THE LAST LAIRD

Chapter 8 - Finding Out The Truth

The storm abated not long after midnight. We lay on my bed, the sheet and blanket pulled over our naked bodies, where the sweat had dried and gone cold.

"Duncan," I began, as his fingers walked across the skin of my belly.

"William," he said. "Call me William."

"William," I breathed, as his hand moved lower, continuing it's investigation. "Oh!"

He moved my chin to face him and kissed me as he touched me. I urged him on, telling him what I liked and when to go faster or slower. Later he laughed that I was too bossy, although he didn't use that word. But he liked it. And so did I.

When I awoke in the morning, before the sun was up, he was dressed and stoking the fire. I showered and dressed too, but he was gone when I came out. We hadn't spoken to each other since we woke up and I wasn't sure where things stood now. I made the bed and tidied up. I was putting things away when he returned holding two steaming cups.

I frowned. "How did you get those?" I had a horrible thought. "You didn't drive my car did you?"

"I would not attempt such a terrifying thing, I used my wee phone to call Brett and he kindly dropped them off, as well as these." A bag was slung over his arm. Relieving him of the cups and bag I placed the croissants onto a plate and put out some butter and jam from the little fridge. They were still warm as was my hot chocolate and I enjoyed it all immensely.

"I think Brett might have guessed the nature of our night together," he said carefully, his eyes flicking in my direction. I had already accepted that would be the case. He had stayed here two nights in a row and although the first one was in fact innocent, there was an air about William now that made it more than obvious. I shrugged as I ate.

"You are not concerned about your reputation?" He was curious, not outraged. His exposure to modern culture meant he understood the differences in morals from his time to now.

"I think most women would look at you and my reputation would be greatly enhanced," I said with a grin. He laughed and shook his head. He readily accepted the changes from women of his era, another man from his time might not be quite so able to understand.

"So how do we behave now, in front of wee Maggie and the young ones?"

I almost spat out my drink at his description. Calling Maggie "wee" was hilarious on it's own, but calling Josh and Lila, both in their early twenties, 'young ones' was next level. I laughed and explained why. He shrugged and joined in. And so we were when 'wee' Maggie herself appeared, walking in as she knocked.

"Well, you two look particularly happy this morning," she said, raising her eyebrows. "I wonder why?"

We caught each other's eyes and both laughed harder.

"Ugh, too much lovey dovey for this time of the mornin," she griped, turning to leave. "Join us at the dig when you can calm yerselves, ye ninnies." She called the last over her shoulder as she left and we laughed even more, eventually standing to clean up our breakfast mess. It meant we were close together and he bent to kiss me. I kissed him back as he pulled me into his embrace.

"I don't think we should do any of this during work time," I said sadly.

"Aye, you're right of course," he agreed. "But after?"

"After," I whispered, sliding my hands under his shirts and along the warm naked skin of his back. "After is completely different."

As we walked to the dig I turned to William. "I have a job for you."