8. Chapter Seven

Craig had known from the time he offered to take his brother's place in the betrothal agreement that Lorena was a desirable woman. Her testy remarks, while annoying at times, also lent a certain amount of fire to her eyes. Fire he planned to discover further and unleash in his bed.

He'd waited long enough for this moment and although he'd had more than his usual amount of whisky, and they were to leave at first light in the morning, he intended to take his time and introduce his wife to the pleasure to be had in the marriage bed. He was certain her brutal husband never took the time to prepare her, or make sure she felt satisfied.

He felt her body tightening once he laid her down. He took her mouth again and kept his hand busy running up and down her back to her bottom, giving it a squeeze before sliding back up again. He kissed her eyelids, the tip of her nose, each of her cheeks and then her neck, biting softly, then licking the tender skin.

She moved against him; her body slowly relaxing. "That's it, lass, relax and enjoy it."

"I canno'." He could hear the fear in her voice as she began to draw back.

Her whispered, his hot breath against her ear. "If ye canno' relax and enjoy it, I need to work harder." Reaching under her arms he lifted her so her beautiful, plump breasts were eye level with him. "Ach, I've been waiting to put my mouth on these beauties since the day I gave ye yer bath."

As he took one breast into his mouth, she leaned her head back and moaned. "What are ye doing to me? I feel so strange inside."

"Good. Ye're supposed to feel strange, which will soon turn to want and need." He switched to her other breast and moved his hand down to touch the very core of her. He smiled in satisfaction at the moistness there. He ran his finger over the plump nether lips, then skimmed lightly over the nub at the center.

She jerked and immediately pressed her center to his hand. He raised his head from her breast and his mouth covered hers hungrily, his fingers still busy circling the stiffened flesh. He was pleased when her tongue entered his mouth. The lass was a quick learner.

He had planned to make this last a while, but he'd wanted her for so long, he couldn't help himself. If he didn't take her soon, he would embarrass them both. She seemed ready, which he knew was important so there was no pain involved.

After a few more minutes, he rolled over her and with his knee moved her legs apart. She stiffened and placed her hands on his chest. "Nay."

"Shush, mo chridhe , ‘twill no' hurt, I promise. Ye might feel a bit of fullness, but no'hing more." To relax her again, he began kissing her and fondling her breast while he slowly pushed into her. Aye, she was tight, but he had to remember that while it felt wonderful to him, it could alarm her.

He moved his head down and skimmed his teeth over her nipple. She moaned and spread her legs farther apart. Encouraged, he continued to push inside her. Eventually, he was all the way in, and ‘twas truly heaven. She was moist, soft, and tight. He cupped her cheeks in his hands. "Are ye well, lass?"

She nodded briefly, even with tears in her eyes. Before he began to move, he reached down and again used his thumb to rub the small, stiffened flesh. He had an immediate response as she began to move, throwing her head back and moaning his name.

Lorena picked up his rhythm. Since he knew he wouldn't last long, he slowed down his pace and concentrated more on her. His lips took hers, more demanding this time. She curled into the curve of his body, moaning his name, pulling on his hair. The strain on her face told him she was close to most likely her very first climax.

"Harder, Craig."

The thunder of her heartbeat matched his own. "Aye, mo chridhe. Relax and let me do the work for ye."

His lips continued to explore her warm soft skin. Lorena was breathing heavily and the way she was moving against him, he knew she was close. He circled her flesh harder with his thumb, then squeezed the little nub and within seconds, it seemed, her body stiffened, and she grabbed his hair tighter and let out with a moan so loud, he covered her mouth again with his kisses to keep her pleasure between them, not the rest of the castle.

Once she collapsed, he picked up his thrusts and it didn't take long for him to spill inside her, his heart pounding, his muscles tensing, and a feeling of warmth flooding him like never before.

He rolled off her and gathered her into his arms. They lay together like that while they both tried to catch their breath. After a few minutes, his body cooled, so he moved his hand down and drew the bedclothes over them. Lorena snuggled close to him and before he could wish her a good sleep, she was softly snoring in his arms.

***

Lorena pulled the bedcover over her head. "Go away."

"Nay, wife, ‘tis time to leave. Ye need to dress and break yer fast."

She rolled onto her back to see her husband fully dressed and standing next to the bed, an arrogant smirk on his face. "Now ye doona want me to toss ye over my shoulder, do ye?"

"I wouldn't try it, husband. I have a few tricks of my own," she said with a slight smile of defiance.

"Doona push me." His mirthful eyes denied his tightened lips.

Before she had time to respond, he grabbed her foot and pulled her from the bed. He caught her in his arms before she would hit the floor. "Put me down."

"I doona ken. Yer warm naked body feels quite nice."

The warmth of his arms was so comforting, she forgot her plan to keep him from crawling into her heart. She wiggled and his smile turned arrogant and possessive. Despite his arrogance, she felt safe in his arms. ‘Twas the first time in her entire life with a man.

She pushed his chest. "If ye want to leave, ye need to put me down."

He looked at her, then back at the bed and smiled. "Maybe we have time for one more…"

She wiggled enough that she ended up throwing herself on the floor. "Ouch."

He stared at her with hunger and possession and grinned. "Get dressed. I will see ye downstairs. Be sure to make it quick because I will be sending men up to collect yer trunks and I have no desire for any mon to see my beautiful, tempting wife bare assed."

