Chapter Five
“Today is your wedding day. You will wear a traditional dress, Lin.” Her mama held up a beautiful soft blue silk gown and grinned ear to ear. “I wore this the day I married your papa twenty years ago. I have let the hem out on top a bit. Your breasts are much larger than mine were.” Ceara reached out both hands to cup her daughter’s breasts and Aislin slapped her hand away.
“Och, Mama.” She rolled her eyes and put out her hand. “I shall wear the dress.”
“You will?” Her mother’s eyes grew wide and brimmed with unshed tears. She must not have expected Aislin to agree so readily.
“Aye. I know how important it is to you, Mama. I only wear my hide garments when I plan to hunt and climb and explore. I do not think I will be doing any of that on my wedding night.”
“That’s what you think,” Treasa said with a laugh. “You will likely do much hunting, climbing, and exploring tonight.”
“Treasa, not all of us are as insatiable as you were when you married my brother.”
Treasa shrugged her off. “Just wait until you are alone every day in Alastar’s bed. You will know what I mean very soon.”
Panic consumed Aislin. Her chest constricted and her heart beat wildly. She would not be sharing a bed with Alastar. Sharing his home was hard enough for her. But a bed? Nay. Surely the man had more than one bed in his home else she would have her own bed sent over. She could not share his bed. She would not. This arrangement was not an emotional one and she would not allow it to be. Licking her suddenly dry lips, her hands shook as she clutched the silk fabric against her breasts in silent fear.
How she wished she could confide in her mother and Treasa that this entire handfast was a farce, a way to keep everyone else’s opinions out of her ears for an entire year. Eoin had not spoken of catching her alone with Alastar in the forest, and that had been a blessing. When she thought of that day, only a short two days past, her blood rushed to her cheeks and she thought of his touch and his kiss… the feel of his tongue gliding against hers. She could not deny that the man held her under a spell when he touched her, which was why she could not allow it again. If she allowed him to take things too far, she could end up with a babe in her belly… then she would never be able to walk away in a year.
Her mother must have mistaken her blush as a reaction to Treasa’s words, giving her a smile and a wink. “Here, let us get you cleaned and dressed.” Aislin pulled her thin night dress over her head and stood completely bare in front of her mother and Treasa. Stepping into the wooden tub filled with steaming water, she slowly lowered herself with a sigh.
Her mother came around with a small bucket of water and some lavender-scented lye soap her Auntie Una was well known for creating. It smelled wondrous and Aislin dunked her entire head under the water so her mama could lather up her hair.
“Make sure to rub some of that soap between your thighs, Lin, just in case Alastar decides to go exploring himself,” Treasa chimed in with a laugh and waggled her brows as she nursed Neassa in a corner.
Aislin gasped and crossed her legs, never having felt more flushed in her entire life. She squeaked and lowered herself further into the tub.
“Oh, Treasa. Do stop teasing your sister,” her mother chided.
“Tis not teasing. Tis being prepared. Alastar is a physical being. He will likely expect to take your innocence tonight.”
Aislin frowned and closed her eyes as her mother finished lathering her hair and dumped the bucket of fresh water over her to rinse out the soap. Images of Alastar touching every inch of her body with his roughened warrior hands had a much greater effect on her than she would have expected. Her breasts felt full and heavy at the thought, her core throbbed with some need she could not understand. Her flesh felt flushed, and not only from the hot water of her bath. Her breath quickening, she was thankful she was still submerged in water so her mother and Treasa couldn’t see her hardened nipples or her clenching thighs.
She had to keep her mind clear of those thoughts. Opening her eyes, she did her best to hide the effect Treasa’s warning had on her. It had only been two days since they agreed to handfast, since that life-altering kiss. She had made it clear to Alastar that this was temporary and that she wished to keep her freedom. With all the rush to gather her over-large family, prepare a meal, find a druid, and have her mother prepare her old wedding gown, she had not even seen Alastar. They had never spoken of further expectations. Did he truly plan on bedding down with her tonight?
That thought made her shiver. “The water is growing cold, Lin. You are covered in gooseflesh. Stand up.” As she did, she heard Treasa sniggering in the corner, as if she knew precisely why Aislin was covered in gooseflesh. Her mother dried her hair with a linen square, and then handed it to Aislin so she could dry off and step out.
The rest of the morning flew by in a blur. Her aunts, Una and Gwynneth, and twin cousins, Allyson and Leannan, fluttered in and out of the house, gawking and tittering at Aislin as her mother dressed her carefully, plaited her hair, and tugged fresh wild flowers into the folds.
