Blood of the Highlands

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

　

The moment his mouth fell on hers, Persais knew there was no going back. His kiss was hot and hungry, every bit as raw and primal as the passion storming between them.

He bent her into him. Kissing her deeper. Molding her to the hard length of his body. She could feel every ridge, every bulge, every steely edge of muscle, as his body seemed to consume hers, melting together in a perfect fusion of heat.

His tongue circled against hers, urging-nay, demanding her response.

She kissed him back, matching every carnal thrust with one of her own. His dark, spicy taste filled her senses, blinding her to anything but him.

This was no tender wooing, no smooth seduction, but a violent confrontation of desperate need between two people who wanted only one thing.

This fierce need, this desperation, this passion….she’d never thought to feel like this. Never imagined she could feel this kind of connection to anyone. It seemed unreal that this could be happening to her. That the woman who’d experienced only coldness for years could find pleasure in the arms of one of the meanest, most feared and reviled men in all the highlands.

When his hand began making it way up her inner thigh, it broke her from desires hold as reality cascaded in. Persais shoved on his chest as hard as she could, breaking the kiss. Tormand moved off of her almost as if he’d been scalded. They both sat silent for a moment, catching their breath, she could feel her face heating whether from desire or embarrassment; she didn’t wish to clarify which.

Persais almost laughed. She had just kissed the devil himself, and liked it!

　

　

Tormand jumped to his feet suddenly, muttering an oath. He strode to the door angrily, while Persais watched with wide eyes. Pausing at the door, he turned back to her, “Someone will be up shortly with your evening meal,” he said through gritted teeth.

After slamming the door, Persais listened to him stomp down the corridor. A smile tugged at her lips. He seemed to be just as affected by her as she was of him. She didn’t understand these strange feelings towards the highlander, but she would rather die than dishonor her family by sleeping with him. Though this attraction could play nicely if she tried to get close and escape.

Smiling she touched her lips. It would seem a new war was about to begin..

　

　

Tormand was avoiding her. It had been three days since he lost control and had kissed her senseless. As she watched the people of Riverfall each morning going about their daily routine, shed keep an eyes out for him. He was a busy man she realized, whether his schedule was so pack to avoid her or not she didn’t know, but it angered her.

Hearing her door open she turned to see Gytha, a smiled spread across her face. She couldn’t help it, she had become friends with woman the last few days. Gytha was a plump woman in what Persais guessed to be her late thirties. She was the healer of the keep, Tormand had sent her the first night to check her for any injuries she may have accuired fighting Tor’s brother. Gytha had took over the position as healer a few years back when the previous died and no one else stepped up to accept the role. Persais admired her, the poor woman had only basic knowledge of the healing arts but was expected to take care of the whole clan. She had been estatic to learn Persais had been trained in the healing arts while fostering with her younger brother. Id had been 4 yrs ago when she decided to join her brother, for a new experience and further training. The lady of the keep had been a renowned healer and had accepted to take Persais under her wing during the duration of her stay. Persais reveled in the arts, thinking it just as important as fighting. What good was wining a battle if you were far from home and your men were bleeding out or dying from infection? Persais cared for each of her men, they ment the world to her. They weren’t MacGuins, her brother comanded the fighting men in her clan, nay, Persais had recruited her own men. Some she meet from fostering, others from battles or rouges passing through. Most were third born sons or bastards with nothing to inherit, but they followed Persais and faught by her side. They were her friends, she had learned a lot from them. They had a lot in common all outcasts, unimportant or misunderstood.

Currently the men were in Ireland, where Persais intended to be when this journey through hell was over. She would be there with them now if her father and brother hadn’t of refused to allow her to go. Claiming she wasn’t ready, that she was still, for all intensive purposes, just a lass..

“Have ye eaten today lass?” Gytha asked.

“Aye Gytha, I have.”

She clucked her tougue, shacking her head, “ your to thin, ye should eat more. Put some meat on your bones,” she stated giving Persais a slight frown while examining her slight frame. Persais couldn’t help but laugh.

“of course, now what are we learnig today?” she asked seeing the herbs Gytha was carrying with her.

“oh yes, ye had promised to show me how to make a ointment to treat burns,” Gytha stated, while spreading the herbs out on the small table in the room.

“Aye, shall we begin?”

Persais grinned at her excited nod. They had been discussing remidies for most of the morning when there seemed to be a commostion below. Going to glace out the window, they saw men riding into the bailey, a few were being helped down from the horses, it was obvious they had just been in a battle.

“Och I have to go!,” Gytha exclaimed, “the men will need me.” Gytha rushed to the door, hurridly bidding Persais farewell. She glanced back into the bailey crosing her arms over her chest. What had they been doing? And more importantly who had they faught?