Chapter 13

“Isuppose there is naething tae be done.”

Elayne’s father paced back and forth in his study, his presence filling the expanse of the room. He seemed to take up every bit of space in there, his figure looming over everything else, overbearing and suffocating. Elayne watched him from her seat by the desk, her gaze tracking his jittery movements.

He had summoned her there to speak about her marriage to Dunn, but there was nothing to be said. Short of killing Dunn and inviting in a whole lot of trouble, there was nothing her father could do to remove him from Elayne’s life. As far as everyone else was concerned, the two of them were legally married. No one could separate them, not even her father or Laird McCoy.

“But ye cost me an important alliance,” her father continued, lips curling back in rage. “Ye dinnae understand what ye’ve done. Ye dinnae understand what this will mean fer the clan.”

Elayne didn’t know what to say to him. Perhaps she could have pointed out that had he not promised a man like Laird McCoy her hand in marriage in the first place, they wouldn’t be facing such an issue now. That would only make things worse, though, so she remained silent, waiting for her father’s fury to dissipate.

Besides, her attention was elsewhere. Ever since she had walked into the room, she had spotted the set of keys that lay on the desk. She was certain one of them opened the door to the study, as her father always carried them with him.

Now all she needed was a chance to grab them.

There was nothing else for her to say to her father, so Elayne stood as if to leave. As she moved, though, she swiped her arm in a wide arc, knocking the cup of wine that sat on the desk and spilling its contents all over her father’s papers.

Within seconds, Laird Macgillivray rushed to the desk, cursing as he tried to save his documents from being destroyed by the wine. In the chaos, Elayne quickly pocketed the keys and then proceeded to try and help, but her father was quick to shoo her away.

“Ye’ve done enough,” he barked at her. “Leave.”

Elayne was more than happy to comply. The sooner she left the room, the sooner she would be away from danger and she could give the keys to Dunn or Blaine. She rushed to the door, but just as she turned the knob, her father stopped her by calling her name.

Elayne froze. Had he noticed that she had taken the keys? Was that it for her?

Slowly, she turned around to face him, her eyes finding his cold gaze. She parted her lips as if to speak, but what could she say to him? She couldn’t confess before he even accused her of something.

“I dinnae wish tae see ye again,” her father said, and the relief of remaining safe was overshadowed by the ache in her chest. Though Elayne had always known this day would come, it still felt as though a sword pierced her heart upon hearing those words. “Ye’re the greatest disappointment o’ me life. Take yer husband an’ leave.”

Elayne didn’t stay to hear another word, though she doubted her father had anything else to say to her. She fled the room, her shoes slapping against the floor with every rushed step, her vision blurred by the tears she refused to shed.

It was late when the door to the chambers opened and Dunn strolled in. Elayne had chosen to eat dinner with Isobel instead of joining her father and everyone else, since the last thing she wanted was to see him again after the conversation they had had that morning, but after talking to her friend, she felt much better. She had forgotten all about her father, all about the heartbreak he had caused her.

After all, he didn’t deserve her tears, her grief. He deserved nothing but her contempt and so Elayne was prepared to cast him out of her mind. By the time Dunn made it to their chambers, she had managed to do just that.

Besides, she had other plans for the night. It was time to put all the skills Isobel had taught her to the test.

“Are ye alright?” Dunn asked as he paused by the foot of the bed, looking at her with a small frown as if he could sense her hesitation. “What’s wrong?”

“Naething,” said Elayne as she stood and grabbed Dunn by the collar, making him sit on the edge of the bed. Dunn, surprised by the sudden gesture, almost lost his footing as he crashed onto the bed. The bemused expression lingered on his face, but Elayne was determined to show him she could be just as good as the more experienced women he had bedded.

With a deep, steeling breath, she straddled him and pulled him into a kiss. Dunn’s hands came to rest on her hips, his lips pliant against Elayne’s, soft sounds falling from them. Elayne couldn’t help the hesitation that made her falter every time she moved, but she fought against it. She knew what she had to do. She had to trust herself.

Slowly, she began to undress Dunn, her hands sliding under his shirt, fingers caressing the expanse of his chest. She felt the ridges of the scars that littered his skin, the warmth of his body, and then removed his shirt, tossing it to the side.

“Are ye certain ye’re alright?” Dunn asked, but Elayne only nodded as she slid off his lap and to the floor between his legs, looking up at him through her lashes. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she smoothed her hands over his thighs and fiddled with his trews to try and remove them, but the laugh that bubbled out of Dunn stopped her.

She didn’t even know why she was trying. There she was, doing her best to please him, and he found this funny—perhaps even foolish.

A blush spread over Elayne’s cheeks at the thought that Dunn viewed her as nothing but a silly noble girl who knew nothing about these things. With a sigh, she pulled back, sitting on the floor with her head between her shoulders.

“I would appreciate it if ye didnae ridicule me like this,” she said.

“I’m nae tryin’ tae ridicule ye,” Dunn assured her, grabbing her hand to pull her back to her feet and then in his lap. Though he was still laughing, he sounded sincere. “I’ve simply never seen anyone look so worried before. What is it, lass? Ye can tell me.”

