Oria stared after him as he walked out of the room, not looking back at her. He had changed. The thoughtful, mannerly man would have never braced her against a wall, never have ordered her to lift her garment or push his aside and done what he had done. The man she loved was far different now, far stronger, far more confident, far more commanding, and far more experienced when it came to coupling.
How did she handle such a man?
She wasn’t sure, but she would find a way.
Chapter 11
Royden piled stone on top of stone on top of stone without stopping. Sweat covered him and his breath was labored, but he didn’t stop, he wouldn’t let himself. He hadn’t been able to stop himself in the solar and it had all started with an innocent gesture—a caring touch.
Liar! The accusation echoed in his head.
Her touch had ignited what already burned in him. His anger at what happened to her, and how he hadn’t been able to protect her, left him with an unrelenting need to fully make her his wife. He had failed to do that years ago and her father had given her to another man. And while he would have loved nothing more than to consummate their marriage, he wouldn’t do so until she made it clear that she welcomed him, that she made her own choice to seal their vows forever.
Unfortunately, not only his need, but hers as well, couldn’t be ignored or denied. He had done the next best thing to satisfy them both—and he feared what he had unleashed in himself.
He had gotten more satisfaction without having slipped inside Oria than he had gotten from any of the women he had poked. And he had enjoyed even more holding her after it was done. He’d never felt as content as he had at that moment and he was already thinking of when they would share such a moment again.
“You don’t need to prove yourself to us, Chieftain,” Angus said. “We’ve seen for ourselves what a strong, powerful warrior you are even though you have only one hand.”
Royden stopped, the stone he held between his hand and stump, larger than he realized. He rested the stone in place, making sure it fit tight and looked to Angus, John, and Stuart. “I appreciate that, but it’s more about what I have on my mind—”
“A woman,” Angus said, nodding his head and the other men agreed, their heads bobbing along with his. “It’s always a woman. And you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t with them. Stop waving at me, Stuart, you know it’s the truth. Not one of them makes a lick of sense.”
“Is that so, Angus?”
Angus cringed, sending a glare at Stuart for not warning him sooner, and turned to face Bethany. “I didn’t mean you, mo ghaol.”
“So I’m different than the others, am I?” Bethany asked, a covered basket tucked in the crook of her arm.
“That you are, mo ghaol,” he said with a confident smile. “And a lucky man I am to have you.”
“You don’t have me yet, Angus, and don’t call me, my love. Don’t think I don’t know you’re after me for my cooking skills. You have a long road to travel before you’re a lucky enough man to be with me.” Bethany turned to leave, then stopped, and turned around. “You made me forget where I was headed, Angus. Now you’ll not get the sweet cake I was going to give you before taking the rest to Emily and Penn.”
Angus grabbed his chest and stumbled back dramatically. “You wound me, woman. I favor your sweets, but I favor you more.”
“That sweet tongue of yours isn’t going to easily charm me like it does other women,” Bethany warned. “And I’ll hear no more of it.”
A slight smile broke along Royden’s face at the humorous exchange between the two. He was glad to see that his clan was healing, smiling, teasing, laughing. He had feared with the suffering and damage done to so many, they might never heal. But they were healing and he intended to make sure they remained strong and well-protected.
“Bethany, my love, let me explain,” Angus said, hurrying to trail after her.
John laughed. “That man’s got it bad and won’t admit it.”
“He talked about her endlessly while captive.” Stuart shook his head. “I don’t know why he’s wasting time now that he’s home. He should tell her and be done with it.”
“I would if I had someone. When we were first presented with those willing women, I couldn’t help but think how great it was, but then after a while it became meaningless. It was just a way to assuage a need. It didn’t fill the emptiness inside of me.” John turned a pleading look on Royden. “Please tell me you’re going to find a way to have more women join our clan.”