Chapter 5

Annella watched the frown cross Graeme's face at her question. He seemed to think hard before speaking, but finally said,

"The night o' yer wedding, after ye were taken above stairs by the women, William pulled me aside and asked what I thought

o' ye. I was honest and said ye were a pretty lass and seemed smart and kind. I thought he was lucky in our parents' choice

o' bride fer him."

Annella swallowed back the sudden lump in her throat at those words. She'd felt so unattractive and unlovable these last six

years since her husband had abandoned her, that she was pathetically grateful for Graeme's kind words.

"William agreed with me," Graeme added and then caught her face when she started to turn her head away. Meeting her gaze,

he said firmly, "He did. He thought ye beautiful, and said in the short time he'd been allowed to spend with ye the day before,

that ye'd proven to be sweet and sharp-witted. He was actually lookin' forward to married life with ye, and that worried him."

Annella blinked, and straightened slightly. "What? Why?"

"We had a cousin, Ellie. She was tiny like you. She was married the year before, just a few weeks ere she would ha'e turned

sixteen. Nine months later she died on the birthing bed along with the bairn she was strugglin' to bring into this world,"

he said solemnly. "William was worried fer ye. Ye too are small and slender like our Ellie was, and ye'd turned sixteen no'

long ere the wedding. He was afraid o' the same thing happenin' to you. He was also concerned about how to ensure the first

time was no' horrible fer ye. He wanted to cause ye as little pain as he could. So ye would no' loathe the marriage bed."

Sighing, Graeme lowered his head briefly, and then raised it again and admitted, "I suggested he go talk to the village lightskirt,

Maisie."

" What? " she squawked with shock and a bit of anger.

Graeme nodded apologetically and explained. "I thought—and told him—that she should be able to give him advice on how to pleasure

ye properly and ease yer first time. But I also thought—and told him—that on top o' that, she most like kenned ways to keep

from gettin' with child. After all, she was a lightskirt, if she did no' ken how to avoid gettin' with child, she'd have had

a dozen o' them hangin' off her skirt by that time. I suggested mayhap she could tell him those ways and he could tell ye

so ye could avoid gettin' with child fer a year or so and ha'e a better chance o' survivin' the birthin' bed."

Annella slumped in his lap, all the starch going out of her. Dear God, Graeme was the reason her husband had gone to the lightskirt he'd ended up running away with.

"I do no' believe he ran away with Maisie," Graeme said as if reading her mind. "He ne'er showed any interest in her ere I

sent him to her. He ne'er partook o' her pleasures either, and I ken that fer a fact."

"How?" Annella asked at once.

"Because she told me so herself," he responded. "The night ere yer wedding she asked me did Will think he was too good fer

her or something, because he ne'er came to see her. She said to tell him she'd happily service him and fer free that night

as a weddin' gift."

When Annella's eyes narrowed on him, he said, "I did no' pass on that message."

"Nay. I'm sure she told him herself when he went to her for advice," Annella said dryly. "And at your suggestion."

Graeme reached out to brush a strand of hair back off her cheek. "I ken me brother. If he did leave on a pilgrimage, it was

most like because he did no' like whatever method she used to prevent gettin' with child and would no' expect or want ye to

do it. Mayhap he feared he'd no' be able to resist bedding ye, and thought to avoid ye fer six months to a year to let ye

age a bit and give ye a better chance at survival."

"What mean you if he did leave on a pilgrimage?" she asked, eyes narrowing. "Payton said ye found his body just outside Jerusalem." He'd told her that just this morn while they were breaking their fast, along with several other little stories about the journey it self, most of them including Graeme and things he'd done or said. It had quickly become clear to Annella that her brother liked and respected the man she'd just given her virginity to.

"Aye, we did," Graeme admitted, and then shrugged helplessly and said, "But William was the newly sworn laird here. He took

that seriously and was no' the type to shirk his responsibilities to run off on something as lengthy and useless as a pilgrimage."