Elayne didn’t know if she could. It was too embarrassing, especially now that she had failed at her task. At least Dunn had stopped laughing and was now simply looking at her with some concern of his own, as though he truly thought there was something wrong.

“It’s naething,” Elayne insisted, but she knew it wouldn’t be so easy to get out of this without explaining anything. “I simply thought… I wished tae please ye. I ken ye’ve been with lasses far more experienced than me an’ I wished tae be… better. Fer ye.”

With a heavy sigh and a soft smile, Dunn pulled Elayne into a kiss. “Ye are perfect the way ye are,” he said, as he scattered kisses on her cheeks, her jaw, her forehead. “I dinnae need anythin’ more from ye. I am yers only.”

Warmth spread over Elayne’s chest at Dunn’s words, the promise sweeter than anything Elayne had heard before. She could hardly believe her chance meeting with Dunn had brought her so much love, so much happiness.

Where would I be without him?

Had it not been for Dunn, she would be married to Laird McCoy now, spending her life drenched in misery and pain. Not only did she love him, but he was the only reason why she wasn’t rotting by Laird McCoy’s side, why she still had her freedom.

When they kissed again, Elayne gave in to the pleasure without trying to perform for Dunn. If he said she was perfect the way she was, then she was going to believe him. Still, she wasn’t going to let Isobel’s teachings go to waste. What she had told her had been useful, and now that she wasn’t so focused on trying to impress Dunn, she could take the time to touch and feel, to drag her lips over his neck until he shuddered, to trace that same path with the heat of her tongue.

A moan reverberated through Dunn’s chest, Elayne feeling the vibrations of it under her hands. Slowly, she pushed Dunn back onto the mattress, climbing off him for just long enough to remove her dress.

It turned out to be a far more difficult task than she had anticipated, and Dunn jumped up, laughing as she helped him out of her clothes. Once Elayne was finally naked, she worked on the rest of Dunn’s clothes, throwing them all hastily aside.

Within moments, Dunn was once again on his back on the bed, looking up at Elayne as she loomed over him, a devious smile on her lips. Just as Isobel had shown her, she reached for him, wrapping her hand around his manhood and giving him a few slow, gentle strokes, watching him carefully to gauge his reactions. The moment Dunn felt the first touch of her fingers, he sighed, letting his eyes fall shut as he relaxed onto the bed, one hand reaching for her thigh, fingers curling into her flesh.

With a twist of her wrist, Elayne drew a gasp out of Dunn, the hand around her thigh tightening. Emboldened by his reactions, she shifted lower and lower until she could finally wrap her lips around the tip, sucking gently.

Dunn shook with the effort it took him to stay still, the hand moving from Elayne’s thigh to her hair, fingers carding through the strands as she took him deeper. Soft groans tumbled out of his lips and upon hearing them, Elayne only doubled her efforts, eager to bring him pleasure. She relished every drag of velvety skin against her tongue, every small twitch of Dunn’s hips, every breathless sound he made as she bobbed her head in a slow rhythm, her hand stroking what she couldn’t reach with her lips. Dunn was impossibly hard in her mouth, his skin heated, his chest already heaving. Elayne had never seen him like this before, so entirely at her mercy, and the mere sight of him like this aroused her, wetness gathering between her legs.

“That’s it,” Dunn encouraged her. “Ye look so bonnie, mo ghraidh. Take it. Take it deeper.”

Elayne looked up at him as she tried her best to take him deeper. Her efforts were rewarded with a broken moan, Dunn’s gaze like a physical touch on her, just as hungry as it was adoring.

“Wait,” Dunn growled suddenly, his hand reaching for the base of his length and squeezing tightly. Elayne paused, pulling off him slowly with one last drag of her tongue. “I willnae last like this an’ I want tae be inside ye. Come here.”

As he spoke, he pulled her closer, but just as Elayne thought she could settle on his hips, he kept tugging at her, grabbing her waist and making her straddle his face instead.

Elayne flushed from head to toe. Nothing could have prepared her for how exposed she felt like this. Even though Dunn had pleasured her with his mouth before, this felt entirely different and Elayne couldn’t help but squirm in embarrassment, feeling too bare to his gaze.

“Dinnae fash,” he said, craning his neck so that he could brush his lips over her mound, tongue darting out to taste her. Elayne let out a surprised yelp, hips twitching away, but Dunn was quick to grab them and still her. “Come, take yer pleasure from me. Dinnae stop until ye’re satisfied.”

As he spoke, he laid back on the bed and pulled Elayne firmly over his mouth, his hands encouraging her to roll her hips, to grind against him. Elayne had to brace herself against the headboard, fingers curling around the dark wood as she held onto it for dear life. Dunn’s tongue was hot like a branding iron against her, swirling around her folds and prodding against her entrance. A warm wave of pleasure rolled through Elayne’s entire body with every swipe of Dunn’s tongue, every brush of his lips. When those lips closed firmly around her sensitive spot, sucking hard, Elayne all but screamed, the vibrations of Dunn’s answering moan echoing throughout her entire body.