“Och! Ceara! Your dress looks wonderful on Aislin!” her Aunt Gwynneth beamed.
“Aye, she is lovely. Her breasts may spill out the top, though,” Una said when she tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. Aislin self-consciously tugged up on the low-cut bodice of her dress, wondering if her mother, who was an expert seamstress, had intentionally made it so her ample bosom was on display. It was likely. Her mother seemed just as excited to get Aislin wedded and bedded as the rest of the family. Nobody seemed to care what she felt or that they spoke about her, instead of to her.
“She is a true descendant of the faery Dana,” Gwynneth added with a nod. “She looks just like her, as well.”
Aislin smiled at that. When she was a wee lass of nine summers, she did not believe anything her mama told her about being a descendant of the legendary faery Dana, or that her mother and her identical sisters were truly the Sisters of Danu, born again goddesses sent to live amongst humans and save all of Ériu. But having met several faeries herself, including Dana, and seeing the power over the elements her mother and aunts held, she had long ago learned to take pride in her heritage. It flowed through her, the connection with the earth. She may not have any control over the elements, but the elements controlled her and she never wanted to lose that connection to her world.
Her cousin, Alyson, who had married a faery named Freyne, stepped up to her with a huge smile on her face, her deep blue eyes shimmering with tears. “Oh, Aislin,” she clutched her heart and choked back a tear. “You are a truly beautiful lass. I have always envied your untamable spirit. I am so very happy you found a man who will honor that spirit.”
An unstoppable smile spread across Aislin’s lips. “Aye. I have,” she replied. “I truly have.” And she knew it to be so. She may not love him or even plan to stay with him, but she knew that while they were together, he would honor his promise to her. A sudden glow of expectation consumed her. She was ready to become handfast to the most handsome man she had ever met.
Her mother grabbed her by the shoulders and spun Aislin around to face her, eye to eye, emerald green on emerald green. A small tear trickled down her mama’s cheek and she smiled. “You are perfect, daughter.” Kissing Aislin on the forehead, her mom let out a sob and Aislin had to choke back a tear of her own. Her mother’s pride in her was unwavering and a small niggle of guilt burrowed into her chest for the wee lie she was harboring. Nobody had ever asked her if she was certain this was forever, and she never said otherwise.
“Tuathal is all ready for you, Lin,” Leannan said with excitement. “I think ‘tis very sweet that Alastar chose to keep your handfast location a surprise from you. And I must say, he chose well. You will love it. The druid is there along with all the men in the family awaiting your arrival!” She clapped excitedly and hugged Aislin. “Are you ready?”
Aislin laughed. “Not really, but I’m as ready as I will ever be.”
And in one year and a day, it will all end, she added silently to herself.
***
Looking around at the sea of huge bulky men all around him, Alastar grunted in amusement and shoved Eoin in the ribs. “I should have known better when Treasa promised me she would only invite close family.”
Jeoffrey laughed when Eoin shrugged. “My wife said ‘close’. She never said small,” Eoin added wryly and chuckled.
Aislin’s cousins, Brennain and Flynn, stood near their father, a huge black-haired, hazel-eyed man named Brocc. Two other men of almost equal size stood beside him, laughing about something. One of them was Aislin’s father Garreth and the other was a man he had only met once or twice, her Uncle Liam. He had graying brown hair and bright blue eyes, the same shade of blue his twin daughters Alyson and Leannan had inherited from him. Alastar knew that Liam was also the adoptive father of Eoin’s wife, Treasa.
He knew Aislin’s father and her two uncles were not only the husbands of the legendary Sisters of Danu; they were rightful kings of their own small tuatha and the descendants of the very first High Kings of Ériu.
Standing near the aging druid, High King Tuathal Techtmar spoke with Freyne, Alyson’s husband. Alastar had been told the story of how Alyson met Freyne, a faery who had lived in the Otherworld before falling in love and choosing to stay here in the human world with his wife. He was a tall man and though a very renowned warrior in his own right, his muscle was lean compared to the huge men in Aislin’s family. He had black hair, but the feature that stood out the most was his unearthly green eyes. They were similar to Aislin’s only a bit brighter in intensity. And right now, they were trained directly on him as he spoke to Tuathal, who was the largest of them all, towering over all the men present… and also staring in Alastar’s direction.
