Her Highland Devil (Scottish Highlander Romance), page 7
“What announcement?”
“Who the new Laird is going tae be,” Erinda replied.
Gabby watched as the other man, Rory brought out a scroll and the men gathered around him.
“The new Laird of our gracious town has been decided!” he shouted.
“Ye have all been waiting and now the time has come for new leadership,” Lachlan shouted. Gabby couldn’t believe that Erinda had said this man was old. To her, he still looked very strong and agile.
“One of my sons would hae tae continue in my stead, for I am old and I cannae lead ye further,” Lachlan continued.
Gabby watched as Malcolm found his way to the front where Callum was standing right before Lachlan.
“The new Laird is Callum Ridell!”
Immediately the announcement was made, everywhere went agog. The noise grew louder than usual. The music increased tremendously, and the tune was haphazard this time. The people jumped and somersaulted. Gabby was stunned to see that the people could get even wilder.
She could see some men lift Callum on to their shoulders while he laughed. She managed to look at Malcolm and could have sworn she saw a look of disappointment, but which was immediately replaced as he hugged his brother.
Finally, Lachlan brought the two brothers together and spoke to them, they both kissed him on the cheek and then he left. After which the music started again.
“Erinda, please, see me off to my room. I am really tired and would love to go to bed soon.”
“Are ye certain, my lady?” Erinda asked,
Gabby nodded. Her husband didn’t care if she was there or not. She shouldn’t have to celebrate with him.
“Yes, please,” she replied.
Chapter 7
Callum watched as Gabby left with her maid, and he swallowed. She was his, but he wasn’t quite ready for her.
“Congratulations, my Laird. May God direct yer path,” said another of the elders. He bowed happily.
“Thank ye very much, Sir Brandlay” he said with a smile.
He was already sitting on his father’s former seat and everyone was coming with their gifts and others with their good wishes. There were lots of gifts, apart from the ones the people had given them this morning. His people had been very kind, they loved him as he loved them. He couldn’t see Malcolm anywhere, and he wondered what he would be planning next. For now, he was glad in his heart, except for the problem at hand - his new English wife.
The men were laughing and cheering. He knew what they were laughing at. It was supposed to be his wedding night and yet, there he was, still laughing with his men.
“My Lord, ye are not afraid of yer lass, are ye?” asked Ewan, one of his men.
“Why would he be?” Malcolm retorted as he walked in. “She looks quite harmless,” he said, lifting up a cup. “Cheers tae ye on yer wedding and for the new position as the Laird.”
“Thanks brother,” Callum replied. He tried not to stare hard at him, no matter how nice Malcolm tried to be, Callum was sure there was something dark inside him.
“Now that yer brother is wedded, my Lord, when are ye getting wedded?” another man asked Malcolm.
“Hear! Hear!” shouted another.
“Very soon. Ye can all ask me that once Callum here has successfully performed his marital duties,” Malcolm replied, and the men laughed.
Trying to get ahead of the joke, Callum replied, “Clearly, father has surprised me by bringing in a fine Sassenach lass, but we all ken what we are capable of. Sooner or later, she will be begging for my touch!”
The men laughed out loud before he stood up and excused himself.
***
Gabby lay on the bed, trying hard to sleep but she was so nervous she could hardly sleep. Every movement caused her to open her eyes. For some reason, she was angry with him. He had particularly ignored her throughout the day. The only connection they had was when he had looked at her while they were about to wed.
What kind of a man would choose not to even talk to his wife all through the wedding day and still expect to bed her? She hoped he wouldn’t come. If he tried, she was ready to fight him by any means necessary. She thought about Ronnie, as strange as their arrangement felt, this was definitely stranger!
***
Callum wondered what he was supposed to say to her when he entered the room. Would she even respond? He slowly approached the door of his room as he weighed the odds. If he doesn’t consummate the marriage that night, it could get nullified.
However, as good a plan as that could be, the risks were greater than the reward. Moreover, Malcolm would play it to his own advantage and make him a laughing stock. He really hated the man. He was always looking for a way to belittle him in front of his men.
One of his guards came up to him with a torch in his hand.
“My Lord, is everything alright?” he asked.
“Aye, please go back tae yer post,” he said to him, pointing away. He motioned towards his room. Taking in a deep breath, he pushed the door open.
The room was dimly lit but well enough to see her curled up in his bed. Her red hair shone in the light and her breathing was almost inaudible.
He removed his ghillie boots as he walked in. He had planned many battles where he defeated many enemies, but here he was, a man who couldn’t think of a plan to approach his wife.
