He’d worried about exactly such a thing. Just as he’d worried that having a wife or a family would cause him to be too cautious. But that hadn’t happened. In the heat of battle, he’d felt the same as he had in the past. His training had kicked in, and he’d moved from enemy to enemy, taking them down. It had been Liam’s predicament that caused his distraction. Not the promise he’d made to Mari.
He reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face and felt a burn in his shoulder from the action. While certain uninjured parts of his anatomy wanted nothing more than to wake her with kisses and make love to her, the rest of his body gave a hearty nay to his plans.
It was for the best. She was sleeping and needed her rest. She’d worried herself into exhaustion.
He had to admit, it wasn’t as awful as he’d thought to have someone care that he came home alive and mostly in one piece.
…
Two weeks later, Mari ducked into Kenna’s solar and found her sitting in the sun with a book. “Please tell me you need help with the children,” Mari whispered frantically.
Eyeing her skeptically, Kenna nodded. “All right. Will you please help me with my bairns, who are all sleeping peacefully?”
Leave it to her sister to understand what was required without explanation.
“Splendid. I’d be happy to help.” Mari made her rounds of the room, finding exactly what Kenna foretold. Wee Douglas was sleeping on the end of the settee, while Roddy had nearly scooted himself under the same piece of furniture. Baby Cameron was in his cradle, his lips moving as if dreaming of being nursed.
Mari wasn’t actually needed, so she sat next to her sister and let out a breath.
Since the day after the battle when Cam awoke and was told he needed to stay in bed, it had been clear the man was not one for sitting about doing nothing. He was miserable, and misery bred frustration…as well as out-and-out defiance. He’d grumbled and complained to the point she’d taken advantage of a lull to escape.
“Cam’s not enjoying being waited on while he convalesces?” Kenna’s mouth pulled up in a mischievous smile.
“No. He’s the worst patient. He told me to go on with my life and let him rot.”
Kenna’s brows rose and she laughed. “So here you sit.”
Mari couldn’t help but laugh as well. “Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t mind spending time with him in bed, but this has been beyond trying. I hope Abagail agrees to let him up and about when she comes to check on him. I’ll not survive another day of his restlessness.”
Kenna frowned. “Oh, dear. I’m afraid Abagail was called away to the village. Thomas Hardy broke his arm.”
Mari covered her face with her hands and bent over, muttering a prayer for sanity mingled with a few curses.
“I’ll call the nurse to watch the boys, and I’ll tend to him myself,” Kenna offered.
“I hate to take you away from your rest. You get so little time to yourself.”
“I’ll be fine. Especially since you’ll owe me.” With a wink, Kenna left the room, and Mari followed after.
When they entered Cam’s chamber, they found him sneaking back into bed.
“What is this?” Mari scolded. “You’re supposed to be abed.”
“Marian, I swear, if you don’t let me up, I’ll draw my sword and finish the job the damned McCurdy muddled.”
She knew he was serious when he used her given name rather than his shorter version.
“Kenna is here to take a look.” Mari pulled back the bandage so her sister could see how much he’d healed. The wound was clean and dry. No swelling or inflammation.
Kenna nodded. “These stitches can be removed. But you’ll still need to mind your ribs. Don’t do too much.”
“I won’t.”
Mari refrained from rolling her eyes. The man would agree to anything just to be freed from his prison.
To her surprise, he didn’t go running from the room as soon as Kenna finished and left them to get back to her children. Instead, he carefully washed himself with Mari’s help, then reached for her.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so irritable. It’s just that I’ve wanted ye and could do nothing about it.”
“I understand. It’s no fun being injured.” There had been many times she’d been unable to get out of bed after the duke showed his displeasure.
Cam’s hands rested on her waist as he bent slightly and kissed her, once, twice, then deepened it into a real kiss. She felt the tug on her dress as he fumbled around to unfasten her gown.
“What are you doing?” she asked in alarm. He didn’t answer, instead making his intentions clear with a kiss on her neck. “Kenna just said you weren’t to do too much.”
“Aye, and I agreed. I’m not planning to do too much.” He smiled devilishly, and she placed her hands on his bare chest high enough not to touch his wound or his still-healing ribs. “I plan to do just enough,” he assured her as he took her mouth in a deep kiss.
…
Cam had been miserable all the days he was confined to bed. He knew his wife wouldn’t lie with him until he was all better. Her nursing, touching, and leaning over him had driven him wild with unrelenting lust. Now that he was able to move a bit without the tug of the stitches, he was ready to make up for the days they’d lost.
“You can’t possibly think to—”
“Och, I’m thinking it. I’ve been thinking it for the past week or more.” He rested a palm on her breast, feeling her nipple harden and her breath catch. “I’m done thinking, Mari. I plan to do something about it.”
She didn’t bark at him to be cautious of his wounds. Instead, she stood on tiptoe and nipped at his jaw when he was out of reach. The quickness with which she’d changed tactics made him smile. His wife had missed his
