Mutual Desire Read online

  She stood at the base of the stairs and let her gaze wander the hall as laughter and conversations deafened her. A sea of MacDonald plaid worn by every man, woman, and child only made her stand out as a stranger even more. Ewan might have taken her to his bed, but he hadn’t given her a tartan of his clan claiming her as his wife.

  I thought you didn’t want to be his wife?

  She didn’t, but as long as she was, he should have welcomed her.

  Kate told herself she wasn’t hurt by it, that it merely proved he was still considering their annulment. She wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing the tartan anyway, not when she planned to leave in a fortnight—sooner if she were able.

  She hid her hands in her skirts so no one would see how they shook. How she hated meeting new people, especially a large crowd that would be staring at her, analyzing everything about her. How could she have forgotten that dining in the great hall would mean eating in front of nearly the entire MacDonald clan?

  Because Ewan had well and truly bedded you.

  It was a disturbing fact that she hadn’t remembered much of anything while in his arms. He could have asked her for eternity, and she would have given it to him. A man shouldn’t have that kind of command over a woman’s body.

  Her gaze shifted to the dais. She found Ewan reclining in his chair with a small smile on his too-handsome face as he watched his people. His love for his clan was evident in his blue gaze.

  As for the clan, their happiness was obvious, stating again what a powerful and true leader Ewan was. The men respected him and the women admired him. It would take a special kind of woman to be able to stand by his side. Something she certainly wasn’t.

  It was then she realized eating in the great hall would be a disaster. Ewan would introduce her formally as his wife, which would make their annulment that much more difficult for him.

  But you want him to acknowledge you.

  Kate didn’t know what she wanted anymore. Ewan had confused everything by making love to her. She should have been stronger and turned him away. She should have known what his touch would do to her.

  You did know.

  She turned and made her way back up the stairs to the next floor and the balcony that overlooked the hall. She quite liked her vantage point where she could look down at the clan without them noticing her, and if she stayed in the shadows, not even Ewan would be able to find her. She had no doubt he would send someone to look for her soon. Until then, she was content to stay as she was.

  Ewan’s bark of laughter made her look to see what had caused such humor. She spotted two lads running around the great hall avoiding one of the servants giving chase and scolding them for getting into the kitchen and the sweetmeats. The entire hall erupted in laughter, all except for the lads’ mothers who caught them before they could escape.

  Kate chuckled at the scene. The laughter had put her at ease, erasing some of her fears. Maybe she could dine with Ewan. She was hungry, and it would give her more time to speak of the annulment without worrying if he would seduce her again. She turned to the stairs when a woman with dark hair stepped in front of her.

  “So, ye think ye’ve won,” the woman snarled, transforming her beautiful face into nastiness.

  Not to be cowed, Kate raised her brows. “Do I know you?”

  “I’m Bridget.” When Kate didn’t respond, the woman continued. “I was supposed to be his wife.”

  Kate crossed her arms over her chest and studied Ewan’s would-be wife, instantly disliking the woman for trying to take her place.

  I thought you didn’t want Ewan as a husband.

  She didn’t want Ewan, but for now, he was hers. “Apparently, Ewan thought differently or he would never have looked outside the clan for a wife.”

  “I’ll kill you,” Bridget screamed and flew at her.

  Just before she reached Kate, something jerked Bridget to a stop.

  “What in the name of all that’s holy are you doing?” Ewan bellowed at Bridget. “I told you to stay out of the castle now that I have a wife.”

  Kate needed an outlet for her anger, and the fact that Ewan and Bridget had been together only spurred her rage. She stepped toward Ewan and put her hand on his arm. “I’ll take care of her.”

  Ewan’s blue gaze swung to her. “You doona know what she’s capable of.”

  “Maybe, but I do know what kind of woman she is. Release her.”

  For a moment, she didn’t think Ewan would do as she asked, but then he released Bridget.

  Bridget immediately launched herself at Kate again. Kate ducked the nails aimed at her face and grabbed hold of Bridget’s long dark hair. She pushed Bridget to her knees and yanked her face up to look at her.

  “Your laird told you not to come back to the castle. I suggest you do as he has commanded, because if I see you in the castle again, I will cut off your hair.”

  Bridget’s eyes grew huge with fear and fury. To cut off a woman’s hair was a sign she had been disgraced. “Ye wouldna dare. My laird would never allow it.”

  Ewan stepped toward her. “I’ll cut it off now, Bridget, and put all questions to rest.”

  Her gaze moved from Kate to Ewan. Reluctantly, she nodded. Kate released her, and two men she hadn’t seen stepped forward and took Bridget by her arms to lead her from the castle. It was then Kate realized how quiet the great hall had become. She didn’t need to look over the railing to know that everyone watched her.

  Kate fisted her hands and drew in a deep breath. She wasn’t sure what had come over her with Bridget. It couldn’t possibly have been jealousy of the woman. Ewan had chosen her for his wife, not Bridget.

  But he didn’t.

  Nay, he hadn’t chosen her. He had chosen her beautiful, graceful sister. Why then did Kate forget that, and why did she feel the need to make it known Ewan was hers? Twice in his bed and she couldn’t think straight.

