Chapter 11

It was late when Elayne left Isobel’s quarters, walking back to the main part of the castle through the gardens. The moon shone brightly in the sky, the first night in a long while that it wasn’t entirely hidden by thick clouds.

As she walked, an arm wrapped around her waist from behind and she jumped in fear, elbowing her attacker before she could even think of it. Her elbow connected with the man’s ribs and he let out a muffled groan, his arm loosening around her waist until she could finally slip away.

When she turned to face her attacker, though, it was none other than Dunn.

“Is that a way tae greet yer husband?” Dunn asked, attempting to sound teasing, but only managing to sound breathless and in pain.

“Dunn!” Elayne rushed back to him, hand hovering over his ribs, afraid to touch him. Her heart was still beating fast from the sudden touch, but she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm it. “Why would ye dae that? Ye scared me!”

“I was tryin’ tae surprise ye!” Dunn said. He straightened up with a wince, only barely ignoring the pain, and then grabbed Elayne’s hand to drag her into a small cluster of trees near the castle walls, where they were hidden from any prying eyes. “Here.”

As he spoke, he handed Elayne a rose, deep red and fragrant, and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Elayne sighed softly against his lips, taking everything he was giving her, but Dunn broke it too soon for her liking.

“An’ here,” he said without missing a beat, handing her a small basket of sweets. “It’s from the wee lad’s maither. He told her I was the one who saved him an’ she gave this tae me tae thank me, but ye’re the one who deserves it.”

Elayne looked into the basket, amazed by the woman’s generosity. She had met her that very morning when she had inquired after the child, but she had made sure she knew nothing of her involvement in his rescue.

“Shall we go tae our chambers an’ share them?” asked Elayne, but to her surprise, Dunn shook his head.

“I have somethin’ better planned,” he said. “Follow me.”

Dunn led her through the gardens back towards the lake and for a moment, Elayne came to a halt, bile rising to the back of her throat. Sensing her hesitation, Dunn placed a gentle hand on the small of her back, trying to urge her along.

“Trust me,” he said quietly. “I will never let anythin’ happen tae ye.”

It was easy to believe him. Dunn had saved her once from the waters already and she trusted him with her life.

Reluctantly, she let him take her to the lake, and as they approached, she noticed there was a blanket laid over the bank. Spread on it were several different delicacies, from cheese and wine to fruit cakes.

“Ye prepared all this?” Elayne asked, stunned by the sight. As much as she feared that lake, she had to admit that it was beautiful that night, the large moon hanging low in the sky, the air chilly but pleasant.

“I did,” said Dunn with a smile. “An’ I want ye tae dae me a favor.”

This cannae be good.

Whatever Dunn had to ask of her, Elayne was certain she wouldn’t like it, as he never phrased his requests like that. “What is it?”

“I want ye tae come intae the lake with me,” Dunn said, and just as Elayne opened her mouth to refuse, he continued, “Trust me, Elayne. I promised ye naething will happen tae ye. I mean it. The more ye avoid it, the more ye’ll fear it. I’ll show ye there is naething tae fear.”

As much sense as it made, the last thing Elayne wanted was to get into the water. Still, when Dunn began to undress her, she allowed it, at least until he reached her shift. Gently, she pushed his hands away, shaking her head.

“I’d rather keep this,” she said. Though he had made her feel more desirable than ever before the previous night, she still wasn’t used to showing her body.

“As ye wish,” said Dunn and promptly stripped down entirely. In the moonlight, he resembled a fine statue, muscles rippling with every move he made, his manhood hanging heavy between his legs.

Suddenly, Elayne’s throat felt dry.

Taking her hand, Dunn led her to the lake, going in first. At the edge of the bank, Elayne hesitated once more, but when Dunn smiled encouragingly at her, never once letting go of her hand, she took the plunge and joined him.

The water was cold, so much so that she had to press herself against him in search of some warmth. It was shallow where they stood and the water barely reached her chest, so at least she wasn’t as scared and could instead enjoy the proximity, the tenderness of Dunn’s touch as he held her close.