Alastar took a deep breath. He was about to marry into a very powerful family filled with kings, queens, faeries, and three sisters who could actually control fire, water, and earth. He knew his High King, who was married to Aislin’s cousin, was discussing him with Freyne right this moment and neither man tried to hide it.
Jeoffrey pounded him on the back and made a low whistling noise. “You may be in over your head, mate. Aislin comes from the most powerful family in Ériu and it appears most of them do not trust you yet,” he laughed and wrapped an arm around Clarice’s expanding waist. Her child seemed to be growing more every day.
“I can see that,” he murmured as Freyne narrowed his glowing green faery eyes as if he knew the dark lusting thoughts that swam through Alastar’s mind. He knew King Tuathal trusted him as a warrior. He had proven his strength not only in the battle that had secured the throne for Tuathal, but in the several mock battles and trainings he endured over the past several sennights. That did not mean the man trusted him with the heart of his innocent cousin. Alastar would have to prove himself once again… only this would be a different sort of battle. It would be a battle for Aislin’s heart.
“My family is not so frightening,” Eoin smirked.
“Not to you,” Alastar shot back. “You are one of them.”
“Mayhap. I will say this. You chose well for the location of your handfast ceremony. She will love it. I assume you did not tell everyone else that this is the location where I found you compromising my sister’s reputation?” Eoin added dryly.
Alastar looked around and took a deep breath of the fresh late summer afternoon air. The river Aislin loved so much served as the background for the ceremony. The druid stood in front of it now as they awaited her arrival. The pine trees swished in the wind, sending a few of their needles raining down to the forest floor and releasing their earthy scent. This was the best place to have the handfast ceremony and not only because it reminded him of his powerful, life-altering kiss with his soon to be bride. It symbolized so much more. It represented his promise to allow her to be free, to roam the earth and hopefully, if she allowed, he could accompany her from time to time. It was his promise to never hold her back or try to change who she was because she was absolutely perfect in her primal ways.
A tall man with blond hair came up beside him, clapping him on the back. “I suppose I must give over my dagger,” Àdhamh said wryly as he unsheathed the blade and handed it quietly over to Alastar.
“Nay. I do not want it. Wagering I could marry Lin was foolhardy and boastful. I marry her today because I want her, not your dagger.” Alastar tried to push the blade away, but Àdhamh would not relent.
“A wager is a wager, mate. If you refuse to take the dagger, ‘tis a mark against my honor.”
“The bride approaches,” the druid announced and all the air left Alastar’s lungs. He had not even seen her yet and already he could not breathe.
In a panic, he growled and grabbed the dagger from Àdhamh’s hand before anyone else, aside from Eoin, saw the exchange. “I only accept this due to your own cursed honor. I do not want it,” he murmured under his breath as he stealthily slipped the blade into the leather belt around his waist and sent Eoin a dark warning scowl to keep his mouth shut. He would find a way to rid himself of the blade later. It may be against Àdhamh’s honor to break the wager, but it was against his honor to keep it. It was also an insult against his soon-to-be-wife.
Following everyone else’s gaze, he first saw Aislin’s mother approaching, arms linked with her two identical sisters: one blonde and one brunette. Alyson approached next with a wide smile on her face, carrying her twin lassies in her arms. She stared at Freyne as she came closer. Treasa followed behind her carrying Neassa, and then their High Queen Leannan entered, also carrying a wee babe in one arm while her other hand carefully rested on a slight bump on her abdomen. It struck him then that this family was extremely fertile, blessed by the goddess Brigid to birth many babes. Why did that thought send his blood pumping through his veins? Why did the thought of planting his seed and watching Aislin grow round with his child call to his primal instincts as a man? Those feelings had never once befallen him before and their sudden impact nearly knocked him backward with their power.
The lassies all smiled at him kindly as they passed and Treasa sent him a wink. He shook his head at her. She was full of mischief.
And then, he saw her. All other thoughts escaped him. His eyes grew wide, and he swore he would fall to his knees and worship her for the goddess she was right now if he was not surrounded by her massive family. He had never seen her in a full dress before, and though he did love watching her shapely thighs as she confidently hunted in her short animal hide skirts, something about this long flowing silk gown encasing her body, simultaneously hiding away her flesh yet enhancing every enticing curve, made him feel as if he were floating on air.
Her usually wild red waves were expertly plaited over her shoulder with smaller plaits intricately woven within the larger ones and delicate flowers finishing off the look. She looked like the goddess of the forest, the woman of his dreams. The closer she came to him, the harder his heart pounded in his ears.