They were both silent for a minute, considering that, and then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, before saying, "But

it seems he did, and the only reason I can think he did was fer you."

Annella lowered her head and pondered what he'd said. Graeme didn't think William had run off with Maisie. Yet Maisie had

gone missing the same night her husband had left. Graeme also found it hard to believe William would abandon his responsibilities

as new laird and ride off on a pilgrimage. Yet they'd found his body outside of Jerusalem. It was beginning to sound to her

as if Graeme hadn't known his brother as well as he'd thought.

"The point is, lass," Graeme said, drawing her from her thoughts and urging her face up so that she met his gaze again. "You

are a prize, a fine one indeed, that any man would be lucky to have." He brushed his thumb over her lips gently. "William thought

so too, and did want to consummate with ye. As for me..." Leaning back a bit, he let his gaze slide down over her body

where he'd set her.

Annella was suddenly aware that she was on her knees, her legs straddling his hips, her gown bunched up around hers, and the unlaced front of her gown gaping open so that her breasts were on view. Graeme's eyes almost seemed to catch fire as his gaze took all that in. Then he reached out to rub the knuckle of one finger over one nipple and smiled when it instantly hardened.

"Aye," he said, his voice a low growl. "Ye're no' makin' me do anything. I find ye more than desirable. I plan to wed ye as soon as I can and bed ye as often as I'm able."

The last word was a bare whisper against her lips before he claimed her mouth in a searing kiss that had her shifting eagerly

against the hardness caught between them and wrapping her arms around him. But Graeme immediately urged her back a bit so

that his hands could close over her breasts and caress and fondle them as he kissed her.

Annella responded eagerly, all thoughts of the past and her inadequacies pushed from her mind as he brought her passions to

life. When his hands left her breasts for her hips and he lifted and shifted her until he could lower her onto his staff,

Annella broke their kiss and threw her head back on a long moan of pleasure.

"Aye, love," Graeme groaned as she raised herself slightly and lowered herself again. "That's it. Ride me," he growled, then

closed his mouth over one nipple. He suckled it briefly, then rasped his tongue over the hardening tip as one hand left her

hips to slip between them to caress the center of her excitement. His other hand was still at her hip, urging her up and down,

setting a tempo that soon had them both gasping and panting with need.

Annella was a second away from finding her pleasure, and completely taken by surprise when Graeme suddenly gave up caressing her, caught her at the waist and lifted her. Her gown slid away then, snaking down her body to pool on the ground just before he set her back down, this time on her knees facing away from him.

He'd shifted to his knees, Annella realized when she came to rest against his groin. He moved one hand between her legs and

began to caress her while the fingers of his other hand wrapped around her thigh and urged her back until she felt his shaft

press against her opening. When he slid into her again in this position, she gasped and reached back for him. Finding only

his side, she gave that up and instead held on to his lower arms for balance as Graeme began to pump into her while his hands

continued to touch, fondle and caress, one between her legs and one moving over her breasts.

Whimpering at the three-pronged assault, Annella twisted her head against his chest and then froze when he began to kiss and

nip at her neck. Turning her face back and up to him, she was relieved when his lips covered hers and he thrust his tongue

into her mouth. She sucked feverishly at his tongue until she couldn't control her actions anymore and then cried out as her

passion overtook her. She was only vaguely aware that his voice quickly joined hers.

"We should return to the keep."

Annella opened sleepy eyes and gazed over what she could see of the clearing. She was lying on Graeme again and appeared to have dozed off. Her gaze slid skyward as she tried to determine how long she'd slept and she frowned when she saw that the clouds overhead were heavy with rain.

"We'll be lucky do we get back ere the rain comes down," Graeme said, following her gaze.

"Aye," she breathed and forced herself to move.

