Chapter Fourteen

O utside his window, the starlit sky was astonishingly beautiful that night. With only a tartan around his recently bathed body, and bare feet upon the cold stone floor, Alexander shivered.

After one last long look up at the sky, he closed the shutters and walked to stand in front of the hearth, the fire warming his cooled body.

Thoughts whirled at all that had happened that day and he absently reached for his glass of whiskey to drink. The amber liquid left a trail of warmth as it moved down his body.

It had been an eventful day, tomorrow the Grants would leave after having formed a bond between them.

Thankfully, the Grant had not insisted that Alexander consider marriage but had good-naturedly agreed to the terms the Ross council and he had discussed thoroughly. All in all, it had been a good visit and a perfect way to wrap things up after the long seasons of chaos and fighting that his clan had suffered.

After folding the tartan over the foot of the bed, Alexander slid between the blankets waiting for the inevitable warmth to lull him to sleep.

The bìrlinn swayed haphazardly. The vessel taking on water whilst the sea tossed it about. His shoulder hit the side of the boat, and he swore.

How was he there?

"Alex. Alex." Nala was there? They were in danger. Somehow he had to warn her. It was so dark that he had to rely on her voice to find her.

"Alex."

Alex sat up with a start and looked about the darkness for a moment, some of the shadows looked familiar. Was he still dreaming?

Movement beside the bed made him lunge toward it, grabbing the person and pulling them down face-first onto the bed.

It was a woman, and by her plump bottom that he was pressed against, she wore only nightclothes.

"What are ye doing here?"

Whatever she said was unintelligible, since her face was pressed into the bedding. Finally, she turned her head sideways. "Let me up, ye idiot."

"Nala?" He released her and she scrambled to stand beside the bed, pushing her hair back from her face. "Was that necessary?"

"Ye cannae walk into someone's bedchamber in the dead of night and not expect to be confronted."

"Attacked," she stated, her pretty face now lit by the dwindling embers in the hearth. "Why would ye attack someone who tries to wake ye."

"I thought I was in a bìrlinn." At her perplexed expression, he asked, "Is something wrong?"

She gave him an impatient look. "Will ye marry her?"

"Ye came here to wake me and ask if I am marrying someone?" Alexander pretended to be mad while wondering how long it would take Nala to realize he was bare as the day he was born.

"Will ye be marrying Connor Grant?"

"That is neither here nor there. I asked ye a question first," the stubborn lass said, crossing her arms. "Well?" she added with a tap of her bare foot.

"Ye do realize it is a cool night. Ye have no shoes and I, well, I am missing a lot more than just shoes."

First she looked him up and down, then her mouth fell open. She went to take a step, but instead fell backward onto the bed and sat. The result was that her face was level with his sex.

"Oh goodness," Nala covered her face. "Why are ye naked?" she asked, face still covered.

"I often sleep bereft of clothes," Alexander replied. "That is why I keep a tartan on the foot of my bed."

"Put something on," she hissed.

He took his time walking to fetch said item, then wrapped it and deftly secured it at his waist. Although the cloth fell just past his knees, it left most of his upper body vulnerable to the coolness of the room.

"Ye can look now," Alexander said unsure he wanted Nala to move away from his bed. He'd pictured her there several times, and each time it had ended with him having to take himself in hand.

He'd finally accepted that the woman aroused him like no other. Even then, his staff began to harden.

"What, pray tell, is so important it brought ye to seek me whilst I slept?"

Her eyes flickered to his face, then down his body, as if assessing if he was truly dressed. Alexander did his best not to smile. Despite her protests, and asking that he dress, there had been desire when taking him in. There was no doubt in his mind, Nala was there because she wanted him. Whether she admitted it to him or herself was something he'd like to know.

"I asked if ye plan to marry Leah. Ye didnae reply."

In three strides, he closed the distance between them. "I have nae decided." In truth, he doubted he'd ever marry the lass. He'd not considered them to be compatible.

Nala took him in. "It is either aye or nae. How hard can it be?" She looked up to the ceiling. "I am sure ye ken what ye plan to do."

It would be easy to say that he'd already decided not to marry Leah; however, this interchange was quite enjoyable. He wanted to see how far Nala would push.

"Ye didnae answer my question either," Alexander stated. "Will ye marry the Grant's son?"

