Page 44 of Kidnapped By her Highland Enemy
His reply was a grunt and Maisie turned to Lucas, “I suppose that is all we might get. I suggest we take it.”
Three days later, with direct travel to the Barclays’ castle, Maisie gazed up. There, perched atop a velvet-green hill, with the shadowy mountains behind it, the keep of Barclay Castle loomed above her, its gray stone bulk shimmering with the dying rays of the sun that stained the western skies. Thick walls ran between the crenelated walls and towers and the entire structure wasbuilt up against a huge outcropping of solid stone. It looked a bit like the castle had grown from the stone itself.
They had been riding through woodland and when the trees drew back, they rode, up the hill and to the lowered drawbridge. A wide, deep moat, full of still, dark water surrounded the castle.
The horses and carriage clip-clopped across the drawbridge, and they passed under the portcullis and the gatehouse, entering the inner ward under the watchful eye of guards above.
The grand doors opened, and men came out, garbed in red leather and kilts and boots—all armed. For a moment, Maisie feared that the men would come against her father, but with one lifted hand from Cinead, the guards retreated.
“Stand down, men,” he said while mounting the steps and into the main hall. “The Dunns come in peace.”
Maisie felt their eyes fly over her and latch unto her father and she twisted to look at him in fear, just as Lucas’s hand rested on her shoulder and turned her back to him. Dropping his mouth to her ear, he said, “Dinnae ye worry, lass. He’ll be fine. They will look at him with suspicion for a while, aye, but when me faither tells them about the new arrangement, they will accept it.”
She turned to him and met complete faith in his eyes and her worry lessened. “I trust ye.”
As they entered the great hall, they walked into the evening meal. The trestle tables were packed, and trenchers of mutton, pheasant, and boar were plentiful, along with many roasted vegetables and fresh fruit while women meandered through the tables with pitchers of wine.
Cinead walked to the head table and mounted the dais, grasping a large goblet and lifting it high, and the hall quieted, every sound dropping to a hush.
“Me good people,” he said strongly. “I have come to announce that Laird Dunn and I have made peace, from now on, there willnae be any more fighting between us as we have a greater enemy to confront. This peace between us is nae only in word, but in action as well. Me son, Lucas is taking Lady Dunn as his bride-to-be, reversing the rift from centuries ago!”
“The engagement feast will be on the morrow’s eve and the wedding will take place in a sennight,” Lucas said, his eyes roaming along the hall. “And upon me word, this feud will end, none of yer brothers or fathers will die anymore. We will be stronger than ever together than apart! Welcome me wife-to-be, Maisie Hendry into our home!”
A roar went up in the hall and fists thumped on the tables, while men and women stood and clapped. Maisie lifted her head and held it high, unafraid of being in the midst of a clan that she had once thought was her enemy.
Luca’s hand rested on the small of her back, the flat plane of his hand like a burning brand on her skin, and an anchor in a seaof uncertainty. Lucas leaned into her ear, “I ken it’s been a long journey, will ye want to go to me chambers so ye can have a bath and eat in private?”
Relieved that he was not going to force her to stay in the main hall, Maisie subtly nodded, but Lucas saw it. From the corner of her eye, she spotted him give a curious hand gesture to his father who nodded and then, he was steering her from the dais to a door beyond.
“This way,” he said, “It’s about time ye get to ken yer new home.”
16
She was led down a corridor and up two flights of sweeping stairs, before they came to a massive room. The casements were open giving her a glimpse of the verdant hills beyond and the giant bed, a principal feature in the room, was draped in wine-red, umber, and gold that matched the drapes.
Heavy furs were thrown over the chairs by the firepit and the floor was covered with fresh rushes. A large rectangular table sat a few feet to its right and a basin with a pitcher of fresh water perched on a stand next to the window. To the bed, an oil lamp glowed golden atop an end table.
Biting her lip, she turned around to face a silent Lucas, “This room is fit for a king.”
A smirk tugged at his lips as he walked in and took his tunic off, baring his chest, a span of firm, muscled, golden skin. A slightpink blush crawled up her chest and settled in her cheeks at the memory of how she had sunk her nails into his skin.
Silently, she lifted her hands and rested them on his chest. Smooth, warm flesh flexed under her fingertips. The quick pace of his heart thumped a strong rhythm beneath her palm and his ribs expanded with deep breaths. Maisie moved her hands across the expanse of his torso, smooth, very smooth.
He turned to her, dropping his hands to her hips. “Shall I call for the bath now?”
“Perhaps in a moment,” Maisie replied as she stroked her hand down his chest. Looking up and meeting his darkening eyes, she added, “It’s a shame we had not had time to ourselves since the seaside cottage. I want to be near ye for now.”
The green darkened as he pulled her to a seat and flung the fur off it, to sit and tug her on his lap. A wave of longing rose within her and she wanted him to pull her close and hold her there. She needed his warmth.
“Kiss me.” She sighed the words faintly.
He gazed at her a long moment, and then his mouth met hers. His lips were soft, but his arms were commanding, pressing her to the hardness of his body. She opened to the gentle intrusion of his tongue and, in answer to her small moan, he deepened the kiss.
Lucas’s hands settled under her bottom, lifting her a bit higher, so she could straddle him. He pulled away, and nipped at her lip, the slivers of his eyes showing a darkened hue. He took over the kiss again, rekindling desire in her body while working the strings of her gown open.
Before Maisie realized, he yanked the bodice down and dropped a kiss on her shoulder He trailed kisses down her throat to her breasts as her gown came away. Lucas palmed on full globe while his mouth sucked and licked her tender nipples. Back and forth he went between her breasts, sucking and gently biting her nipples until they were wine-colored and glistening, and Maisie was panting.
Her stomach clenched in a tight coil of desire as he she grew lightheaded with pleasure. A harsh moan of arousal left her mouth as lust spiked in her blood.