She was so close already, her arousal building up ever since she had first decided that would be the day she would try to pleasure him like that. Dunn wanted her to do as she pleased—he had asked for it, and so Elayne tried to push back all her inhibitions, finally giving in to her desire. She began to roll her hips in earnest, grinding mindlessly on Dunn’s tongue, her eyes rolling back in pleasure.

Dunn’s response was enthusiastic. His muffled moans filled the room, mingling with her own as his hands travelled up her body, fingers closing firmly around her nipples. A few tugs and a swipe of his tongue was all it took for her to reach her climax, falling apart over him as his name was torn out of her in the form of a scream.

It took Elayne several moments to return back to reality, her vision whiting out. When she could move again, she rolled off Dunn and collapsed next to him, gasping when he wiped her slickness off his face with the back of his hand.

He wasn’t done, though. His manhood still strained against his stomach, just as hard as when Elayne had been pleasuring him. With a content sigh, Elayne spread her legs wide and pulled him between them, Dunn instantly guiding himself inside her.

Elayne gasped. She was oversensitive, highly aware of every drag of Dunn’s manhood against her walls. But she was also pliant after her climax, her body slick and open for him, taking him deep inside with the first thrust. Dunn rocked against her slowly as Elayne wrapped her legs around his waist, barely pulling back before he buried himself in all the way once more. His movements didn’t have the feverish urgency of their previous couplings. They were both happy to enjoy those moments, the proximity of their bodies without any hurry.

“Ye’re so big,” Elayne said as she dragged her fingers down the expanse of Dunn’s back. She wasn’t so much trying to seduce him now, like Isobel had told her, but rather simply spoke the truth as Dunn split her open. “I feel ye everywhere. So deep inside me.”

Dunn groaned in her ear, arms wrapping around Elayne as his thrusts became more insistent. The brush of his groin against her with every movement of his hips was enough to bring Elayne close to the edge once more, the stimulation caught somewhere between pleasurable and overwhelming.

“Ye’re so close,” Dunn said and it wasn’t a question. “All ye need is just—” a thrust of his hips, angled just right to have sparks of pleasure bursting behind Elayne’s eyelids, “a little—” another thrust, this one powerful enough to fold Elayne in half, Dunn buried to the hilt inside her. He brought his thumb to his lips, wetting it thoroughly before he pressed it against her most sensitive spot.

“More,” he whispered, thumb circling her relentlessly, once, twice, three times before finally wringing her orgasm out of her. Elayne reached her second climax with a wail and as she clenched hard around Dunn, she brought him over the edge, too, drawing out his own release.

The two of them stayed like that for a long while, sweat cooling on their bodies as they laid together, tangled up in a knot of limbs. Neither of them was willing to move. Dunn laid his head on Elayne’s shoulder, fingers caressing a winding path over her skin, tracing the contours of her hip, the ridges of her ribs, the swell of her breast. All the while, he mumbled muffled praises to her, telling her how beautiful she was, how she was made just for him, how he was going to marry her properly once they were out of that castle.

Elayne fell asleep to Dunn’s sweet words, the smile never once fading from her lips.

As much as Dunn wanted to stay all night with Elayne in bed, they both had work to do. When it was late enough that no one else in the castle was awake, Dunn gently shook Elayne awake, the two of them quickly cleaning up and dressing before they snuck out of their chambers, heading to Laird Macgillivray’s study. If they managed to copy everything they needed that night, then they could finally leave that place and Dunn could be reassured that nothing would happen to Elayne again—not while they were with his family.

They made it to the study without bumping into anyone. There were no guards, no one to stop them and question them, though they had several excuses ready to give if they were interrupted. Soon, they were both in the study, copying the laird’s plans under the light of a single candle, trying to be as quiet and as invisible as possible.

Dunn and Elayne worked quickly, their pens scratching out the words hurriedly on several pieces of paper. The entire time, Dunn kept his ears open for any approaching sounds, but it seemed they were all alone in that part of the castle.

Perhaps too alone.

How could it be that there was no one around? Even at that time of the night, with how long it had taken them to copy everything, there should have at least been some guards passing by. Had they been so lucky as to come into the study when the laziest of the guards, who neglected their rounds, were keeping watch? Dunn doubted they were that lucky.

Once they were finished, Dunn rolled up all the papers and put them in his pockets, giving none to Elayne just in case. If they were caught, he could say that it had been all his idea and he was using her to get to the plans. Then, he blew out the candle and opened the door, making sure the corridor was empty before he pulled Elayne along.

There was a peculiar shiver at the back of his neck, though, the hairs on his nape standing at attention. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there were eyes on them, watching their every move, even though he couldn’t spot anyone.

It wasn’t until they reached the end of the corridor that they were suddenly ambushed by four men who had been hiding just around the corner, waiting. Dunn’s hand flew to his dirk, but before he could even remove it from its sheath, pain exploded on the side of his face as one of the men struck him with the hilt of his knife.

The last thing he said before darkness enveloped him was Elayne’s name.