As she approached, he swallowed hard and resisted the urge to stare at her breasts. The fabric was stretched across the delectable flesh and the hardened tips of her nipples could be seen through the thin material. Tearing his gaze away, he focused instead on her beautiful face, cheeks flushed, pink lips parted as she nervously licked her bottom lip. Her green eyes shone with anticipation and he took her hand in his.
“You are so beautiful, Aislin. You take my breath away.”
She boldly looked him up and down, and smiled. He had also dressed in his best, wearing buckskin trousers that molded to his muscular legs and a crisp clean white tunic. He only owned one pair of boots, but he had spent all of the night before cleaning them until they looked brand new just for her. He was no fancy king with pelts to adorn his shoulders or thick chains of metal around his neck. Unlike her father, uncles, and King Tuathal, he had no gold circlet adorning his head. He was but a simple man, a warrior who earned his keep by fighting for his king. And yet, the look in her eyes told him she was more than happy with what she saw.
“You look very nice as well, Alastar,” she whispered and licked her lips again. “I cannot believe you chose this place for the ceremony,” she added as she grabbed his extended hand.
“Do you like it?” he asked hopefully.
She smiled widely and nodded, “Aye. Tis perfect.”
His heart fluttered. He would do aught to make her smile that way every day.
They walked hand and hand up to the druid and he squeezed her tighter, feeling relief when she squeezed back. Everyone else faded away. Jeoffrey was directly to his right with the other men of the family. There were more than a dozen men there and he was not certain if they were there to support Aislin or intimidate him. Still nothing they could say or do in this moment would ever make him turn away.
On Aislin’s left stood her mother, aunts, twin cousins, Treasa, and Clarice. Her family was a large one, but he was more than willing to join their ranks and that thought alone made his lips twitch up slightly. How did he come to stand here so willingly in such a short amount of time? He was a man who had sworn to never commit himself to one lass. Now, looking to his left, he sucked in a deep breath at the beauty of the woman clasping hands with him, and he watched in wonderment as the druid held out a long blue length of linen.
Aislin’s breasts heaved with every breath, and he worried she may pass out by the rapid increase of the rise and fall of her chest as she watched the druid with trepidation. “Breathe,” he whispered and her brilliant green eyes shot up to his, causing his insides to clench. A small frown marred her lips and he cringed. That was not a look he ever expected to see on the woman he was about to handfast with.
“We can stop,” he mouthed silently to her. That was the last thing he wanted. Nay, it was the second to last thing he wanted. The last thing he wanted was to have a bride who felt trapped into the union. Holding his breath, he waited in torture for her to give him a response.
Only a few seconds passed, but it had felt like an eternity before she shook her head and smiled tentatively at him. She squared her shoulders, raised her head, and stared him in the eyes with determination just as the druid began to speak.
“Alastar Mac Murray and Aislin Mac Cecht,” the druid with his long thick white robes began to recite in monotone. “This cord is a symbol of the lives you have chosen to lead together. Up until this moment, you have been separate in thought, word, and action. As your hands are bound together by this cord, so too, shall your lives be bound as one. May you forever be one, sharing in all things, in love, and loyalty for all time to come.”
Those were heavy words and yet to Alastar, they made him feel as light as a feather as if years of believing himself incapable of such ideals were lifted off his shoulders. If only the beautiful red-haired lass of his dreams standing beside could believe herself capable of the same sentiments.
“Alastar and Aislin, I bid you look into each other’s eyes.” As they did so, he saw the blacks of her pupils expand and he couldn’t help but smile. She had feelings for him. Those feelings may not be strong enough to keep her by his side, but they were a foundation to build from.
“Will you honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?”
“We will,” they said in unison and the druid draped the first cord over their hands.
“And so the first binding is made,” the druid murmured. “Will you share each other’s pain and seek to ease it?”
“We will.” The second cord was draped over their hands.
“And so the binding is made,” he repeated.
“Will you share the burdens of each other so that your spirits may grow in this union?”
“We will.” Aislin’s voiced cracked as she swallowed hard, feeling the depth of their promise to one another. Most people went into handfast ceremonies expecting to say their final vows when the year and a day was over. Aislin planned on honoring her vows, he was certain… but for no longer than a year. That thought weighed heavily on his bruised heart as he watched the druid drape the third cord over their hands.
“And so the binding is made.”
“Will you share each other’s laughter and look for the brightness in life
and the positive in each other?”
