Highland Grace (30 page)

* * *

Bao arched, tugging Jesslyn’s hips up and
down rapidly as he shot to the stars, finding his own release in
her hot, moist, pulsating channel.

Collapsing back on the ground, he brought
Jesslyn with him as he limply helped her position her knees at his
side once more. They were both winded, their breath coming in
jagged gasps and their hot skins damp with the dew of their
exertion.

Bao’s mind was in a state of blissful peace,
blank of all thought, his body and heart in that same condition as
well. They were mates, truly husband and wife once more. He rested
in a dazed stupor with his eyes closed as his breathing slowly
returned to a normal meter.

* * *

Jesslyn’s mind, however, was anything
but
restful. Thoughts were flying at lightning speed,
zipping from one event to the next, connecting each thing that had
happened, and ‘twas not long before she’d worked everything out,
come to a somewhat slanted form of the truth. With a jolt of pure
fury, she sat up and scrambled off of Bao and onto her feet. “You
tricked me!” she said, grabbing up her chemise and throwing it over
her head—backwards. Dammit!” she shouted in frustration and then
quickly readjusted the garment, ripping seems in the process.

Bao opened his eyes and sat up, crossing his
forearms over his bent knees. His eyes were glazed with slumber.
He’d evidently dozed while she’d boiled. “What?” he asked.

Jesslyn tossed her gown over her head and
battled to pull it down over her body. “I said:
You tricked
me
, you spawn of Satan!” Her voice, tho’ muffled inside the
gown, was strident enough, she was sure, for Bao to hear and
understand it.

Luckily, she had her shoes on—
she’d never
taken them off!
Nay, she’d been much too concerned with Bao’s
welfare, and he’d evidently been much too concerned with tricking
her into coupling with him! But it worked out beautifully for her
now, for she was fully dressed—except for her mantle—and would
leave him here with at least a crumb of her dignity still intact.
“Get up, you black-haired deceiver!” She grabbed the edge of the
garment and tugged hard, shouting, “Give me
my
mantle!”

Bao tried to rise, but with her yanking on
the material he was resting upon at the same time, he lost his
balance and stubbed his toe on the ground in the process, breaking
the skin covering the joint.
Good.
He deserved it, she
thought. Finally, he managed to stand. Hopping on one foot and
rubbing his abused digit, he said, “Jesslyn, I beg you, do not
leave without allowing me to explain! I was desperate, can you not
see that?”

Pressing her forefinger into her chest, she
retorted, “Aye, I see! I do
indeed
see! You hadn’t had a
woman in—how many days? Six? Not even a sennight! But that must
have seemed a century to one such as you. You’re clearly not used
to celibacy,” she continued sarcastically. “Which is why, I’m sure,
you enjoyed servicing all those women in court. One of your lovers
liked you so well, she even put a brand on you!”

“That is not—”

“Aye, do not deny it—Lara told me all about
it. And now you’ve used my concern for your health as a means to
satisfy your own lecherous lusts!” How he must have reveled in her
foolish and lack-witted conclusion regarding his manhood! Mortified
and furious, unable to face the proof of her mental blunder that
was bared, and clearly healthy, before her, she whirled and rushed
toward the entrance of the cave.

* * *

“‘Twas not like that—I swear it!” Bao
scrambled to find his clothes and put them on. They were still
damp, wet through in some places, but he cared not. He had to
follow her, make her understand that he had been desperate to find
a way to reconcile with her. That he hadn’t tricked her only as a
means to mate. His boots were wet and stiff, but he managed to get
them on his feet with only a bit of added effort, ignoring the pain
it caused his sore toe. He quickly doused the fire using snow from
just outside the entrance and, after gathering up Jesslyn’s wimple,
ran to catch up to her.

* * *

Jesslyn stumbled blindly ahead, her only
clear thought, to reach her cottage and bar the door from Bao
before he could intercept her.

Bao raced as fast as he was able with stiff
boots, a sore toe, clammy clothes, and deep snow drifts, but he did
finally reach her. He slowed his gate and walked silently beside
her, gazing at her fury-filled countenance. He handed her the
wimple.

