Page 53 of A Forbidden Night with a Scot
Once again, her pleasure grew and grew steadily, warmth pooling deep inside her. When Samuel reached around her and began to stroke her sensitive spot in time with his thrusts, it was only a matter of time before the first wave of her second climax washed over her, this time so intense that for a few moments, she could hear nothing but a ringing in her ears, her walls pulsing desperately around Samuel as she came.
Behind her, Samuel groaned in pleasure, hips stuttering as he gave a few last thrusts, pulling out of her to spill over her thighs. Afterwards, he still held onto her for a few moments, panting as he tried to catch his breath before finally collapsing on the plaid next to her, still breathing heavily.
Slowly, Alicia lowered herself to the plaid next to him and Samuel pulled her into his arms, holding her flush against his body. Alicia curled into him, seeking out his warmth, and Samuel stroked her hair as he pressed kisses on her crown.
“Was I too rough with ye?” he asked, voice tinged with concern.
Alicia laughed softly, shaking her head. “Nay,” she assured him. “I liked it very much.”
With a hand cupping her cheek, Samuel tilted Alicia’s head so that she was looking at him. Whatever confirmation that she was telling the truth he was looking for in her expression, Alicia thought, he must have found it as he nodded and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips, seemingly satisfied with her answer.
Alicia let her eyes fall shut with a sigh, content and safe in Samuel’s arms. She wished they could stay like that forever next to that lake, without any other worries, without any duties hanging over their heads. For a little while, they could keep reality at bay here, pretend that nothing was wrong—that there was no imminent threat of a battle, that their relationship was not as complicated as it was, that Alicia was not betrothed to another.
It didn’t last long. Only a few moments later, Samuel stiffened against her and then he quickly sat up, his eyes searching for something in the dark. Alicia, alarmed, sat up as well, arms coming up to cover her body as best as she could.
“What is it?” she asked. At first, Samuel said nothing, eyes still scanning the horizon in a way that made Alicia wonder if he could see that well in the dark. There was the light of a half-moon above them, but for her, it was not enough to see that far into the distance.
“I dinnae ken,” Samuel said as he stood and offered Alicia his hand to help her up, as well. Alicia shivered as the wind hit her skin once more, now entirely unprotected, even as Samuel rushed to gather her clothes from the ground and help her put them back on a little haphazardly, seemingly uncaring about his own state of undress. He only dressed when he was certain Alicia wasn’t so cold anymore, putting on his clothes just as quickly and carelessly.
“Did ye see somethin’?” she probed.
“I heard somethin’,” Samuel said. “Or at least I think I did.”
As far as Alicia could tell, there was no one else there with them. Perhaps it had been nothing more than a little critter of the forest, a small animal neither of them could see. Alicia couldn’t hear any signs of another human’s presence, or any sign of animals. There was nothing but the rustling of the grass in her ears, the blades swaying in the wind.
“We should head back tae the castle,” Samuel said, just as Alicia knew he would. He was always cautious, though she could hardly blame him. After everything that had happened, first with his family and now with this attack, it was only natural that he would be cautious. She would even understand if he was paranoid. Still, she wished she could have stayed a little longer there with him, just the two of them, with no other worries in the world.
Even so, she didn’t complain when Samuel took her hand and led her back to the castle. There would be many nights like this, she told herself. Once Samuel had spoken to her father and once the two of them had negotiated with the king and Laird MacTavish, she and Samuel would be free to do as they pleased.
The walk to the castle seemed even shorter than that to the lake, and before Alicia knew it, they were back behind the walls and Samuel was immediately off to give out orders to his men to search the surrounding area. For a while, Alicia lingered there, waiting for Samuel to come back to her, but eventually, she realized he was already too busy and probably would be for the foreseeable future. Instead of waiting, she headed back to her chambers to rest, resigning herself to the fact that the clan would always come first.
She understood why it had to. As much as Samuel loved her, he had a sacred duty to perform. All the people of the clan depended on him. If he didn’t give this threat his full attention, then that could mean their ruin.
Alicia undressed and changed into her night garments, preparing herself for bed. Just as she was about to get under the covers, though, there was a knock on the door, and she opened it to find Samuel at the other side. Before she could ask what he was doing there, he grabbed her and kissed her, one long, playful peck on the lips, before he was gone once more, callinggoodnightat her over his shoulder.
Alicia watched him walk down the corridor until he disappeared around the corner. Then, she closed the door and fell onto her back on the bed, the mattress bouncing a little with the movement.
The smile on her lips didn’t fade for the rest of the night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
When Alicia entered the drawing room the following morning, she was surprised to see not only Katherine there, but also Emmeline, along with their father, Samuel, and Nerian. Alicia came to a halt just by the entrance, her excitement at seeing Emmeline after so long dampened by the strangeness of the sight.
Why is she here? Did somethin’ happen?
It wasn’t often that Emmeline left her home in Colonsay, since she despised the long travel by boat, the sea making her fall ill every single time. For her to have made the journey, it could only mean that something was truly wrong and her presence was required.
“Alicia,” Emmeline said, standing and walking over to her to pull her into an embrace. Alicia took a deep breath, her own arms wrapping tightly around her sister, and it was then that her longing for her won over everything else for a moment, even over her fear. It had been so long—too long. And yet, it felt asthough they had only just seen each other, as though nothing had changed. Emmeline herself had hardly changed at all, her bright green eyes still as intelligent and perceptive as always, her long hair the same soft brown they shared. The only difference was that she looked a little sharper, a little more angular, more like a woman. The baby fat had melted from her cheeks, and now she resembled their mother more than ever before.
“Emmeline… when did ye arrive?” Alicia asked as she pulled back just enough to look at her, still holding onto her arms. “Is everythin’ alright? Why are ye here? How was the travel? Are ye feelin’ ill?”
She couldn’t help the torrent of questions. So concerned was she for Emmeline that her mind was already racing ahead of her, coming up with all sorts of terrible scenarios to justify her sister’s presence.
“When I heard about yer betrothal, I wished tae come immediately,” Emmeline said. “I went home first but I was told ye were all here, so I came tae find ye immediately.”
Though Emmeline said nothing more on the matter of Alicia’s betrothal, her bitter tone was enough for her to know the reason she had come all the way to Castle MacLachlan was because she, too, was plagued by worry. No one knew better than her what it was like to be wedded to a man one didn’t love, to be nothing but a pawn in the political games of the clans and the king. Emmeline weathered the trip and the hardships that came with it just so she could be there for Alicia, and Alicia’s chest swelled with all the love and gratitude she held for her sister.
It was good to have her there, her presence like a soothing balm to her soul and her mind. Emmeline would know what to do, Alicia thought. She could advise her better than anyone else.
