“Have you heard anything about Jamie?”
“Kieran told me that he’s alive.”
Ellison looks up toward the ceiling. “Oh, thank God.” She takes the few seconds she needs to absorb the good news and then leans closer and whispers, “What is going to happen to us?”
I want to ease my friend’s worries without alarming her about what has happened. “Kieran left me in his quarters right after we arrived. I think he and the new Order council went to meet with Thane, Sin, Mitch, and Jamie. That’s all I know, but I get the feeling they must have negotiated for our return.”
“When?”
Kieran didn’t tell me how long he was planning to keep us before he and the council return to discuss the treaty. “I have no idea. Guess it depends on the terms of the negotiation.”
“Time’s up, Westlyn. Back to my quarters.”
“Is that where you’ve been confined all of this time? His quarters?”
I was, but I’m not exactly confined now. Can’t tell her that. “Yes.”
“I’m so sorry that you’re going through this ordeal.”
I need her to see that I’m all right so she doesn’t continue to worry. “Look at me, and listen to what I’m telling you, Ellison. Really hear my words. It’s. Okay.”
“How can it be?” She doesn’t understand now, but she will soon.
“Westlyn… you’re done here.”
“I have to go. Stay strong. Everything is going to be fine.”
We embrace one another, and she whispers, “You stay strong.”
I wish I could tell Ellison the whole story so that she can comprehend that I’m truly all right. But that’ll come later when I have time to explain everything.
Westlyn didn’t tell Ellison that I’d claimed her or that we were going to be married. I thought she’d be eager to share the news with one of her best friends. “You didn’t say anything about us.”
“You gave me two minutes with her. I couldn’t throw that kind of information at her when I didn’t have time to explain the situation from start to end. In case you’ve forgotten, she isn’t Fellowship. She wouldn’t understand anything about our marriage treaty. There was no way to make her comprehend in a matter of a couple of minutes why I’d agree to something like that. She’d have been even more worried instead of less.”
“I guess.”
“You could have given me more time with her, especially if you wanted me to talk about us and everything that has happened.”
“You’re angry with me.” I hear it in her clipped tone.
“I’m annoyed.”
I love that she feels like she can be honest and tell me such things. People are typically afraid of saying something to offend me.
“Two minutes wasn’t enough time to say much of anything.”
“Try to understand my position. I couldn’t risk your friend convincing you that marrying me is a mistake.”
“It wouldn’t matter if she successfully convinced me or not. What’s done between us is done, and it can’t be taken back. I’m yours, Kieran.”
I love hearing her say that she’s mine. “Yes, you are.” I pull her into my arms and press a kiss to her lips. “Would you like to shower before bed?”
“I would love a shower.”
I thought so. She didn’t seem to be much of a fan of postcoital body fluids. But it’s something that she’ll need to get used to. There’s going to be a lot of that swapped between us.
“Is it okay if I join you? I could use a shower myself.”
She nibbles her bottom lip and nods. “Mmm-hmm.”
“Would you like Nan to change the sheets while we bathe?”
Westlyn’s cute little nose scrunches. “I hate for her to have to do that, but I don’t want to sleep on bloodstained sheets tonight.”
“She won’t mind.” I kiss the top of her head. “Go start the shower and I’ll be there after I call Nan.”
Westlyn is massaging a thick white lather into her hair when I enter the shower. “I was planning to do that for you.”
“Do what?”
“Shampoo your hair.”
“You want to wash my hair?”
“Aye. I’ve never done it before. And I’d like to do that for you.” Seems like something special you’d do for your wife.
“Okay, if you want.” She turns so that she’s facing away from me. “Have at it.”
I squeeze additional shampoo into my palm and massage it into her hair, creating a huge ball of white lather. I don’t have much in the fingernail department since I keep them trimmed short, but I use what I have to scratch her scalp. “Does that feel good?”
“Hmm… mmm.”
“I love your hair. The color. How long it is. The way you wear it. How soft it feels compared to mine.”
“Yours is very different from mine.” She turns around and reaches for the top of my head. “Aye, that is some thick, coarse hair you have there, sir. I don’t think you’ll ever go bald.”
“Yours is like silk. Very feminine.”
“I was surprised when I saw your mother’s fair hair and eyes.”
Most people are. We’re total opposites, but I think my eyes are shaped like hers. “Wait until you see my sister. She looks like Daenerys Targaryen.”
“Her hair is lighter than your mother’s?”
Hair so blond, it’s almost white. “Yes. And her eyes are an even paler blue.”
“Why haven’t I met your sister?”
I’m ashamed of Shaw’s behavior right now. No Hendry should be acting the way she is. “Shaw is pissed off at the world right now. She’s lashing out like a child.”
“How old is she?”
“Eighteen.”
“Eighteen is a child. And for the record, I’d probably have done the same if I’d been told five years ago that I was going to be handed over to another brotherhood to marry a man I’d never met. Perhaps you shouldn’t be so hard on her?”
It’s true. I’ve been stern with her, probably more so than I needed to be, but it’s because I don’t want Westlyn to think poorly of her. “I’ve forbidden Shaw from having contact with you until she pulls herself together. I don’t want you to meet her while she’s behaving badly. She’s a sweet lass. Just young and strong-willed.”
“I don’t dislike strong-willed. I’m a little bit that way myself.”
“Yes, you are. You and Shaw are a lot alike in that way. You’re alike in a lot of ways, actually.”
“I look forward to meeting her.”
“I hope that she accepts her fate soon. I’m sure Thane will expect us to deliver her into Mitch’s care as soon as the final agreement is made. It’ll complicate things if Jamie or Mitch refuses to marry her because of her behavior.” And I don’t like complications.
“Jamie loves Ellison. He isn’t going to marry Shaw. And I don’t think you really want your sister to be married to a man who loves another woman. Mitch is unattached. She should marry him.”
Mitch is the second son of the leader. “His position is more ideal than your brother’s.”
“Jamie will never have a chance at being leader. He knows that and doesn’t care. He would much rather be a doctor. Mitch will one day be second-in-command. He would be the better choice if you want Shaw to be married to someone who takes leadership seriously.”
“We’d prefer that.”
“My father was second-in-command. It isn’t a bad place to be.”
“You know what else isn’t a bad place to be?”
“Tell me.”
“In this shower with you.” I wrap my arms around Westlyn from behind and glide my hands over her wet skin to palm her breasts and kiss the side of her neck. “Your hair isn’t the only thing I’m fond of.”
She leans against me, pressing her wet back against my front, and covers my hands with hers. “What else are you fond of?”
“I have a deep appreciation for these.” I move my hand from one breast to cup her between her legs, gliding
my middle finger into the center of her split and finding that hardened nub. “And I love this.”
The pace of her breathing increases when I push my finger back and forth, flicking her clit.
“You are so good at that.”
“Come for me again.” Tonight is all about Westlyn and her pleasure. Laying the groundwork for the intimate relationship I want to have with her from this night forward. Turning my intended into a willing, wanting, always-ready-for-sex vixen.