Annella was quick about dressing, but paused once her gown was on as she noticed the bits of food and fruit staining it. Her

gaze shifted to the fur then and she briefly closed her eyes. They'd just set out the food when she'd kissed the man and set

light to their mad passion. Unfortunately, in their feverish need for each other they'd forgotten all about the food, and

it was now crushed and ground into the fur as well as their clothes.

A soft laugh by her ear was followed by Graeme pressing a kiss to her forehead. Then he gathered her up in his arms and turned

toward the river.

"What are ye doin'?" Annella asked with alarm, catching at his shoulders.

"We need to clean up," he pointed out gently as they reached the water's edge. He began to wade in. "Do we return like this,

all will ken what we've been up to."

"Aye, but—" Annella cut off the words and snapped her mouth closed as she felt the cold water reach her behind, and Graeme

dropped to his haunches to submerge them both. The water only reached their necks when he stopped, which was a good thing

because Annella was squealing at the shock of it and would have got a mouthful.

When she saw that Graeme was grinning at her cat erwauling, Annella snapped her mouth closed again, scowled at him and then pressed his chest, demanding release. He let her go at once and she shifted away and stood. The water hadn't been quite to Graeme's waist before he'd squatted, but it was well past her own. Annella shuddered in response to the cold liquid, but didn't rush out. She was in it now and may as well clean her gown ere getting out. She was still scrubbing at it when Graeme waded out of the river. He was back a moment later though with the fur they'd been seated on.

With her gown as clean as she would be able to manage, Annella let it drop and then moved over to help Graeme with the fur.

Already soaking wet, neither of them paid much attention when the rain started, they simply finished what needed doing, then

made their way out of the water and over to the horses.

The beasts were cowering as close to the tree trunk as they could get to avoid as much of the rain as possible. Feeling bad

for them, Annella gave both horses a soft word and pat before Graeme caught her by the waist and lifted her into the saddle.

"I'll talk to yer brother the minute we get back," Graeme said suddenly as he mounted his own horse. Once seated, he glanced

her way and asked, "Do ye wish a big wedding with yer parents and—"

"Nay," Annella interrupted, frowning now. "I told ye. I'll no' make ye marry me."

"And I told you that ye're no' makin' me," he countered with irritation.

"Well, ye're no' makin' me either," she snapped.

Graeme scowled. "I took yer innocence, lass. Honor demands I marry ye."

Annella snorted at the claim. "You merely took what yer brother neglected to. Something everyone already believes he took."

Noting the agitation this seemed to be causing him, she sighed and said more calmly, "I enjoyed what we did, but I'll no'

make ye marry me o'er it and have ye come to resent me. Now, let's head back and get out o' this rain."

She didn't wait for a response, but put her heels to her mare and set her moving, leaving him to follow.

"I'm marryin' yer sister."

Graeme was aware that Payton froze where he sat to the left of him at the high table, and then jerked around to gape at him.

He was also aware that Symon and Teague, who sat on his right, were reacting in much the same way. He didn't look at any of

them. Instead, his gaze was focused firmly on the mug of ale he was presently turning on the tabletop.

"Ye asked her?" Payton said finally.

"Aye."

"And she said aye?" Payton sounded surprised.

"Nay," Graeme admitted.

There was a pause and then Payton asked with confusion, "She said nay?"

"Aye."

Payton let out his breath. "So, ye're no' marryin' Nella?"

"Aye. I am marryin' her," Graeme assured him. "But I need yer help."

Turning to the other man, Graeme saw that the ex pression on Payton MacKay's face was one of bewilderment as he said, "But if she does no' want to marry ye, I can no'—"

"What will happen to her does she return to MacKay with ye?" Graeme asked, interrupting him.

"Well... I suppose me da will arrange another marriage fer her," he said slowly.

"She does no' want that," Graeme announced. "She has decided to don her widow's weeds and live out her days at MacKay."

Payton's eyes widened at that.

"Oh, ye poor bastard," Teague said, eyeing MacKay pityingly.

