Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38

C iara leaned back in the pool of water, letting the warmth soak into her weary body. It had been a few days since Fairfax’s incursion into the castle and things were slowly beginning to get back to normal. As normal as they could be at any rate. All told, eight of the MacLeod’s fighting men had perished in the battle, but they had taken more than twice that number of Fairfax’s soldiers. They were fierce warriors indeed.

In the days since, she had helped put the castle back in order, cleaning the blood from the stones and removing everything that had been broken. The men who’d died in the fighting had been buried and Ciara could see the immense pride every single one of the MacLeod fighting men took from standing tall and repelling the attack. The funerals were more a celebration of the men who’d fallen and their accomplishments than a show of grief.

The guard around the grounds had been doubled and Domhnall had ordered more scouts into the field. They’d had no warning of the impending attack, and he was enraged that they’d been caught off guard the way they had. He was determined to not let them be caught unaware like that again and the tension around Dunvegan was palpable as he moved to fortify it against another incursion, rightly believing that Fairfax wasn’t just going to go away now that he’d tasted blood.

Ciara sat in the bathing pool in a chamber beneath the castle. Fed by natural hot springs, tendrils of steam curled off the surface of the water, filling the entire chamber with a pleasant warmth. A small smile flickering across her lips, she splashed some water on her face and on the back of her neck, taking a little time to luxuriate. She’d been working hard these last few days and thought she’d earned a little time to enjoy herself.

Despite the viciousness of the assault and the still looming threat of Fairfax hanging over their heads, Domhnall and the MacLeods were determined to not let it interfere with their preparations for Yule. They had guests who would be arriving soon to celebrate with them. So, once the corridors had been cleaned and put back in order, they had set about re-decorating Dunvegan, replacing everything that had been blood-soaked or broken in the melee.

Ciara lay back, stretching her hands out and letting herself float in the steaming water. Despite the chaos and horrible things that had happened within the castle walls over the last few days, she couldn’t get the kiss she shared with Magnus out of her head. Even thinking about it now sent fingers of lightning dancing across her skin. It had been powerful and had stirred something inside of her she’d never felt before. It had lit her up inside like the sun upon her skin on a warm summer day and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was inappropriate and ridiculous given everything that had happened, but Ciara couldn’t banish the memory from her mind.

As if merely thinking about Magnus summoned him, Ciara’s eyes widened when he stepped through the doorway and into the bath chamber. He took a step back, almost startled by her presence. As her cheeks flushed bright scarlet, Ciara sunk down deeper into the water, trying to preserve her modesty.

“I didnae ken ye were in here…” he said awkwardly.

“Sorry,” she replied. “I just wanted a bath.”

“Ye dinnae need tae excuse yerself.”

With nothing but a towel around his waist, much of Magnus’ body was on display. Ciara’s eyes traveled the hard angles and planes, her lips curling softly as the desire she saw on his face washed warmly through her. He licked his full lips and looked at her with a raw hunger that made her insides quiver.

“I should leave ye in peace,” he finally said.

He turned to go, and Ciara felt a powerful bolt of courage, or perhaps madness, shoot straight through her heart. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Wait,” she said, her voice soft but echoing off the stone walls around her.

Magnus turned and looked at her but said nothing. Ciara’s quivering body sent ripples across the steaming surface of the water.

“We could have died the other night,” she said.

“But we didnae,” he replied.

“But we could’ve.”

He seemed to think for a moment then gave her a half-shrug. “Aye. I suppose so.”

“I dinnae want tae die with regrets,” she said, her voice trembling. “And I dinnae want tae live with them either.”

“What regrets are ye speakin’ of, lass?”

Part of Ciara felt sick to her stomach, but the other part felt a torrent of exhilaration, white hot and breathtaking, coursing through her veins. Licking her suddenly dry lips, she stood up in the water, exposing her bare breasts to Magnus. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he watched her walk to the top step that had been carved into the stone pool. Her legs shook so hard Ciara feared they would give out beneath her as she held out her hand, beckoning him forward.

