Chapter 16

"Ainslee!"

Malcolm stood dead, as a white silhouette of Ainslee floated into the room. It was dark.

Moonlight drenched the room, blanching out the edges of her shape.

Malcolm blinked. In the closed up walls of the smiddy shop, he was the only one awake. Ainslee"s father had gone to bed some time ago, and Marisse had long departed for home.

Only Captain James" snoring could be heard, filling the room like a thick siren.

"Ainslee?"

It was more of a question, because he could not see her face. She was just a blur in the half-light, as Malcolm squinted through the crack in the door.

A sharp blast of winter burst in, dancing rings around the smiddy, and giving escape to the smoldering embers in the fire. Slowly, the door opened, revealing Ainslee"s face. Malcolm"s heart lifted.

"Och, so tis ye!" he said, relieved. Ainslee entered the room, removing her hood. Malcolm watched, transfixed, as her hair fell to her waist. It was wet. It had been raining.

Or possibly snowing. It was hard to tell from the confines of the smiddy. Looking up, Ainslee smiled, absently.

"O" course tis me. Who else did ye expect to see?"

She made her way into the smiddy, setting down her pocket bag. Glancing around swiftly, she lit a rush from the firelight, and carried it over.

"Where are they all?" she asked, her dark eyes glinting in the dark. Malcolm felt himself weaken. The scent of Ainslee"s perfume wafted over him. He closed his eyes.

"Asleep," said Malcolm. Ainslee came to sit beside him. Now they sat together, side by side, in front of the sleepy firelight. A rush came over Malcolm.

"Braw," said Ainslee, drowsily. He could see the tiredness in her eyes. He felt it too. A sudden heavy aching encased him. He felt an overwhelming urge to hold her, just touch her. Her hand was just there...

Self-consciously, Malcolm flinched back, leaving Ainslee to look at him awkwardly.

"He wasnae there," she said, unexpectedly. This brought Malcolm up straight. Blinking, he questioned her.

"Who wasnae there?" he said. Sleep was calling him. It had been all night. But despite its call, he had resolved to wait for her. It had been hard. Who knew that sitting about could be so tiring?

Perhaps it was everything building up inside him - the anticipation, the traveling... He had gone through a lot to make it back to her. The last ten years flashed through him. It had been overwhelming, but suddenly, it did not matter. Now, she was there.

"Bruce," said Ainslee, smiling. Her dark eyes shone, as she turned her head to face him. "He wasnae home. So there"s nae use in going to the keep now..."

This news washed over Malcolm. Then he remembered something. "Och, but ye shouldnae have traveled alone! Ye left wi" out telling - an" I was going to come too!"

"Nae," said Ainslee, her jawline tensing. "That was the whole point in me going to find oot more... we dinnae want word o" ye going to get to Bruce afore yer ready..."

"But Ainslee, tis dangerous for a lass on her own, ye shouldnae ha" traveled...," Malcolm said, beginning to chide her. But something in her eyes stopped him.

"I didnae... Bobbie from the shop came wi" us," said Ainslee, smoothing things over.

Reluctantly, Malcolm nodded. "Braw," he said, whilst inwardly wishing it had been him instead. Then, a stray, jealous moment descended. "Um, who?"

His thoughts must have shown. Laughing, Ainslee said, "Naeone, och, tis just the hired hand, nae mair than a lad!"

Malcolm blushed. "Och," he said, before turning to Ainslee. She was radiating sensuality. It was hard being near her. Gingerly, Malcolm grinned. "Well, that"s braw then!"

Bringing her shawl around her tighter, Ainslee drew up towards him a little closer. "Tis jeelit oot!"

"Here, lass," Malcolm handed her another blanket. Ainslee took it, snuggling softly. Malcolm"s heart panged.

Idly, she scrunched her curly hair. It was wringing. For the first time, Malcolm noticed she was soaking.

"Lass, yer drookit!" He couldn"t help it. His hand went to her hair, touching it.

Smiling ruefully, Ainslee drew closer. She was right beside him now. Malcolm felt his heart beat.

"Aye, aye I am. Tis auld wives and pike staves oot there! An" all for nothing..."