Jesslyn growled low in her throat, but took
it. Fortune was not shining on her this day. She looked straight
ahead, refusing to acknowledge his presence any further.

Bao was at a loss as to how to soothe
Jesslyn’s temper enough so that she would listen to him, for he
could see that her intent was to ignore his presence. “The brand is
from no lover, Jesslyn. ‘Tis one my father gave me to show the
world that I was his slave.”

It took everything in her not to bend, not to
look in his direction, not to forgive him just a little, but she
must remember: he’d use her for his own pleasure until the
inevitable discontent set in and then his eye would begin to
wander. Just as Graeme’s had done.

“I love you,” Bao said into the silence.

She snorted. “There is more to love than
coupling.”

Bao turned toward her and, walking in a
sideways fashion, continued to stay beside her. With hands
palm-side up, he said, “I know that. I do! I love you, Jesslyn, and
all I want is for you to love me, to trust me.”

Jesslyn ground to a halt and turned to Bao,
her hands clenched into fists. “Trust! You want trust from me after
the foul way in which you tricked me into warming your”—she glanced
down and vaguely pointed in the direction of his groin—“
you know
what!
” she replied coldly, her cheeks heating with chagrin.
“You use sex as a weapon. You use it to manipulate, not as a means
of showing your deeper feelings. You’ve used my desire for you
against me for the last time.” She turned and stormed ahead once
more, angry that she’d broken her vow to herself to
not
speak to him
ever again
.

Bao rushed to catch up. He sneezed, and then
sneezed again. And then, he sneezed again. He sniffled and coughed.
Blood of Christ, but it was cold out here! It felt as if he were
wearing sheets of ice from neck to foot. He shuddered and cleared
his throat. It felt a bit raw of a sudden.

Jesslyn ignored him, convinced this was yet
another ploy to gull her into attending him.

Bao realized his attempts to explain, to gain
her understanding, had actually deepened her anger toward him, so
he decided to say no more until her temper had cooled. He continued
to walk beside her however, unwilling to abandon his nearness to
her, no matter how bitter was her manner toward him.

They’d nearly made it to the door of the
cottage when another sneezing fit caught him by surprise.

Jesslyn took the opportunity to hastily step
over the portal and slam the door behind her, barring it to keep
him from entering.

“Jesslyn!” Bao croaked, pounding his fist
against the wood.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned
against the door, her heart racing.

“Jesslyn, open this door or I’ll break it
down!” Bao rasped, his throat feeling thicker and achier with each
passing moment. But at least he wasn’t cold anymore. Nay, in fact,
he was burning up. He pressed his forehead into the door as he
leaned against it for a moment, placing his forearm above his head
and resting it on the portal for additional support. Sweat beaded
on his brow and he absently wiped it on his sleeve. The cloth was
nice and cold, so he decided to cool his cheek on it for a moment
as he awaited her reply. His head had started pounding a few
moments past, but he reasoned that it was because he hadn’t had a
meal in more than half a day. The notion that he might be truly ill
had yet to sink into his muddled brain.

Jesslyn finally noticed the change in Bao’s
voice and her concern for his welfare once again overrode her
better judgement. She turned and slid the bar from its rest and
then opened the door a crack.

Bao stumbled and fell forward.

Jesslyn shrieked and moved out of the way of
the door before it hit her as it swung wide with the force of his
massive weight.

Bao landed with a thud face down, half in and
half out of the doorway to the cottage. He groaned in pain.

“Bao!” Jesslyn exclaimed, squatting down and
placing her hand on his brow. “You’re burning up with fever!” Guilt
assailed her. She should never have allowed him to walk all the way
back home in these wet clothes.

“Nay, I just got a bit hot from the walk
home,” Bao said, rolling over with a grunt and then rising to his
feet.

Jesslyn allowed Bao to assist her to rise and
then rushed over to grab her bucket from its position by the
hearth. “You must change into dry clothing without delay.”

* * *

Bao was feeling a bit lethargic now, but he
was more than ready to get out of his clammy garments and into
fresh, dry ones so he moved slowly toward his bedchamber. Once
there, he took a dry shirt out of the chest at the end of his bed
and, with a bit of strain to his aching muscles, was finally able
to get himself out of his boots, tunic, shirt and braies.

