Chapter Twenty-Seven

Tamsin

Tamsin stood in the gloomy morn, doing her best to ignore the two lassies in front of her who could fire their arrows as fast as anyone she'd ever seen.

"How old are they again?"

"Five and almost four," Dyna replied. "My wee lassies are fierce!"

Tora said, "Mama, watch me. I'm the best."

"Nay, you are not," Sylvi argued. "I am. See, Mama?" The resounding whacks rang out as their arrows hit the hay at the end of their area.

"Astra, take the girls out in search of berries. I need to work with Tamsin alone."

"Aww …" The two voices rose in unison.

Soon after, Sylvi said, "I'll beat you there, Tora."

"Always competing, those two. Tamsin, wait until they are gone. Then I'll work on your stance. Grab something to drink. I'll be right back once I get the girls settled."

Tamsin made her way over to the well off to the side of the courtyard, finding a cup to fill with water before dropping it back into the bucket when she finished. The light lilt of a lass's giggling caught her ear.

Eli and Alaric strolled across the courtyard and out to the lists, if she were to guess, because Eli called out, "I think you need your tunic removed before you can truly swing that sword, husband."

Alaric whipped off his tunic and tossed it to her. "And do you wish for me to remove my plaid too? There are not many around." He tipped his head toward the outer edge where a copse of trees sat. "We can do a fast one, if you like, lassie mine. You first, this time."

Tamsin had no idea what that meant, but she sat on a hidden bench, listening to their conversation, unable to believe all she heard.

"I like it when you pick me up and hold me where you want me. That's the only way, Alaric. Lift me onto you behind the trees or wait until this eve." She glanced over at him. "The weather is mighty fine." She removed her leggings and carried them over her shoulder, then wiggled her bottom at him.

Tamsin was shocked at their behavior, and there was no one around but her to witness their foreplay.

"And where shall I bang hard at you? You only like it hard." He chuckled as Tamsin peeked over at them again.

"Against the wall. If you don't hit me too hard. Hold my upper body still and ram my spot hard." She giggled. "Hard and fast, lover. You know how I like it."

Tamsin was glad they couldn't see how her eyes widened at that. They had to be talking about something different from what she thought. How could they have relations standing up? And Eli had definitely said she liked it.

Liked it?

And as a complete surprise, the two took off into the trees to do whatever they had planned. Within minutes, their mutual sounds of pleasure reached Tamsin's ears. Alaric sounded much like Raghnall, except for his kind words.

"Come for me, love."

"Scream my name, lass."

"Eli, squeeze me."

But the oddest thing happened, something she didn't understand. Eli panted as much as Alaric did. And her words carried as well.

"Touch me. You know where."

"Finish this!"

"More, more."

"Harder!"

"Faster!"

"Oh, Alaric!"

Then a roar and a scream rent the air, both indicating their pleasure.

Dyna appeared in front of her, a wide grin on her face.

Tamsin blushed, and she was glad she was unable to see herself or she'd be more mortified. Caught eavesdropping on a lovemaking session was something she thought would never happen.

Never.

But the oddest part of it was that it was truly a lovemaking session. Eli had expressed her pleasure in such a guttural, soul-ripping way that Tamsin couldn't help but wonder how it had felt. It sounded as though Eli had enjoyed it.

Could the act be pleasurable for a woman too?

"I'll apologize for Eli and Alaric." Dyna sat down and shook her head. "They are one of those couples who enjoy their lovemaking so much that they do it often. More often than most of us, and they have no shame. They do not care who hears them, and they perform as often outside as they do inside. I have to make up stories for my bairns as to what they are doing. Once I blamed it on tree-climbing. Another time I said Eli got stuck on the well pump. I was quite fond of that one."

Alaric and Eli came across the courtyard toward the well, Eli squealing because Alaric had carried her over his shoulder, and she giggled ecstatically, her hands grabbing his bottom under his plaid and squeezing. "I'll wash you up, sweeting." But then Alaric caught sight of the two of them and spun on his heels to take her to the stables instead. Eli never noticed them.

Tamsin couldn't take her eyes from the couple. She whispered, "They truly love each other, don't they?"

Dyna sighed. "They do. How old are you?"

"Eight and ten."

"So, you've never been in love, have you?"

Tamsin shook her head. "My sire chose my husband. I never met him until our wedding day. I didn't know—"

"That coupling could be enjoyable for both? It should be, if the man has any consideration in him."

"It is not painful for you?" All Tamsin could think of was how Raghnall forced her legs apart and ripped into her like a bull.

"If done correctly, the woman has secretions to ease his way. There is a spot that can give the woman pleasure. And sometimes, I like it even if I don't orgasm because we are so close. Like we fit so well that we were made for each other. Makes me realize how we belong together."

"Orgasm?"

"When a woman or a man finds their pleasure, they call it an orgasm. Someday when you find the right man, you will understand. Desire can be powerful. A good husband will find your pleasure spot for you."

"Raghnall does not care about me."

"Or anyone else but himself, I would guess. You will not be married to him much longer."

Tamsin stared at her new friend, wishing to ask how she could be so sure, but Dyna stood, ending the discussion. "Come, we have archery lessons to learn. I'll tell you about the woman who taught me. Eli's grandmother, Gwyneth Ramsay. She once shot a man between his bollocks, pinning him to the tree by his sac."

Tamsin couldn't hide her gasp. "What did he do?"

"He dared to touch her daughter and niece. Hid them from her, which is why she didn't kill him outright. She needed information. He gave it to her once he was pinned to the tree."

"Did he survive?"

"Nay. Died with his hands on his bollocks, dripping with blood."

Tamsin envisioned Dyna's story, shocked by this admission. "He kidnapped the girls?"

"Aye, kidnapped them and locked them away. They'd been with him for days. Gwyneth and Logan were not happy. It was something to see, so I was told."

"He deserved it if he hurt bairns."

"Indeed he did. There have been many tales about that day. It's a vision that makes men cover their private area with their hands. Kind of entertaining to tell it."

Tamsin could envision it, but the man had a different face—Raghnall's.

"Teach me. I can learn."

"I'd be happy to do that. But I have another question for you. Did your mother never talk to you about men?"

She shook her head. "My mother died when I was young. My sister and I were raised by our father. He didn't talk much. Left the hut to hunt in the morn and returned in the eve, expecting to have everything the way it was when Mama was alive. He was not a happy man." She didn't expand on the worst parts of the story.

"Where is your sister now? And is she older or younger?"

"A year younger. Her name is Meg, and I have no idea where she is. I've not seen my family since I was forced to marry Raghnall."

"I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm going to be verra blunt because I'm guessing your father never taught you the one skill every lass needs to know."

Puzzled, Tamsin held her breath because she had no idea what Dyna was about to tell her, but by instinct, she knew it was important. "I'm listening."

"Did you know that hurting a man in his bollocks will cause so much pain that it will drop him to his knees?"

"What?" She'd never heard of such a thing.

"You can kick them between their legs, punch them, and if they are trying to force themselves on you, take their sac in your hands and squeeze. They'll be powerless to hurt you, and it will give you time to get away."

Tamsin wished to scream to the world. Why had no one told her such a thing? She could have stopped the times Raghnall had forced himself on her?

"A word of warning."

"Aye?"

"Make sure you hit them in the right place, and you have a plan to escape, because they will not like it. It's extremely painful. A man like Raghnall will retaliate with his fists, multiple times. But he will be frozen until you get away. But you better run fast."

She could definitely run faster than Raghnall.