“We will,” they replied and Alastar watched in fascination as the druid draped the fourth and final cord over their bound wrists.
“And so the binding is made,” he said with finality as he tied the ends of the cord together.
“Alastar and Aislin, as your hands are now bound together, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.”
With a few more blessings for the newly handfast couple and a few more prayers to the gods, the druid finished with one final blessing to the goddess Brigid, asking her to make theirs a fertile union. Aislin burned bright red in her cheeks listening to the druid speak of her having many children, but she refused to look him in the eye until the druid concluded the ceremony.
When it was time to finally kiss her plush pink lips, he froze, so enamored was he by the anticipation glowing in the bright green of her eyes, and the rapid rise and fall of her chest. He stared at her in awe, letting the moment sink in, memorizing every detail… the scent of sweet lavender drifting off her hair in the breeze, the rush of the river behind them, the mesmerizing way her lips—
“Kiss her, you dolt!” Jeoffrey shouted loudly enough to make everyone titter with laughter.
“Aye! Now you hesitate to kiss my sister when you know I’m watching,” Eoin added good-naturedly.
“What?” Garreth roared in what Alastar hoped was mock indignation. “You’ve kissed my daughter already?”
Aislin rolled her eyes at her father and returned her gaze to Alastar. Before he could make the first move, she stepped closer and drew herself up on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck. Needing no more permission than that, Alastar wrapped his hands around her waist and bent her backwards, sealing his lips to hers as she squeaked in shock and everyone else roared with applause and approval.
“Can you believe it?” she whispered once he reluctantly removed his lips from hers and brought her back up to her feet. Her mouth tasted sweet like honey and he could not wait for more of those kisses later tonight. He wondered briefly if the rest of her tasted so sweet, but decided to save those thoughts for later.
“Nay, I cannot believe that the most beautiful lass I have ever known just handfast with me and did not run away,” he whispered lowly in her ear.
In true Aislin fashion, she scoffed and shrugged off his compliment. “You need not sweeten me up with words, Al. We both know I am not the sort of woman you prefer and it does not matter, for this is nay more than a convenient arrangement for us.”
Her words may as well have been a knife, for they gutted him painfully and made him recoil. He had not deluded himself enough to believe she would ever love him, but he knew she liked him well enough and he had big plans for her. It would be difficult to put those plans in action if she continued to emotionally push him away.
The crowd around them began to shift and buzz, clearly anxious to get back to the gathering hall for a large feast and to share the news of the handfast with the tuath. Part of him wanted to ignore her words and pretend he was not affected, but the lass did affect him, and it was nigh impossible for him to pretend otherwise.
Grabbing her hand as they began to walk back into the village surrounded by their chattering family, he leaned into her ear and breathed a slow hot breath against her neck as he spoke. “I do not say sweet words because I wish to impress you. I say them because I mean them. And to me, this is very real.” He nipped her earlobe and felt her shiver at the touch, but she stayed silent and continued to look straight ahead.
Aye, the lass was a mystery and a challenge, but he found the thrill of trying to break down her defenses a challenge he was more than ready to accept.
***
Looking around the bustling gathering hall, it seemed the entire tuath had come out to celebrate her handfast with Alastar. Drinks flowed freely, laughter filled the air, and congratulations abounded. She smiled nicely and kept her hand tucked snuggly in Alastar’s so everyone believed her to be in love, but she and Alastar knew what this truly was.
At least, she did. Aislin was starting to wonder if Alastar had already forgotten her insistence that this arrangement stay strictly convenient. She was unsure what he gained from this. Aye, her family would now leave her be, as would the other lads, and she could keep roaming the forest with her bow and wading in the water as she saw fit…but what of him? She felt guilty for the freedoms he had given up as an unmarried man, the freedom to place bonny lassies in his lap and bury his face in their breasts.
She cringed at the memory and silently cursed herself for even caring what he had done. And yet, a sudden discomforting thought wiggled its way into her brain. Was he still planning on keeping those freedoms? Mayhap handfasting with her would not stop him from seeking pleasure with other women. She knew she should not care, but she did care. While they knew this arrangement was not a love match, the rest of the tuath saw a young couple dedicating their lives to one another. Her continued desire to roam the forests did nothing to harm his reputation or insult him, his womanizing did, in fact, show public disrespect for their union.
Her conscious niggled at her. It was unfair for her to expect him to give up all other lassies, even though she had no intention of giving herself to him bodily. Yet, she could not face such a public shaming if her supposed lover was sharing his bed with others. She had been so interested in keeping her own interests, she had truly not thought this entire plan through.
