Kept by the Highlander (3 page)

             
Somehow though, he could not bring himself to do it.

             
It was because he was weak and hungry he told himself. There would be plenty of other opportunities. He would bide his time.

             
She cocked her head at him, holding out the bright yellow fruit.

             
"Now all we need is a knife ! Yes?"

             
"Yes, your Highness."

             
She grinned at him and flounced back through the garden to the chamber. Once again, he could not help but stare at her as her body moved in such a delightfully feminine way. And he could not help but notice her bed again as they passed the open doorway. The blankets were a deep purple with brightly colored pillows sprinkled everywhere.

             
He could do a lot with a bed that size.

             
Malcolm pinched his hand, trying to distract himself from the heavy feeling in his limbs. Blood was starting to course through his body, straight to his loins. He was trying to hold onto his manhood, not attract attention to it!

             
The Princess held up her prize and called out for a knife. In seconds a knife was procured and the lemon was duly sliced. They sat again and she prepared the beverage.

             
Then she lifted her cup and sipped daintily, indicating he should do the same. He sipped his drink and let the spicy sweetness float over his tongue.

             
"And so?"

             
"It is delicious. Thank you."

             
"Oh, but I'm keeping you from eating! Please, eat your fill. Aluda, bring him a plate. Pile it high. No skimping!"

             
The Princess watched him as he ate with gusto. He did his best to pace himself, but the food was so delicious and he was ravenous. He was taking another bite of spiced lamb when he caught her looking at him.

             
She was looking at his mouth.

             
His arousal was back instantly, making him almost groan in frustration. Apparently she was drawn to him as well. This was not a happy turn of events. Then again, he might be able to ease himself somewhat, depending on how curious she was.

             
And how foolhardy he was.

             
"It is good? You want to eat more?"

             
"Not right now, thank you. Yes, very good. More than good."

             
He grinned at her, letting his own gaze drop to her inviting berry colored lips.

             
"Delicious."

             
She was giving him an assessing look, as if she knew what he was thinking. Then she tossed her head in that arrogant way she had. The Princess reminded him of a proud mare, well aware of her beauty. He closed his eyes briefly, imaging himself covering her as a stallion took a mare.

             
There was no use for it. He was doomed to spend his days here in constant arousal. He would simple have to learn to master it.

             
"Tell me, how did a Scotsman end up here?"

             
"My Grandfather was selected by King Richard to explore this region. He asked me to come along."

             
She raised an eyebrow at that.

             
"You are surely regretting that decision now."

             
He stared at her. She was so intensely earnest. It was entrancing.

             
"Not entirely."

             
Now both of her graceful eyebrows shot up in a show of disbelief. She did not hide her emotions well. Then again, perhaps that was only here, in her chamber amongst her trusted servants. She'd barely batted an eyelash when Al Hakam was here.

             
"Well Scotsman, I am afraid your fate is tied to mine. If my father seeks to wed me to one of your Prince's I will bring you with me, as a gift. But if they drag this marriage selection on forever, I can do nothing to free you. In the meantime, you can teach me much I think."

             
He nodded. She was as trapped as he was in a way.

             
"We will begin tomorrow Scotsman. I must rest."

             
She sighed and leaned back. Instantly a servant was there, sliding a stool underneath her feet. Another approached with a harp and started playing. Aluda slipped behind her and started gently unravelling Kalila's ornate braids. A round faced serving girl shooed him away, gesturing toward the pillows along the wall. He sat, cross legged as he watched the servants massage and caress the Princess. Her eyes were closed and her mouth sweetly parted. One of the servants had stripped away her veils and was rubbing oil into her scalp and temples.

             
Her hair was glorious as it was spread out behind her, hanging nearly to the floor in a sheet of dark silk. She was falling asleep under their tender ministrations. He stared as she twisted in the chair, her silk dress pulling tightly against her chest.

             
He was breathing heavily as he watched the incredibly erotic scene unfold before him. Two girls were massaging the Princess's hands and arms while another knelt at her feet. He would gladly have swapped places with any of them. Malcolm groaned softly and pulled a pillow into his lap.

             
After what felt like an eternity, the servants carefully lifted the sleeping Princess and carried her out of the room.

             
Malcolm exhaled, realizing he had been holding his breath. He leaned back and closed his eyes, ignoring the servants who bustled about, clearing the remnants of the meal from the room.

