Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Alison awoke to an empty bed. She'd only slept with Finn for a few nights now, yet she felt abandoned when she awoke alone.

She dressed quickly, anxious to see what was happening in the kitchen. The few maids and Maude, the cook, had returned to their duties, but the few who were not sick had caught whatever it was the others had so the kitchen was once again missing staff.

The kitchen seemed to be in working order.

"Good morning, my lady," Maude said, always cheerful.

"Thank ye, and the same to ye, Maude."

She took a mug of ale and a piece of warm bread with butter. After finishing that, she headed to the stable to take a morning ride.

That was a treat for her since she hadn't done it the past few mornings since she'd had to see to the morning meal. After grabbing an apple for her horse, she left the keep and headed to the stables.

Old Kilmead smiled as she entered the building. "Good morn, Lady Mackay."

It took her a minute to realize by marrying Finn she had gone from Lady Alison to Lady Mackay. It didn't seem so odd since she'd been a Mackay all her life. If things had worked out the way they'd been planned, she'd be Lady Sinclair right now.

And living at Castle Sinclair Grinigoe as Archie Sinclair's wife. She shuddered thinking about the way he strode around the keep, like a rooster looking for a mate, yet he had a mistress he didn't need to impress.

He certainly had not impressed her. Even if she had to butt heads with Finn for the rest of her life, it was better than being married to that man.

"I ken it's been a few days, but I hope ye have Bonnie-Bay ready for me.

"I do, my lady. I just have to send for someone to ride along with ye."

She told herself not to take out her anger on the old man. He was only doing what he was ordered to do by her arrogant husband.

"I doona wish to disturb anyone and take them from their chores. I will be fine by myself." She moved to take the reins of Bonnie-Bay from Old Kilmead.

"Nay, lass. I have orders from yer husband to make sure ye doona ride out by yerself."

"I'm my lady's escort." The voice behind her was familiar and brought warmth to her body parts and a frown to her face.

"Doona ye have work to do, my lord?"

He took the reins of Morag that Old Kilmead handed him, telling her the stable master knew that Finn was coming to escort her.

Although she resented having an escort—especially one ordered by her husband—she was pleased to see Finn had taken time from his busy day to ride with her.

He grinned as he lifted her by the waist and settled her in the saddle. "No more complaints about an escort?"

‘Twas her time to compromise, but not completely. She raised her chin. "Nay. But doona think ye can continue to go behind my back and give out commands and orders."

He jumped on Morag and they turned their horses in the direction of the wide open fields and raced down the hill in the cold, early morning air.

She could tell he was holding his horse back so they could ride together since she'd seen the power of Morag. Besides the pleasant air, the leaves on the trees turning bright yellow and orange—a sure sign winter would be on its way—cheered her.

Glancing over at her husband, she felt a jolt of happiness. When it was announced by her da that she was marrying Finn, although she rebelled, she felt a wonderful sense of relief.

After the intimacy they'd had in the stable, she knew she would never have been happy to spend the rest of her life with Archie.

However, since that time, she had grown to actually be, if not happy, at least content with Finn. Aye, he was arrogant and controlling but she had to admit most, if not all of his orders had to do with her safety.

No one had cared about her safety since her brothers died. But, she told herself, there were ways she had to keep him from taking over her life.

"I always jump the hedges there," she called, hoping with the wind he heard her.

He nodded, so apparently he was not going to try to talk her out of it. She eyed the distance between them and the hedges and grinned as he continued to ride beside her.

With a smooth jump, she sailed over the hedges, Bonnie-Bay taking a soft landing. She rode a bit more and turned to see Finn fly over the hedges. He waited for her to go first, most likely thinking she couldn't do it.

"I have no problem doing that jump," she said with a frown.

"I dinna think ye did. I just wanted to watch my wife's arse as she did it."

Not sure if he was serious or not, she grunted and they walked their horses to a small pond so they could give the animals a rest.

Before she could hop from the horse, Finn had his arms around her waist again and lowered her to the ground, sliding her smoothly against him.

Various parts of her body came alive, and she had the urge to rub herself against him. He must have known her thoughts because he smiled at her and leaned closer. "‘Tis nice and private here, wife. And the grass is tall."