Annella's brother straightened at once and scowled. "Me sister is a perfectly lovely lass. She can live at MacKay as long

as she wishes. E'en after me parents are passed and I'm laird. She's always welcome there."

"I somehow do no' think she'll only be livin' there though," Symon commented.

"Nay," Teague agreed.

"What mean ye by that?" Payton demanded, sounding a little concerned.

This time it was Graeme who answered. "They mean the lass has run Gunn for six years, inside and out. She's ruled the servants,

the soldiers, the villeins, the serfs and just every livin' creature under Gunn clan protection." He paused and raised his

eyebrows. "Do ye really think she'll be able to just stand by and abide, keeping her nose out o' matters at MacKay? Or anywhere

else she resides fer that matter?"

Payton frowned. "Well, she only did that because William left, and yer father was injured. She had no choice. I'm sure she'll be happy to relax and allow others to take the lead now so that she can embroider or... do whatever women like to do."

"Ye think so, do ye?" Graeme asked with amusement, and when Payton nodded, he said, "Am I no' laird here now?"

"What?" He appeared bewildered by the question. "Aye. It was made official yestermorn. Yer people pledged their fealty to

ye and everything."

"Aye." Graeme nodded, and then asked mildly, "Then why is yer sister o'er there bending me first's ear and—judgin' by his

solemn face and the way he's noddin' his head—givin' him orders?"

Payton followed his gaze and stared in horror at where Annella did appear to be instructing the man on something.

"Does she do as she plans and stay at MacKay, she's yer problem," Graeme pointed out.

Payton hesitated, and then shook his head. "I'm sure Da will arrange a marriage fer her. She's too young to—"

"She does no' want to marry again. She does no' think 'tis fair to take from yer inheritance to make a second dower fer her."

"A second dower?" he asked with surprise. Payton obviously hadn't considered that his sister would be expected to have another

dower should a marriage be arranged.

Before Graeme could respond, Teague leaned forward to eye the other man with amazement. "Ye think any laird worth their salt

wid take the lass without a dower? Nay," he assured him. "She'll need a dower."

"A hefty one too," Symon said solemnly. "Pretty as she is, she's getting long in the tooth."

"Added to that, she was married for six years with no bairn to show fer it," Teague commented.

"Her husband has been away these six years," Payton snapped irritably.

"Aye, but how many men ken that?" Symon asked, and then pointed out, "Graeme did no' e'en ken about that, and her husband

was his brother."

"'Tis a shame the consummation did no' get her with child," Teague said now. "Then any prospective husband wid at least ken

she could produce them."

"There was no consummation," Graeme announced.

"What?" Payton gave a disbelieving laugh. "I was at the wedding, Gunn. The bloodied sheet was hung from the rail the next

morning. It was consummated."

"William must ha'e cut his hand or cut himself elsewhere to produce the blood. Or mayhap yer sister did, but I assure ye,

the marriage was no' consummated."

"How would you know?" Payton asked with obvious disbelief.

"Because she still had her maidenhead when I tupped her this morn."

"Oh." Payton frowned and then his eyes widened with shocked realization and he jumped to his feet. Scrabbling for his sword,

he whirled on Graeme, roaring, " What? "

"And that's the other reason ye should help me get her to marry me," Graeme said mildly. "She could be carryin' me bairn e'en

now."

Payton hesitated, apparently undecided whether to battle him for daring to tup his sister or not. Graeme's making it plain he wanted to make things right and marry her seemed to decide him and finally, he slid his sword back into its scabbard, growling, "Well, I'll get her to marry ye. I'll tell her she has to. She can no' just go around being tupped and no' marrying."

He turned, no doubt intending to march over and tell her right then, but Graeme caught his arm and jerked him back to sit

at the table again. "Ye canno' order her to marry me."