As Alastar held her hand and greeted everyone with smiles and laughter, he helped push her through the jovial crowd, smoke filling the air as they found their way to the bench in the corner for some privacy… if any were to be had in this overcrowded room.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” he whispered into her ear and she nodded, only just realizing how very hungry and thirsty she was. She had not eaten all day and only sipped on a small mug of mead before her ceremony to settle her nerves.
“I will be back.” With a squeeze of his hand and a kiss to her temple, he took off into the crowd to find her some refreshments. So far, he had truly been a caring partner. That had never been her concern. Her concern was falling for the man before she ever had the chance to walk away. He was so attentive, gentle, patient, and far more handsome than any man had the right to be.
Chewing the inside of her cheek and keeping her head down to hopefully deter unwanted conversation, she stiffened when she felt someone slide onto the wooden bench beside her. “You broke my heart, Lin.”
When she looked up, she saw the angry eyes of Daniel glaring back at her and she couldn’t help but flinch. She could understand his hurt and confusion. She had insisted she did not wish to marry and then two days later she did just that. “Why did you lie to me? I thought we were at least friends.”
His sad eyes and imploring words made her swallow hard as her mind reeled to come up with a response. What could she say? She knew she should continue the ruse Alastar had started that day in the forest and convince Daniel that she and Alastar were in love. But why would she have told him she did not wish to marry if that were the case? More than anything in the world, she longed to keep her honor. Her word was everything and yet, she had now vowed to respect and honor Alastar as well. That included protecting the sacrifice he made.
“Daniel, I am truly sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”
“You did hurt me, Lin. You could have been honest with me but instead, you told me you did not want to ever marry. Two days later, you are married to another man.” His fists balled on top of the table beside her and his jaw clenched. The truth was on the tip of her tongue, but she bit down. Telling Daniel the truth would only encourage him to continue pursuing her and that would be unfair to Alastar.
She shook her head. “I wish I could explain, Daniel. It all just happened so fast. Alastar and I, we—”
“Fell in love.” She looked up quickly to follow the voice and found Alastar cocking a brown brow as he hovered over her and Daniel. His ever-present smile was plastered on his face and he looked at her with a twinkle of mischief in his eye, giving her a sly wink. Her heart beat faster at hearing him use the word love again. She knew he was simply honoring their plan to keep all her suitors away, and she was grateful. Still, only two days past she had been an unmarried woman. Suddenly she had a husband, albeit temporary, who publicly professed his love for her. Even if it was only to keep his word, so much of it felt real… too real. She would have to continue to remind herself that none of it was true.
“I was not speaking to you, Alastar,” Daniel said in a low dangerous voice. A shiver of foreboding ran through Aislin. She knew Daniel would not take her handfast well, but in the end, it was none of his business. She had made herself quite clear to him many times before.
“Nay, but you were speaking to my wife, which makes your conversation my business. I am certain you have better manners than to harass a woman, especially at the celebration of her marriage.”
“’Tis only a handfast. Not a true marriage,” Daniel corrected and Aislin saw his gaze turn from Alastar to her chest, as he leered at her low-cut bodice.
Alastar must have seen it, as well. Faster than lightning, Alastar had reached across the table and grabbed Daniel by the collar, lifting the man from his seat. “Do not ever speak to my wife. Do not look at her. If you do so again, I will have to meet you on the field and it will not end well for you, mate.” With a strong shove, Alastar sent Daniel reeling backward where he fell off the bench and landed on his arse on the floor of the gathering hall.
Aislin gasped and widened her eyes just as several other sets of eyes noticed the commotion. Adjusting his tunic and swiping at his trousers, Daniel stood and glared daggers at Alastar. “You cannot keep me from her. We are both hunters and I cannot prevent it if we happen to, by pure chance, end up together in the forest. Alone.”
Alastar jumped over the table with the speed of a feral cat, swinging his right hook with a ferocity that snapped Daniel’s neck back with a sickening crack as it connected with his jaw. The man stumbled to the floor once more, blood trickling from his mouth. Aislin stepped back and watched numbly as Alastar bent to the man’s level and whispered something that she was incapable of hearing over the riled-up roar of the crowd.
It was no secret that the tuath loved a good fight, especially when it included a spectacle involving a jealous husband. Men cheered Alastar on, but she could see by the tight fist bunched at his side, that he was trying to control his anger, not release it. Aislin closed her eyes and prayed Alastar did no more damage to Daniel. She was not sorry for the way Alastar had responded. Daniel’s last words had sounded far too much like a threat even to her own ears and, if Daniel was brave enough to say such things, he was brave enough to take the beating that would follow.
