Medieval Ever After (91 page)

“I will ask you that question again later, lass. Let’s not discuss it now.” He kissed her again.

“Well, you sent for a tub. I cannot bathe in front of you!” Maddie’s eyes searched the room nervously. She stared at him, wondering how he could be so comfortable with blatant nudity.

“Aye, love, you can, but I think I will bathe you.”

Maddie gasped and pulled her covers closer. “Alex, ‘tis not proper!”

“Och, Maddie, anything is proper between a husband and wife so long as they both agree.” He leaned across the bed, yanked the covers down and kissed her nipple. Maddie’s eyes grew as big as saucers. Alex was chucking when he opened the door for Fiona.

Along with beverages, Fiona had brought in pastries, fruit, cheese, and bread. She turned to leave and said, “We are heating the water for the tub, my laird.”

“No hurry, we have plenty to eat.” Fiona left and Alex closed the door behind her. He held his hand out to his wife, “Come, wife, break your fast with me.”

***

Maddie slowly crawled out of bed and looked around for something to wear. The only garment she could see was the transparent gown Alice had made for the wedding night. Grabbing a large linen cloth, she wrapped it tight around her middle.

Alex pulled her down onto his lap and held a pastry up to her lips.

“If I remember correctly, my wife has a taste for sweets. Aye?”

Maddie nodded her head and studied her husband. Though confused by his mood, she was hungry, so she opened her mouth for him. She chewed her food slowly, never taking her eyes off her husband. His eyes turned dark. “Lick my fingers, sweeting, I have more for you.”

Maddie looked at the icing all over his fingers. She moaned in anticipation and started to slowly lick his hand. She giggled at all the icing on them.

Alex selected another pastry, this one filled with strawberry jelly. He pulled her cloth down and squeezed the strawberry jelly over her nipples. She gasped as the cold fruit dripped over her tender tips.

“Do you know how much I love strawberries?” He lowered his head to her breast and proceeded to show her. Maddie grabbed his hair and tugged him closer. Leaving her nipple, he took her mouth in a passionate kiss, angling his mouth over hers until she gave a small moan in the back of her throat. Then he pulled away and suckled her nipple again.

A knock sounded at the door. “Just a moment,” Maddie croaked out, her voice ragged with pleasure. She pulled up the cloth and ran her hand across her mouth to get rid of the icing. Maddie blushed and turned her head away as her husband bade Fiona to enter with the tub. Her behavior was wanton. He made her forget everything but the sheer pleasure humming through her body.

After the servants filled the tub with hot, steaming water, they left the room and closed the door behind them, Alex cradled her face. “Maddie, do not be ashamed of your passion. Passion for your husband is a wonderful thing. Come, I will wash you now.”

Alex urged her to step into the warm water. Deciding to trust him, she reached for his hand and did just that. She attempted to sit once in the bath, but he would not allow it.

“Nay, love, I shall wash you first.” He winked at her as he reached into the water.

Grabbing a linen square, he found a slice of her lavender-scented soap. First, he held the square up and trickled water down her body. Starting at her neck, he squeezed it over her front and her back, paying special attention to the round globes of her bottom. Maddie heard a moan and blushed when she realized the sound had come from her.

“Oh my!” was all she could manage.

He rubbed the linen with the soap and slowly massaged her breasts, rubbing the lather over the hard peaks of her nipples. Opening her eyes, she watched as he trailed his hand down her belly, across her curls. Maddie placed her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. He picked up each long leg, one at a time, and washed from the ankle up, using his bare hand to caress the tender area behind each knee. When he washed her woman’s place, Maddie closed her eyes and moaned lightly.

“Alex, this cannot be proper.”

He chuckled. “There is nothing wrong with a husband assisting his wife in the bath.”

What was happening to her? He eased her legs apart and slipped a finger inside her.

“Ah, Maddie, you will be a passionate one. I see you are enjoying your bath as much as I am.” His eyes twinkled as he dropped the linen square in the water and let his plaid fall to the floor.

Maddie gasped as she noticed his arousal. “Oh my!” She slowly slid her eyes back to his face. What would it feel like to touch him there?

“Aye, precious, see what you do to me?” Alex stepped into the tub and sat down, helping her onto his lap. He carefully set her arm outside the tub so it would not be jostled.

Maddie’s eyes darted about the room. “Alex, what are we doing?”

“Hush, love, trust me,” he whispered into her ear.

He leaned her head back against his shoulder and softly caressed her upper body. “Close your eyes and relax, Maddie. I will not hurt you.”

He bent her knees up and caressed her legs slowly, easing them apart. With his one hand, he slowly caressed her breast and rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger. He slipped a finger of his other hand inside her and used his thumb on her nub.

Maddie shifted her position so he could have better access to her core. She did not understand the sensations flowing through her body, but they were both wonderful and torturous at the same time. Without realizing it, she moved her legs apart for him. Her eyes opened and she flushed with embarrassment at her position.