For a while, they stayed like that, simply standing there, breathing together; Dunn allowing her to get used to being back in the lake. Their proximity soon proved to be a problem, though. Elayne could see the lust sparking in Dunn’s eyes as he looked at her body, her soaked shift clinging to her skin, her hardened nipples peeking through the fabric. In return, she ached to touch him, to bring him pleasure once more.

It didn’t take her long to realize there was nothing stopping her. Slowly, she reached for him, pressing her hands to his shoulders, his chest, his stomach, exploring the planes of his body slowly. Dunn was happy to let her, arching into her touch like a giant cat and letting his eyes slip shut with a sigh when Elayne pressed a gentle kiss to the base of his neck.

“If ye keep doin’ this, I’ll have tae have ye,” he said.

“Have me, then,” said Elayne, meeting his gaze. “I’m yers.”

It was all she needed to say before Dunn descended upon her, claiming her lips in a bruising kiss. Elayne wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging onto him as his hand snaked between their bodies, immediately finding that sweet spot, that first touch more exhilarating than anything Elayne had ever experienced.

They were both impatient that night. Elayne had had a taste of what it was like to be with him and her body craved more, her hips rolling on their own accord as he rubbed his fingers in circles over her sensitive flesh. She wanted more, she wanted anything Dunn would give her, but she didn’t know how to ask for it.

“Dae ye want me inside?” Dunn asked and Elayne could only moan in agreement. Though the thought scared her a little, it also excited her. It felt like it was the one thing missing, the one thing her body craved the most. Her answer didn’t seem to be enough for him, though. “Say it. Say ye want me inside.”

Elayne’s cheeks flamed with the request. She didn’t know how to speak like Dunn did. She wasn’t as experienced as he was—she wasn’t experienced like the girls he had had before her either, and though she terribly wanted to please him, she couldn’t help but stammer as she spoke.

“I… I want ye,” she said in a whisper. “Inside.”

“Good lass,” Dunn said, apparently pleased by her response, and he swiftly entered her with a finger. Elayne whined at the sudden stretch, the drag of his finger sending wave after wave of pleasure through her. “That’s it, let me in. Spread yer legs fer me, open up.”

With his free hand, Dunn hooked one of Elayne’s legs over his waist, holding her there as he pumped into her. Soon, a second finger joined his efforts, working her open, his palm slapping pleasurably against her mound with every thrust.

Elayne’s head fell back with a moan, the slide of Dunn’s fingers inside her getting easier with every passing second. When he curled them, a wanton moan was torn out of her and she shook in his arms as he continued to press against that spot again and again, until her orgasm was wrung out of her.

For a few moments, all Elayne could do was shake with the aftershocks and hold onto Dunn, stunned by the force of her climax. Dunn whispered sweet nothings in her ear, his hands caressing a soothing path over her shoulders. When she finally recovered, she did her best to cast all her embarrassment aside and looked at him through her lashes, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth.

“How can I please ye?” she asked, her voice hushed in the quiet of the night.

“Ye already have,” said Dunn with a smile.

“Ye ken what I mean. I wish tae please ye properly.”

As she spoke, Elayne tentatively reached for Dunn, wrapping her fingers around his manhood. She loved the groan that followed, as if he couldn’t help himself, as if he could barely restrain his desire.

“I… I want ye tae take me,” she admitted as she stroked his length, watching his features fill with pleasure. Upon hearing her words, Dunn’s breath caught and he gave her a serious look.

“Are ye certain?” he asked, breathless, as though he had been running for miles.

Elayne nodded. She had been thinking about it and she was certain she wanted it. There was nothing else she wanted more in the whole world.

Slowly, Dunn pulled her out of the water and towards the blanket, where he laid Elayne and draped himself over her body. Goosebumps covered both their bodies in the chill of the night air, but neither of them cared as they kissed, Elayne pulling Dunn between her legs once more and wrapping her arms around him, pressing their bodies together. He pushed her shift up, the soaked fabric pooling around her waist, and then paused, looking into her eyes.

“Ye’re certain? There is nae going back.”

“Aye,” said Elayne.

With that final assurance, Dunn guided himself inside her, his first thrust slow and measured, giving Elayne time to get used to the feeling. It was so intense, so unlike anything she had ever felt before that she couldn’t help but freeze in place, a moan catching in her throat. The moment their hips were flush together, Elayne wrapped her legs around Dunn, rolling impatiently against him.