Any guilt she had felt about hurting Daniel disappeared immediately. There was a darkness in his gaze, a threat in his voice, and a promise of more trouble written across his clenched jaw. Alastar stood up from his private conversation with Daniel and put one hand out to Aislin, his other hand still clenched and his usually affable face stiff with rage. She had truly never seen such a side to him and, though she had always preferred to fight her own battles, swearing she had no need of the protection from a man, she could not help but feel proud of her new husband for showing his support.
Aye, there was something heady about having a man who so ferociously protected her. It was an unknown feeling. She felt…valued. Wanted. Feminine. She did not like violence and always preferred a peaceful resolution, but sometimes a man deserved a swift punch to the jaw. And Daniel’s threats to her well-being received a warning she hoped he heeded.
Taking Alastar’s extended hand, she saw his rigid spine and scowl. This was his celebration, as well, and she wanted desperately for him to enjoy it. They were meant to be in love. The entire tuath, including her family, believed them to be a true union. Everyone watched them in anticipation as Alastar gently reseated her at the table and filled her empty mug with the mead he had fetched before Daniel appeared.
She silently stared and took in the faces around her, clearly awaiting her response to the fight. Was she supposed to do something? Say something? She had never had two men fight over her before, had never required such help… never willingly accepted such help. Was she supposed to thank him? What would a normal lass do if her husband knocked a man out after insulting her?
Looking up at Alastar, he kept his gaze down on his plate of food, his jaw still locked with tension. Though he was being gentle toward her, she knew rage boiled just beneath the surface. She looked at his right hand as it wrapped around his mug before he took a long, deep pull of mead. His knuckles were split and blood slowly oozed from his wounds. She knew it must hurt. She also knew he would never say so. In that moment, her heart swelled with something she had never expected to feel for a man. Appreciation. Pride. Respect. An overwhelming need to show her internal emotions in a physical manner.
“Thank you,” she whispered and leaning over, kissed him softly on the cheek. He turned his face toward hers immediately and she gasped at the intensity on his serious face. He still looked as if he was ready to snap and she pulled back slightly, worried she had upset him with her small display of gratitude. Mayhap he was not affectionate when angry. Mayhap he was angry at her for speaking with Daniel. Truly, she knew the man so little, it was impossible to read his emotions. And then, he reached a hand out and gently gripped her neck, pulling her closer to him. Their foreheads touched she waited breathlessly, feeling his breath grazing her parted lips. His deep blue eyes stared into her green ones for a long moment. He was silent for so long as he held her against him and her heart stuttered wildly.
Finally, he covered the distance between his mouth and hers. He groaned as he took her lips fiercely. His tongue flicked out and slid into her mouth, causing her to catch fire and melt from the inside out. His grip on her neck grew firmer and he angled his head to deepen the kiss. It was not gentle. It was a possession, as if the only way to fan the flames of his rage was to fan the flames of her desire. She knew several people watched and clapped, urging him to continue, but her blood rang so loudly in her ears, everything else seemed to fade away as he withdrew slightly, nipping her lower lip with his teeth, and then soothing the aching flesh with the slide of his tongue.
Her head spun and her body throbbed. Alastar, in only a few hours of marriage, was opening her mind to feelings she had never thought herself susceptible to. Leaning his lips against her ear, he whispered softly, “Never thank me for defending your honor, wife.” She shivered as the heat of his breath grazed her neck. Her nipples hardened and she bit her lips to stifle a groan. By the gods. She knew, once again, he was putting on a show for the crowd who believed them in love. It was intoxicating and, yet again, she had to remind herself that it was not real. She would have to harden her heart to keep from falling for a man who only married her to protect her reputation, and to prevent a fight between him and her family after being caught with her in his arms.
The same serving woman who Aislin had found him embracing only a little more than a sennight ago strutted over to their table, sending Alastar a playful wink as she bent low over the table to refill his mug of ale, intentionally ignoring Aislin and leaving her mug empty. The woman’s curvy backside swayed provocatively as she retreated and just like that, Aislin went cold. It had only been a handful of days since Alastar had his face buried in another woman’s breasts. The same tongue he had just so easily seduced her with a moment ago, had licked and prodded the cleavage of this other woman so effortlessly not long ago. He was the sort of man who gave his favors loosely and she would do well to remember it.
