Page 55 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“There ye go then. I’ve nae doubt ye’d rise tae the occasion, so stop worryin’. Now, let’s practice.”

They spent the next hour or so practicing until Maddison had fallen on her backside, or had her blade knocked out of her hand, or been overwhelmed by her husband’s superior moves so many times, she was exhausted and covered in bruises.

“Can we stop now, Odhrán? I’m black and blue, and I’m startin’ tae ache all over,” she puffed, her hands on her knees, her face covered in perspiration.

“Aye, I think ye’ve had enough fer today,” Odhrán agreed, tossing away his stick and appearing annoyingly unaffected by their exertions.

“I dinnae think I’m ever gonnae be any good at this,” she said, slowly getting her breath back.

“Nonsense,” he told her, going to put an arm around her shoulder. “Ye’ve caught on very fast. This is only yer first lesson, Maddy. Ye cannae expect tae learn tae fight well overnight.”

“But I’ll never be as good as ye,” she bemoaned.

“Ach, dinnae compare yerself tae me. I started cheming’ tae fight when I was about five years old. But that disnae mean that with regular practice ye’ll nae be good enough tae defend yerself effectively. Remember what I said, ye must be prepared tae kill but it may nae always come tae that. There’s many a man who’s nae too good at knife fightin’. ’Tis enough tae merely wound yer man, tae give ye time tae get away. We’ll practice every day that we can while ’tis still light, after dinner. That way, ye’ll make a steady improvement, ye’ll see. All right?”

“All right,” she said, summoning a smile at his encouraging words. “The way ye talk, ye make me feel like I can dae it if I work hard enough.”

“I have faith in ye, me little wildcat,” he teased, returning her smile. “Now, how about a swim tae cool down?”

“I’ll race ye tae the water. Last one in is a dummart,” she challenged, suddenly feeling mischievous.

“Done!” he agreed, already kicking off his boots as she discarded her shoes. They giggled as they began tearing their clothes off and throwing them down on the gravel. Maddison dissolved into helpless slaughter as Odhrán hopped down to the water’s edge, one leg stuck in his trews.

“That’s cheatin’,” she protested, “and ’tis nae a fair competition; I’m wearin’ a lot more clothes than ye!”

“I suppose ye’re right. Let me help ye with that,” he offered, giving her a wolfish smile as he hopped back to her, cursing as he finally managed to shed his trews without falling over. She giggled even more, but his lustful look also sent her pulse racing with excitement as he undid the fastenings of her gown and helped her out of her stays. Before her petticoat had even fallen to the ground, she was off, splashing into the loch up to her hips, clad only in her shift.

“Ach!” she half screamed, half laughed, stopping dead, “’tis cheming’!”

“Tis a Scottish loch. What did ye expect?” he teased, laughing as he splashed up next to her in his shirt. He ducked his head under the water and resurfaced a few feet away, swimming around her with long, powerful strokes, grinning.

“I beat ye, though,” she insisted, splashing him playfully.

“So ye did, but ye’re playin’ dirty, aren’t ye?” he asked, shaking the water out of his eyes and heading for her with a look of mock menace. “I’m afraid that means I’ll have tae retaliate.”

“Nay, Odhrán, nay!” She screamed with laughter again as he ducked, and suddenly she felt him swim between her legs and lift her right up out of the water, so she was sitting on his shoulders. “I cannae hold on, I’m laughing too much,” she gasped, hanging on to his head for dear life, while he gripped her thighs tightly.

“Watch the ears!” he pretended to grumble. “I cannae do without ’em. Now I’ve got ye, we’re going fer a proper swim.” He began to slowly go down into the water, taking her with him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Ach, me God, ’tis too cold! Nay, Odhrán, dinnae dae it. I’ll pass out with the cold!” she pleaded between screams of panicky laughter, wriggling in vain to escape his grip. Soon, she found herself pulled under the freezing water of the loch, where Odhrán let her float off his shoulders before grabbing her by the waist and cannoning her upwards, so that she flew clear out of the water and tumbled back in with an enormous splash a few feet away, shrieking hysterically.

“I’m comin’ fer ye again,” he mock threatened, waggling his eyebrows at her as he tossed the water out of his eyes and swam rapidly after her.

“Nay, nae again, Odhrán, ye beast!” she cried, trying to swim away from him, but she was too slow, and he caught her by the ankles and dragged her back, wrapping her against his chest with his arms.

“Seems I’ve caught me a mermaid,” he murmured, covering her face with warm kisses that, despite the cold water, made her blood run hot. She wound her arms about his neck and her legs around his waist, buoyed by the water. She clung to him, pressing herself wantonly against the ridges of packed muscle of his chest and belly, reveling in his strength and his smooth skin between her thighs.

“Mmmm, maybe nae a mermaid but a kelpie,” she panted, kissing him deeply, teasing him with her lips and tongue in the way he had taught her, wanting him badly.

“Aye, a very naughty one,” he murmured into her mouth, returning the kiss passionately while at the same time swiftly snatching the scarf from her head so that her hair tumbled down in a dark mass to float about them like water weed.

“Well, if ye’re going tae be like that,” she spluttered, reaching for the black ribbon holding his hair back and pulling it free. His long dark locks floated out into the water, mingling with hers. They laughed at the sight, making it all swirl about them in a dark cloud as they kissed and greedily ran their hands over each other’s bodies.

Maddison squirmed and moaned in pleasure when she felt Odhrán’s fingers roving between her legs, stroking her rosebud and pushing inside her. But when she reached for his erection, it was not there.

“Och, what’s happened tae him? He’s like a wee snail, all curled up and hidin’ away. Does he nae want me? Am I doin’ cheming’ wrong?” she asked worriedly.