The tension in the chamber was as thick as the steam from the surface of the pool as Magnus stood there, staring at her. He didn’t speak and didn’t move. He was frozen in place, like a statue, but his eyes were riveted to her body.

“Ciara,” he finally said. “What are ye doin’?”

“Tryin’ tae live me life without regret,” she replied. “Now, come.”

He stood rooted to his spot for another moment. “Are ye certain?”

“I’m certain. This is what I want, Magnus.”

When he dropped his robe and towel, Ciara’s eyes slid up and down his body, the flood of desire pumping through her veins pushing out the fear. She backed down the stairs and walked back into the pool, allowing Magnus to step into the water. He stood before her, his gaze fixed on hers. Ciara’s stomach turned a somersault inside of her and the fear she had felt a moment before came roaring back.

“Are you truly certain, lass?”

She swallowed down the hard ball of fear in her throat and nodded. “Aye. I’m certain.”

“Why?”

“Because I want this… with ye,” she replied. “And because if the unthinkable happens and Fairfax is able tae take me, I would rather be spoiled fer him, and to have a good memory I can keep in me mind. Somethin’ fer me.”

“He’ll never take ye,” Magnus said, his voice firm. “I’ll die before I let that happen. I’m never goin’ tae let anythin’ happen tae ye, Ciara. Never.”

Magnus leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, touching off explosions of delight inside of her. Ciara’s body quivered from head to toe as his tongue swirled languidly around hers. She slipped her arms around the back of his neck, pulling him closer to her. Magnus’s arms encircled her waist and as he pressed his body to hers, she gasped, feeling his rigid length pressed against her belly. Her sex felt like it was aflame and she was gripped by a desire so powerful, it was almost frightening.

They clung together in the water with ribbons of steam curling around them both. A soft moan passed Ciara’s lips as Magnus explored her body with his hands. For being so large and rough, he had a light, gentle touch that raised goosebumps upon her skin and made the heat between her thighs burn even hotter. Ciara lowered a trembling hand and wrapped it around his thick, hard staff and squeezed, drawing a low moan from his lips.

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt ye?” she asked, quickly letting go.

A wolfish grin touched his lips. “Quite the contrary, actually.”

He took her hand and guided it back to him, wrapping her long but delicate fingers around his girth. A slow smile touching her lips, Ciara turned her face up to him, looking deep in his eyes as she began to pump her hand up and down, stroking him. Rapture was etched into his features, and he leaned his head back, eyes closed and moaned softly. Feeling emboldened by the pleasure on his face, Ciara tightened her grip and pumped harder.

“Me God,” he gasped.

Magnus gently grabbed her by the wrist and moved her hand off him, a shaky smile on his face, which was glowing as with an inner fire. Ciara was confused.

“Doesnae that feel good?” she asked.

“Aye. It feels too good.”

She cocked her head, not understanding. Without another word, Magnus picked her up as if she weighed nothing at all and set her on the edge of the pool. Parting her thighs with his hands, he leaned forward and when he slid his tongue between her velvety folds, Ciara cried out. Grabbing his hair with both hands, she pulled hard on it, her body shaking wildly as he lapped at her dripping wet center. It felt so incredible, it took her breath away.

Magnus slipped his hands around, grabbing hold of her backside and pulled her to him, pressing his face even deeper between her thighs, licking and sucking on her wildly. Ciara’s voice was a breathy quiver, and she tipped her head back, squeezing her eyes shut as she cried out. She felt a pressure building up low inside of her and seeming to sense it, Magnus looked up at her and smiled. He grazed her swollen button with his teeth then swirled his tongue around it.

Ciara’s grip on his hair tightened, making him grunt, but his eyes remained on hers, glittering with the hunger she felt on her own face. She opened her mouth but anything she was about to say fell away as her heart dropped into her stomach and she suddenly felt weightless. As if she was falling from some great height. The cry that burst from her mouth was long and shrill as she shook wildly, wrapping her thighs around his head and pulling so hard on his hair, part of her was afraid she was going to rip it out by the roots.

