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“Four,” Artair sang out joyfully from behind them, his daughter Blythe snug contently in the crook of his arm.
With a serious expression Honora looked to Alyce. “We should find out what Zia’s putting in Artair’s brew and get some for our husbands.”
Alyce burst out laughing and Honora joined in.
“Ours sons need their nap,” Honora said after her laughter subsided.
“So does Blythe,” Artair said and walked off with them, though he teased Lachlan one last time. “I’ll see if Zia has any extra brew for you.”
Alyce slipped her arm around her husband’s and leaned against him. “You need nothing to enhance your prowess. You brought me to pleasure more than three times this morning; you always do.”
He kissed her lightly. “You know you just set my loins on fire.”
“I was hoping.”
He swung her up into his arms and walked to the cottage mindless of the villagers who stared smiling, while a few giggled.
As soon as the door closed Alyce kissed him with a hunger that surprised her, though it shouldn’t have. There wasn’t a time she didn’t want her husband. He was like a tonic she couldn’t get enough of no matter how many times he quenched her thirst.
He kissed her with just as much fervor and slipped along the length of her after he placed her on the bed. They lay side by side kissing, not touching or shedding their garments, simply kissing. Gentle and lazy, frantic and hard, the kisses went from one to another heating their passion with every thrust of a tongue or a simple brush of their lips.
Lachlan rested his hand on her waist and began to stroke along her hip, down her leg and Alyce tingled with anticipation of his intimate touch. She doubted they would have time to shed their clothes for she was wet and throbbing for him already.
She wanted to tell him to hurry and then urge him to take his time. She wanted him badly, yet she didn’t want this pleasure to end too soon.
His fingers tugged up her skirt and slipped beneath and she moaned and he teased with slow caresses that seemed to take forever to reach her and…
The mournful horn had them both jumping in shock.
“Something’s wrong,” he said and took hold of her hand to help her up. “We must get to the keep.”
Alyce didn’t argue, she was all too aware what the sound could signify; an attack.
Lachlan whipped a wool cloak around her before they left the cottage and grabbed his sword. The villagers were in action for battle, women hurrying children to the safety of the keep and the men rushing with swords and bows in hand to man their posts.
A mixture of thrill and fear raced threw Alyce at the thought of a possible battle. The men would meet and determine battle plans. Troops of warriors would be dispatched each with a leader who would see to implementing their strategy at a precise moment, or all could be lost. It was a challenge she loved and a talent of hers that her father had once taken pride in bragging about.
They entered the great hall, Lachlan having scooped up a crying young lad no more than three on the way and handing him over to Addie who was tending the women and children along with Zia and Honora.
It came as no surprise to Alyce what her husband ordered next, though her response stunned him.
“Stay with the women,” Lachlan said. “You’ll be safe with them.”
“I will not. I’ll be of no help to them, but I can be of help to your brothers.”
“She’s right,” Honora said, the twins resting contentedly on each hip. “Take her to Cavan and tell him I said that Alyce will be more useful to him than to us.”
“Hurry then,” he said without protest, and she smiled.
She and Lachlan had to step aside when they reached the solar, to give way to two large warriors rushing one after the other out the open door. She followed Lachlan in, close on his heels, anxious to learn what trouble brewed.
“What goes on?” Lachlan asked.
Cavan looked up from his desk. “Merc—what is she doing here?”
Alyce didn’t wait for her husband to explain, she stepped forward. “Your wife suggested I can be of help to you and I agree.”
Cavan stood and slapped his hands on the desk, leaning over in an intimidating pose. “I respect my wife’s opinion and so will allow you to join us this one time.”
“And what if my skills serve you well?” Alyce challenged. “You won’t allow me to help again because I am a woman?”
“I have no time to argue with you,” Cavan said. “You may remain here for now, however the future will be discussed another time.”
“Agreed,” Alyce said as if letting him know he had struck a bargain with her that he would have to keep.