He felt a bit odd, a bit light-headed. The
mattress was so soft and inviting to him that he decided to rest
there a moment before putting his shirt on and returning to the
front chamber. The cool air of his bedchamber was like heaven
against his hot skin. He flopped onto his back and sprawled out,
rejoicing in the crisp air that cooled his armpits and groin. After
a moment, he turned onto his stomach, allowing his backside to
receive the cooling treatment.

* * *

When Bao didn’t return to the front chamber,
Jesslyn went to his doorway and peeked in. Her heart did a little
flip in her chest. He was bare from head to foot and so gorgeous,
that in spite of her hurt, her anger, and her disgust at herself,
her mouth watered.

He was sound asleep. Mayhap that was for the
best, because she must bathe him down with cool water to try and
break the fever. She’d already been dreading doing the deed since
she had, not one hour past, just proven to herself that she had no
self-restraint where a wickedly naked and awake Bao was concerned.
But, she’d treated fever often enough to know that the bathing must
be done.

Turning, she hastened out of the cottage and
drew water from the well. Afterward, she would consult with Daniel
and get some herbs for Bao’s throat and cough. So far, his cough
was dry, and she was determined to keep it that way. If the
phlegmatic humor moved into his lungs, his fever could rise.

Thankfully, Bao never fully awakened during
her ministration to him and the bath was completed with no added
embarrassment to her. Upon speaking with Daniel, she was cautioned
to remain at the keep and not go near Bao again until he was
recovered. This, as a precaution against the fever being
transferred to her and possibly harming their babe. Which, of
course, was fine with her, as she had no intention of ever speaking
to the man again. However, that did not mean she wouldn’t worry
over his recovery. He was, after all, the father of her unborn
bairn, even if he was a no-good, rotten manipulator.

It was decided that she would use her chamber
at the keep and that Bao would remain at the cottage, nursed by
Daniel, Branwenn, and a few servants.

* * *

Bao’s recovery took several days, which gave
him plenty of time to think about his dilemma. He had blundered,
badly.

Jesslyn was right. Using his body as a means
of persuasion was a habit he needed to break. There was more to
their relationship than mere lust and ‘twas time that he convinced
her of that fact. No matter how long it took, he would prove his
devotion to her and not touch her, or attempt to seduce her again.
And in time, when he didn’t stray from her, she would finally
believe him, trust him, and then they could finally settle into
their union.

He was dressed in his shirt and braies,
standing at the washstand shaving, when he heard the knock on the
door. Turning, he called out, “Enter,” and then turned back to gaze
into the silver mirror as he scraped the last of the bristle from
his chin.

“Good morn, Bao,” Jesslyn said.

A thrill of shock and pleasure rushed over
him and he looked over his shoulder. “Good morn,” he answered
softly.

“Daniel told me that you were recovered
enough for me to see you.”

“Aye. I’m feeling fit, actually.”

“That pleases me. I was worried.”

“I’m sorry for that.”

She shrugged and looked away. She was tense
with nerves, he could tell, so he turned his attention back to his
morning rituals. He laid the knife down on top of the washstand and
gazed in the mirror as he wiped the soap from his face, but his
heart was racing and his palms were sweaty. “I’m moving back up to
the keep, so you shall not have me in your way much longer.”

“My thanks.” There was both surprise and
relief in her voice.

They were silent for a time and Bao strove
for calm as he continued his ablutions. Her nearness made his heart
pine, made his body ache for her touch.

“I am sorry that I made you ill,” she said at
last. “Please, will you forgive me?”

Bao looked at her. “You didn’t make me ill. I
made myself ill with my own foolish behavior.” He walked a step
toward her. “And it is I who begs your forgiveness for my
dim-witted attempt to trick you into giving me your good opinion
again. I should have known not to treat you in such a manner.
‘Twill not happen again, I swear it.”

Jesslyn gave him a grim nod and then cleared
her throat. “I’ve spoken to Daniel and he has agreed that, if you
agree to it as well, Alleck, the babe, and I will move back to the
MacLaurin keep to live once he and Maryn return there this
summer.”