; ; He slowed the horse to a walk just inside the outer bailey. The castle ; loomed dark and mysterious before him. Dismounting, he tethered the ; horse to a nearby bush. From this point on, he would have to travel by ; foot.
; ; After a few minutes, he found the hidden gate just where she'd said it ; would be. Mercifully it swung inward with only the barest of ; creaks. He had no time to stop and admire the profusion of flowers in ; the garden within; time was of the essence. Feeling along the castle ; wall, he counted 19 stones up and 40 stones over. Pressing hard, he ; heard more than felt, a section give way. Saints bless whichever old ; laird who'd constructed these secret passageways!
; ; Coming to the door at the end, he swung it open, and stood there ; staring across the room, his breath catching in his throat. She was ; seated on a stool before the hearth, brushing her hair. Clad only in a ; linen shift, the light illuminated her from behind, showing the curves ; hidden beneath. She continued brushing, oblivious to his presence in ; her chamber.
; ; She was as beautiful as the first time he'd seen her. It was almost a ; month ago, and he had come with others of his rank, to swear fealty to ; Lord Magnus. She was sitting at the high table, a vision in white. One ; of seven girls who had been sent to Magnus' household to be fostered, ; she was the youngest, and by far the prettiest.
; ; After the oaths of fealty were given and the banquet had started, he'd ; managed to arrange an introduction to her. From the slight blush on ; her cheeks to the demure fluttering of her long lashes, he had known ; he would have to woo her gently. But he was convinced it would be ; worth it.
; ; Over the next couple of days, he'd pursued her with the same ; determination that had served him so well on the battlefield. Flowers, ; poetry, bolts of cloth - he'd showered her with gifts, but careful, ; always careful, to keep his intentions hidden from the prying eyes of ; the others at court. She was English, he was Scots; he had no ; illusions that her father, or even Lord Magnus, would welcome a suit ; by him.
; ; They'd made love for the first time only three days after their first ; introduction. She had stolen away from the solar and gone for a swim ; in a secluded pond. She'd been shy and hesitant at first, as he'd ; known she would be, but in no time at all, her moans had echoed ; through the glade, mingling with his huskier grunts of satisfaction.
; ; They had managed to steal time together, only once after that. She was ; too closely guarded and he was kept busy with training the new ; squires. An errand to a neighboring lord had kept him away for the ; past two weeks. His mission complete, he'd hurried back to her, ; posthaste.
; ; Quitting his musings, he crept forward on silent feet. He slipped up ; behind her and reaching around, covered her mouth with his ; palm. Before she could call out or try to bite him, he leaned down and ; breathed in her ear, "Do nae make a sound, sweetling."
; ; As recognition took hold of her, she relaxed and spun around to face ; him. A look of disbelief spread over her face. "But what are you doing ; here? It's too dangerous..."
; ; He shook his head and pressed a finger against her lips to quiet ; her. "Still do nae listen do ya? Ya should know that there is nothing ; that would keep me away from ya." His heated gaze raked her body and ; made her feel as if she were already naked. "Has it really been a ; sennight since I last saw ya? It seems like forever."
; ; He drew her close, pulling her fully against him, and lowered his lips ; to her. He loved kissing. Was quite good at it, or so he'd been ; told. And Lenora was receiving the full benefit of his years of ; practice. His tongue slipped past her teeth and plunged gently in and ; out of her willing mouth. One minute teasing and gentle, the next ; rough and fierce.
; ; She thought that nothing could surpass this...this liquid heat that ; was seeping through her, languidly, from head to feet. She had missed ; this; missed him with all her being. Only he could make her body purr ; like cook's fat tabby cat, Flourmill.
; ; Tearing his lips from hers, he seated himself on her stool and bunched ; her shift in one hand. Raising it to her waist, he used his other hand ; to pull her closer. He looked up at her, his mouth just inches from ; the juncture of her thighs. At the erotic image, she closed her ; eyes. He placed tiny kisses on the inside of her thighs; first one, ; then the other. When his tongue moved to her hidden lips, she gripped ; his shoulders as her knees went weak.
; ; He licked up one side, then down the other. Oh so slow and ; methodical. Maddeningly slow. She thought she'd burst into flames. His ; free hand came around her waist to hold her to him, his breath hot on ; her slit; his tongue like liquid silk on her skin. His tongue darted ; out and touched her clit. She flinched at the sudden contact. He ; stroked it in small, slow circles, increasing the pressure ever so ; slightly with each time around. He could feel her muscles starting to ; quiver, and he grinned in satisfaction.