             
Perhaps he had been executed after all. He must have sinned enough in his lifetime for Saint Peter to bar him entrance to the Kingdom of God. Because surely, this was hell. A gloriously tempting hell, but full of exquisite tortures all the same.

Four

             
Kalila woke with the sun and padded out into her garden. Today she would work with her new tutor, learning much. She would also go through her books and see if anything was salvageable.

             
She sat at the edge of the fountain, letting her fingers glide through the clear cool water.

             
"Highness, you know you should not be out here alone."

             
Aluda stood there, with her tutor at her shoulder. A flash of jealousy shot through her. What were they doing together? Her servant was quite pretty and unlike Kalila, not banned from contact with men. If they fell in love, Kalila would be all alone.

             
Where had that come from? She brought her wayward thoughts back into focus. Anyway, the Scotsman was staring at her, not her pretty handmaiden. In fact, he was not merely staring. He was- she stood up slowly transfixed by the strange look on his face. His eyes flared as they traveled down her body.

             
Kalila gasped as she realized that her nightgown must be translucent. It was made of the finest cotton and was clearly giving the man quite a sight. His mouth was open and something strange was happening at the front of his tunic. It was lifting away from his body, as if by magic. Instead of being outraged, however, she was fascinated.

             
"Leave us Aluda."

             
The maid's eyes widened but she did as she was instructed.

             
Kalila walked toward the Scotsman who was looking both alarmed and sleepy somehow- judging from the hooded look in his eyes. His face was flushed and his breathing rapid.

             
"Are you ill?"

             
He shook his head softly, not stopping his slow perusal of her body. She glanced down. There was a distinctive tent rising in the front of his white garment.

             
"What is this then if not some malady?"

             
He swallowed as she stared, his thick adams apple bobbing in his throat.

             
"It is desire."

             
He gasped as her hand skimmed the front of his body. She looked up at him curiously. He had a hard look on his face, as if he wanted to do something very badly.

             
"It pains you?"

             
"Yes, in a way."

             
She brushed her hand across it again.

             
"Does this have to do with mating?"

             
He swallowed, his throat moving under her gaze.

             
"Yes."

             
"Ah… so you would mate with me."

             
He stared at her, not answering. She let her hand brush him again.

             
"I would see this organ of yours. It seems to be quite impressive. Is it large?"

             
He was breathing quickly as she reached for the bottom of his hem.

             
"Please your Highness- do not-"

             
She stopped.

             
"It shames you?"

             
He said nothing again. Just stared at her, looking utterly miserable.

             
"And yet you have no trouble looking at me. This does not seem fair."

             
He laughed then, a strangled sound.

             
"Princess… I beg you… do not."

             
There was a warning in his voice. She bristled immediately at his tone. Her hand reached for him again, touching him gently but insistently through his garments.

             
"I do not like to be told what to do, slave."

             
His eyes narrowed at the reminder of his position.

             
"You are here to serve me, are you not?"

             
He nodded curtly.

             
"Good. Then do not gainsay me again."

             
She had been pressing her palm against him. Abruptly she stepped back, letting her hand fall away. He reacted instantly. It almost looked as if he hadn't truly wanted her to stop. That was interesting.

             
Very interesting indeed.

**********

             
Malcolm was sitting on the floor in the Princess's chamber, staring at the chess board that sat between them. She was leaning back on her cushions, looking fetching as always. But there was something doleful in her glance. Her curiosity had not been satisfied by their encounter in the garden he knew.

             
Hell, she wasn't the only one.

             
He'd been wondering a lot of things himself. How far she was going to take things, for one. What she would do if- no, when- he kissed her and tossed her skirts up so he could avail himself of her body.

             
If he had the chance to escape, he was already planning on taking her with him.

             
Whether or not she would go willingly was a moot point.

             
Princess Kalila moved her knight, taking his bishop. She was one move from checkmate, unless he used evasive action. He wondered if she knew it. She leaned back and gazed at him expectantly. She was a skilled player, but he had not realized how skilled until that moment.

             
"Tell me again about these High-Lands."

             
"It's one word. Highlands."

             
"Highlands."

             
"Very good."

             
He moved his queen out of the way. She pouted in disappointment. But he knew she would have been more disappointed if he let her win too easily. Her brow furrowed as she contemplated her next move.

             
"The Highlands are wild and untamed. Completely free of the laws on England, despite what the King might believe."