Nala's shoulders lifted and lowered. "The decision will be made by my father and yerself. I have little say."

"Do ye wish to?" Alexander hated asking because her reply had the potential to hurt. Somehow he managed to keep a neutral expression.

"I have nae decided," the fiery wench replied. "I see this was a waste of time. I best return to bed." She turned away and took a pair of steps before Alexander stopped her.

"I can make whatever ye want to happen. If ye wish to marry him, all ye have to do is ask."

Nala turned and glared up at him. "Of course ye can. Ye have my fate in the palm of yer hand."

"Why are ye so angry? It is the way of things. At least I am giving ye a choice."

"I am angry because I dinnae truly have a choice. Because no matter what I say, it will not matter in the end. If Father decides that I will marry someone old enough to be my father, or the stinky cobbler from the village, that is what I must do."

Alexander wrinkled his nose. "The cobber is stinky?"

Obviously it was the wrong time to joke, because Nala threw herself at him, hands balled into fists and face contorted with rage she hit his chest.

Caught off guard, Alexander stumbled. Stepping on the edge of his tartan, he lost his balance and fell backward. In his effort not to fall, he grabbed Nala. They hit the floor, Nala landing hard on his stomach knocking the wind out of him. Not wishing to allow her to gain an advantage Alexander held her atop him. It was possible the vexed lass would kick him if she stood up and he was still on the floor.

"Let me go!" Nala hissed, struggling. "Surely someone heard the noise ye made and will arrive shortly."

Alexander met her gaze. "Ye want to ken what I think?"

She slid a look sideways. "Not really."

It wasn't a no , so he continued, "I think ye want me. Ye cannae stand the thought of me with another. Ye are angry because ye cannae except that ye are in love with me."

Nala struggled to free herself from his grasp, but Alexander held her firm. "Tell me I am wrong. Kiss me Nala to prove me right."

The words seemed to take the fight out of Nala, and her wide eyes met his for a moment before moving to his mouth. Seeming to catch herself, she jerked her gaze back up.

"I will dinnae such thing."

"Kiss me."

Again she hesitated, but the hunger in her eyes was palpable. Finally, Nala let out a soft breath and to his delight her mouth crashed over his, taking him with so much fervor, his eyes fell closed and at once the coldness of the stone flooring didn't bother him one bit.

Releasing her hands, Alexander slid his up and down her sides, until stopping at her round delicious bottom and palming it. He pulled her against his hardness, and she gasped at the realization of how she'd affected him.

She was inexperienced, but it mattered little because never before had Alexander felt so disarmed as he did in that moment.

Trailing his lips up her neck, reaching her earlobe, he nibbled it gently. Nala let out the softest of moans.

Once again he took her mouth, her plump lips parting for him. He loved the delicious way she responded with eagerness.

His hardness pulsed demanding more. "Ye should leave Nala. There is only so much control I can have."

For a moment she stilled and then lowered her head onto his chest. Having her in his arms felt right. Perfect even.

"I dinnae wish to leave."

A burst of relief filled him. He wrapped his arms around her and holding onto her tightly he rolled them both over so that he could take her mouth again. The kiss was different this time, her fingers threading through his hair. Again her lips parted, and he delved into the sweet taste of her, their tongues twisting in the erotic dance of lovers.

He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. "Nala," Alexander whispered, "I have thought about ye here in my bed so many times."

Eyes soft, lips swollen, a dreamy expression, how was it possible for her to be more beautiful? "I have thought about ye as well," she replied. "Kiss me, Alex."

He loved it when she used his shortened name, and it was like a caress over his heated skin.

He picked her up and carried her to his bed, then Alexander took her mouth, running his hands up her legs, pushing her nightshift up and up until she was bare from the waist down.

The touching of skin against skin sent shivers up them both. Nala released a soft sound much like a happy kitten when he trailed kisses from her neck. He pushed the nightshift further up, exposing her beautiful breasts. They were not big, nor small, but perfectly proportion. The tan tips pert, inviting him to partake.

He finished undressing her, pulling the cumbersome piece of clothing over her head. Nala didn't shirk or try to cover herself when he admired the view of her beautiful body.

"Tell me to stop at any time and I will," Alexander said while kissing her lips. He then lowered to pay homage to each breast, sucking each tip into his mouth, teasing the tiny buds with his tongue. The whole while Nala squirmed, her legs sliding up and down, as she tried in vain to quelch the feeling.

