Feeling the lingering stains of her anxiety peter away, Mary signed the question for “do you need help”. She wanted to ask if the woman needed any more help but this was the best she could do. Lady Lenichton read her hands for a moment then shook her head, “Nay dear Mary, that’s all I need from ye. Ye may go back to the kitchens.”
Dipping another curtsy, Mary left the room. Such a sweet woman, I am so sorry for her.
It was not until she got to the kitchens when she began to wonder why she had been called up. The Laird had been ill for many months, why was the lady asking for help now? Surely there were many others she could have asked, long before her? Was it that the Lady had reached the end of her rope?
From the grief and hopelessness, I could see in the lady’s eyes, that must be it.
Returning to her chores, Mary washed until the dishes stopped coming and her hands began to get wrinkly. Drying them off, she went to eat her supper and took her trencher from the oven and spooned sugared mackerel and plucked rolls of freshly-baked bread and sat on a stool to eat.
Eating by the fire light, she nodded to each of the other servants that left the room. Finished with her meal, she washed her hands and went to her lodging. Thank god the rains had ended but the land was wet. By the time she got inside, the tails of her dress were damp with the dew from the grass’ blades.
She nearly reached the pathway to the servants’ house when an arm wrapped around her waist and just as she was about to scream, another covered her mouth. “Shhh lass, keep calm, it's me.”
Fear turned to anger and she had to stop herself from biting down at his hand. Oh, how Leith was going to get an earful when he did release her! He carried her through a copse of trees to a bench that was hidden away from the rest of the lawn. It was so dark; the bench was a hunk of black stone.
Instead of sitting her down he sat her on his lap. “I wanted to see ye all day but damned if I could steal away from those around me.” He pulled his hand away, “I ken me actions were despicable, be free to slap me if ye need to.”
His words took all the bluster from her, and she huffed, “You deserve it but although I want to, I won’t.”
“May I kiss ye then?” he asked cheekily.
Shifting on his lap she said. “You may. Consider this your first lesson. Teach me how to really kiss you.”
He leaned close to her, his chest brushing hers, and he nuzzled her cheek, dropping kisses on her skin. Her breath hitched in anticipation. “First, ye need to set the mood, kisses are good but it’s the feeling in yer chest, that expectation for yer heart to sing that makes a kiss all that much better. Are ye feeling that hammering in yer chest yet?”
She wanted to tell him that when she was within three feet of him, her heart was always hammering, but she refrained. Perhaps he would take it the wrong way. “Yes, I am.”
Leith kissed her with a sweet, caring tenderness that was slower than molasses in winter but had her body hotter than a furnace. His tongue was mobile, exploring her mouth like one seeking for treasure. Her hands slipped up his arms and up to his shoulders.
Parting from him, she whispered on his lips, “What’s next?”
“The kiss that teases,” he replied. “It makes you want more but the other won’t let ye have it.”
This kiss was gentle teasing like the exploring one before. His tongue parted her lips and tongue swept over the edges of her teeth and then delved deeper—a wet, slick assault on her senses coaxing her to submit to the devastating skill of his mouth—before he pulled back. Mary was not having any of it and pressed herself hard on him, seeking the almost utopia his kiss was giving her.
He was laughing and she tempted to slap him. “What?”
“I guess the teases worked,” he smiled and trailed his fingers over her neck. The touch was so light she shivered and gooseflesh rose on her skin. “There are teasing kisses and teasing touches too. Either one can get ye the result yer looking for but combined…” he kissed her and caressed the back of her neck at the same time. “it’s more effective.”
His voice had dipped to a guttural husk and that sent more pinpricks of arousal over her skin and through her body. “I…I believe it is.” Her fingers trailed up his jaw, and she smiled when she felt similar tiny bumps rise on his skin. It felt good to know she was not the only one feeling this sensual sensation. “What’s next?”
“A kiss that is only meant for the bedroom,” Leith said as his hand stroked down her back and up, “Yer nae ready for that yet. Hell, neither am I.”
She knew she might hate herself for asking but she had to, “Why?”
“Because,” he dipped his lips to her ear, “I dinnea ken I'll have enough of ye when I do.” The tension in his corded body and the warning in his gruff voice hinted that her suspicion was right. She had bit off more than she could chew. “The things I want to do to ye are too much for ye and will twist yer sensibilities upside and down.”
Mary knew that she was playing with fire but the burn in her stomach had her stocking the blaze higher. “Like what?”
The hands on her waist tightened. “Lass, nay. Dinnae ye tempt me,” His tone had the consistency of cracking glass. With one push it would shatter
