Page 23 of Highland Prince of Darkness

Chapter Ten

Iain was incredibly confused by his feelings for May. They weren’t making sense and they caused him to have little appetite and sleep to not come with ease. May occupied many of his thoughts throughout the day, especially since they were having to attend many events at one another’s side and smile throughout them. He didn’t like to show that he was soft, and so Iain refrained from smiling unless it was absolutely necessary. He had also noticed the decline in her father's health. Iain thought of Bruce and how deeply worried he would be if his health were to dip in such a way. He knew that it would cause May to be particularly sensitive and in need of some kind of reassurance. No matter how much he pushed the thoughts away, his heart hurt at the idea of her being upset and worried for her father.

“Ye disappeared from the feast last night,” Bruce’s voice startled Iain slightly as he stood in his chambers. The door closed behind the older man and he appeared from around the corner. Iain had been lacing up his boots and preparing for the ride that Alistair had organized for him with May. She was going to show him a place up on top of the glen that he had most definitely seen before. Iain didn’t have the energy to act surprised, but he did find himself wanting to spend more time with May, much to the annoyance of the thought.

“Aye, only for a little bit,” Iain shrugged it off and continued to tie up his boots.

“Is everything all right between the two of ye?” Bruce persisted with his questions, much to Iain’s annoyance.

“Everything is fine,” Iain nodded, and tried to act rather nonchalant about it, “Why does it matter?”

“Well, the two of ye’re betrothed and then ye disappeared during the feast that had been thrown for ye. I dinnae want people to start talking because ye ken what I think about having a reputation.”

“Aye of course. But there is nay need for any rumors to start, nothin’ of that nature happened. I ken the rules, and I will wait for the eve of our wedding.”

It was something that Iain hadn’t thought about properly, but he knew they were going to have to consummate the marriage. Part of him was excited, he couldn’t deny that his basic urges were telling him that it would be a good thing, especially after how much he had enjoyed the kiss the night before. However, there was still the part of him that was so angry at her. Iain clenched his jaw and tried not to think about the driving force behind why he was there.

“Good, let’s keep it that way, I dinnae need any rumors to start.”

“They dinnae call me the Diabhal because of simple rumors, my laird. Ye ken this, my reputation has taken years to build up, and I am nae goin’ to let anything happen because of one evening where I had a private moment with my fiancé.

“Aye, just be careful my lad. Are ye goin’ ridin’ with May?”

“Indeed I am, she’s taking me up the glen,” Iain nodded and stood up to his full height.

“Ye told me that when ye used to live here ye would explore and run around the land outside of the castle almost every day? I dinnae believe that ye have nae seen the vantage point that they spoke about at breakfast.”

Iain stared out of the window and up at the vantage point that he knew so well. He had only pretended that he didn’t know of the place. In reality, Iain was confident that he knew the entire glen by heart.

“Aye, it is somewhere that I have been before,” Iain admitted with a nonchalant shrug. He didn’t think that it mattered too much that he was lying. He couldn’t deny to himself that he wanted to spend more time with May.

“Well, I think that it will be good for ye to spend some time together,” Bruce said. He was pretending that he hadn’t heard his ward’s previous comment, something that Iain was slightly grateful for. He was sure that he wasn’t thinking straight and it was all due to the turbulent feelings that he felt for May after the kiss.

“Aye, I guess,” Iain shrugged and looked down at his lap. He could feel the concerned gaze of his guardian focused heavily on him as he sat there.

Iain left Bruce in his chambers as he realized that he was going to be late to meet with May. He stalked down the halls of the castle and the familiar steps brought back memories that Iain struggled to keep at bay. It was a time when he hadn’t had to worry about what people thought of him. He knew that her father wouldn’t be happy that they were spending so much time together, but he had been innocent enough to think that things would work out in the end. He clenched his jaw as the thoughts rose to the surface of when he would walk those halls with May by his side.

Iain held onto May’s hand as though it was the very thing that tethered him to the ground. Their footsteps echoed off the stone floor and alerted incoming servants to their presence. It always made him feel rather important, the way that the people who served them would part like the red sea to let them through. Iain figured that May was simply used to that custom since she had only known it her whole life.

He smiled to himself and rubbed his thumb against her hand as they walked closer to freedom. Going up onto the glen was like a calling to them, it allowed them space and freedom to talk without worry that someone would hear them. Iain could kiss her soft lips and not have to worry about what the people of the town would say about him and his rank compared to May.

The corridor ahead was empty, and Iain quickly checked behind him to see that there was nobody coming in either direction. A small smirk worked its way onto his face as he spied a room on his left that they were approaching. Iain figured that a small detour wouldn’t do any damage to their trip.

“What are ye doin’?” May asked in a hushed whisper as he guided her over to the wooden door and led her inside.

Instead of using his words to answer, as soon as the door was shut, he was on her. Iain pressed his lips firmly to May’s kissing her with a passionate desperation as though they hadn’t kissed in years. He simply couldn’t get enough of her. He loved every inch of her and felt his thoughts darken slightly as he pulled away and looked down at her.

May’s eyes were wide with surprise, but they were also darkening, clouded by a lust that he was eager to satisfy. Her lips, still puffy from their feverish kissing, quickly opened to form an ‘o’ shape as he pushed at her skirts until they were high enough to grant him access to where he needed her the most.

“Iain,” May whispered, as she moved to untie the cord of his trousers. He smiled down at her as her small hands fumbled, May glanced down and continued until the material was pooling at his ankles and exposing his hardening manhood.

“I want ye so badly,” he admitted, as he gripped her waist that was bound by her tight corset. Instinctively, May moved to wrap one of her legs around his waist. He then turned to see a desk in the corner of the room, causing his lips to curl up into a devious smile as he knew exactly what to do.

With little effort, he lifted May up and set her down on the desk, pulling her to the edge so that her body was flush against hers. She smiled up at him and moved to pepper sweet kisses down his neck. But Iain was hungry for more. He let his hands trail down her body, his fingers danced over the curve of her breasts, squeezing slightly and causing May’s back to arch. Her body was pushed even closer to his and he felt her hot breath fanning over his neck as she released a few buttons on his cotton shirt.

Her kissing assault continued down the freshly exposed area of his chest, and Iain’s hands dipped even further. They moved down the sides of her legs until they curved inwards and up the insides of her thighs. He heard her breath hitch, his fingers were so close to where she needed him.

May’s eyes were on his as he slowly pressed his hand against her, releasing only the slightest of tension. He could tell that she needed more by the way that her hips ground into his fingers in an effort to create even more pressure.