His mouth never left hers as the mating ritual took control. The bed squeaked from his hard thrusts. His groans blended with her whimpers of pleasure. Neither could form a coherent thought now, and when Iain knew he was about to spill his seed into her, his hand moved between their joined bodies to help her find her fulfillment first.
The fire of passion consumed him. His own release made him feel weak and invincible at the same time. He collapsed against her with a low grunt of raw satisfaction. God, he loved her scent. He inhaled the light womanly fragrance and thought that he had surely just visited Heaven. His heart still felt like it was about to burst, and he didn't think he'd mind if that happened. He was too content to be bothered about anything now.
Judith hadn't quite recovered yet, either. That realization arrogantly pleased him. He liked being able to make her lose her inhibitions and her control so thoroughly. He kissed the base of her neck where her heartbeat pulsed so wildly, and smiled over the way that caress made her breath catch in the back of her throat.
He tried to find the strength to move away from her. He knew he was probably crushing her, but damn, he never wanted this bliss to end. He had never experienced this kind of satisfaction with any other woman. Aye, he'd always been able to hold a part of himself back. He hadn't been able to protect himself from Judith. The realization shook him, and he was suddenly feeling damn vulnerable. "I love you, Iain."
Such a simple declaration and yet so freeing. She'd snatched his worry away before he had time to let it gain control. Iain yawned against her ear and then leaned up on his elbows to kiss her. His intention was forgotten when he saw the jagged cut and the swelling around her eye.
Judith was smiling until he started frowning. "What's the matter, Iain? Didn't I please you?"
"Of course you pleased me," he replied.
"Then why-"
"You could have lost your eye."
"Oh, Lord, you're sounding like Gelfrid," she remarked.
She was trying to tease him out of his frown. It didn't work. "You're damned fortunate, Judith. You could have-"
She placed her hand over his mouth. "You pleased me, too," she whispered.
He didn't catch on. He turned her attention by asking, "When you fell, did you happen to see a man… or a woman standing nearby?"
Judith thought about his question a long minute before making the decision not to tell him about the little boy she had seen. The child was too young to be dragged before his laird. It would be terrifying for him, to say nothing of the embarrassment and humiliation it would cause his family. No, she couldn't let that happen. Besides, she was certain she could take care of the matter. She would have to find the little hellion first, of course, and when she did, she would have a good, long, blistering talk with him. If he wasn't properly contrite, she might have to ask Iain's assistance. Or at least threaten to ask him. But that would be a last resort. And if the boy was old enough-though in truth she didn't believe he could be seven years yet-she would haul him off to Father Laggan and make him confess his sin.
"Judith?" Iain asked, prodding her for an answer.
"No, Iain. I didn't see a man or a woman standing nearby."
He nodded. He really hadn't believed she'd seen anyone, for in truth he doubted she even realized she had been attacked. The first stone probably knocked her into a faint, and her mind was simply too innocent to think about the possibility of treachery.
He leaned down and kissed her before getting out of bed. "It's already past dawn. I've duties to see to," he remarked.
"Do I have duties?" she asked as she pulled the covers over her.
"Of course you do," he answered. "Judith, why do you hide your body from me?"
She started blushing. He laughed. She kicked the covers away. Then she stood up to face him. He took his time looking at her. She stared at the mantel.
"It's all right for you to look at me," he drawled out.
The amusement in his voice made her smile. "You're enjoying my embarrassment, aren't you, husband?"
He didn't answer her. She finally looked at his face. Iain looked… stunned. Was her body displeasing to him? She reached for the covers to hide herself from him.
His next remark stopped her. "You just called me husband. I like that."
She let the blanket drop back on the bed. "Do you like me?"
He grinned. "Sometimes."
She laughed as she ran to him and threw herself into his arms. He lifted her off the floor and kissed her.
"You make me forget my duties."
She didn't care. She was pleased her kisses could rob him of his concentration. She went back to the bed and sat down so she could watch him get dressed.
It seemed to her that with each article of clothing he put on, he changed a bit, becoming more and more like the clan's leader, and less and less like the gentle lover she'd known a few moments before. By the time he'd attached his scaffold to his belt, he was every bit the laird, and treating her like his chattel.
Her duty, he explained, was to direct the servants in their tasks. They didn't have a full-time cook at the keep. The women in the clan took turns supplying the fare. If she wished to take over that task, she could.
She was responsible for the maintenance of the interior of the keep. Since Graham and Gelfrid were going to continue to live with them, she was also supposed to take care of their needs.
Judith wasn't worried. From an early age she'd directed the servants at her uncle Tekel's holding. She didn't anticipate any problems she couldn't handle.
Iain seemed worried. She was very young to have so many duties thrust upon her shoulders. He made that comment to her and ordered her to come to him if she needed more help.
She wasn't insulted by his lack of confidence in her ability. He couldn't possibly know what she was capable of doing. She would have to show him she could handle the responsibilities that came with being the laird's wife. Only then would he quit his worrying.
She was eager to get started. "I'll go downstairs and begin right away," she announced.
He shook his head. "You haven't recovered from your injury. You must rest."
Before she could argue with him, he pulled her to her feet, kissed her on her forehead, and then walked over to the door.
"Wear my plaid, wife."
She forgot about her nakedness and rushed over to him. "I have a request to make."
"What is it?"
"Will you please call all the women and children together? I would like for you to introduce me to them."
"Why?"
She didn't explain. "Please?"
He let out a sigh. "When do you want this done?"
"This afternoon will be soon enough."
"I planned to call my warriors together and give them the news of our marriage, and they would inform their wives, but if your heart's set-"
"Oh, it is."
"All right, then," he conceded.
She finally let him leave the chamber. She didn't hurry to get dressed. Iain's lovemaking had worn her out. She got back into bed, wrapped herself in the bed covers on his side of the bed so she'd feel closer to him, and closed her eyes.
Her little nap lasted three hours. She wasn't ready to leave her chamber until early afternoon. She felt guilty for wasting her time, but that didn't make her hurry. She put on the same white underdress because she still hadn't collected her clothing from Frances Catherine's yet. She tried to fashion Iain's plaid, made a muck of it, and finally went to find one of the elders to help.
Gelfrid came to her assistance. He escorted her down the steps.
Iain was waiting in the great hall with Graham. They both smiled when they spotted her.
Brodick came strolling into the hall then, drawing her attention. She turned to smile at him.