Page 96 of Claimed Highland Brides

He laughed, reaching out to cup her breast as his eyes fell closed. He was quite exhausted.

* * *

Jamesina watched Delwyn sleep, a smug smile still plastered on his face, and wondered that what she had thought would be a harrowing ordeal had turned into a…transcendent experience. From what she’d overheard among the staff and even her sister’s words, she had expected pain and suffering when she consummated her marriage. She had not expected…that.

He said it’s not always like that.

Jamesina cocked an eyebrow as she wondered fleetingly if her sister had ever experienced such ecstasy in her marriage bed.

Well, what other surprises does this marriage have for me?

She sighed, her whole body relaxing as she drifted off to sleep.

* * *

The sun warming her face woke her up and she turned to see that Delwyn was still curled in on himself, fast asleep. She sighed, a happy smile spreading across her face. She stretched as a soft knock came on the door and froze, not sure she was ready to see anyone.

“Aye?” she called.

“I brought yer water, my lady,” Freya called from the other side, sounding just a smidgeon amused.

Jamesina sighed. “Come in then.”

She gathered the sheets around her, hiding her nakedness even if there was hardly anyone who had seen her unclothed more than Freya. The very soul of discretion, Freya did not so much as glance at the bed even as she wished Jamesina a good morning and set to reviving the dying fire then pouring water in the cauldron to heat. She pulled the tub in place before picking up the chamber pot and leaving with it.

Jamesina let out the breath she hadn’t known she was holding, feeling a sense of anticlimax. Her life had fundamentally changed during the night and in the morning, everything was proceeding as if this was just any other day. She shook her head, marveling at her thoughts, before shuffling off the bed. She plucked her shift off the floor, slipped it over her head, before walking to the window, just to double-check that the sun was not indeed shining brighter than any other day before this one.

“Good morning.”

She jumped, whirling around to see that Delwyn was awake, propped up on his arm as he lay smiling at her. The sun seemed to shine right out of his eyes, so terribly blue that their intensity scared her for a moment.

“Guid morning, Husband,” she murmured softly.

He uttered a sound of surprise and pain as if he had not been aware they were married. She turned away from the window, her eyebrows raised. “Why d’ye seem shocked by that greeting?”

He shrugged one shoulder, his skin coloring slightly. “It’s still very new. I think I had forgotten.”

She laughed, half in disbelief, half in commiseration. He held out his hand. “Why don’t you come here and remind me?”

She stiffened, eyes widening in surprise, wondering if she was misreading his intention. “Uh, Freya will probably return shortly to prepare the water for our bath.”

Delwyn’s smile became wicked. “We’ll be quick.”

She didn’t think her eyes could get wider but they made a valiant effort. She did not think this was proper at all. Still, she wanted to…

“I…” The words choked in her throat.

“Come on Jamie. Do you not want to?” He began to withdraw his hand as if hurt.

“No! I want tae. O’ course I do.”

His smile returned. “Well then, come here.”

She took one step towards him, still unsure.

“Lock the door if you’re that worried about being interrupted,” he suggested.

With a relieved sigh, she hurried to the door and latched it before running to her husband.