  “You’ve got quite a temper.” Ewan moved in front of her, one side of his mouth lifted in a grin. “Are you sure there are no Highlanders in your family?”

  Kate couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at her lips. “Thank you for doing as I asked. It felt good to be able to handle Bridget myself.”

  “Everyone needs to know you’re their mistress.”

  “For the next fortnight at least.”

  He ignored her remark and offered her his arm. “I’ve been waiting for you. Are you hungry?”

  “Famished.”

  They descended the stairs to the hall and walked to the dais. Kate didn’t need to look around to know all eyes were on her. It made her distinctly uncomfortable, but she had to admit she would have been as curious in their place.

  Ewan sat her beside Rory and took the chair at her right while an older man sat on Ewan’s other side. Food was served as soon as Ewan gave a nod to the servants.

  The meal was full of strange dishes that Kate had never sampled before, but she tried them all and discovered she liked most of them. The noise in the hall grew once more as the food was served. Once most had their attention on their platters instead of her, it was easy for Kate to relax and enjoy her meal.

  Ewan leaned close, his breath brushing her ear. “My clan watches you. They’re curious about my new lady.”

  She shivered and felt her breasts grow heavy as his warm breath caressed her neck. She swallowed and licked her suddenly dry lips. His lady. It had a nice ring to it, but not enough to throw away her chance at freedom.

  “If you doona want me to haul you over my shoulder and take you to our chamber to make love, you’ll remove that look.” His voice was low and thick with emotion.

  She glanced at him to see his eyes smoldering. “What look?”

  “The look that says you’re remembering my hands on you. That you want me again.”

  She could deny it. But she didn’t want to, not when her body yearned for him so. “Would you?”

  “What?”

  “Take me over your shoulder?”

  His eyes darkened wi
th desire. “In a heartbeat, lass.”

  Could he really want her that desperately? Was he lying about the passion between them? What was it about him that made her blood heat and her heart pound in her chest?

  Answers to those questions no longer mattered. All she wanted was to have his skin next to hers, his rod filling her, and his incredible mouth kissing her.

  Her lips parted and moisture gathered between her legs just thinking of how he might take her next.

  “You want me,” he said.

  It wasn’t a question. “I want you.”

  He grinned and reached for her hand. She didn’t hesitate when he stood and pulled her up beside him. Her gaze never left his as he walked her to the stairs.

  By the time they reached his chamber, her body shook with the anticipation of his touch. Her heart raced and her body hungered for one man—Ewan. She didn’t try to deny it or even understand it.

  He barred the door behind them then pulled her against his chest. She raised her face to his, desperate for his kiss. His hands cupped either side of her face, caressing her skin, while his gaze roamed slowly over her face.

  Finally, his head bent to claim her lips. Kate rose up on her toes and wrapped her arms around him as his mouth slanted over hers. His kiss was long and slow, burning her with his hunger and intensity.

  Kate let her hands wander down his back to his firm bottom. A low moan vibrated through him before his kiss turned fierce, heated. He crushed her to him and backed her against the door before lifting her. He wrapped her legs around his waist and ground his hard cock against her aching sex.

  She sunk her nails into his back, her need swallowing her. She gasped, the hunger so great it frightened her. Her head fell back against the door and his mouth trailed down her throat, kissing and nipping her delicate skin.

  When he yanked at her skirts, Kate was all too ready to aid him. She pulled them up around her waist as he reached down and jerked up his kilt. Excitement made them rush and fumble with the clothes, but once the tip of his cock brushed against her damp sex, clothes no longer mattered.

  He entered her with aching slowness. “Please,” she begged. “I need you, Ewan.”

  “You have me.”

  She shook her head. “Nay. All of you. I need all of you.”

  “Then take me.” His lips kissed her jaw before he filled her. Then he stilled.

  Kate was delirious. She tried to move her hips, but Ewan’s grip was strong as he held her immobile. When he pulled out of her with the same leisure as he had entered her, she thought she might die from desire.

  “Ewan. Please,” she begged.

  He rotated his hips so his cock rubbed against her swollen flesh, igniting her when he grazed her pearl. She held his shoulders, her body quivering with each touch. Surely such pleasure was a sin.

  Then he plunged inside of her, his thrusts deep and hard. Kate sank her nails into him. Desire coiled tightly, and all too soon, she felt herself reaching her climax. A heartbeat later, she shouted his name as she succumbed to the delicious pleasure.

  With each thrust, he extended her orgasm, taking her to unbelievable heights of joy. It took a while for her to come down from such a high. She laid her head on his shoulder and dimly felt him move before she realized he hadn’t peaked. Ewan pulled out of her as he walked to the bed and laid her upon it before he began to undress her.

  “What are you doing?”

  He gave her a wink full of wicked promise. “What does it look like?”

  She smiled and helped him. While she was with him for the fortnight, there was no need for her to refuse the exceptional satisfaction he could provide her. Besides, she told herself, she would have no trouble walking away from him when the time came. Pleasure was nice, but it wasn’t everything.

  Once she was naked, he hurried to remove his own clothes, but when she opened her arms for him, he turned on his heel and walked away.

