Chapter Twenty-Two
Ceit and Tavish rode through the castle gates with a full war band as their escorts. Both were quiet as they made their return because neither was sure what to expect. Uncertainty ran through them both when they considered the king’s reaction and then settling into married life.
They entered the castle, and Lady Sutherland greeted them in the passageway that led to the private chambers. At last, Tavish had an opportunity to reintroduce Ceit properly as his wife.
“Lady Cathryn, it delights us to have ye join our extended family. Ye shall be just the influence ma young nephew needs.” Hamish smiled smugly at Tavish.
“Hamish, leave the lad be. He’s had a rough go of it, and I am sure he and his wife would like to retire and refresh themselves before being presented to the king. In other words, dinna be an ogre.”
Amelia giggled like a lass when her husband leaned over and whispered in her ear. He dropped a kiss on her cheek before looking back at Tavish.
“I would have a word with ye though, and Lady Cathryn, perhaps ye might tell ma wife aboot Isla.”
Ceit looked between the men and saw Tavish’s mystified face. She decided it was only mildly better knowing he was not keeping something from her. The two men stepped away, and Ceit was left standing with Lady Sutherland. Neither woman had a chance to speak before the clacking of shoe heels on the hard flooring distracted them. There was a swish of skirts and a blur of color as someone launched themselves at Tavish. Taken off guard, Tavish staggered back as he caught the woman who wound her arms around his neck. His hands reached for the woman’s arms to unlock the binding appendages.
“Oh, my love. How I worried when I was told what befell you. You must have been so relieved to return to the castle and more civilized people. I’ve missed you so. You did not see me before you disappeared. I was quite put out, but now I’ve been informed of the travesty you suffered, I forgive you.”
“Lady Gordon, I am more than well. Thank you. In fact, I’m better than just well. I would have you--”
Tavish did not get to introduce Ceit as he intended.
“I know you’ll have me. And since when do you call me Lady Gordon? I have always been Eleanor to you. I will be quite a lot more once we retire to my chamber.”
Tavish was fervently shaking his head and trying to disentangle himself when his wife’s voice came from beside him. He turned wide-eyed to her, but she was not looking at him.
“It will be mighty difficult for ma husband to be in two places at once since he will be in our chamber,” she leaned forward to whisper loudly, “having me.”
Ceit straightened and offered the woman trying to seduce her husband a serene look. She had seen his immediate attempt to remove the leeching woman and had even deduced that he meant to introduce her. Her anger was not pointed at him, at least not yet.
“Husband? Oh child, you must be confused. Tavish swears he will never marry. That is why he is the most popular man when he comes to court. Every woman would chase him and be the one to tame him. Quite the stallion. Run along back to the queen. You would not want to embarrass yourself telling tales out of turn.”
“There is only one stallion in ma stables, and I dinna share. Remove yer hands for ma patience is wearing thin.”
Tavish gaped at his wife for a moment. She had handed out more innuendos in the last half an hour than he even assumed she was capable of. He broke free and stepped to Ceit’s side. He wrapped his arms around her and might have even hidden behind her.
“Lady Gordon, I would have ye meet ma wife. Lady Cathryn, ye are now acquainted with Lady Gordon. Ma lady, I am sure ye would like to be the first to wish us happy as this stallion has found his filly.” He pulled Ceit back against him and wrapped his arms more tightly around her. He was not sure if it was more of a possessive gesture or to keep Ceit from launching herself at Lady Gordon, talons raised.
Lady Gordon took Ceit’s measure and the way Tavish held her in his embrace. She turned her nose up and sniffed.
“How quaint that you seem fond of one another. Tavish, I will see you the next time you are at court. I am sure.” She stressed the end and looked coyly at him.
“Nay. I dinna plan to come back soon as I have a home to make with ma wife, and if I come back, I am sure I will be vera busy having ma wife show me around her former home.”
Lady Gordon looked at them both before leaving in a swish of skirts.
“I’m so so sorry, Ceity,” Tavish spoke for her ears only.
Ceit turned in his arms and rested her hands on his chest.
“I amnae upset at ye though I was ready to break every finger on both of her hands if she didna let go. It is just something I will have to become accustomed to. There are women who will consider ye still available to them even if they ken of our marriage.”
“Will ye defend me from them like ye just did?”
“Ye were hiding behind me!”
“Mayhap just a little.” He kissed her forehead.
Ceit looked up at the lopsided grin that Tavish offered her, and her heart melted.
“Can ye nae speak with yer uncle later? Ye canna be traipsing aboot the castle in ma chemise tied aboot ye like a cape. And I would ask ye to call me Ceity a few more times.”
Tavish looked at his wife and then his uncle.
Ribs and arm be damned.
He swept Ceit into his arms and turned to move toward his chamber.
“Uncle, I will have to speak with ye later. I have a wife to tend to.”