“Och, lass, you are torturing me.” Alex stood up, dried her languorously and then helped her onto the bed.

Confusion settled in on her. Why had he stopped? She felt she was hanging over the edge of something, and she didn’t want him to end the sweet agony. Desire made her frantic. She finally whispered, “Alex, I need more.”

“Aye, sweeting, we are not done. Now we will find our pleasure together.”

A slow smile crept across her face as he slid in beside her and kissed her hungrily. She pushed him away.

“Alex, can I touch you?” she whispered. “I want to touch you like you touch me. Show me how.”

He pulled her hand down onto his erection. She grasped him carefully and he groaned.

Snatching her hand away, she stared at him with wide eyes. “Did I hurt you?”

“Nay, ‘twas a groan of pleasure. Try again,” he said through clenched teeth.

She touched him again and ran her finger around the tip of his penis, smiling, enjoying the feel of his soft skin. Moving her hand down, she gently cupped his testicles. He groaned again, but she did not stop this time—she
enjoyed
giving Alex pleasure. He kissed her hard on the mouth, possessing her. As his thumb brushed across her nipple, she squirmed toward him, forcing her body against his. Pulling her hand away, she rubbed her mound against his erection.

How could anything be so soft and yet so hard?

She writhed against him, realizing that she wanted him desperately. She ran her hand up and down his arms and his sides.

“Alex, please, I want you inside me. I need you.” She gasped, confused by the fever tearing through her body.

Alex tasted her nipple in his mouth again, curling his tongue over and over the surface until she peaked hard. She wiggled harder against him, feeling the tension build and build. He caressed her long legs and back, cupped her bottom, and slid his penis between her legs. As he rocked the tip back and forth against her nub, he slipped a finger inside her.

“Alex, please!” she rasped out with a moan. “I cannot stand anymore. I want you inside me. Now, please!”

He held her hips and slipped inside her slowly, gazing into her blue eyes all the while. “Are you all right? Does it hurt, love?”

“Nay, it does not hurt. Please don’t stop!” Frantically, she rocked against him. “Oh, Alex, you are wonderful inside me.”

He moved with slow, gentle thrusts. Rolling her head back, she grabbed his shoulders and raked her nails across his skin. As he increased his pace, she pulled her knees up to make their contact even deeper. He reached in between her legs and found her nub, caressing her.

“Alex, oh, Alex!” Maddie screamed as she careened over the edge. Wild tremors possessed her as she tightened against him, sending wave over wave of pleasure rolling over her. Alex followed her over the abyss.

“Maddie, did I hurt you?” he asked through choppy breaths, cuddling her close.

“Nay, it was wondrous, Alex.” As her awareness returned, she peeked at him. “What happened?” she asked, feeling a little shy about her exuberant response.

“You found your pleasure, or so I believe.” His eyes twinkled.

“Aye, I believe I did.” Her brow furrowed a little. “Alex?”

“Aye, love?”

“I did not find my pleasure last night.”

Alex laughed. “You understand now, sweeting?”

“Aye, and please stop laughing at me.” She slapped his hand.

“Sorry, but I could no’ stop myself. You know I love you.”

“I love you, too, Alex.” Was it possible to be any happier than she felt at this moment?

She thought about everything that had happened since their wedding as she relaxed in her husband’s arms.

“Alex?”

“Aye, Maddie?”

“Can we do this again later? I think I like the marriage bed.”

He chuckled.

RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER

CHAPTER THIRTY

Approximately three months later.

Alex headed back
to the great hall after a long day in the lists. He marveled about how wonderful the first three months of his marriage had been. He chuckled when he thought of his wee wife and her voracious appetite. He had hoped she would become a passionate lover in time, but she could not seem to get enough of him. Nor could he get enough of her. Maddie had certainly turned his life upside down. Though other women had offered him their favors over the months since his marriage, he was not interested. There would only ever be one woman for him—a blonde-haired, blue-eyed enchantress.

He caught sight of his wife’s blonde hair out of the corner of his eye in the gardens. She sat on the bench by herself with her head down. As he approached, he saw her tear-stained cheeks.

“What is wrong, sweeting? You know I hate to see you cry,” he said softly.

“Oh, Alex, my courses started again today. You know how much I want to give you a son. I had so hoped to be with child this time.” Maddie hung her head and played with the linen square in her lap.

“Och, sweeting, we have lots of time. I am not worried about it, and I do no’ want you to worry about it.”

“But, Alex, what if something happened when Niles raped me and I cannot get with child? You will have no heirs. That would be so wrong. But I know not what to do.”

He lifted her onto his lap. “Maddie, I could not be happier than I am with you as my wife. If we do no’ have bairns, then Robbie or Brodie surely will. Our land will stay in the family. That is all I worry about. But I do worry if you are no’ happy.”

***