Memories of a Highlander Page 8

  “Are ye still alright”, he asked.

  “I’m fine, did I do that right? Why did ye stop?”

  Donald laughed as he rolled out of bed, crossing to the washbasin and washing his hands and his shaft before rejoining me where I knelt on the bed. I couldn’t help but look at his shaft, it was now much smaller, and looked softer, but it still looked too large for comfort.

  “Ye are an innocent. I stopped because I climaxed. Ye never need to ask if ye did that right, ye can touch me anytime ye want, that was wonderful”.

  Donald flopped down on the bed and looked at me for a while. I stared at him, trying to piece together what had happened. Donald put both arms behind his head, smiling at me, daring me to ask the questions that were obviously forming in my mind.

  “So, is that what happens when ye couple with a woman? Ye spurt that fluid into her, and ye are done? What’s in it for the woman?”

  Donald laughed.

  “Well, if ye want to know that, ye have to be a bit more adventurous, woman. Right now, it’s time to shift yerself if ye want the morning meal”.

  Donald sat up, pulling me to him and kissing me on the forehead. I turned my face up to his, wanting him to kiss me properly, but he scooted backwards before standing up from the bed and looking for his clothes. He turned to me as he stepped into his braies.

  “I think I have been going about this all wrong. I have been trying to show ye what it could be like between us, and have been hoping that ye would let me prove to ye that it could be good. But now I think maybe it would be best if I let ye control the pace. Ye can touch me whenever we are alone, if ye like, and just like now, ye can let me know if ye want to be touched or not. Ye will know when it is time to move on to the next step”.

  The annoying man then dressed and cheerily went downstairs. I on the other hand, felt wound up and as if I had missed out on something important. Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped him from touching me when he wanted to, but it was too late now. He was going to make me ask before he did that again, I just knew that.

  After the meal, when the men went outside to practice, I wandered around the keep and then the garden, trying to look busy, before I saw the women who had been talking to Mary in her herb garden move away. I casually sauntered up to her, looking around to make sure that no-one was around before stepping up close, and offering to hold the baby so she could tend to her herbs. She had some sort of sling across her shoulders so that she could put the babe in it and still have her hands free, but it was difficult for her to bend with the weight in the front. Mary gratefully accepted, and as I sat there, gently rocking the baby, I worked up the courage to seek the information I needed to know.

  “Mary, tell me if I am prying, but I need to know. Is Liam’s manhood very large?”

  Mary dropped the small hand trowel she had been using, and turned to look at me, her hand on her back as she did.

  “What? What sort of question is that? Why would you ask me that?”

  I felt a pang of horror at what she must be thinking of me.

  “Mary, I don’t mean that I want to see Liam naked or anything like that, I’m just trying to work things out in my head. I mean, ye are so little, and he is such a big man, I was just wondering, does it fit? Does it hurt much when it does? Oh, I am so embarrassed, just forget I asked”.

  “No Eleanor”, Mary put a hand on me as I made to rise, but I could see that she was struggling not to laugh. “You don’t have any sisters do you? So I am the only person your own age to talk to?” At my nod she continued. “So let me guess. You still haven’t made love to your husband, but you’ve seen him naked, am I right?” I nodded again. “And I’m guessing since he is as large as Liam that he is probably pretty large there too, not that I have seen him naked, I am just guessing, am I right?” Again, I nodded. Mary put her arm around me. “Eleanor, it will fit, believe me. Think about it. Bairns come out of the same place, and they are plenty big. If a babe can get out, don’t you think there’s enough room for your man? Don’t be embarrassed, I wish I had someone to talk to before I first took Liam to my bed, but I’d like to help you if I can. As for whether it will hurt, it shouldn’t. Donald knows you are a maiden? Good, then he will take his time with you. Is there anything else I can help you with? Any other questions for me? I will tell you what I can, but there are some things that you need to talk to Donald about. I know there are things I would have liked to ask someone else at first, but things I never could have talked to anyone but Liam about.”

  Mary looked at me again, and this time could not suppress the smile from her face.

  “So you saw him naked, eh? I don’t want to know what happened, but that explains the smile on his face this morning. Yet I don’t see a smile on yours. You might like to ask Donald why that is”.

  Despite any further urgings, Mary refused to say any more on the subject, just telling me to speak to Donald if I needed to know anything more. I stayed away from the lists that day, knowing that the last thing I needed was to see my husband hot and sweaty, and moving that big body of his as he fought. I grouched around, finally finding myself at the stables, where I found Midnight in a stall by himself. I was nuzzling him and petting his nose when I heard someone walk quietly up behind me. Spinning around in a fright, I backed up but sighed in relief as I saw it was Ian. I had been introduced to him, but hadn’t had an opportunity to speak to him. There was an awkward tension between us, as I knew it was Ian that my brother Duncan had injured, and that Ian was now the owner of Midnight. Ian looked much like my brother looked, he was taller of course, although not yet as tall as his older brothers, but looked like he still had some growing to do. What reminded me of my brother was that Ian had clearly not finished filling out, still gangly and awkward as youths often were, but his gaze was steady and forthright. The boy would be a man soon.