He got into the tub to take a quick shower. He was very quiet, for he was afraid of waking her up. When he was through, he tied a piece of clothing around him and then walked to his bed. Carefully, he sank into the bed, leaving a considerable amount of space in between them.
***
Gabby held her breath where she lay, praying in her mind that this devil of a man would let her be. She was beginning to relax when he lay beside her with enough space in between them. Maybe he was also as nervous as she was. But something in her mind told her he wasn’t nervous.
Maybe he was just not interested in her. Still, she felt like she knew these savages by now. They did not care about consent, all they cared for was satisfying their ravaging lust. Perhaps it was best she slept now as, apparently, he was too tired.
***
Callum took a look at the lass lying beside him. He couldn’t see her face very well for her back was turned towards him but he had seen her in the wedding gown earlier that day. She was beautiful… maybe that was the reason behind his weakness. He was certain that Malcolm must have found her really attractive as well. However, he wasn’t ready to start another competition with his cousin. Not just yet.
His mind drifted back to the times when Isabella was still alive. He remembered when he had made his intention known to his father about wanting to marry her. His father had been pleased and words were sent to Isabella’s father who also gave his approval. Everyone knew about their love, they were always together and there was no better match for the two of them.
He was surprised when Isabella had told him some days later that Malcolm had come in the night to declare his love for her. At first, Callum had thought she was only joking, but seeing how serious she was, he could tell that she was speaking the truth. This bothered Callum because he didn’t notice that his cousin had a romantic interest in Isabella. Even if he had, why did he wait so long till after he was ready to marry her?
Not long after, he began to see several changes in his cousin. They stopped riding together and he seemed bent on hating him. Their relationship worsened when Isabella died and worse still when his father made it known that he hadn’t decided who was going to be the Laird.
Initially, as he had heard, Malcolm’s father was supposed to be the chief of the people but he was cold, proud and arrogant so the people never approved of him. The position fell to Lachlan, his younger brother who was also Callum’s father.
Now, both Malcolm and Callum both had the same claim to the position. While they were growing up, Malcolm had never shown his intention in becoming a Laird, he pointed that out many times. But after their fallout over Isabella, his character seemed to have changed completely.
The peace-loving cousin he once knew was now replaced by this cold, ruthless and bitter one. For some reason, Callum once thought that perhaps his cousin had something to do with the death of his betrothed but there was nothing to prove that. He had loved her far too much. He turned towards the lady that lay next to him, he knew he could never love another such as he had loved Isabella. There was no way.
For some reason, perhaps out of curiosity or probably he was really drunk which was hardly ever the case with him, he found himself bringing his hand closer to the locks of her red hair…
***
Gabby’s heart began to beat faster and faster as she felt his finger pass through her hair. If she had been asleep, she would not have even stirred but here she was, visibly shaking from his torch.
“Ye pretend tae be sleeping, wife…” he said hoarsely.
She cursed under her breath. She had been discovered. Still, she remained mute and motionless.
***
Callum did not expect her to be awake but the way she had shaken when he ran his fingers through her hair made it obvious. Now he was amused. She had been awake all the while. That would mean even while he was taking his bath… she had even seen him naked! At least that was out of the way, he thought.
“I hope ye liked what ye saw when I was taking my bath,” he said, half-smiling. He couldn’t believe he was actually talking to her. Where did that come from?
“Do not flatter yourself, husband. I closed my eyes the entire time!” she replied.
Oh! She talked! He hadn’t actually expected her to talk. Although it was obvious to him that she was trying to sound as brave as she could, he could still notice the fear in the way her voice trembled.
“Have ye been waiting for me tae bed ye, woman?” he questioned. For that would only explain why she was still awake at that time.
“Touch me and it will be the last thing, you would ever do!” she said, springing up and pointing a knife at him.
He was surprised at her sudden outburst and the fact that she had been hiding a knife in her hand all the while. All of a sudden, he burst into laughter.
“I never knew that Sassenach women could be this mad!” He said and with one hand, he grabbed her hand so forcefully that the knife dropped from her hand out of terror. Before she could grab it, he picked it up and threw it into the wall across the room. It stuck.
Callum was enjoying the way he was intimidating her. Clearly, the lady was terrified of him, but he liked it. He never wanted her before his father brought her here, maybe if she hadn’t made herself so obvious or so beautiful and appealing to his father, maybe she wouldn’t even be here….and he would not have become the Laird as well, said a voice in his head. He grimaced.
***
Gabby could feel her chest rising and falling. Now they were both kneeling down on the bed and with the way he towered over her, she felt incredibly small compared to him. Who was she fooling? If he wanted to have his way, he could do it without any stress. The smile on his drunken face showed that he was amusing himself with her resistance.