Her heart began thumping and she looked up at him. Aye, she knew from the look in his eyes what the man had in mind. A slight annoyance would be good. She smiled brightly. "Aye, ‘tis nice. Mayhap we can collect flowers."

He pulled her against him and growled. "Let's get the horses settled and we'll see about collecting flowers."

They led Morag and Bonnie-Bay to the edge of the pond, rubbed them with the tall grass, and fastened their reins to a tree. Finn turned to her. "Flowers?"

Her heart was beating so loud he must have been able to hear it. "Aye." Her voice was scratchy, just as parts of her body were.

Finn hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around him. He bent his head and touched his lips lightly to hers, moving them back and forth. If there was air in her body, she didn't know how to access it.

"Hold onto my shoulders."

She did as he asked, and he unlaced the front of her bodice, spreading them apart, exposing her breasts to the cool air and warm sun.

He stared at her as he gave one nipple a lick. She sucked in a breath.

"Ye like that, lass?"

"Aye."

"Should I do it again?"

"Aye."

This time he took her breast into his mouth and fed on her like a bairn. Everything inside her tightened and the area between her legs grew moist and swollen. It amazed her what this man could do to her with so little effort.

He eased her to the ground, and her dress fell to her feet. Were she not so muddle-headed by Finn's attentions, she might have been a tad disturbed about being stark naked in the field she'd ridden past so many times.

Almost as if he read her mind, Finn said, "As I mentioned before, the grass is nice and tall." But just to be sure, he scooped her up into his arms and laid her gently on the ground. He quickly removed his clothes and laid alongside her.

Finn was always so pleased with how responsive Alison was to his touch. He was also amazed that this beautiful, passionate woman was willing to sell herself into a cold marriage.

He ran his hands over her body, loving the dips and curves and how she moaned as he fondled her breasts, which, he'd learned, were very sensitive.

No shy maiden, her hand wandered down his chest, tugging on the short hairs and ending at his cock which he thought could not grow any more.

He was wrong.

"Ach, Mo Chridhe, ye handle me so well." He slid his hand over her belly and touched the warmth waiting for his cock.

Alison was already moaning and tossing about. With a smile on his face, he slid down her body, hooked his arms under her knees and raised her, his mouth equal to where she needed help.

He licked, the moistness on his tongue like honey.

"Ach, Finn, that feels so good."

She no sooner got those words out than she jolted and her entire body shuddered. She shoved her fingers into his hair and tugged until he felt as though he would be bald when they returned to their horses.

"Aye, Finn. Doona stop."

He pulled her closer and sucked the stiff piece of flesh just begging for his lips, bringing her to more jolts and trembles, until she finally collapsed and released his hair. He took a quick look at the grass to see if fistfuls of his locks lay there.

It appeared his hair had made it. With a quick movement, he climbed up her body and thrust into her wet warmth. He groaned and worried that he would not be able to last long. Something about this woman and the way he affected her was like no other.

He had almost begun to think marriage to Alison would be a good thing.

Not lasting as long as he would have liked to, he gave one final thrust and rolled off, then pulled her close and tucked her against him.

"I'm thinking it would be a good idea to put our clothes back on," Alison said, with a yawn.

"Aye. ‘Tis private here, but ye ne'er ken who might wander by."

Now that they had cooled down, it seemed quite chilly, so they dressed and headed back to the horses, hand-in-hand.

Once they reached the keep, they went their separate ways to their own duties. Alison was surprised to feel a sense of loss once Finn bent and kissed her and strode off to the keep to grab something to break his fast before heading to the lists.

Like a silly, giggly lass, she stared at him until he took the stairs two at a time before disappearing into the great hall.

His strong back, brawny shoulders and muscular legs kept her attention much too long.

She needed to get her mind back on her duties. Just because Finn could make her feel so very good did not mean she could trust him. Or allow him to control her.

Feeling more herself, she walked around to the garden to take note of the herb garden. She entered the kitchen and grabbed a mug of ale, a chunk of bread and an apple. After she was through with the garden, she had decided it was time to do the inventory of meat for the coming winter.

She finally stopped thinking of her husband.