  “Ye were the one who really owned the horse, weren’t ye?”

  I held my head high as I nodded. I had come to accept that Midnight was lost to me forever, but that didn’t mean that I had to like it. Ian surprised me by his next words.

  “He is a beautiful stallion, but useless for battle. Horses have to be specially trained for battle as it is a noisy, hellish place, but ye didn’t intend him to be ridden into war, did ye?”

  I shook my head violently. I had trained Midnight to run, to carry me far away from everyone, not to march towards death.

  “Well, he doesn’t suit me for a fighting horse. I can ride him around here of course, but that doesn’t mean much when I need to train my own fighting horse. If ye want, ye can ride him around. He will still belong to me, ye mind, but ye can use him anytime, ye don’t have to ask me. I think he will benefit from the exercise, he is getting fat”.

  I stared at Ian, blinking back tears. He was holding onto ownership as a matter of pride, but effectively giving the horse back to me. I thought of Donald, and realised that kindness ran in this family. Even if the men were scarily large and gruff, they were uncommonly kind. I nodded at him, but had my doubts.

  “Are ye sure? Will it cause ye any trouble if I ride him?”

  Ian thought about that for a moment. Then flashed me a smile so like Donald’s that I my breath caught for a moment. This boy would be a heartbreaker when he grew up a little more.

  “Perhaps I had better talk to Donald. He might think I am trying to steal his wife away, and he is mean when he is angry”.

  Just then I heard Donald’s voice, which was both laughing and questioning at the same time.

  “What do ye need to talk to Donald about? And why are ye trying to steal away my wife?”

  I looked at him in concern, not knowing if he was serious, or if he was teasing his brother. Poor Ian stammered as he answered, looking from Donald, to Liam who was standing just behind Donald, to me, then at the floor.

  “I was just saying to Eleanor that her horse is useless as a warhorse and that he is getting fat in the stable without getting any exercise. I said she could ride him whenever she want
ed, but then I thought maybe I should check with ye first”.

  Donald stood tall over Ian, with his arms crossed over his chest, glowering at him. Then, without warning, he laughed and clapped Ian on the back so hard that Ian stumbled forward.

  “Get away with ye, ye young scoundrel. That is a very generous gift ye offer to Eleanor, and it’s up to her whether she accepts. But ye were right to be concerned, I know ye and trust ye, but some men might not. If ye were to offer gifts or favours to a man’s wife or daughter, without speaking to him first and explaining yerself, ye could be misunderstood, and get yerself in a lot of trouble. Now, if ye go to the lists, there should still be some time for sword practice”.

  Ian nodded, and turned to go, but Donald called him back with an outstretched hand.

  “Ian, thank ye. I’m sure that Eleanor thanks ye too”.

  I murmured my assent, then Ian and Liam left, Liam laughing at Ian’s obvious discomfort at Donald’s pretend anger. Donald turned to me and then walked up close, reaching behind me to stroke Midnight’s long nose.

  “What is it about ye, Eleanor? Ye have already charmed me so that I don’t know what to do with myself, now ye have got Ian to give ye his horse, and yet he and Stewart are forever coming to blows over sharing the smallest thing!”

  “He hasn’t given me the horse, Donald, he only offered me freedom to ride when I want”.

  “He has given ye the horse, and ye know it. He just hasn’t said the words. It shows that he is growing into a man, since he can recognise when he can fix something that is wrong. I have an idea. Why don’t ye run into the kitchens, and pack up some food and drink, and I saddle up both our horses? It’s a lovely day, and we could go for a good long ride before it gets dark”.

  I nodded my agreement, my bleak mood of earlier gone, and hurried to the kitchens. By the time I returned to the stables, Liam was just leading out both horses, and after stowing the food safely, we mounted and headed out of the gate. I followed Donald as he knew the area much better than I, but once he began galloping his horse, I let Midnight have his head. We easily outstripped Donald and his mount, and led the way, but I took care not to get too far ahead. I didn’t know the area after all, and didn’t know what I would find over each hill. When Midnight let me know that he was tiring, I looked for a source of water. I found a small stream with some trees nearby for shelter, and tied Midnight up safely, making sure he could reach the water. Donald arrived just behind me, and did the same. We took the bundle of food, spreading the cloth out on the grass and laying the food out before sitting down either side of the cloth.

  “Eleanor, don’t get too far ahead of me in future, just in case ye ever need my help”. I nodded, reaching for a piece of cheese. Donald continued, this time with a grin.

  “Although, it was quite entertaining riding behind ye. I got to watch yer pretty little arse bobbing up and down on the saddle, and I quite enjoyed the view”.

  I blushed then, making Donald grin even wider.

  “Did ye want to talk to me about anything Eleanor? Anything about this morning maybe? Or”, and he made a big show of looking around, “since we are quite alone out here, do ye want to do more than talk?”

  The cheese dried in my mouth, and I swallowed hard. Donald looked at my lips, then reached across the cloth, picking me up and dragging me onto his lap. His mouth fastened onto mine, and as this time I knew what to expect, I opened my mouth straight away to let his tongue in. Tentatively, I reached out with my own tongue, touching Donald’s with the tip, and feeling him groan into my mouth as he gently lay me down on the grass, managing to keep his body off mine while working magic with his lips and tongue. I still felt a bit uncomfortable about our position, so struggled to sit up. Donald started to speak.