Ainslee smiled sweetly before him. Malcolm felt his stomach prickle.

"Naething," he said, pouring her a dram. Ainslee took it, without speaking, and sipped deep from the cup, before sighing.

"Naething?" said Malcolm. He longed to touch her. It was burning him. Instead, he found her another blanket, and pressed it in against her clothes.

"Gramercy," she said, taking the blanket. "But really, I should get oot o" these wet things..."

Ainslee arched an eye towards him, leading Malcolm to almost total apoplexy.

"I, um, I can look awa"," said Malcolm uncomfortably. Ainslee just laughed. "So, um why was it for naething?" he asked, looking down.

"Didnae deliver it," said Ainslee, laying something down. A clinking of metal sounded against the hard smiddy shop floor. Malcolm could not see it, but looked around.

"Whit?" he said, glancing. Ainslee smirked, out of nowhere, she placed something cold across him. "Och!"

"Lookout!" Ainslee grinned, brandishing a large sword at his face. "I"ll have yer heid!"

Malcolm blinked. Lowering the sword, Ainslee brought it closer, before handing it to him. Taking the sword, Malcolm examined it.

Holding it to the fire, he ran his finger along the jeweled hilt. "A bonny piece o" kit," he said, admiringly. Although it was hard to see, Malcolm could feel its quality. "Ye"ve done a braw job..."

Ainslee"s eyes twinkled. "I ken," she said. "Too good for yer brother... I was glad he wasnae there. This sword should be yers..."

Malcolm felt his senses prickle. With no warning, he was emotional. The dark gemstones glinted in the poor light, as he lifted it to his shoulder.

"I cannae," he said, simply. He handed it back to Ainslee, who shook her head.

"Ye can," she said. "Ye can an" ye will, because I tell ye, Malcolm, ye had better win in this fight..."

Ainslee"s voice was trembling, to Malcolm"s astonishment, she looked on the verge of tears. Emotional himself, he rushed to comfort her.

"Lass," he said, bringing his arm around her.

This.

For so long, he had longed to comfort her. Now he finally could. Softly, she leaned into his arms, the perfume in her hair teasing him as they embraced.

"Ainslee," he said, his heart beating fast. There was so much he needed to tell her. His hand fell to his pocket, where he felt where the posy ring was. He so much wanted to surprise her with it - but had she even noticed it was missing?

Confused, Ainslee turned towards him. Malcolm opened his mouth to speak to her. He wanted to propose again, properly, with the inscripted ring. On a whim, he brought it out, wrapped it around his finger, and clutched it tight. Then suddenly, his throat was dry.

Coughing, Mal"s nervousness surged. Everything he had been about to say dissolved inside him. It seemed trite, unreal. With sadness, he realized for sure, he could not say it. Quickly, he stashed the ring away, fastening it back down into the back of his pocket.

Instead, he looked in her eyes. "I meant it," he said, suddenly. Ainslee looked up, as if she did not understand what he was about. Malcolm took her hand.

"I meant it when I said, I nae meant to go away...." he reached her with his eyes. Malcolm knew just then, that she believed him. Giving a little nod, Ainslee watched him carefully.

"I ken," she said, as he continued.

"I was taken, Ainslee, it took a long while until I kent who by,., but when I did, it made sense...," imploring, Malcolm gripped her palms maybe too tightly. Then, realizing, he relented, easing off in his touch.

Softly, Ainslee"s eyes closed on him. "Bruce," she said, softly. "Aye, I ken, an" I believe ye..."

This was allthat Malcolm had longed to hear. His heart almost flooded there and then.

"Thank ye," he said, caressing her hands. A strange rush whooshed at him. For a moment, he was so overwhelmed he forgot everything completely. "I wouldnae have left ye an..."

"I didnae think that...," Ainslee"s voice came high and broken. It wobbled off into a silence, as she looked away. Deftly, he stroked her cheek, slowly bringing her around. With coaxing, she turned to face him.

"Nae think," said Malcolm, his palms sweating. He held her in his hand, and then leaned slowly forwards. Softly, he caressed her perfect cheeks. Ten years, and she was as soft as silk.