Her entire body shook, and she felt out of control. Her body felt as if it was moving of its own accord, and she could no more stop the powerful waves of ecstasy washing through her than she could stop the moon from rising higher into the sky. Ciara felt as if she couldn’t breathe and for a moment, it felt like her heart had stopped dead in her chest.

Slowly though, her breath came back, and her heart started to beat once more. Her skin tingled and her hair stood on end. She slumped forward as the sensations began to gradually ebb, leaving a lopsided grin on her face in their wake. She had never felt anything so intense or so amazing before in all her life. Magnus looked up at her, his lips and chin glistening with her juices and smiled.

“I feel boneless,” she said. “That was amazin’.”

Magnus said nothing but the glimmer in his eyes was seductive, his face filled with need. He pulled her off the wall and down into the water with him again. Still trying to regain control of her body, Ciara let him guide her over to the rough-hewn stairs. He sat down on the bottom stair, the water rising to his chest, then settled her down astride him. Magnus looked into her eyes, his expression growing serious.

“Are ye certain ye want tae dae this?” he asked.

“There is nobody I’d rather dae this with.”

“Good lass,” he purred.

With Ciara straddling his lap, Magnus took hold of his staff, guiding it to her opening. He parted her soft folds and pressed himself against her then paused, searching her face. The corner of her mouth quirking upward, Ciara took the initiative and rolled her hips forward, sinking his rigid staff deep into her. She gasped and felt her eyes widen as she was gripped by a sharp pinch of pain. She grabbed him by the shoulders, his nails sinking into his flesh.

“Are ye all right?” he asked.

She nodded but didn’t speak. Didn’t move. She recalled Elspeth telling her the first time could be painful, but she didn’t count on it hurting quite so much. Ciara settled herself on his lap, trying to get used to the feeling of his girth stretching her so wide open. She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes and slowly, the pain began to ebb, overcome by a rush of pleasure that felt so good, she giggled. Magnus looked at her like she’d gone mad.

“Are ye all right?” he asked again.

“Aye. I’m fine.”

“Are ye sure ye want?—”

She cut him off by pressing her mouth to his. And as she slowly rolled her hips, sliding herself up and down on his shaft, she kissed him deeply. Their tongues danced around one another sensually as Ciara moved up and down, sinking his staff into her even deeper. Though she still felt some pain, the pleasure that followed seemed heightened.

Magus kissed her neck, gently nipped at her earlobes, and slid his hands down, gripping her backside as she rode him. Their moans and cries of pleasure echoed around the chamber, filling her ears with the most beautiful music she’d ever heard. As the tip of Magnus’ sex plunged even deeper into her core, Ciara felt that pressure building up once more. And as she descended on him, sinking onto his manhood, she cried out as she was overcome by that sensation of falling once more.

Ciara gripped his shoulders, her nails digging half-moons into his flesh as she shook and trembled, the powerful waves of her climax battering her relentlessly. A choked gasp passed her parted lips but before she could get her bearings, Ciara felt Magnus swelling inside of her. A moment later, he threw his head back and let out a long, guttural cry as he exploded. Her eyes widened as she felt the rush of warmth filling her.

They clung together, foreheads pressed together, staring into each other’s eyes. Ciara’s heart was in her throat, pounding in her ears. Magnus placed a soft kiss on her lips and lifted her chin so he could look her in the eye.

“I’m goin’ tae keep ye safe, Ciara. I’m goin’ tae protect ye,” he said quietly. “I’m nae goin’ tae let anythin’ happen tae ye. Ever.”

A small smile on her lips, Ciara laid her head on his shoulder and embraced him tighter and tried to hold back the tears that welled in her eyes. She’d never felt more cared for in her life. More than that, she’d never felt safer. She knew it would complicate things, especially since she hadn’t yet decided if she was going to leave Dunvegan or not. But she knew if she even decided to go, she could leave with a fond memory that would help sustain her, that would make her smile whenever she thought of it. She’d given herself to a man on her terms. And that was something else she would forever cling to.