             
"They sound dangerous."

             
"They are. They are also some of the most beautiful lands in all the world."

             
"You have travelled extensively?"

             
She was pulling on a long strand of hair, chewing on her bottom lip as she studied the board. He watched her, enjoying both the view and their battle of wits.

             
"I have."

             
He leaned back onto his pillows, crossing his long legs. She looked up, taking in his frame. He was smiling sensuously at her when she raised her eyes again. He realized that he was treating her as you might treat a bed partner, not a Royal Princess. Still, he could not seem to help himself.

             
"You are lucky. I have only this room as my world."

             
He frowned. It seemed criminal to lock such a bright and beautiful creature away. He felt almost sorry for her in that moment, spoiled and vain as she was.

             
"Why don't you go out? Become involved in the things that matter to you?"

             
"It is not allowed. It was not always thus- once I enjoyed freedom equal to your European women. But no more."

             
He saw it the exact moment that she realized he had her in checkmate. He'd laid his trap skillfully and she had walked right into it. She frowned and stood up with a small huff of annoyance.

             
"We will finish this later. I must bathe. Come Aluda."

             
The serving girls hastened to her side, leading her to her bathing chamber.

             
"You come too Highlander. I would continue our conversation."

             
He blanched, making her laugh aloud.

             
"There is a small bench outside. You can wait there. There is a grate we can speak through. I will ask questions and you will answer."

             
He nodded and sat where she indicated. There was a carved wooden screen separating him from the bathing room. He listened through the grate as the women giggled and spoke softly in a foreign tongue. He turned his head instinctively toward the sound and froze.

             
The screen was dense but he could see through it. His eyes widened as he watched the serving girls remove the Princess's garments. They were unwrapping her layers of silk as if she were a present.

             
A gift. For him.

             
He groaned as her slender bare back became visible. The girls moved around her again, temporarily blocking his view. They moved again and he could see her sweetly rounded bottom and long legs. Her caramel skin shone in the light, making his fingers itch to touch her silky smoothness.

             
They piled her rich hair on top of her head and Kalila stepped into the bathing pool. He stared hungrily as her bottom disappeared below the surface of the water. She sank down and turned toward the door, swimming backwards in the enormous pool.

             
"Can you hear me Scotsman."

             
He swallowed and forced himself to look away. For his own peace of mind more than out of any respect for her privacy. He forced his voice to sound even, nonchalant.

             
"Yes, Princess."

             
"That is good. I want to hear more about these weak bellied men of England. Are they all as soft as you say?"

             
"The court is full of fat Lords and Ladies. It is in fashion to eat and dress as opulently as possible."

             
"But not so in Scotland?"

             
Malcolm was striving not to look at her but the sound of the water make him turn his head again. She was facing him, rubbing something into her arms. Then she stood and her breasts came into view. High round globes with dark pink tips that begged for a man to touch them… and taste them.

             
"Sweet Jesu!"

             
"What was that Scotsman? A prayer?"

             
He laughed.

             
"The Court of King Duncan is nearly as bad as the English. My father and his men laugh at the Lowlanders. They consider them to be less than men."

             
"And what do you think Mal-colm?"

             
"I think the English and Lowlanders are distracting themselves from the important things in life."

             
"And what are these important things Scotsman?"

             
"Honor. Respect. Pride."

             
"Ah but you cannot eat respect. Nor can pride keep you warm at night."

             
He laughed again. Jesu, the woman had a ready wit. She would keep him on his toes, that much was certain.

             
The next hour passed in sheer agony. Princess Kalila finished her bath and was led to a high table. She lay down and her women began massaging and oiling her skin in plain view. It was by far the most erotic thing he had seen in his life. The beauty seemed to doze a bit, waking only when the serving girls bade her turn over. She did and he moaned. Her long legs were gleaming with the oil applied to her skin. The women moved around the table quickly and he could see her chest and throat. He stared enraptured as they oiled her breasts and lower, the dark triangle between her thighs.

             
Malcolm was in dire need of release by the time they had dried and dressed the Princess. She followed her serving women from the bathing chamber and stared at him on the bench. He saw her eyes widen when she saw his hands clasped over his groin. She waved the women away and stared up at him inquisitively.

             
"You seem to be afflicted again. So soon?"

             
He grimaced.

             
"I haven't had a woman in some time."

             
She tilted her head curiously.