She pulled away from him, stiffening her spine and silently reprimanding herself for falling so easily for his touch. She was truly nothing more than another lass to him. Only, because she was the daughter of a king and the cousin to their High King, she was considered a woman of nobility, unlike that serving lass. So, where he could lick and fondle the breasts of a serving lass in public without fear of repercussion, being caught simply kissing Aislin by her noble brother was reason enough for Alastar to submit to this handfast. He would never have agreed if Eoin had not come along… not that she would have offered.
The man was skilled with his lips and sweet with his words, which was a reminder to her that he was a man of much experience, as Treasa had warned. The gods only knew how many lassies the man had touched before finally being strapped to her. His tender kisses… and possessive ones, meant nothing to him, for he had done this plenty enough times in his life. Yet, for her, they were new and invigorating.
She shook her head and stared at the haunch of boar on her plate. It was the boar she had killed herself two days before and now fed much of their village. This boar had, inevitably, led her to this celebration of her false marriage. Sitting next to this man who had an easy smile and perfect features, she made another vow for the second time that day, this time to herself. She would not fall prey to this predator. He was a feral man and though she quite considered herself feral in many aspects, when it came to the ways of the heart and the body, she preferred to be neither prey nor predator.
It was not envy she felt when she thought of Alastar with that serving lass. It was determination… determination to keep her heart separate from her body. She would be expected to show him affection in public to keep up the ruse, but when they were alone, she would keep her distance. And never would her heart be engaged. She could not allow it.
In one year, this would end and she would never look back.
***
Alastar was desperate to get Aislin home. Daniel was an arse who would do well to leave his wife alone. The next time the man so much as spoke to Aislin, he was a dead man.
Aislin sat quietly beside him in the gathering hall, saying nothing since their intense kiss. He thought he was making progress with her, until Janice walked over to fill his mug with mead and ignored Aislin altogether. She did not say a word and neither had he, but he saw the look of disgust on her face as the lass sauntered away. He wanted to curse Janice and Daniel both for impeded on his special night with Aislin.
He knew she did not plan to bed him, but she had also not planned to wed him, and she had done that. He was certain that, once they were alone in his home with only his one bed for them both to share, he could inflame her with his kiss, slowly tease her body until she lay weak and willing beneath him. He grew hard just thinking about it. They needed to go, now.
“Lin, I am ready to go home. What say you?” She gave a non-committal shrug and he knew she was going to make him work for it. His eyes wandered down to her breasts straining against the light blue silk. He would work as hard as necessary to get Aislin into his bed tonight. “Come, wife, let us leave this place. I have a better way to pass our night in mind.”
Without an argument, she stood up from her bench and looped her hand through his arm. The crowd whooped and hollered as he and his new wife left the hall in silence. Bawdy gestures were thrown their way and some crude jest about him mounting her like a mare. Her face burned red as they stepped out into the cold night, but he kept hold of her arm, walking silently with her through the village to his home. He wanted to say something to soothe her nerves, but he suddenly could think of nothing to say. Mayhap the silence was best.
Arriving at his home, he pushed the door open and gestured for her to step inside. The hearth was already burning, though more logs needed to be placed on the fire. He had wanted his home to be warm for his bride.
“Welcome home, wife,” he murmured into her ear and stepped closer to her. “My house is now your house. Everything I own is yours, including my bed.” He guided her over to his small wooden bed frame with a hay mattress, piled with furs. Blue curtains hung from four posts around his bed and he could not wait to lay her down, strip that dress off her lithe frame, close those curtains to cocoon them in one another’s heat, and then feast on her body.
When he playfully shoved Aislin onto the bed, he was throbbing with anticipation and need as he leaned forward to join her. She got up on her knees and his eyes widened, wondering what she had in mind for him. When her hands rose over her head, pulling her perfect round breasts level to his gaze, he groaned as his manhood strained painfully against his trousers. He could not wait to bury himself in her.
Then, slowly, with a determined look on her face, she shut the curtains around her, leaving him alone on the outside.
“Good night, husband,” she said with a scornful tone. Her blue silk dress sailed over the top of his bed, landing on his head. “My thanks for the bed.”
Pulling the dress off his head, his mouth gaped at the closed curtains hiding his naked wife. He wanted to growl with frustration, but all he could do was smirk. She was a feisty wee bride and she knew how to bring him to his knees. Apparently, he was going to have to work much harder than he expected to gain her favors.