’ll be less busy once these talks are over with.”
“Ye don’t owe me anything,” she said looking at the floor.
Baile stepped in closer and she looked into his steely blue eyes. “Aye, ah don’t, but ah want to give ye my time.”
His lips were on hers in an instant. His arms locked around her waist and pulled her body in tight to his. He kissed her passionately, but she could sense him holding himself back still. He reserved something, and her wandering mind wondered why. She felt pleasure ripple through her as his hand moved up and down her back.
The door creaked open, and they both jumped away from each other to look in the doorway. Siusan stood with a smirky half smile on her face and a bunch of flowers in her hand. She said nothing, but shut the door and left.
Mazey took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. She needed to slow her heart rate down, go find the child and make her promise never to tell anyone what she saw. The last thing she needed was for the clan chief’s reputation to suffer right before trade agreements.
“It’s all right, Mazey,” Baile said soothingly. He kissed her cheek, gave her a hug and walked over to the door. “Ah’ll check in with ye both tonight. Malmuira should be here later today. Ah think ye both will have some things to catch up on.”