  “Sorry, Eleanor, I thought…” he didn’t get to finish whatever it was he had to say as I pushed him backwards and covered his large body with my own. I didn’t feel so vulnerable in this position, and even felt bold enough to rub myself against the hard bulge forming in his hose. Donald groaned again into my mouth, then broke away from me.

  “Eleanor, ye have no idea how good that feels. Can I touch ye?”

  Nervously, but appreciating that he had asked, I nodded. Donald pulled me down to his mouth again as his hands worked up my legs. I hadn’t worn hose as the day was warm and my kirtle was heavy, so he rested his big, warm hands on the naked skin of my legs. I broke out into goosebumps and shivered at his touch, wiggling my body against his urgently. Donald’s hands roamed up the backs of my thighs, pushing up my kirtle and chemise, and finally cupped my buttocks, squeezing and massaging them, and pulling me tight onto him, causing my legs to fall either side of his body so that my mound was now centred over his bulge. I rubbed myself against him shamelessly, then moaned in shock and pleasure as one of his hands slipped between my thighs to rub between my legs. I spread my legs wider, needing his touch. Donald growled and then withdrew his hand, earning a grumble from me, which soon became a sigh as that hand slipped between us from the front and he started to rub slowly up and down, almost dipping a finger into me with each pass. I threw my head back, panting, and Donald stared up at me, his eyes seeming to stare into my very soul.

  “How is that, Eleanor? Not hurting?” I shook my head. “Do ye want me to keep going? Do ye want me to do more?” I nodded, sucking my lip between my teeth and biting down as Donald curled a finger so that it slipped into me. I buried my head in his chest at the sensation, feeling his words rumble as he spoke.

  “Do ye want me to stop?” As I shook my head he exhaled. “Good, because I don’t want to”.

  Slowly, Donald sank that finger deeper and deeper into me, curling it around until I jerked as he hit a spot that I didn’t even know existed. Nothing had ever felt this good. Slowly the finger withdrew, and my body followed it, chasing it to prevent its loss, then it was joined by another finger. I groaned as Donald opened his fingers wider, expanding me as he slowly pumped his fingers in and out. I jerked wildly as I felt him move his thumb around to the front, finding the hooded piece of skin that felt so good when it was touched, and rubbing his thumb on it as he increased the speed of his fingers inside me. Soon I was clutching him so hard I was afraid my nails were scratching him through his shirt, and moving my hips up and down on his body in time with his thrusting fingers. I didn’t know what was happening, I could just feel a tension beginning low down in my body, as I felt the heat building and building. Suddenly, it was like the world just clicked into place and everything stood still for a moment, then I moaned out aloud, shocking myself with the rawness of my voice, as I felt waves of indescribable pleasure roll through my body, and I felt my body clenching against Donald’s fingers, clenching and releasing, as he moaned into my mouth and kissed me again. Finally, I stopped moving altogether, feeling as if I could never move again, and croaked out a moan of loss as Donald withdrew his fingers from me. I lay there for a while, on top of Donald, while he smoothed down my kirtle so that my arse was no longer exposed to the sky, and then wrapped both arms around me and gently kissed me around the head until I trusted myself to speak again.

  “That was amazing. What was that?” I gasped, unable to think of anything intelligent to say. Donald put his hands either side of my face and lifted my face far enough from his so that we could look into each other’s eyes.

  “That, my love, was foreplay”, and he kissed me again.

  Donald

  After Eleanor was capable of moving again, we sat around lazily and ate our food. Eleanor looked at my groin and offered to help me to release again, but I declined, telling her that the next time I climaxed, I wanted to be buried inside her, feeling those incredible muscles clenching around me as they had clenched around my fingers. Eleanor blushed at that, but she seemed to have lost most of her fear of me, even going so far as to look around, apparently scouting out a spot in the grass where we might lie down. As much as I burned to take her straight away, I shook my head again. Our first time was going to be in o
ur bed, not out in the field where anyone could find us if they happened by. The whole time I had been pleasuring her, I had tried to stay alert to make sure we were still alone, but I knew that if we were making love, I would lose myself and anyone could surprise us. On the ride back, we rode much more slowly, stealing glances at each other, glances of promise of what was to happen that night. We almost missed the main meal as we had ridden so far from the keep. While we ate, we kept smiling at each other, I knew we were earning indulgent looks from those around us, but I did not care. We excused ourselves early, and as we made our way up the stairs to our chamber, our steps got faster and faster until we were almost running by the time we got to the door. I slammed the door behind us and dropped the bolt, drinking in my fill of the view of my beautiful wife, whose breast was heaving with the exertion of our pace, and the anticipation of the evening ahead. My hands went to my hose, intending to strip off and leap into the bed, when there was a knock at the door behind my back. I ignored it at first, how could anyone think to disturb newlyweds in their chamber, I thought to myself, but it sounded again, this time louder. I closed my eyes, trying to get control of myself, when I heard Liam’s voice.