"...I didnae think I"d ever meet ye again... we"d nae..."

Malcolm put his finger to her lips, then replaced it with his own. Soft and deep, he kissed her. Shocked, Ainslee"s eyes widened, but she did not stop. Instead, she slid her own hand around the back of his head, massaging his hair.

A sensual fire went off in Malcolm"s head. The sweetness trickled down, almost immediately, igniting his belly, his thighs, his stomach, his loins...

"Malcolm," Ainslee sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. He stroked her silken hair, he had missed this. Ainslee"s dark curly locks wound softly around his fingers. It felt good. But already, in her eyes there was regret.

Malcolm"s heart shrank, as she pulled quickly back.

"Och," she murmured, straightening herself up. Malcolm"s disappointment was palpable, however, he tried his best not to show it. Ainslee rearranged her hair. "I... we... shouldnae..."

For a minute, her eyes just burned, glowering in the half-light in front of him. He could feel her body heat, it was raw. He wanted to lean in, to kiss and hold her, but forced himself to stay there.

A small grin curved around Ainslee"s lips. A sudden, impetuous light came into her eyes.

"Fasten up, lad," she said, smiling softly. She pulled at a hair wisping down into Malcolm"s face.

Then, she peered forwards, delivering him a sensual kiss. Ainslee kissed deep, her tongue exploring him, gently running around his mouth. Malcolm held her still. This time he was not stopping, and for several minutes they stayed tight, pressed together.

"Mm," Malcolm murmured. He could barely breathe, but even so, he didn"t want to relinquish her. After the last ten years, he never wanted to let go again. Tenderly, Ainslee held him, her sweet arms taking him in her warmth.

"Do ye remember the first time, here, in the shop...?"

* * *

Ainslee"s heart burned.Everything was mushrooming. All these complex thoughts, the emotion. It was quickly becoming too much. Glowing by the fireside, Malcolm"s energy seemed focused on her. There was something unnerving about it.

But in a good way. Malcolm"s green eyes winked. "Remember, hen, how can I forget?"

He stroked her hair, and held her there, tightly in his arms. Ainslee giggled. For a minute, she worried. What if her father were to come in? But hearing his snoring, she relaxed. Leaning back, she was transported straight away to the same room, ten years ago.

Malcolm was visiting, on the pretext of ordering a candelabra for the keep. Quite why the son of the laird would occupy himself with such a mundane task, did not enter her father"s head, who spent a disproportionately long time blathering on to Malcolm about just about everything apart from the task he had been asked to do.

Malcolm had endured her father"s laborious lectures on the shoeing of a horse (again, nothing to do with the task in hand) with surprising grace. It seemed to take forever for him to leave the room, but finally when he did, they had just stood and stared.

"So, then," Ainslee had said, eyeing him strangely. A mad rush had come over her, and she was sweating profusely. It was mid-autumn. She would always remember. The first of the fall leaves were on the trees, turning the most delicious russet brown.

He was watching. That was all she could recall, his eyes. They followed her about, seemingly undressing her as she moved around.

"What did ye come for, really?" Ainslee flashed at him. Malcolm squirmed. In truth, she had surprised herself with her directness. But she couldn"t be bothered playing games any more.

There had been so many games before. That day in early September, had been the first time she had stopped playing them. For months now, they had been inching closer, but never quite getting there. Ainslee was done with all that.

Malcolm"s eyebrows rolled. "Ye dinnae shilly shally do ye?"

Ainslee just laughed. "Whit do ye think?"

And before she knew it, he was just in her arms. She was not sure even how she did it. It just happened, their first kiss; surreptitiously, to the sound of clanging tongs.

"Ye like to live dangerously?" murmured Malcolm, as her father worked in the room behind them. The entire time, his voice could be heard.

Ainslee just shook her head, and smiled. In truth, she did not know what she was doing, just that she had waited so long to be with him.

Gazing through the half-light, Ainslee shook herself from her memories. That was ten years ago, now, here she was again. Her heart was a flood of feelings, none of which she understood.

Plainly, she faced Malcolm.

"So here ye are, all over...as if nothing has changed," she mused, as Malcolm watched her. He took her hand.

