I laughed at the sensation, squirming as he held me tight, tickling me with his warm breath.
“Doona move between me legs so, lass. Feel what ye do to me.”
He thrust himself forward to prove his point, and I leaned into him. “Hmm…aye, there isna a way for me no to feel that, and what would ye wish to do with it?”
I smiled as I heard his breath catch. He hadna expected me to be so forward.
“Oh, doona tempt me so, lass. I took ye in the stables once. I willna treat ye like an animal again and have ye in the middle of nature for any passerby to see.”
I wiggled me bum, intending for it to torture him so that he would change his mind. “I doona care if anyone sees. But look around, I think we are all alone save for the birds and fishes.”
He disappointed me by bending his knees so that he could jump to his feet. “Nay, lass. Ye are me wife now. I want to honor ye in a bed with a roof above us. I willna take ye again until we have found shelter for the night.”
I raised me toes out of the water, shaking them dry. Then I stood quickly making my way back to the horse. “Then let’s ride then, and I doona wish to make a slow go of it as we did this morning. I am no a patient lass, husband, and I’m anxious for this honoring that ye speak of. Where shall we stay this evening?”
He smiled, following suit as we made our way to the horse, him mounting first and then assisting me so that I sat in front of him, mimicking our positions by the river. “There is a small village nay far from here, and there is an inn where we will stay for the night. ’Tis a common place of rest for travelers so they doona often have rooms, but me father knew the owners well. They shall have a room for us, I am certain.”
“Sounds lovely.”
“Aye, lass, I shall be so sore from wanting ye that I fear we shall make all the tenants angry and jealous at our lovemaking. Everyone that sleeps in the inn tonight shall know me name, for they shall hear ye scream it over and over again.”
“’Tis some promise, lad. I doona know if ye are up to the task.” I smiled, squealing as he released the reins with one of his hands gently pinching me bottom.
“Do ye no think so, lass? Well I shall prove ye wrong, soon enough.”
*
Arran was no a liar, and I couldna believe that we hadna been kicked out into the streets by the innkeepers and their tenants who were sure to be mighty angry by this point. But I’d also seen the payment he’d provided to the old couple. He’d certainly intended to assure that we wouldna be disturbed for the evening.
The first time he’d taken me roughly, and I’d had to slow his pace for I was certain I would be so sore he would be no able to touch me for a fortnight if he continued at the speed with which he’d begun.
He’d collapsed on top of me then and rolled me to me side, both of us trembling with the tremors that follow only the best kind of lovemaking. As we lay still connected together, sweat beading on both our brows, I was certain we’d fall asleep that way, remaining as one until morning.
I’d just begun to drift when he pulled himself out of me, nipping me playfully on the ear as he moved over me once more.
“What did I tell ye earlier, lass? I am no close to being finished with ye this night.”
I smiled, bone weary and uncertain I could take another go if it was anything like what I’d just experienced. “Ye canna mean it, Arran. Ye havena slept an entire night in days, and ye have traveled a long way. I think that ye proved yer point well enough before.”
“Aye, lass, I mean it. Nay, I dinna honor ye the way that I wish to.”
I lifted my head just slightly off the pillow to kiss him. “Aye? And how do ye wish to honor me, then?”
“Slowly, lass. The first time in the stables and just now as well, they were no what ye deserve, though I daresay that ye enjoyed yerself well enough.”
He smiled mischievously and I returned it, moaning slightly at the thought. “Aye, I canna say that I dinna.”
“Good, I am pleased to hear it. Still, I moved too quickly, too overcome with me need for ye to take the time that ye deserve. I have been with many women, lass, and I know what each one of them desires.”
I stiffened in his arms, no liking the direction he’d taken the conversation. “If ye wish to honor me, mayhap it would be best for ye no to tell me just how many women ye have treated thus. It does nothing to make me feel special, aye?”
He grinned, placing one finger across me lips to silence me. “Hush, lass. Ye dinna let me finish. I know what they want, but I have never given it to any of them.”