Laird and Lady Sutherland’s laughter followed them, and when Ceit looked over Tavish’s shoulder, she saw Lady Sutherland pull her husband in for a kiss not intended for other people’s eyes.
Tavish and Ceit only had one more corner to round before they would be in the passageway that held the Sinclair suite.
“Tavish, what a pleasure.”
Tavish’s groan reverberated through her, but he kept walking.
“Tavish Sinclair, is that any way to treat family?”
Ceit looked at him and saw dread. As if walking to the gallows, Tavish turned and stepped toward the voices. Ceit recognized the two women and understood Tavish’s hesitation. Lady Beatris MacDonnell and Lady Sorcha were notorious gossips. Lady Sorcha had never been invited to be a lady-in-waiting but often floated about the periphery. Regardless of lacking noble birth, the queen would never invite her because she was also notoriously loose with her favors. Lady Beatris was a shrew who found fault in everything. As best Ceit recalled, both women had been banished to court for some incident that related to the Mackays and Sinclairs.
“Och Lady Cathryn, are ye unwell?” Lady Sorcha cooed.
“Nay, I am just fine.”
“Then ye must run along to the queen. She has been most bereft without yer company.”
When neither Tavish nor Ceit moved, Lady Beatris chimed in.
“Lady Cathryn, if ye arenae unwell, it is unseemly to have a mon carrying ye aboot, and ye arenae even in a passageway where ye belong.”
“That’s vera true, Lady Beatris. Ye make a vera good point. I am sure we will see ye at the evening meal.” Dismissing Ceit, Sorcha’s attention fell on Tavish despite Ceit still being in his arms. “Tav, ye didna stop to say hello when ye arrived. It would have been so nice to,” her eyes roamed over his body, “reconnect.”
Tavish was sure Ceit growled, and her body tensed in preparation to leave his arms.
“Wheesht,” he muttered to Ceit.
“I dinna see how we can reconnect aught when we have never been connected. Lady Beatris, it isnae appropriate for ye to refer to me and ma wife as yer family. And Sorcha, ye are a mistake from Tristan’s past. Ye may call yerself a lady here at court, but ye were little more than a serving girl and a tumble between the sheets for Tristan. Ye both did grievous harm to ma sister for which I will never forgive ye. Let me be vera clear to ye both. I dinna want to see or speak to ye ever again. If ye were men, I would have gutted ye in this corridor already. Count yer blessings that ye arenae. Come near me or any other member of ma family, and I will make sure the king ships ye to Inchcailleoch Priory.”
The women looked aghast.
“Nae the island of old women.”
“Ye can live a life of contemplative silence and poverty.” Ceit wanted to yelp as Tavish’s grip tighten on her. “I hope ye both rot to hell in a lonely cell with a hair coat to keep ye warm.”
Tavish did not wait for any further comments from either woman. He marched to his chamber in silence, and Ceit did not try to engage him. He needed his own time to calm down. When they reached the chamber, Tavish closed the door behind them and lowered Ceit to the ground. Mutual need had them grabbing for one another. Tavish pressed Ceit against the door and crushed his mouth to hers as his hand pulled her skirts up. Ceit tugged at the makeshift sashes that held her chemise around him.
“Ahem,” a loud clearing of the throat came from behind Tavish.
They froze and turned to look.
A chambermaid dipped a curtsey and lowered her head.
“I’m sorry to interrupt ye ma lord and ma lady, but there isnae another way out.”
“What are ye doing here?” Tavish looked around and spotted his sword still propped near the bed which had been changed and made. He scanned to see if anything was out of order, but it looked just as he remembered.
“Lady Elizabeth Fraser sent me to have a bath prepared for ye. The hot water was just delivered, and I was making sure ye had the drying cloths ye would need. Lady Elizabeth also asked me to deliver a particular soap.” The maid looked eager to escape. “If ye dinna mind, I will take ma leave.”
The young maid scuttled past them and dashed through the door. Tavish and Ceit looked at one another and laughed.
“A bath sounds divine.”
“Aye, especially with ye in it.”
“That’s what I meant. I canna wait. I will save ye some hot water.” Ceit was yanking her clothes from her body as she walked to the tub.
“I meant with ye in it with me.”
Tavish stood behind his naked wife and allowed their bare skin to rub together. His erect cock slid between her bottom cheeks. Ceit reached back to grasp his hips as his hands skimmed over her ribs to cup her breasts. His thumb traced the darkened skin around her nipples as they puckered and hardened. He blew cool air over her shoulder, and she shuddered as her breasts began to ache. One of Tavish’s hands slid down her belly until his fingers ran through the crisp curls of her mound. He grazed his fingers over the already heated skin and groaned when he met her wetness. He dipped his fingers into her seam and pulled them back glistening. Ceit turned to watch him suck his fingers into his mouth.
“I shall dine on ye this evening. The king can forgive us if we remain cloistered in here for the night.”
