right to knight you. With a man of your ilk by his side, he will succeed. You will preside over Douglas lands and Harris will take his place at Caerlaverock.” She clutched her arms around him and pressed her lips to his head. “I, too, pledge an oath that we will live to see our children in a world without oppression.”
The candle flickered and burned lower while she held him, rocking back and forth. The attack on Douglas was devasting news, for certain, though such mindlessness happed all too often. Raids were common, especially along the borders. The priory had been spared mostly because it was holy ground—same with the abbeys like Kelso, Melrose, and Jedburgh. But nowhere else in the kingdom could they expect sanctuary.
And how much longer would the church be able to provide protection? After all, once Uncle Herbert learned that Ailish was harboring Harris in Lincluden, he’d had no qualms about invading in the midst of vespers and taking the lad. What would have happened if James had been present? There would have been bloodshed for certain.
Perish the thought had he tried to face Herbert’s army alone. This brave and compassionate knight mightn’t be in her arms at this moment.
James rubbed his hand up and down her spine. “Forgive my hour of weakness.”
“There is nothing to forgive.” She kissed him again. “I do not see it as weak to express the depth of your passion. Not when we’ve been through so much.”
“I should leave you to eat.”
“Stay.” She ran her fingers through his thick hair. “James…”
“Hmm?”
“Kiss me.”
He sat up and cupped her face in his strong hands. “It was wrong of me to take liberties at Finlay’s croft.”
Her gaze slipped to the pulse throbbing at the base of his neck. She wanted this man and none other. No matter what happened on the morrow, he was hers to hold this night. “I do not recall pushing you away.”
He moistened his lips, his eyes hungry and more intense than she’d ever seen them. He gazed upon her as if he could read her thoughts, then slowly dipped his chin and kissed her.
James’ low growl vibrated through her as he plied her mouth like a man possessed, a man who knew exactly what he wanted and took it.
And Ailish reveled in his every touch, his every breath whispering across her searing flesh. “I want you to lie with me.”
His lips stilled on her neck. “I must not.”
Her heart squeezed. “Do you not desire me?”
“Och, mo leannan,” he said, his voice deep and soft as he uttered the Gaelic endearment. “’Tis not what I want that matters. You are a highborn woman, and I must preserve your innocence.”
“But we are children of war, you and me. We have naught but to take our pleasure when we can, where we can. And I choose you, James Douglas, Lord of Douglas.”
“Jesu, Ailish, you make my blood thrum with fire.”
Emboldened by his words, she kissed him, imparting every ounce of passion in her soul. And as he kissed her neck, she shivered and sighed. Oh, for the love of all that was holy, James trailed his lips to breasts. His fingers drew away her dress and shift from her shoulders and Ailish felt no shame, only the searing pull of desire as he suckled her nipples and kneaded her, his deft fingers making her want for him coil deep and low in her nether parts even more powerfully than it had done the night before.
“I want to see you bare,” she whispered, both shocked and bolstered by her brazenness.
James chuckled, and stood, removing his belt, jerkin, aketon, shoes, stockings, and chausses, until all that was left was his linen braies, secured at the waist with a length of string.
Ailish gripped her hands over her heart and gasped, unable to shift her eyes away from the dark triangle of hair beneath the linen cloth that strained against the outline of his sex. Large. Hard. Aroused.
“Now you,” he growled, pulling her to her feet.
The motion was enough to make her already loosened garments swoosh to the floor.
He opened his mouth, then closed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “You are the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld.”
Heat rose in her face as Ailish crossed her arms over her breasts.
“Nay.” James grasped her fingers and pulled them away. “You must never cover yourself in front of me.”
She liked having his eyes on her, adored the admiration in his tone, however, his own beauty is what gave