heaved, encouraging him of its own accord to do as he pleased. The sensations increased, sending her higher and higher until he stopped.
“Oh, prithee, don’t stop,” she breathed. “That feels wonderful, and it was beginning to seem as if something even more were about to happen. ’Twas the strangest, most wonderful sensation that I have yet felt, and gey promising, withal.”
“But recall that I had a long swim, sweetheart, so I’m hungry for food now, and you said you wanted your supper,” he added with a teasing smile. “We can continue this later if you like. As your grandfather said only this morning, we’ll enjoy it more if we have sustenance first.”
She nearly shrieked, “What! But why did you begin if—?”
“Now, lass, we must rejoin Ewan,” he interjected. “He must fear by now that we’ve forgotten all about him.”
“But, surely, if he has waited this long, he will wait a few minutes longer.”
“Mayhap he would, but I don’t want just a few minutes more with you. I want to take my time and enjoy every minute.”
“God-a-mercy, when you let me up, Fin Cameron, you had better take care!”
“There is no need for me to let you up at all,” he said, grinning now. “I might command you to stay here and wait for me instead, just as you are.”
Glowering, she said, “Very well, sir. But do not think I will forget this.”
“Sweetheart, I mean to make certain of that—right after supper.”
Still smiling, albeit with more difficulty than she knew, Fin released her and picked up his mantle. He was achingly aware that at least one body part meant to let him know that in punishing her, he was likewise punishing himself considerably.
After he arranged his mantle, he helped her dress, noting with delight that every time his fingers brushed her skin, she reacted. As he urged her back into the hall, he swore to himself that if Ewan had dawdled, the man would go hungry.
But Ewan was on the dais, examining the baskets and platters of food already on the table. Looking at Fin, he shook his head. “Ye took your time, lad.”
“Not nearly enough of it,” Fin said, grinning again and more easily. “I mean to desert you again right after supper, so you must entertain yourself this evening.”
Chuckling, Ewan said, “Since it is your wedding night, I expect I’ll manage. But do not think that ye’ll keep to yon bed all morning. I want to hear about all of your adventures these past four years, and I warrant that will take some time.”
“You may have me until midday if you like, because I mean for my lady to be so tired that she will sleep the whole morning away.”
Glancing at Catriona, he saw that her cheeks were as red as fire. Her eyes flashed, though, and her rosy lips formed a straight line, indicating that she ached to tell him what she thought of his tactics. They seemed to be working, though.
Catching her gaze, holding it, and noting that her breath caught audibly when he did, he knew that her heat had not ebbed in the slightest.
When she did not speak, he devoted his conversation to Ewan until they had finished the meal, the entire time as aware of her presence beside him as he knew she was of his. Only once or twice did he move a hand to touch her warm thigh, or let his leg brush against her. Her reaction each time encouraged him to believe that even if she had harbored the slightest lingering fear that she might again suffer the painful ache she had described that morning, she was not thinking about that now.
Catriona had begun the meal with a strong urge to kill Fin for exciting her senses to such a point and then stopping too soon. But so aware was she of every move he made and every time he inadvertently touched her that long before the meal ended, it was Ewan she wanted to murder for having such a healthy appetite.
At first, Fin offered him more and more food, as if he were still teasing her. But she had noticed in the past quarter-hour that he had not only stopped offering but was barely replying civilly to his brother’s comments.
At last, Ewan pushed his trencher away. But when the gillie picked it up, the fiendish man ordered another jug of wine. Catriona gritted her teeth, then sighed aloud when Fin got up, saying, “If you will excuse us, we’ll bid