; ; With his face, he nudged her legs farther apart. Holding her swollen ; nub gently between his lips, he sucked tenderly and pressed his tongue ; against it. Her soft mewling sounds of pleasure only increased his ; desire and made him want her more, if that was humanly possible.
; ; Moving his arm from 'round her waist, he took his hand and inserted ; two fingers into her warm, moist slit. He established a steady rhythm ; in counterpoint to the motions of his tongue.
; ; She gripped his shoulders so hard, she knew he'd have bruises in the ; morning. She was past caring; that familiar fire was crawling ; throughout her body, centering, swirling...preparing to sweep her ; away.
; ; When he felt she was on the edge, and about ready to tumble over, he ; stopped. Withdrawing his fingers he gave one last kiss to her swollen ; and slick clit and looked lazily up at her. Her eyes were still closed ; and he could tell she was trying hard not to show her ; disappointment. He was a tease. She knew it and loved it. Her feign of ; displeasure was just for show. Oh the power he had over her!
; ; Slowly rising and kissing his way languorously up her body, past her ; navel and to her rosy-tipped breasts, he suckled and kneaded first ; one, then the other. They were a bit on the small size, but fit in his ; hands as if they were made just for him. He focused his attention on ; the peaks, alternately licking the tip with his tongue and sucking on ; the nipple with a fast rhythm. It was torture. And it was bliss.
; ; When he felt he'd given her breasts enough attention, he slowly stood ; up the rest of the way, drawing her shift up and over her ; head. Tossing it to the floor he traced the outline of her lips with a ; finger. She bit him playfully and he groaned. Dipping his head he ; kissed her again, letting her taste herself on him. He knew that was ; another thing she loved. Truthfully there wasn't much he didn't know ; about her - without her ever saying a word. It was uncanny and one of ; the things that drew her to him in the first place. His incredible ; good looks were another.
; ; He broke the kiss and stood before her while he undressed. He'd left ; his armor with his horse so as to make as little noise as possible, ; but brought his sword. A knight, a good one, never went anywhere ; without it. Giving her just enough time to run her eyes up and down ; his naked frame, he took her hand and led her to the bed. When she ; would have climbed in, he stopped her. She looked at him quizzically ; but he just grinned. Turning her to face the bed, he instructed her in ; a low voice to place her hands on the bed. Just her hands.
; ; Understanding dawned in her golden eyes and they clouded over with the ; thought of what he was about to do. She bent over and placed her hands ; atop the coverlet. Nudging her feet a bit further apart, he positioned ; himself behind her.
; ; Placing his hands low on her hips, he angled his hips forward and ; placed his cock at the opening of her lips. He rubbed it up and down ; and in circles, teasing her again. She growled low in her throat and ; he chuckled. He rubbed against her clit and the growl turned into a ; moan. She was so slick and wet for him. Just for him.
; ; Without warning, he plunged into her. She gasped. She always forgot ; how huge he was; how much he filled her. Her body accustomed itself to ; the intrusion and stretched to accommodate him.
; ; Tonight there was nothing slow or gentle about his lovemaking. He ; pounded into her, over and over again, varying the rhythm, but keeping ; up the intensity. He wanted to possess her; show her who was ; master. After this night, there would be no more doubt in her mind.
; ; Her breathing increased and her hips started moving backwards to meet ; his thrusts. He leaned forward and one hand squeezed a breast while ; the other one slipped around and found her clit. Without breaking ; stride, he rubbed that swollen nub in fast circles. Counterclockwise ; for a little, then clockwise. Building up the pleasure inside of her - ; and himself.
; ; "Ohhhhhhhh...." she moaned again, and rotated her hips.
; ; Nudging her legs even further apart, he drawled, "That's it, love. Yer ; mine, and I'll never let ya forget it."
; ; Shuddering as his lips blazed a trail of kisses up her spine, she ; could feel herself edging ever closer to that dark precipice. She ; closed her eyes and ran her tongue over parched lips.
; ; He could feel her muscles start to contract. She threw her head back ; and he whispered in her ear, "Give it to me. Let yerself go 'mo ; cridhe'. Now!" His balls were tightening and drawing up. He was ; breathing like he'd just run from Edinburgh to London. He intertwined ; his hands in the fine, burnished-brown hair cascading over her ; shoulders. She gripped the covers in her fists and her head fell ; forward as she felt the first of cascading orgasms overtake her. Back ; bowed and her knees locked, she bit her lip to keep from screaming out ; with the force of her release.