"Naething has changed," he told her. Ainslee felt a pang. She wished it was so. But in some ways it wasn"t. Sensing she needed persuading, Malcolm tried again. "Nae where it matters... Ainslee, tis braw to be back..."

He smiled, and Ainslee"s shoulders prickled. He was still the same; the same firm jawline, albeit this time covered in a long thick beard. And his eyes still twinkled, although, she noticed, a little less than before.

If anything, his time away had improved him, in a slightly roughened way. She couldn"t help noticing the calluses on his fingers, though; they hadn"t been there before.

...And the dryness of his hair, the sea had thickened his dark auburn locks, but only for the better. Holding into him softly, she still recalled the lad that had left her. Choking back a sob, she unraveled.

"Mal, tis only the thoughts o" oor olden days that got me through all this," she admitted. The floodgates were out. There was no going back now. Malcolm looked at her strangely.

For half a minute, she regretted it. Should she admit this to him? Ainslee froze, watching carefully, Malcolm"s green eyes. Then, he smiled.

"Lass, ye dinnae ken what that means," he buried his head into her hands, making her strangely tense. A deep, powerful tingle took her, seeping its way inside...

Ainslee felt herself surging, thoughts she just could not stop poured in. She needed him badly.

But Malcolm was serious. His green eyes connected with her. "Because I thought o" literally, naething else..."

Then he delivered a deep and lingering kiss, the kind that teased at her, sapping her strength. Ten years had passed, since she had felt his kiss. Or anyone"s.

Sighing, Ainslee gave in. Malcolm was in her arms, gently exploring her. His fingers caressed her cheeks, running from her jaw to her eyes, He watched, entranced. Ainslee saw the hunger in his green eyes, it spurred her on. Soon, they were ravenous. Kissing each other with a newfound passion.

Desire pumping through her, her hands caressed him, leading from his chest downwards. Malcolm made no attempt to stop, but simply stood there, his eyes glazing over.

Around them everything was still. The noises of the day subdued, and the only interruptions were the occasional gusts of wind sweeping the village.

"Ainslee, lass, I cannae," he began, his eyes gazing off. Ainslee tugged him hard.

"Ye dinnae have to," she said, kissing him. "I can..."

Tenderly, Ainslee caressed him, bringing Malcolm down to the floor. She had not noticed sitting down, but there they were, side by side, in front of the lowering fire.

They kissed, for what felt like ever, but as their caressing became more intense, Malcolm finally withdrew from her.

"Nae," he said, in a soft voice. Ainslee looked up, as he was buttoning his clothes, reassembling his leine. Blushing, Ainslee had not noticed her hands going underneath it and exploring his satin skin.

The sensation of his skin still tingled on her fingers. Softly, Malcolm kissed her, and moved away from the hearth.

"Nae," he said, kindly. "Tis nae right, I cannae just take yer innocence, nae like this..."

Sitting herself up, Ainslee looked put out. "Whit if I say ye can?" she asked.

She was about to tell him she was twenty-eight, and more than old enough, when he kissed her softly on the mouth.

"We wait," said Malcolm, pulling her up from the ground. Ainslee felt herself stirring. Her emotions were suddenly pumping through, hot and cold.

"Ye wait," said Ainslee, hotly. An angry gust had taken her. Now she felt shamed. "I"ve waited ten years for ye... but I ken it wasnae the same for ye!"

"Ainslee!" Malcolm protested, but Ainslee did not give him the option. She was on her feet, eyes blazing.

"Nae, ye nae waited for me, ye had yer fill, I heard ye wi" James!" Ainslee pouted. Malcolm could say nothing. He knew it was true. Ainslee"s eyes flashed virtuously.

Now Ainslee was trembling. Her head was full, she could not take this anymore.

"I tell ye, Mal, when ye go to yer brother... ye better fight him well. I want ye to live...until then, I dinnae ha" anything to say to ye!"

With that, Ainslee turned on her heel, and went running, back to the box bed in the backroom. Her heart was bumping at record speed. But it was only when she reached her bed, she let herself loose.

Slamming her head down on the pillow, she sobbed hard. It felt like she did not stop sobbing until well after the birds rose for dawn.