“Never, Cameron,never!” Aislinn lifted her head to stare into his eyes, her hands reaching up to cradle his face. “Everything you’ve done for me was to please me, to help me, and to help those I love. We’ll help each other now, aye? Learn from each other… what pleases me and how I can please you…”
Cameron nearly sank to his knees to hear words from her lips that he’d never thought to hear from any woman… and now Aislinn was his lovely, and so loved, bride. Only a day ago, he had believed her lost to him forever!
He bent his head to kiss her and she met him with parted lips, so soft, so sweet, Cameron sending up a fervent prayer of thanks that she had stowed away and found her way into his life.
He had never felt so blessed, his prayer a plea for protection as well in the days ahead, their path still so uncertain.
He had no idea where they would go next… back to the fortress? Mayhap to MacLachlan Castle where he could seek guidance from Gabriel? Or further north where no one would find them? Och, he didn’t want to think of it with Aislinn kissing him with such innocent yearning, her body pressed against him. Later, they must speak of it, but not now.Not now!
Cameron groaned against her mouth, his own yearning like a blazing fire that would wait no longer.
Without a word… still kissing her, he released the clasp of her cloak so the garment fell to the floor, and then swept her up and carried her to the bed.
Yet he had no sooner laid her down when he heard a sharp knock, Cameron realizing too late that he hadn’t drawn the bolt as Broden cracked open the door.
“Och, Laird, my apologies… but we’ve hot water for you. Shall we bring it in and fill the tub?”
Cameron nodded, chuckling in spite of himself as Aislinn laughed, too. Her cheeks flushed and her lips a darker rosy hue from his kisses—making him wish so fiercely that he was still kissing her!
He left her with great reluctance and went to throw the door open wide, allowing Broden, a squat balding man, and two serving maids, one as thin as the other was stout, to carry brimming buckets into the room.
The women kept their eyes downcast, though Cameron heard one of them say in a startled aside to the other, “Och, is that a lad or a lass on the bed?”
As both women broke into barely stifled giggles, Cameron strode past them and lifted up the tub with one hand to move it in front of the fireplace—which quieted them down at once, their openly admiring glances now making Aislinn giggle.
“Aye, my husband’s a fine, strong man, wouldn’t you say?”
Cameron thought the two might drop their buckets at her decidedly feminine voice and exaggerated Irish brogue, though one nudged the other and gave a knowing look as they dumped the steaming water into the tub.
“Och, she’s from Éire, that explains it. No bare arses even among the womenfolk!”
“See now, no more talk!” sputtered Broden, who emptied his buckets and cast an apologetic look at Cameron while he shooed the women from the room. “We’ve one more trip tae make—”
“No more trips,” Cameron cut him off, striding after them to shut the door. “The tub’s full enough.” He drew the bolt this time, Broden’s raised voice carrying to him from the hall.
“Aye, then, you must let me know if you’re wanting anything else!”
“We’ll do that, MacHugh, our thanks!”
Cameron rested his forehead on the door for a moment, laughing under his breath until he heard a splash behind him.
His heart rushed to his throat, he turned around to find Aislinn had thrown off her clothing and jumped into the tub… nothing left but the cloth binding her breasts.
“Would you help me, Cameron?”
In all innocence she sat there, her arms hugging her knees, though from the teasing look in her eyes—och, so blue,so blue—he sensed much, if not all, of her nervousness had vanished.
His own had fled, too, Cameron grateful now for the interruption that had proved a godsend for both of them as he walked slowly toward her.
Slowly… because he wanted to feast his eyes on the lithe beauty he’d married, the creamy paleness of her bare skin against the dark wood of the tub making his lower body grow turgid with desire.
Bare skin he wanted to touch, to caress, to kiss… but first, she had made a request of him.
“Och, I see it’s knotted,” he murmured, his voice thick now at the thought of her full breasts soon to spring free.
Just as slowly, he walked around the tub even as he saw her flesh dimple with goosebumps though steam rose from the water.
Aislinn didn’t look up at him, only nodded, and leaned forward so he might reach the knot more easily, Cameron sinking down on one knee behind her and pulling his knife from his belt.