; ; With a groan through gritted teeth, he pushed himself faster in and ; out of her tight passage. Her spasms became more fierce and the ; clenching and unclenching of her powerful muscles was his undoing. His ; erection grew and throbbed and he came with such force he wanted to ; throw his head back and howl with the sheer elation of the feelings ; that bombarded him. His seed shot into her over and over as his ; strokes grew shorter and calmer and his breathing finally slowed.
; ; Sweat coated them both and Lenora didn't think she could form a ; coherent sentence even if she wanted to. Glancing over her shoulder, ; Iain looked as spent as she did. His dark brown hair was plastered to ; his head and was so wet, it gleamed pure black in the firelight. Her ; eyes caught his and he leaned forward to kiss her tenderly.
; ; Slipping reluctantly out of her, he pulled the covers back and climbed ; in the bed with her. Tucking her close beside him he kissed the top of ; her head and stroked the hair back from her flushed face. The fire had ; long died out by the time her breathing grew even and steady, and he ; knew she was asleep.
; ; ***
; ; Rising the next morning, she knew he was gone before she even opened ; her eyes. Sitting up lazily (By Jove's holy rood she was sore!), she ; surveyed the room. Not a trace was left that anyone other than her, or ; her maid Enrica, had been there...except for a single red rose lying ; on the pillow beside her. She picked it up and rubbed the downy soft ; petals against her cheek. Humming a sprightly tune, she bounded from ; the bed, certain that nothing could mar her happiness.
; ; ***
; ; "M'lady, I must needs speak with you."
; ; Lenora looked quizzically at her maid, but motioned her inside the ; chamber and shut the door soundly behind her. "What is it, Enrica?" ; The woman had been with her for 10 years and she'd never known her to ; be so nervous or speak so forthrightly.
; ; "The knight, m'lady, the one ye've been seeing on the sly. I know ye ; think ye've been cautious but well...I notice things. I'm yer maid so ; I'm supposed to."
; ; Now Lenora really was uneasy. "Hurry on with it!"
; ; "He...he's betrothed to another!" She flinched as if the words had ; caused her physical pain.
; ; "He loves me! He promised to marry me!" Her hand flew to her mouth and ; she shook her head in denial. "You lie!"
; ; "Nay, lady! I was fetching linens and overheard Lord Magnus talking to ; him. Iain is betrothed to Lady Fiona. 'E has been for some time now, ; from wot I heard." She tried to keep the pitying look out of her ; eyes. She'd been a lady's-maid for twenty years and she had seen just ; about everything, so she liked to think. She could tell her mistress ; that she wasn't the first young lady to be taken in by a handsome face ; and kind words, but from the tears welling up in Lenora's eyes, she ; knew now was not the time for a lecture. She wrapped the young woman ; in her arms and rocked her as her tears flowed freely.
; ; Once her tears were spent, she sat up and wiped a hand across her ; face. She spoke to herself, outloud. "I've seen Lady Fiona. A bit ; horsey-faced I always thought, but she's an only child and her dowry ; is twice as large as mine. Plus, she's not 'English'." She said the ; last with a slight bite in her voice. She resented her father sending ; her to a Scottish household to be fostered, but he was a border Lord ; and in the interest of peace, he'd deemed it necessary. She had tried ; to get along with the other ladies in Lord Magnus and Lady Shea's ; household, but some had never thawed in their hatred of her; the young ; Fiona was one.
; ; She got up and started pacing now. Her hurt had subsided and anger had ; replaced it. "He can't do this to me! No, he can't! He knows I cannot ; go to my father or Lord Magnus and confess that he has ruined me and ; insist on marriage. My father would sooner lock me away in some ; convent than see me wed to a Scotsman, even if he did compromise me." ; She stomped her foot in vexation. "But I can't just let him get away ; free! It's not fair that he marry that trollop after dallying with me; ; making promises to me; declarations of love!"
; ; Enrica watched her mistress pace and mutter to herself. She was glad ; to see the girl had spirit. Got that from her mum. "Umm, m'lady?"
; ; Lenora turned and looked at. She'd probably forgotten the maid was ; even there.
; ; "If ye are serious 'bout wantin to see Sir Iain get wots his, well...I ; may know a lady can help."