Once he left the room, she jumped up and after a quick wash pulled on the travel outfit she'd planned for the day. As she put on her shoes, a slight knock drew her attention. "Aye."

Edith entered the room with two men behind her. "They are here for yer baggage."

Lorena waved in the direction of the trunks. She also had a satchel that she intended to carry with her on her horse with personal items she would need for the trip to Dun Ugadale.

She looked at Edith as the men left. "Have you finished yer packing?"

The girl glowed and her cheeks flushed. "Aye. I already sent mine down and spoke with Agnes about leaving with ye. She was surprised at first, and I believe a tad annoyed about losing my help in the kitchen, but then wished me well."

"I guess all we need to do is break our fast and then leave."

"I've already eaten, so I will go outside and make sure everything is packed correctly." She gestured to the satchel on the floor by Lorena's foot. "Shall I bring that down?"

"Nay. I'm attaching it to the horse."

Edith hurried away leaving Lorena to brush her hair and fasten it with a ribbon at the back of her neck. She picked up her satchel and looked around the room. The memories of this bedchamber were mostly not good. She'd spent a lot of time crying and even hiding from her brother.

She was stunned to feel tears gather in her eyes. She placed the satchel back on the floor and wandered around the room. She slid her fingers over the bedclothes and walked to the window. When she left to marry Avery she was happy to be away from her brother. Now she viewed her new life with caution. Would things be so very different with this husband? Men were men and her experience so far had been to guard herself against them.

There had not been anything in Craig's manner since she met him to assume her life would be similar to her other marriage. She smiled remembering the night before. Her husband had been so different from Avery in his lovemaking. Not that she ever considered what Avery did to her as lovemaking, more like violence.

To her surprise, she had actually enjoyed joining with Craig and the feelings she'd never had before. ‘Twas almost as if it wasn't her body. Hopefully, she would repeat the wonderful feeling that had erupted in her.

She took a deep sigh and wiped the tear that made its way down her cheek.

"Is anything amiss?" Craig stood at the doorway to her room, concern on his face.

"Nay. Just saying goodbye."

He walked up to her and took her in his arms. "Are yer memories so wonderful then, that ye dinna want to leave?"

"Nay. But with ye warning David no' to beat me, had I stayed things would have been much better here. I would be left alone." She pulled back, remembering her plan to keep Craig from her heart. "But then, I missed the chance to have that life when ye ordered me to go with ye to yer home."

He pushed a loose curl behind her ear. "Nay. ‘Tis our home now. Ye are a MacKay."

She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "I am a Gunn."

"Aye, so proud of the name ye are." He bent and took the satchel handle. "Time to go, lass."

Lorena looked at the satchel. "I can carry that. I am no' a weakling."

He leaned in closer to her ear and said, "Aye, but I want to save yer strength for other activities."

The heat rose from her feet right up to her hairline. "Doona speak to me that way."

He pretended to look confused. "What? I want ye to be strong enough to last on yer horse all day for the three days it will take us to get to Dun Ugadale."

She wrestled the satchel out of his hand and stormed away as the fool man laughed at her.

Before she left, she had made a point of seeking out Knox. She and the man had gotten along well, but he was absent from the keep so much that she didn't really know him. He wished her well and kissed her on the cheek. "Mayhap I will see ye at one of the clan competitions."

"Aye. I look forward to that."

He squeezed her hand as she walked away.

With Craig breathing down her neck as she ate her morning meal, reminding her that ‘twas time to go, all she managed to choke down was a piece of bread, taking an apple with her.

David approached as she moved from the table to join Craig.

"'Tis sorry I am, sister, that we dinna get along better."

She huffed. "We would have gotten along a lot better if ye dinna beat me every time I went against yer orders."

The Gunn turned toward Craig who was now standing next to her. "Ye better be careful with his one. She gave her husband a hard time and he was forced to beat her, as well. She's a determined lass who has yet to learn her place in life." He waved his finger at her. "Ye better watch that tongue of yers, Lorena."

Craig stiffened and took Lorena's elbow. "No need to warn her, she is my responsibility now."

"For which ye will be sorry."

Lorena scowled at the exchange between her brother and her husband. They spoke of her as if she wasn't even present. She opened her mouth to speak, and Craig squeezed her elbow. "'Tis time to go, Lorena."

She nodded and turned and walked out of the keep. Hopefully for the last time. Even though she had decided not to allow this new husband into her heart, she did hope they could live in harmony. There had never been harmony here.

"Doona let him upset ye, lass. There is no reason for ye to see him ever again."

She sniffed, not wanting to show any weakness. "I am no' upset. I am glad to leave the bastard."

If Craig had been surprised by her language, he didn't say. He took the satchel out of her hand and attached it to her horse. Before he was able to help her up she mounted the animal by herself.

The two wagons had been loaded. Edith sat in one of them, and Lorena then realized that Edith wouldn't have a horse to ride, but she certainly looked comfortable in her snug spot.

The MacKay guardsmen gathered together. Craig gave them instructions on the path they would take and who would ride in front and which guardsmen would stay alongside the group. He paid particular attention to remind the men to be aware of the two women, to ensure they were protected at all times. After naming two men to ride out before them to act as scouts, he held up his hand and signaled for them to leave.

Lorena couldn't help it. She looked back as they rode away. Clyth Castle was a beautiful place, at least on the outside. With David in charge, the inside was dark as the devil's soul.