"I can. I'm her brother and our da is no' here. That means she's in me charge. If I order it, she'll ha'e to—"

"I did no' mean ye could no' order it. As her brother ye ha'e the right," he said soothingly, though he suspected, right or not, Annella wouldn't

obey the man. She had been too long making up her own mind on things to just bow to others now. Actually, Graeme suspected

she was going to present something of a challenge as a wife. Oddly enough, he didn't mind the idea.

"Then what did ye mean?" Payton asked with irritation when he didn't go on.

Blinking his thoughts away, Graeme shifted his gaze back to the brother of the woman he hoped to marry. "I meant..." He

hesitated, and then said, "Look, do ye go o'er there rantin' on how I tupped her this morn, and she must wed me to retain

her honor, she'll ken I told ye."

"Aye, she would," Symon commented. "And I'm thinkin' that wid no' be a good thing."

"It'd mean a poor start fer the marriage," Teague agreed.

"Exactly," Graeme said grimly. "And I'd rather no' ha'e a poor start."

Payton relaxed a bit and nodded with understanding. "Then how can I help ye claim her to wife?"

"Ye need to catch us tuppin'," Graeme announced. "Then ye can act all outraged and say honor demands I marry her. I'll agree,

and..." He shrugged.

Payton stared at him as if he were mad for a moment, and then said, "Ye're tellin' me ye're goin' to tup her again? And ye

expect me to be all right with that?"

Graeme scowled. "Well, we'll no' be actually tuppin' when ye catch us. Ye need to interrupt ere that. But we needs be far

enough along that the situation is obvious and ye can be outraged."

"And when is this to happen?" Payton asked with concern.

"I do no' ken," Graeme muttered, eyeing the woman across the hall who was now talking to his second. She appeared to be giving

orders to him too, he noticed. Marriage to her was definitely going to be interesting. There would no doubt be many battles

over power and struggles for control. Graeme liked challenges, battles and struggles. At least he'd never be bored.

"Well, how am I to interrupt if ye do no' ken when 'twill happen?" Payton asked with exasperation.

"Ye'll ha'e to follow us around, will ye no'?" Graeme said with some exasperation of his own. "But make sure ye're no' seen,

or she'll no' allow tuppin' and the whole plan'll go to hell."

"How am I to do that?" Payton asked with disbelief.

"We can help," Teague offered.

Symon nodded. "Aye."

"How?" Payton asked at once, his expression dubious.

Graeme didn't care to hear how his friends thought they could help. Standing, he muttered, "I'm goin' to go invite her to

walk in the gardens by moonlight. Slip through the kitchens and try to hide yerselves about out there so ye can interrupt

when I start in seducin'. But no' too soon," he warned. "Kissin'll no' be enough to force her to wed. Ye'll ha'e to wait until

I set in caressin' and such. Mayhap let me get her gown off her shoulder or something."

He waited until all three nodded in understanding, then headed over to where Annella was watching his second hurry out of

the keep.

"Is all well?"

Annella turned at that question and smiled faintly when she saw Graeme approaching. The man had been avoiding her since their

return just after noon that day. She knew he'd been annoyed with her over this marriage business. He obviously had a strong

sense of honor, and she admired him for that, but marriage hadn't been part of her plan. She had absolutely no desire to marry

Graeme and be stuck here with Eschina for another six or sixty years. The woman didn't bother her as much as she had when

Annella had been younger, but she was still a thorn in her side. Besides, she suspected the woman would be furious if they

married. It might make her redouble her efforts to make her life miserable. Annella just had no desire to have to deal with

that.

Fortunately, it appeared he'd got over his hurt pride, or the injury to his honor or however her rejection of marriage had affected him and was speaking to her again. It made her smile warmer than it perhaps should have been, as she answered him. "Aye. All is grand. I was just tending a matter or two."

Graeme nodded in understanding, and then said gently, "Ye do ken ye're no longer laird here, do ye no', lass?"

