Chapter Eight

Ruari wanted nothing more than to pull the small woman closer. To release all the emotions that had built up in the months since his father died and ask that she be with him as he worked to find a solution. His decision made to tell her everything, he dove into the unknown.

"I can nae take the risk, ye see. If I dinnae keep him appeased, my uncle will overtake this keep and the surrounding lands. I have nae doubt he will take glee in it. I have tried to come up with solutions, but he always makes more demands, just for the sport of it."

He went on to tell her about his plans to train more warriors and how one day be strong enough to stand against the tyrant threatening to steal his birthright.

"It will take years to train that many. I doubt even then to have enough trained men to fight against him. There are about ninety men in his army, but all are well trained and seasoned in battle," Ruari continued.

While he talked, Adair listened in silence. Every so often she'd ask a question. It surprised him how intelligent each question was, sending him to explore new ideas he'd not considered.

When she yawned, he realized it was quite late.

"Ye can lay down and rest. We can speak more tomorrow."

"I should go," Adair said, but she didn't move.

"Sleep. I will ensure ye leave before anyone sees ye."

She looked about to protest, but then her expression softened, and she nodded. "Very well. Just for a bit." Adair moved up and lay her head on one of the pillows.

He lowered next to her, then grasped her hand again. "I am considering my mother's family. She is a Ross. Perhaps they can help me."

Adair looked up at him. It was so easy to be there with her, familiar even. He wondered if she felt the same.

"Ye should speak to yer mother. If she mentions her family connections when yer uncle is here, it may buy ye more time. That is a very good idea."

The praise made something in his chest lighter. "I will speak with her."

"Laird," she said in a quiet tone. That she called him that whilst laying in his bed as he disclosed all his secrets felt wrong.

"Please call me Ruari." Her cheeks pinkened and he repeated the request. "Call me Ruari, Adair."

"Ruari," she said in a hesitant tone. "I am so very sorry for how I and others judge ye without knowing the weight of yer burden."

"It is my duty as laird to carry it and ensure the clan's people feel safe. I have shared with ye and although I feel lighter, I fear ye will now also carry the burden."

Her lips curved and his stomach tumbled. "I dinnae mind. Someone should be there for ye. Do yer brother and mother know?"

"Somewhat. But they either choose to ignore it or have lost all hope to be independent."

She yawned widely. "I truly must go."

"Please stay."

"Here? I can nae."

"I will ensure no one sees ye leave in the morning."

Finally she let out a sigh. "Very well."

Before he could think more about it, he leaned closer and kissed her. The kiss was soft, gentle, but at the same time sweet. She responded at first hesitantly, but then put her hand on the side of his neck and kissed him back.

If it were up to his body, he would have continued kissing her, taking and claiming her. Instead, he pressed another light kiss on her lips and lay back. "Sleep."

When he blew out the candle the room plunged into darkness, and yet for the first time since becoming laird, it was not oppressing. There was a lightness in his chest, a sense of relief. That not only could he speak with Adair about what lay heavy on his mind, but she shared ideas and gave him hope for a good outcome.

The feel of a hand sliding down his chest woke him sometime later. At first he thought it was his imagination, but then he realized it was Adair. She snuggled against him, her hand moving down from his chest to his stomach.

Was she asleep and perhaps thinking he was her lover? Did she have a lover in the village for whom she pined?

Ruari remained very still, not wishing for her to stop exploring his body. At the same time, he wished for her to want him, not some faceless man she mistook him for.

"Ruari," she whispered against his ear. "I know I should nae, but… Can we?"

Her lips pressed against the sensitive place just below his ear and he took a sharp breath. "Aye."

Adair let out a soft sound, like that of a satisfied cat and Ruari could barely refrain from allowing himself to move fast. Rolling to face her, he pulled the woman closer and kissed her. Her response was immediate.

Thankfully, she only wore a nightshift making it easy to slide his hands under it and caress her silken skin.

Ever so slowly, he slid the palms of his hands up from her thighs to cup her round bottom. The woman was built for lovemaking, with curves that could drive a man senseless.

Ruari trailed his lips from her mouth down her throat as she clung to him, digging her nails into his back.

When he nipped the side of her neck, Adair moaned with satisfaction.

"Take me." Her request was all he needed.

Her fingers slid up and down his back as she writhed under him.

Annoyed at not feeling her skin against his, he disengaged, climbed from the bed and quickly did away with his clothes before joining her again.

At once, she was pressed against him, her soft silky body making it impossible to keep the soft moan that erupted from deep in his throat.

"Are ye sure?" He whispered against her ear. If she was a virgin, it would be hard to justify taking her. She deserved more than a tryst, whether or not it was her first experience.

"I am burning with need," she responded. "I want to know what it is like to be made love to."

So it was her first time. He let out a breath. "I will ensure ye do, but I can nae spoil ye lass."

He guided her to lay back, and once again took her mouth, glad when her lips parted, and he could slide his tongue into her. Adair responded, her fingers raking through his hair.

Her hips lifted signaling desire, want, need. Ruari's hand trembled as he slid it down from her breast and past her stomach to the mound between her legs. Her breathing hitched when he slid his fingers between the folds of her sex, then she let out a low moan that vibrated through his body.

There was no returning from this point, he wanted to witness her undoing. To see her lost in passion and he was glad for the lightening sky. Still the light that filtered past the window allowed barely more than shadows.

Whilst circling the tiny bud between her legs, Ruari rubbed his throbbing staff against the plush flesh of Adair's hip, the friction an immediate salve to his growing need.

He slid a finger into her moist heat, and she gasped against his mouth. When he moved it in and out of her, Adair moaned, suckled at his throat, and raked her nails through his hair. Her responses to his lovemaking were unexpected and exciting.

Knowing he would not last much longer, Ruari continued to push himself harder against her plushness. When Adair trembled against him. Her body shuddered from the force as she found release. The throaty sounds she made brought him to come undone and he spilled.

He pulled Adair against him and kissed her soundly. She gripped his shoulders, as if not wishing the intimacy to end.

He felt the same way.

"The sun is rising," Ruari said looking at the dim sunlight around the edges of the window shutters.

Adair looked to the window. "I am nae sure how I can possibly return downstairs without being seen."

With her against his side, Ruari felt as if he could face down any opponent. Finding a way for her to leave unseen was the least of things in that moment.

"I will go look. The people out there are probably still asleep."

Adair let out a long breath. "I am nae sure why I… I shouldn't have."

"Dinnae regret what happened between us. I am glad for it. I feel honored."

She peered up at him with a slight frown. "Why would it be an honor? Ye are my laird. I am but a village girl."

He pressed a kiss to her lips. "We are a man and a woman, that is all."

When her lips curved, a warmth filled him. He wanted nothing more than to see her smile each and every day.

After pulling on his breeches, Ruari went to the door and cracked it open. He took inventory of the surroundings finding that indeed, the people remained asleep. He motioned for Adair to come to the door and then placed one of his heavy cloaks over her shoulders and pulled the hood down to hide her face. "If they do see ye, they will nae have any idea who ye are."

As she hurried away, holding a candlestick, he watched until she disappeared, rounding the corridor to the back staircase.

He turned and went to his bed and fell back onto the bedding with a wide grin. The woman had no idea what she'd just done.

Her fate was sealed.