Chapter 17

17

A Fond Farewell

" I cannae believe ye have to leave so soon," said Dakota as she took a forkful of ham from her plate and stuffed it into her mouth.

"I ride after breakfast. The earlier we set off, the more light we'll have for the journey down there."

"And the quicker you can return," suggested Dakota.

William took a large mouthful of the dark brown tea. "Aye."

"I, um…"

Dakota found herself lost for words. That was a rare occurrence. It was easy to throw a witty remark or barb at someone, but she found it more difficult to compliment someone she had recently found irritating and insufferable.

His touch had temporarily removed that feeling, and she did not know if her distaste for the Laird would return. How could she feel hatred for the man who had brought her close to heaven with his fingers alone?

And now, he was talking about children. She had not responded to the comment from two days ago—it was too much to think about. It was much easier to deal with the Laird when she was his duty—when she was his means to an heir. But they were being civil to each other, and it made her heart flutter in nervousness to think about being with a man in that way whom she might have developing feelings for.

"…or by meself?" The Laird chuckled.

"My goodness, I dinnae hear a word ye were sayin'!"

"I only asked if ye were goin' to join in the conversation or if I should just talk with meself for the remainder of breakfast. Ye were a million miles away—nay doubt plottin' how ye can escape from this place while I'm gone."

"Nay, I wasnae thinkin' any such thin'! I dinnae want to escape from here. I like it—the castle, that is."

"Aye?" asked the Laird, cocking an eyebrow. "So, what were ye thinkin' about?"

"I… I wanted to say that I have enjoyed the last day or so with ye."

William chuckled again. "I daenae think I've ever seen someone have such trouble sayin' somethin' welcome to hear."

"Aye, well, ye cannae deny that we've nae had the best start to our marriage or the best marriage in the first place! If ye want to ken the truth, I daenae ken if ye still hate me or not."

"Hate ye? Nay, I daenae hate ye! I thought me actions spoke louder than that!"

"Aye, but ye spoke only of havin' me to give ye children, and things might have changed between us, but ye still talk that way."

"I have to do what is right for the clan. Do ye nae think we should have a family? Ye kenned what ye were in for when ye agree to take yer sister's place."

"Aye, I ken that, but… I ken it's yer duty as Laird, and ye look after yer clan better than most I've seen, but… oh, forget it!"

Dakota didn't want to reveal that she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't shake. She had been just fine with the two of them hating each other because that meant they were on the same page, but if she liked him after all that and he didn't feel the same way, that would be a fate worse than anything.

I don't even know what I feel! The pleasure he gave me is clouding my judgment; that is all it is.

"Listen, I have to leave after breakfast, but I think we can start fresh when I return. I admit that the start of our union is nae what either of us thought it would be, but we've both stood our ground, and we are both still standing. If this were a battle, I would call for a truce before there is any more bloodshed."

"So, ye see this—"

"Och, hold yer wheesht! I might nae be the best at these comparisons, and I dinnae mean bloodshed in the literal sense, but ye cannae deny that we've practically been at war with each other since we first butted heads on the day we met."

"Aye," conceded Dakota.

"I think ye ken what I'm sayin', but yer out for a fight still. Maybe this time apart will give ye a chance to cool yerself off."

"I daenae need to cool meself off," Dakota blurted with a red face.

As soon as she said it, she burst into a smile she could not control. Cooling herself off was exactly what she needed to do. She was not annoyed at the Laird but at herself for not knowing what she felt.

"So, can we call a truce?" asked William with a smile.

Dakota pursed her lips and did her best to stop the smile from returning. "Aye, I can do that."

She took up a forkful of bread, dipped it in the runny yolk—one of her favorite morsels of food—and stuffed it into her mouth. She spoke with her mouth full. "I do mean it, ye ken? We might nae see eye to eye, but I've enjoyed spendin' more time with ye."

"Aye, I prefer it to the fightin'."

Dakota glanced over at the Laird from the corner of her eye as she chewed on the yolky bread. The thought of having a child in her belly was about all she had been able to think about since he had mentioned it, and in-between thinking about that, she could only think of the means to the end.

How good would it feel when he properly made her his if it had felt so good with just his fingers?

The Laird had made her wet at the slightest touch, and just thinking about being in bed together, creating a child, caused her to twinge down below. She needed a distraction.

"I have been thinking about my chamber," said Dakota.

"Aye, I keep hearin' from the housekeeper that yer walls are terribly bare."

"Aye, they are, but it dinnae feel like home as it was. Now that it is bare, it doesnae feel like home either. I just thought that if I could make some changes that I would like, then it would feel more like home for me."

"The market in town is a good place to find decoration," noted the Laird.

Dakota smiled a half-smile. "I was thinkin' of findin' someone to paint Cloud."

"Cloud? The horse? Do ye nae like the color he is?"

"Och, daenae. I daenae mean to paint the horse, but I would like a picture of the horse for me room. He's the one I've taken the most likin' too, and he has taken a likin' to me. I've loved horses ever since I was a bairn, and I think it would make a good start to me room."