Annella blinked at the soft words, because in truth, she'd forgotten that. She was so used to running everything and ordering

everybody about that she'd automatically questioned both Angus and Brodie. She'd wanted to make sure they'd checked that the

men on the wall had all shown up for the shift change, that Brodie had remembered to arrange a hunt and chosen men for it

for the next day to gain more meat for Cook to make their meals, and various other tasks. All of which were none of her business

now, she supposed. She was no longer the acting laird here. Annella wasn't even sure if she was chatelaine anymore, although

she'd continued to fulfill that role too since Graeme's return.

Much to her relief, he didn't belabor the issue, but changed the subject, asking, "Could I interest ye in a leisurely walk

around the gardens to settle the sup?"

It wasn't just the words that caught her attention, but the way his fingers trailed down her arm and the heat that was pouring

off his chest to warm her side. The man was standing extremely close, and he smelled delicious, she noted, licking suddenly

dry lips.

"Oh, lass, do no' taunt me so," Graeme groaned. "Would that I could kiss those sweet lips yer lickin', suck yer tongue into me mouth and—"

His words died on a surprised grunt when Annella caught his arm and started to pull him with her toward the keep doors. She

couldn't help it. The man had stirred her blood and she needed his kisses and caresses again. It wasn't just his words that

had affected her. He had continued to move his fingers up and down her arm, but shifted them around to the inside of her arm,

so that the back of his knuckles had grazed her breast through her gown with each passing. Now her whole body was tingling,

and it did seem to her that since he started it, he should be the one to fix it.

"Lass," Graeme said a moment later, sounding concerned when she tugged him out the doors, down the steps and headed across

the bailey, "I thought a nice walk in the gardens wid—"

"I've a better idea," Annella assured him, continuing to pull him behind her as she crossed the courtyard at speed. He muttered

something she didn't understand. She caught the words no' to plan , and thought he mentioned her brother, and the names of his two friends, but couldn't be sure. She didn't really care either.

Her mind was focused on one thing. The pleasure she'd enjoyed that morning when she'd seduced him, and seducing him again

to once more experience that pleasure.

Odd as it seemed to Annella, now that she'd tasted the bliss he'd shown her, she couldn't seem to get it out of her mind... and thinking about it just made her crave enjoying it again and again. She was like old Thome at MacKay and his desire for drink. The man hadn't been able to pass a moment without uisge beatha to warm his belly. She was feeling the same way about Graeme and his pillicock. Only it wasn't her belly he warmed with that.

"The stables?" Graeme sounded surprised as she dragged him inside and led him toward the back of the stall-lined building.

"Would the gardens no' be—What are ye doin' now?"

Annella ignored the question. What she was doing should be obvious. She'd released him and was climbing the ladder to the

loft. She hurried up the rungs quickly and moved away from the ladder to give him room to join her. The roof over the loft

was low, making standing out of the question, so she remained on her knees and began to undo her lacings.

"Lass, I really think we should go to the gardens," Graeme argued, but his voice didn't sound like it was coming from behind

her. More like below her.

Glancing around, Annella saw with a little exasperation that he hadn't climbed up to join her. His voice was coming from below. Huffing out a little breath of irritation, she crawled back to the ladder on her hands and knees, and

leaned out to look down at him. "Are ye coming or no'?"

Graeme opened his mouth to respond as he tipped his head back to look at her, but no words came. Instead, his mouth just stayed agape and his eyes widened and then kind of glazed over as he reached blindly for the ladder without taking his gaze off of her. Actually, off of her chest, she realized. She'd got her lacings undone before crawling back to the ladder and her gown was now gaping open with her breasts spilling out.

Smiling, Annella backed away from the ladder, and then glanced around to see what was available. Not much, it seemed. Lots

of straw, some hay too, but nothing else. She should have brought a fur or something, she thought and then glanced swiftly

over her shoulder when Graeme's arms closed around her from behind.