While they had waited, he had astonished her by standing in the tub—not big enough for her strapping husband to sit!—and bathing in water that had long since grown cold.
He had laughed and told her that it wasn’t as frigid as lochs and creeks where he’d washed himself over the years, and then he had beckoned to her to join him, but Aislinn had shook her head and ducked under the covers.
Laughing, too, but she had shrieked when he pulled her out of the bed and carried her to the tub where he bade her huskily to stand as well.
Aislinn had been amazed that she’d hardly felt the water’s chill for Cameron’s hands rubbing a sliver of wild thyme-scented soap over her body.
Her breasts, her belly… and between her legs where he had lingered… teasing a quivering response from her that left her moaning and certain that her knees would buckle until he drew her into his arms to kiss her at the height of her release.
Aye, how was she to fall asleep again with such rousing memories tumbling through her mind?
Aislinn inhaled deeply and stretched in contentment against Cameron in spite of her resolve to lie still.
The only thing that had passed by in a blur was supper. She remembered Cameron accepting a tray through the door, the stout serving maid wide-eyed at his nakedness, which had made them both laugh. Yet food had seemed so inconsequential to the burning kisses and caresses that came after, until a satiated exhaustion had overcome them—
“What are you thinking of, wife?”
Aislinn gasped as Cameron eased her onto her back and began to nuzzle her ear, her throat, while she could only answer truthfully, “You, husband.”
She reached up to stroke the dark stubble along his cheek, which made him clasp her hand and press a kiss into her palm. She drew in her breath, such a rush of emotion filling her heart, which seemed to be echoed by the way he stared down at her.
“I love you, Aislinn Campbell.”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer, Cameron lowering his head and kissing her until she felt breathless, his tongue teasing her lips apart and sweeping into her mouth.
She felt his desire flaring hot again, and she curled her arms around his neck to pull him closer, which made him groan against her mouth.
A sudden thought drifting to her, aye, a wish, a prayer that their lovemaking on this night, their first as husband and wife, might bless them with a child—ah, God!
Aislinn stiffened, another unbidden thought following, which made Cameron stop kissing her and lift his head.
“Aislinn?”
She couldn’t answer, tears burning her eyes as Aengus Butler’s words flew back to haunt her.
I want strong sons—not weaklings like your pitiful brother—and seed growing inside your belly will accomplish my aim whether it’s that Highlander’s or mine!
Heaven help her, a premonition? She held no hope at all that he had sailed back to Ireland without her. Was Aengus looking for her now… mayhap somewhere near?
“Aislinn, what’s wrong? Tell me!”
She opened her mouth to speak, but a sudden pounding at the door made her freeze in Cameron’s arms.
Chapter 21
“Laird, you and your lady must wake!”
Cameron was already lunging from the bed to grab his sword, the fear in Broden MacHugh’s voice making the hairs prickle at the back of his neck.
“English marauders, Laird! Word has come that they’ve raided farms all around this night—stealing food and livestock, aye, and mayhap women as well!”
“Ah, no, Cameron, the MacLeans!”
Aislinn’s voice stricken, he reached out to help her from the bed as he shouted to Broden, “We’re up, man! Bring round my horse!”
Cameron could see tears glistening in Aislinn’s eyes in the low firelight, but those had been there before Broden had brought them such wretched news. Yet there was no time to press her further about what had distressed her.
Those marauders might be bearing down soon upon the village—och, he could only hope that they had gained enough spoils from their treacherous night’s work to have returned to wherever they had come from! Mayhap the garrison where those English soldiers that had taken Sorcha had been quartered?