"Aye, well, ye will likely find someone in the town who can do that for ye. What about bedsheets and curtains and all that stuff?"

"Aye, I would like that too, if it is not too much trouble."

William stopped eating and fully turned to Dakota. "Listen, ye might not have had much the last years even though yer faither is a Laird, but that was down to some poor decisions. Me faither ran this clan well, and I do too. Ye've seen the ledgers. Ye are the Lady of this castle now, and ye shan't want for anything. Ye dinnae need to ask for me permission to purchase any of that stuff. Take the housekeeper or one of the maids with ye and have them put it on the castle tab—everyone kens I'm good for it."

"Aye, I'll do that," said Dakota excitedly. "That'll give me somethin' to do while yer away—somethin' to put me mind to."

"I'll have me mind more than busy with that rogue from the west. But I dinnae need to burden ye with that."

"It all sounds exciting," claimed Dakota. "I dinnae mind hearin' about it."

"I've spoken about it enough with Cameron—I daenae want to think about it again until I have to deal with it. I'd much rather hear about yer furnishings—much less of a headache."

"I could get new furnishings for your bedroom too if ye wish. I havenae seen what it is like in there."

The words hung between them. Dakota had not meant to suggest that she should see his room, though they were man and wife, so…

"I, uh, when do ye leave?" she asked to cover her embarrassment.

"Straight after breakfast. Still," he smiled.

Dakota was annoyed at his gentle barbs, but she was no longer annoyed at him.

"Do ye think there will be any fightin' when ye are down there?" she asked.

"I daenae ken about that. I daenae think so."

"Aye."

Dakota was placated. She had worried over the past two days that he would be caught in a fight, but each time she thought of it, her mind was transported back to him fending off three men at once when they had been attacked on the road to the castle.

The Laird was a man who could handle himself. Her mind went to his gentle touch and her eyes to his thick arms that constantly threatened to burst through his sleeves. How could a man with such strength and power touch her so delicately?

And if the size of his arms and legs were anything to go by, what would the size of his manhood be like? And would it hurt?

A million questions rattled around in her mind, but they all came back, in some way, to thinking of the Laird in a state of undress. That only wet her nether region more, and she longed to take the Laird's hand and press it all over her body.

A clatter of cutlery on a plate signaled that the Laird was done with breakfast, and he stood up from the table before Dakota could act on any thoughts.

She looked at her plate and realized she had been eating too slowly.

"I'll be back before ye ken it," said William.

Dakota nodded her head in return. She returned to her breakfast as the Laird escaped the breakfast room to make final preparations.

Two days ago, she would have found it pleasurable to be without the Laird for such a long time, but she was worried that she would miss him terribly while he was gone. She did not want to be alone in the castle, even if dozens of servants staffed it.

Dakota finished breakfast and made herself busy around the castle, constantly finding a room to be in that was close to the stables and front of the castle so that she could watch the progress of the leaving party.

When she saw the Laird exit the castle one final time to make his leave, she knew she could not bear to let him go without wishing him a safe journey.

Dakota ran from the room, scuttling down the steps as quickly as possible. She ran onto the dirt road before William's horse, not thinking about what she was doing.

The horse reared up in its hind legs, startled by someone running out in front, and Dakota shielded herself with her arm, not that it would do much good. William kept hold of the reins, gripping with his thighs, and brought the horse back down. He took a moment to settle it.

"What are ye doin'?" he demanded of Dakota.

"I dinnae mean to scare the animal; I only wanted to come bid ye farewell."

"Ye almost put an end to me travels before I started."

"I… I wanted to wish ye a safe journey, but I guess I am nae makin' it very safe for ye."

"It's nae the first time I've had to calm a horse, and it won't be me last."

"Please be careful out there," begged Dakota. "I dinnae want an injured man for me husband—I don't do well with caring for other people. That was more Daisy's forte."

"Well, it's a good thin' I don't plan on gettin' hurt. Besides, I think ye would care for me just fine if I returned with wounds."

"Nay chance! I'd only make things worse."

William leaped down from the horse in one swift movement. "I believe ye." He looked Dakota in the eye. "Ye dinnae have to worry. I'll be back soon, and I'll nae be injured. Ye willnae have to take care of me at all, all right?"

"All right," replied Dakota.

They shared one more second between them, and the Laird's welcome, warm lips were on hers. She fell into his embrace as he wrapped his arms around her back.

His tongue escaped his mouth and ventured into hers. She did not submit to him but pushed her tongue against his supple muscle and danced with it. She licked at his wet tongue and moved her lips against his.

Her hand came up to his chest, and she held her palm to his taut muscles. She melted into the kiss and softly moaned through it. She had hoped she would not miss him while he was away but lost all hope.

The feeling came back, the same way he had made her feel when he had teased and pleasured her with his fingers, and she could not wait to feel it again.