“Please, sir Callum, I am not in the mood for any foolishness. I am tired and I would like to sleep!”
“If ye had wanted tae sleep, little lass, ye would hae done that hours ago,” he replied.
“Please, leave me be. I am not going to allow you to put your filthy hands on me!” she spat.
Instead, he hovered over her and she felt like screaming for help. But who would come to her rescue? She was in her husband’s house, no one would come to her aid. If anything at all, she knew that the men would probably laugh at her.
While he moved closer to her, she moved back, shutting her eyes, until her back was pressed against the cold stone wall.
***
Callum wanted to laugh aloud. He was really enjoying this, especially now that she had nowhere to go. She shut her eyes, breathing very fast.
“Now, shall I kiss yer cheeks?” he placed his lips to a small space closer to hers. “Or yer beautiful neck?” he bent his head slowly towards her neck.
Gabby felt disgusted by it all and she squirmed. She wasn’t ready for this, she didn’t want to do this. She knew it was now her duty, but this was so wrong, her breathing quickened.
Callum had only meant to tease her and torment her, but he stopped suddenly once he realized what just happened. He was loving the smell and taste of her skin and he badly wanted her, more than he had ever wanted a lady in his entire life. He sprung back and gaped at her.
Gabby’s chest was rising and falling. She understood that look on his face, which only further terrified her when he pulled her closer and kissed her. She gasped as his tongue entered her mouth, tasting the remnants of wine alongside her own unique flavor. She tried to push him away, but he was too strong for her.
She didn’t want this, but it was beginning to feel really good. She fought desperately between her pride and the pleasure that was beginning to surge in between her legs.
He plunged his tongue deep into her mouth, retreating and diving again…She lost every ounce of strength that she had gathered to fight him, so she let go…
His wet mouth slipped to her soft neck, biting and sucking. The stiff bodice of her dress made it easy for him to lift her breast with his hand, kissing the tips and taking them in his mouth. He sucked and she almost clawed him in euphoria.
Callum had never felt this way with any woman. This had only started as a tease and now, he was finding it difficult to stop. His desire seemed to mount with every passing second.
Gabby clung to him, desperately confused about this strange and beautiful sensation that was now coursing through her entire body.
He spread his fingers into her hair which floated around her like seaweed. He wanted every part of her. He paused on realizing she was no longer fighting him.
They were now lying on the bed, and he had no idea how they had gone from sitting to lying on the bed. He wanted her desperately, but he stopped. Her eyes were closed, and her cheeks were wet. Was she crying? He thought she was enjoying this… her lips were pink from the way he had ravaged her. She was getting more striking every minute that passed. The thought of Isabella flooded through his mind and immediately, he felt regret, and an overwhelming feeling of guilt and shame.
No! This wasn’t right! He stood up immediately and walked out of the room.
***
Gabby opened her eyes when she heard the door shut. She stopped crying when she didn’t see him in the room. She felt relieved, but also strangely disappointed and confused. She stood up from the bed and went to the door. She opened it a bit only to see him walking away. She closed the door and as she was walking back to the bed she felt moisture in between her legs.
She decided against taking another bath. She was too tired for that.
She climbed back into the bed, nestled into the furs that covered the bed. The recent events flew through her mind. She wondered what prompted him to stop. She wondered if she wanted him to continue.
Chapter 8
Callum settled into the bed and shut his eyes. He inhaled deeply as he began to recount everything that had just happened. He couldn’t believe he totally lost himself. Even Erlyn had never made him lose control so fast. He couldn’t explain it, neither could he shake off the burden of guilt he now seemed to carry. Who was this lady and how could she be making him feel this way.
He inhaled sharply. He needed to sleep and then in the morning, he would go pay Isabella a visit. That should make him feel better.
***
An angry Malcolm paced his room, burying his sword into the furniture. Now that his cousin had become the Laird, he knew there was no chance for him anymore. He felt overly stupid.
Callum always had everything – he had Isabella, he became the Laird and now he had Gabby. Why must he have everything?
He thought about the last few years before Isabella had died. He remembered how he had done everything to make her love him back. It was true that he was in love with Callum’s betrothed. Both of them had fallen in love with her almost at the same time but Callum had made his intention known to the chief sooner.
Malcolm had overheard Callum telling the chief how he would love to propose to Isabella. In an effort to outsmart Callum, he raced to Isabella’s home to make his intention known to her before Callum could get a chance.
It was almost late in the evening. When he got to her abode, she was surprised to see him.
“Is everything okay, Malcolm? What are ye doing here at this time? Is Callum with ye?”” she had asked.