  Kate rose on her elbows and saw the tub she had used earlier sitting before the fire with ribbons of steam rising from the water within. He was still hard, still wet from being inside her.

  He glanced at her before stepping into the tub. “Care to join me?”

  Kate sat up and eyed the tub and Ewan. To her utter dismay, her body wanted more of him. Again. Thrice already she’d had him, but she wanted more. What had he done to her? And did it really matter?

  She swung her legs over the bed and padded across the cold stones to the rug next to the tub. He held out his hand, silently waiting. With chills racing over her skin, Kate accepted his hand and stepped into the water.

  A sigh escaped her as she sank to her chin. Her eyes closed and she leaned her head against the edge. She wasn’t surprised to feel Ewan’s hands on her legs, his fingers caressing her. He ran his hands up her calves to her knees and nudged her legs apart. Once she complied, he moved her feet on either side of him.

  She cracked open an eye and watched as he lathered the soap between his hands and lifted one leg to slowly wash her. Kate moaned contentedly, loving the feel of his hands on her and the way he knew just where to touch her.

  He repeated it again on her other leg before lowering it into the tub. The water moved around her as he leaned forward, his hands caressing up her thigh to the juncture of her legs.

  Her breath lodged in her throat as he came close to touching her aching, swollen sex. Again and again his fingers moved near her, teasing and tempting her. Her sex clenched, ready to feel him inside her once more.

  “Ewan,” she murmured when it became too much to bear.

  “What do you want?”

  She licked her lips and gripped the side of the tub. “I want you to touch me.”

  As soon as the words left her mouth, his hand cupped her sex. She burned for his touch, desperate to ease the growing ache inside of her. But Ewan had other ideas.

  He used his finger to circle her heated flesh before easing the tip of his finger inside her. She shifted her hips, seeking more of him, but he held her still.

  Her eyes opened when his hands left her. He lathered the soap before he reached for her. His hands gently moved over her sex, using the soap to bathe her.

  Kate gasped when he pushed a finger inside of her and swirled it around. Her hips began to move against him while the water lapped against her breasts. Her nipples, already hardened by the chill, ached with the touch of the water.

  His other hand cupped her breast and began to massage it. She moaned at the onslaught of desire that shot through her. Suddenly, his finger pulled out of her to caress her with the barest of touches across her pearl while he pinched her nipple with the other hand to mix pleasure with pain. Her sex pulsed with need from the delicious torture.

  “Ewan,” she cried out, ready to climax.

  Instantly, his hands were gone. She whimpered as her sex clenched. He pulled her atop him so that his cock rested against her throbbing flesh. His blue eyes were ablaze with desire, and his breathing was as strained as hers. Her eyes rolled shut when he cupped her breasts and began to thumb her nipples into tight peaks.

  She moved her hips in response and moaned at the feel of his rod against her. She reached her hand between them and stroked his cock, loving the feel of how smooth and hot he was.

  He groaned and thrust upward in her hand. As much as she wanted to explore more of him, her body needed release. Next time she would be sure to have her turn discovering his glorious body.

  She rose up on her knees and moved over his rod. Her gaze met his as she slowly lowered herself onto him. He pinched her nipples before he leaned up and began to suckle them.

  Kate dropped her head back, unable to stand the pleasure a moment more. She moved her hips and cried out at the sensations that shot through her. She quickly set a tempo. The water splashed over the sides of the tub as she braced her hands on his chest and he held her hips, rocking her against him.

  “Kate,” he rasped.

  She barely heard him as her climax claimed her. It was just a heartbe
at later that he bellowed and plunged deep before he spilled his seed.

  For several moments they stared at each other, lost in the pleasure of their bodies. Each time she made love to him was a different experience, stirring her in ways she didn’t know were possible. And though her body was sore from his attention, she couldn’t wait until he took her again.

  “You’re insatiable,” he whispered as he brought her head down for a soft kiss.

  “As are you.”

  He chuckled. “Let us bathe before the water turns cold.”

  Kate hurried to wash and dry before making a dash for the bed. All she wanted to do was warm up before she put on her clothes, but she should have known Ewan wouldn’t allow her to retrieve her clothes so soon.

  7

  Ewan lifted the covers and crawled in beside Kate. She had surprised him with her eagerness to delve into their passion, and he was most thankful that she had. He had been prepared for another seduction, but when her gaze had filled with desire, all he had wanted to do was get her out of the great hall and into his chamber where he could explore more of her beautiful, amazing body.

  No woman had ever touched him as deeply as Kate, and she seemed to do it without even trying. He could spend the rest of his life wondering what it was about her that drew him to her, but he was content simply to have found her. There was no use questioning it, not when he needed to convince her to stay with him willingly. He would force her if necessary. She was his wife, after all, but he didn’t want to start off their marriage with her hating him.

  He rolled onto his side and stared at her. “How many kids do you want?”

  She laughed at his question, then blinked and licked her lips. “I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about an exact number. It has always been just my sister and me. We were five summers apart, so we were never as close as some siblings.”

  “A dozen then?”

  She grinned and shrugged as she turned to face him. “Maybe. Would that be too many? I just wanted as many children as God decided I should have.”