Page 40 of A Fearless Rebel

He kissed her gently, pressing his lips against hers for a lingering moment. Ava lifted to her toes and grasped his shoulders, demanding more. Keithen responded and wrapped his uninjured arm around her waist, pulling her closer as his tongue darted into her mouth.

Walking backward and falling against the wall, he trailed his lips down the side of her throat and nibbled at the sensitive skin.

Every single part of her body reacted. Shivers traveled through her limbs. It was definitely so very different with this man than with her late husband. Just a look from Keithen brought tingles of excitement.

He pulled her up against him. “I want to take ye here.”

Although she was unsure how it would be accomplished, Ava nodded, eager to try.

“Pull yer skirts up,” Keithen instructed. “Wrap yer legs about my waist.” He fumbled with the front of his trews as he spoke.

Her breathing picked up as she peered over his shoulder, hoping no one would walk past.

“Look at me,” Keithen instructed.

Ava gasped as he entered her in one swift thrust. Her body tightened in arousal and she forgot caring about anything except what happened between them.

At first, he moved slowly, pumping in a steady rhythm, filling her completely and then moving out just far enough. His breaths were hard against her throat, matching her gasps of enjoyment.

“Augh!” Keithen grunted, thrusting in harder as he neared cresting. Ava did her best to remain present in each moment, wishing to keep the beautiful memory, but her everything dissolved as she lost control and found her release. Pushing her mouth against his throat, she cried out just as his hoarse moans sounded.

For a moment, he leaned against her, pressing Ava hard against the wall. But she didn’t mind, her body was too languid to feel much.

Keithen finally straightened and lowered her to the ground. “I promise to find out about yer family. It may be difficult as it is possible yer brother will declare us enemies.”

“He cannot afford to attack right now, can he? Surely, many men are either injured or dead after yesterday’s battle.”

Her husband cupped her face, lifting it to meet his gaze. “He is a new laird and out to prove himself. Ye know him better than I do. What do ye think he will do?”

In a way, Ava felt as if she was betraying her brother. But at the same time, it could be there was a way to stop him from being foolish. “He can be impulsive at times. I do not think he is prepared for the lairdship. Father was in good health and would have lived many more years.”

“All we can do is wait for now. In a few days, if we do not hear from him, it will be safe to send a messenger.”

They went inside to prepare for last meal. Servants went about clearing tables and sweeping, while other people milled about waiting to eat.

A maid hurried over to her. “Milly, one of the cooks in the kitchen, cut her hand. It’s bleeding horribly. Can ye come help her, Miss Ava?”

“Of course,” Ava replied and looked to Keithen. “I may miss last meal.”

He nodded, understanding her need to be accepted by the staff. “Aye, go.”

The scene in the kitchen was chaotic. The cook was visibly upset over blood being everywhere.

The poor pale Milly whimpered as another maid clutched her cut hand. A cloth was wrapped around her hand, already turning bright red.

“Lift yer hand over yer head,” Ava instructed and rushed to the fire. “I require hot water.”

Pulling a piece of wood from the fire, she went to where Milly sat in the adjoining servants’ dining area.

“Hold this. Continue to blow on it,” Ava said to the maid who stood with Milly.

She took the maid’s hand and removed the cloth. Blood spurted from the large cut that traveled from her palm straight to her wrist. Ava scooped warm water from a bowl and poured it over the injury and then pressed a clean cloth over it to dry it as much as possible.

“Take a deep breath,” Ava instructed. She grabbed the hot fiery wood and pressed the reddened end to the maid’s injury.

The girl screamed and the maid next to her did the same.

“What are ye doing?” The cook hurried over. Then seeing that the bleeding had stopped, the cook took the wood from Ava’s hand and nodded in approval.