Instead of responding with words, Ceit took the hand that had been at his mouth and turned back to face the bath. Tavish’s rod sprung to life when she ran the tip of her tongue over the ends of his fingers and then sucked his forefinger into her mouth. She applied steady and firm pressure until Tavish’s hips rocked into hers. She released his hand and bent forward to brace herself on the rim of the bathtub. She spread her feet wide, and Tavish tapped his cock against her backside as he thrust three fingers into her. A small voice warned him to be gentler with his bride since she was still untried. But her guttural moan and swaying hips reassured him she enjoyed his attention. Tavish’s view of her slit was more temptation than he wanted to ignore. He pulled Ceit up and spun her around to face him. He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around him. He took the few steps needed to bring her back against the wall near the windows.
“I amnae going to last long, mo ghaol.”
“I dinna need ye to. Hard. Vera hard, Brodie.”
Tavish entered her with one thrust. Their coupling was savage as they clawed at one another, and Tavish pounded into her. He slowed once because he worried he was getting too carried away, but Ceit’s angry and sharp tug on his hair told him she was not pleased with the change of pace. It took only three more thrusts for them to peak together. Tavish rested his head in the crook of her neck as she rested her cheek against his head.
“I dinna ken what came over me, Ceity. One moment I intended to pleasure ye enough to make ye aroused. Then I planned to make love to ye slowly. Ye’re more temptation than I ken what to do with. I’m so bluidy glad to have ye here safe and sound. It was relief that ye arenae in harm’s way anymore. I needed ye.”
Ceit cupped his jaw and kissed the corners of his mouth before laying a soft kiss on his lips.
“I was the same. And I must admit that yer desire for me makes me burn with a possessiveness I dinna ken how to handle.”
“I apologize for what happened in front of ma uncle and aunt.”
“Those women,” she trailed off and shook her head, “I canna promise that was the nicest or most patient I will be. I find I want to do bodily damage when I see another woman touch ye.”
“Will ye be defending ma honor then, lass?”
“Hmm, a few women might end up with their eyes plucked out if ye task me with that.”
“I dinna mind ye being a mite possessive. Ye did well today in two horribly uncomfortable situations. I was proud of ye, even more so than I usually am.”
Tavish walked them to the tub and gingerly stepped in. He lowered them to the warm water, and Ceit leaned against his chest. They remained like that for a long time. Tavish running his hands over her back, and Ceit playing with the hair at his neck. They soaked while simply sharing one another’s company, neither contemplating much, just enjoying their intimate time together.
It was Ceit who initiated their next round of love play.
“I need ye again, Brodie,” she kissed a trail of fire along his shoulder up to his neck. “Please.”
“Ye dinna need to ask.”
And so went the rest of their evening. They made love in the bath before bathing one another and then moved to the bed where they dozed, made love, and chatted about everything and nothing until they made love again. They were speaking about requesting a supper tray when a shark knock came at the door. Tavish climbed from the bed and wrapped his plaid around his waist. He checked that Ceit pulled the bed curtains shut before he opened the door. A royal page stood before him, and he looked down smiling at the boy.
“The king requires yer company. Ye are to meet him in the Great Hall’s antechamber, ma lord.”
The boy did not wait for a response but rather bowed and hustled away.
Tavish returned to the bed and slipped between the curtains.
“I heard,” Ceit sighed with resignation.
Tavish pulled her into his arms and laid back down.
“Tav, we must get ready.”
“The lad didna say when our company was required. I amnae in a hurry to share ma bonnie bride with the rest of the world.”
“Are ye sure ye’re nae just hiding from the women who will flock to ye? Are ye worried I will bloody the queen’s rushes?”
“Dinna joke aboot that. I wouldnae put it past ye, and ma money would be on ye.”
“It bluidy well better be.”
Tavish rolled on top of Ceit, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Have I told ye lately that I love ye, Ceity Sinclair?”
“Nae nearly recently enough. It’s been at least ten minutes. I would have ye say it again, so I dinna forget.”
She lifted her chin for his kiss. He lowered himself to her, and she welcomed his weight pressing into her. Her knees dropped wide, tilting her hips up in an invitation he did not need. He slid into her and held still.
“I would stay just as we are forever, Brodie. The sensation of ye entering me, filling me, is nearly as good as the releases ye bring me to. I would stay joined as one with ye for the rest of time.”
Tavish and Ceit kissed with no rush or urgency despite the king’s summons. They held each other, their mouths the only parts of them moving. Instead, they basked in the pleasure of having their hearts, minds, and bodies joined as one.
The sun was well below the horizon when they left their chamber. Ceit had to have her maid bring her a gown and other necessities. She instructed the woman to have her belongings packed and brought to the Sinclair suite. She asked only what she needed in the morning be brought, and her maid would do the rest the next day.
“Ye ken it will make its way here just in time for us to leave it behind. I will arrange for it all to be carted to Dunbeath, but we canna wait for it.”
“I ken. I would be more confident aboot everything making it north if it departs from the same chamber.”
“Vera well.”