"I feel as if on fire," she rasped. "What is it?"

"Arousal," Alexander replied. "Allow it to flow through ye. Dinnae fight it." He peered down at her.

Sliding his fingers up her thigh she stilled and arched her back in anticipation. "I-I want more… please."

Of course this wasn't his first time with a woman, but for some reason it felt so new, so very different. Alexander wanted to relish each second, to ensure Nala was fully satisfied and sated by the time it was over.

When she ran her hands down his back, exploring his body, her touch was bolder than he would have expected. Not hesitant in the least. Nala's lips curved. "I expected that ye would have a lovely body."

Pride filled him and he was glad to have taken care with bathing earlier. "Ye do as well."

She looked up at him, eyes half closed. "The pull between us is strong. I cannae deny ye anything right now."

At the invitation, he moved further up her leg until his fingers reached her sex and he slid them between the folds. Heat and wetness met his touch and Nala arched into his hand. Splaying her apart, Alexander circled the nub with the pad of one finger and Nala gasped.

Eyes closed and lips parted, she urged him to continue.

Her panting against his ear was so sensual his already hard cock was becoming like stone. He wanted her more than anything, and he was losing control of his senses.

"Augh!" Nala came undone, shuddering as she found release. Her nails dug into his shoulders, and she kissed his neck, suckling just beneath his jaw.

"I want more," she whispered.

"Nala, are ye sure?" Alexander's words were hoarse as he fought to maintain control. "Ye should go, now. I cannae keep myself from taking ye."

He started to roll away, but she clung to him as her life depended on it. "Nae. I want ye to be my first. I want to experience this only with ye."

His sex responded, throbbing with need and he let out a long breath. Wild horses could not stop what was about to happen.

His reasoning fled, and all he knew was that the woman in his bed would be his and no one else's. His fate was sealed, and he didn't resent it one bit.

Taking her mouth once again, Alexander positioned himself over her, then he guided himself to her entrance.

Nala trailed kisses from his mouth to his jaw and then down his neck as he moved up so that they were aligned.

She remained so wet, he almost came when the tip of his cock came in contact with her sex.

It was a battle to keep from thrusting fully into her. It was her first experience, so he was forced to be gentle.

Nala pushed her head back against the bedding, not seeming at all nervous. Instead, there was a soft smile on her lips, and she grasped his bottom.

Inch by inch, he entered her. Then upon feeling her maidenhead, he took her mouth and slipped his tongue between her lips. She kissed him passionately, her hands gliding up his back. Alexander nipped her tongue gently as he thrust into her.

She stiffened and gasped a slight frown marring her beauty.

"It only happens once. It will pass," Alexander whispered into her ear.

After a moment she relaxed, her eyes meeting his with so much trust, he wanted to hold her forever. However, his throbbing cock demanded attention. He began to move slowly, in and out in a steady rhythm.

It was only moments before Nala's mouth fell open, her breathing jagged as she began to ascend, her body responding to his movements.

Eyes shut, she moaned loudly making his heart swell. His fiery lass was made for lovemaking. It didn't surprise him in the least.

Alexander slid his hand beneath her and lifted her so he could take her fully and plunged into her, barely able to keep from spilling at the sight of the beauty beneath him.

His entire body shook when he didn't allow himself release, wanting her to come first. Lowering her, he bent and took her mouth again, kissing her until she panted.

"Oh!" Nala arched her back and shuddered as she climaxed.

Finally Alexander allowed his own body free rein, and he came with so much force he had to push his face into the bedding to muffle his moans.

His body trembled, hips pushing into Nala as he lost all control. Stars burst behind his lids and the room spun round and round as he grasped Nala tightly waiting for the rush of his release to pass.

Whatever this was, it had never happened before.

Alexander collapsed over Nala, his harsh breathing matching hers.

"I am crushing ye," Alexander said a moment later, his voice breathless as he rolled to his side bringing her against him.

"I didnae mind," she whispered and pressed a kiss on his chest.

"I was nae sure what to expect," Nala said breathlessly. "It is wonderful. Ye are wonderful."

A chuckle escaped. "With ye, aye."

She let out a sigh and soon her breathing steadied as she fell asleep.

A smile lingering on his lips Alexander allowed sleep to take him as well.