“Dinnae stop,” she demanded.

Dunn was happy to give her what she wanted, his thrusts slow and deep, his lips pressed to her temple. He made love to her at a maddeningly slow place, the weight of his body keeping her still and making her feel every drag of his length against her walls, every pleasurable twitch of his manhood.

Warmth pooled in Elayne’s core, liquid pleasure coursing through her body. Dunn reached between them, his fingers tracing her folds around where they were joined and pulling a moan out of her.

“Ye take me so well,” he said, sounding just as far gone as Elayne felt. “Dae ye feel how ye stretch around me? So tight, so perfect… like ye were made just fer me.”

Elayne wished she could find the right words to respond to Dunn, but as much as she wanted to, she was too embarrassed, too inexperienced to know what to say. Instead, she simply allowed her pleased sounds to pour out of her lips unbridled, rocking her hips to his rhythm to meet his thrusts. His manhood reached deep inside her, brushing against that spot he had touched when he had pleasured her with his fingers, and her entrance fluttered around him as the pressure mounted, demanding release.

“I will pleasure ye every night,” Dunn whispered in her ear. “I will kiss yer bonnie breasts an’ lick intae ye an’ make ye fall apart on me tongue, an’ then I’ll take ye just like this until ye scream me name.”

His words and deep, hard thrusts were all it took for Elayne to reach another climax, Dunn’s name on her lips like he had promised her. She clenched tightly around him, her entire body going rigid with pleasure and drawing Dunn’s orgasm out of him. He barely managed to pull out of her, his release painting her mound and thighs as he shook through it.

Afterwards, they collapsed in a mess of tangled limbs. For a while, they lay there in silence, basking in the afterglow.

When Dunn moved again, it was to bring a piece of fruitcake to Elayne’s lips. She laughed softly and let him feed it to her, her lips momentarily wrapping around his fingers just to see the hunger reigniting in his gaze.

“Ye’re a seductress,” he chided softly as he slipped his hand under her shift, cupping her breast. He did nothing but hold her, though, his thumb swiping idly over her nipple. “I tried tae go back tae the study but this time it was locked. Blaine doesnae have a key either, he said, but McCoy has one. I saw him alone in the study the other night.”

Elayne pushed herself up to her elbows, brows knitting together. “McCoy has a key? I cannae understand why me faither trusts him. After actin’ the way he does with me?—”

Elayne stopped herself before she revealed anything else, but Dunn’s curiosity was piqued. “Like what?”

There was no way out of this conversation, Elayne knew, so she decided to get through it as fast as possible. “He… touched me as if I belonged tae him. He always has, but he tried again this mornin’. Me faither doesnae ken about this last time, but I dinnae understand why he ever allowed it.”

Blood rushed to Dunn’s face, rage contorting his handsome features. “He hurt ye?” he asked, sitting up, his hands balled up into fists. “I will kill him. I will make him regret ever bein’ born.”

“Dunn,” Elayne said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. She didn’t want this. She didn’t want him to go against McCoy or her father. “Please, promise me ye willnae dae anythin’. I am fine, but I will be devastated if somethin’ happens tae ye. Let’s just leave things as they are.”

She could tell Dunn wasn’t convinced, but he sagged against her, letting her wrap her arms around him and hold him close. “Once I have what I need, we will flee,” he mumbled against her.

“We?” Elayne asked.

Though Dunn didn’t move, she felt him stiffen against her as if in uncertainty. “I have fallen in love with ye, Elayne. This may have begun as a lie, but I truly fell fer ye an’ I wish tae be with ye. If ye’ll have me, I’d like tae take ye tae me family. They would love tae meet ye.”

Stunned, Elayne remained still and silent for so long that Dunn pulled back, looking at her with concern. The moment their eyes met, though, she rushed forward and kissed him, tears of joy threatening to spill down her cheeks.

Not only was Dunn all hers now, but she could have a family for the first time since her mother’s death.

“I’ll come with ye, o’ course,” she promised him. “I love ye, Dunn. An’ I’ll help ye dae this quickly, so we can leave.”

She was confident she could take her father’s key from him. All she had to do was find the right moment, and then both she and Dunn would finally be free.