; ; "Go on."
; ; "The widow Cameron, she's the old lady wot lives in the woods at the ; edge of Lord Magnus's property. 'Tis rumored in the village that she ; consorts with the devil and that she can make things 'appen. Bad ; things."
; ; Lenora's eyes glinted with determination. "Fetch my cloak, Enrica."
; ; ***
; ; The Widow Cameron's house wasn't so much a house, as a shack. She ; motioned Lenora inside with a wave of a gnarled hand and bade her sit ; in a chair in front of the fire. The old woman, who looked as if she'd ; seen 90 winters, leaned on a cane and listened while Lenora spilled ; out the whole story.
; ; "So, lassie, yer wantin revenge on yer handsome buck, eh?" She moved ; as she spoke and drew a circle in the dirt floor with her cane.
; ; "Yes, ma'am." She nodded her head, firm in her resolve. She reached ; into the folds of her cloak and drew out a cloth. When she unfolded ; it, a necklace of gold and emeralds winked back at her. She held out ; her hand; the woman took the payment and pocketed it.
; ; "Verrah well." She picked up a knife off a nearby shelf and in a move ; that caused Lenora's heart to skip a beat, chopped off a lock of the ; girl's hair. She dropped it in the center of the circle and spat on ; it. She instructed Lenora to spit on it as well. Next she took a bag ; that was hanging around her waist, pulled a white powder from it and ; sprinkled it in the circle, also. She slowly knelt beside the circle ; and used a bony finger to mix the spittle, hair and powder ; together. Lenora could hear her muttering under her breath but the ; words were so low and spoken so quickly there was no hope of ; understanding her.
; ; Lenora watched in fascination as the white powder gradually began to ; sparkle and turn a dusky gold color. The old woman scooped up some of ; the gold powder, deposited it into a different pouch and closed the ; drawstring. She placed in it in her hand. "Now, listen closely lassie ; cause ye get no second chance...."
; ; ***
; ; She arranged to meet him in the glade that night, beside the pool, the ; scene of their first coupling. She smiled at the irony of it. She ; pulled the pouch out of the top of her garter and dipping a finger ; into the powder, rubbed her finger around her lips, coating them with ; the gold color. She secured the pouch back and refrained from licking ; her lips. It felt tingly, but the old woman had said that might ; happen. Remembering the rest of the woman's instructions, she allowed ; herself a small chuckle which she quickly smothered as she saw Iain ; entering the clearing. He was as handsome and virile as she remembered ; and she fought to remind herself of his perfidy.
; ; "I've missed ya, my sweetling," he said. He dropped his cloak on the ; ground and moved as if to gather her for a kiss.
; ; She danced out of his reach and shook her head playfully. "I have a ; treat for you tonight, my love."
; ; "Oh?" He raised his eyebrows and leered at her. "What did ya have in ; mind?"
; ; She took measured steps up to him, until her breasts barely touched ; his chest. She smiled up at him and he only had a moment to wonder ; about the gold glittering on her lips before she was kneeling in front ; of him, her head disappearing under his kilt.
; ; Minutes later, his legs tensed and his cry refrained through the ; woods.
; ; ***
; ; "They say he was afflicted with the pox..."
; ; "I heard that she rejected him..."
; ; "Nay, he was the one that rejected her. Struck with grief and sent ; home, she was..."
; ; "Either way, he certainly disappeared quick enough, didn't he?"
; ; Lenora smiled smugly as she caught snippets of the conversation, ; centered around the abrupt departure of Sir Iain. When she reached the ; stairs, she ran up to her room and shut and barred the door behind ; her. She collapsed against it in a fit of giggles. Let them think ; whatever they wanted to. *She* knew the real reason Sir Iain had left ; so suddenly during the night.
; ; Without waiting for Enrica, she struggled out of her clothing, keeping ; up a running monologue. "Oh yes, my darling, Iain. You'd had to run, ; didn't you? Your darling Fiona wouldn't have you after I finished with ; you. I made sure no woman will ever again reap the rewards of your ; viperous tongue."
; ; She crossed to the bed and slid her hand under the pillow. She pulled ; out a golden colored phallus and stroked it lovingly. "As a matter of ; fact, I will be only woman that will enjoy your 'endowments' ever ; again." Moonlight streamed through the high window and sparkled off ; the lustrous member as she blew out the candle and slid between the ; crisp sheets. ; ;