Page 52 of A Bridge Through Time
Helene nodded, her eyes downcast and her cheeks bright red. “I should tell ye, Cailin, yer brother and Sir Robert be lookin’ fer ye.”
“Let them keep lookin’.” Cailin had a wicked grin on his lips when he stared into Ashley’s eyes. Ashley cocked an eyebrow and giggled at him, as Helene backed further towards the door. The young woman was fumbling behind her to locate the latch, when the door suddenly swung open, hitting her on the backside. Helene let out a small yelp of surprise when Cormac came through the door, his face filled with mischief.
“Sorry, lass,” he apologized to Helene, before raising his eyes to the bed. “Cailin, there ye be! I’ve been lookin’ all over fer ye!”
“Cormac,” Cailin growled as he leaped from the bed, exposing his naked form for everyone to see. “How dare ye enter Ashley’s room without invitation!”
Ashley wasn’t sure what to do. On the one hand, she was enjoying the sight of Cailin’s tightly muscled backside, and on the other hand, she was painfully aware of Helene and Cormac standing in her room and knowing exactly what she and Cailin had been up to all night. She quickly pulled the furs up over her head. Apparently, privacy was hard to come by at Breaghacraig. She was going to have to remember to lock the chamber door from now on.
Ashley peeked out from beneath the covers. Helene seemed unable to tear her eyes away from Cailin’s nudity, and the shocked expression on her face was a sight to behold. Helene didn’t seem to know quite where to look and finally let out an exasperated cry as she turned and ran directly into Cormac’s chest.
“’Tis alright, Helene,” Cormac soothed the young woman, holding her close. “I’ve got ye. ’Tis a shocking sight ye’ve just been unlucky enough to see,” he continued, holding back his laughter. “Cailin, cover yerself. Have ye no shame?”
With a frustrated growl, Cailin lunged towards his brother, who avoided him adeptly, even as he pushed Helene out through the doorway. “Robert and I need to speak with ye, brother,” Cormac announced.
“Ye can wait,” Cailin snapped.
“Nay. I dinnae think we can.”
“Well, ye’ll have to. Now get out of this chamber before I throw yer sorry arse out,” Cailin threatened.
“Calm yerself. I’m goin’. My sincerest apologies, Ashley, for the interruption.” Cormac sailed out the door, but not without one last parting shot. “Cailin, I do believe yer the one with the sorry arse – just look at it, brother! No wonder Helene looked so terrified. Well, not only terrified by that sorry arse, but perhaps a wee something else as well.” He roared with laughter as he closed the door and left.
Cailin turned back to the bed, the sound of Cormac’s laughter still echoing down the hallway. Ashley came out from under the furs and Cailin’s furious expression softened.
“Good day to ye, me beauty.” Cailin’s manhood was standing proudly at attention again.
Ashley smiled seductively and crooked her finger, beckoning him back to bed.
“Hey handsome,” she whispered.
Cailin didn’t need more encouragement. He leaped onto the bed, wrapping Ashley in his arms. He buried his face in her neck, growling as he nuzzled her throat and covered her with kisses.
“Cailin,” she gasped. “Your arse isn’t sorry at all. As a matter of fact, it’s quite magnificent.” To prove her point, she grabbed his backside with both hands and pulled him closer.
As he continued his assault on her senses, Ashley spoke, already quite out of breath. “Do you think we should get dressed? Robert might be angry if you make him wait.”
“I dinnae care, my love. I have started something here that must be finished.”
Ashley sighed contentedly in his arms, happily anticipating the pleasure to come.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Cailin helped Ashley with her gown and to her surprise he was almost as good at putting it on, as he had been at taking it off. Although it took a bit longer than usual, because of his amorous dallying. When they’d finished dressing, they made their way downstairs where they were greeted by a less than happy Robert.
“Ashley, if ye dinnae mind, I’d speak with Cailin alone,” he growled.
Cormac, who stood by Robert’s side, offered Ashley a wink and a nod as she walked away. As she made her way towards the great hall, Ashley met a number of people who seemed to offer her a wink, or a sly grin as she passed. Was it only in her imagination, or did everyone look as if they knew exactly what she’d been doing with Cailin last night?
“Good morning,” Lena said, when Ashley walked into the hall a few minutes later. “Irene was worried when you didn’t join us for breakfast this morning.” Lena was settled by the fire, whereshe was doing some sewing. “The boys are growing so fast, it seems I spend most of my time making them new clothes.”
Ashley didn’t feel like explaining her tardiness. What was the point? It seemed everyone knew why she was late getting up this morning. So instead, she sat in the chair opposite Lena with a resigned sigh.
“Are you okay?” Lena asked, lapsing easily back to twenty first century slang.
“I’m fine, thanks. Where is Irene, anyway?”
“She’s off on her morning rounds, I think. She’ll be back soon. You must be hungry.”
