Page 12 of Never Marry a Highlander

Lorena poured the oil into the water and sat back to relax.

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Craig wiped the sweat from his forehead and took in a deep breath.When he offered to help Lorena with her bath, he knew it would be difficult seeing her entire nude body, but he had no idea how very hard it would be.

She was a beautiful woman.All soft curves, plump breasts and generous bottom.How he would get through her bath without taking her in the bathtub, drowning them both, would be a challenge.He must keep reminding himself that although she was his wife, and he had the right to enjoy her body, she was sick.

He counted on his fingers.She had been sick since their wedding day, for eight days.Recently she started being fever free for a day and when they both thought the illness was over, all the symptoms returned for another day or two.At this rate, they would never leave Clyth Castle.

And more importantly, he’d never get the chance to run his hands over those lovely curves.

When he entered the kitchen to get the linen drying cloth, Agnes, the castle cook turned to him from the large kettle she was dropping vegetables into.“Yer lady needs to eat.Every time I send something up with a maid, it comes back down again.”

He threw the linen over his shoulder.“I’ll be in our bedchamber for a while, so if ye send food up, I’ll make sure she eats.”

Agnes nodded.“I’ll send up one of Bridget’s healing tonics for the patient, too.”

When he entered the bedchamber Lorena was sound asleep in the water.He tapped her cheek.“M’Eudail.”She slowly opened her eyes and smiled.His heart thundered and he had to use all his control to keep from hauling her out of the bathtub.

He tossed her the smaller linen.“Here, ye can wash yerself, aye?”

Lorena sat up, no doubt forgetting her lovely breasts, plump with rose colored nipples, stared up at him.She reached for the cloth and rubbed the soap on it.

“When ye’re finished, I’ll help ye wash yer hair.”

He left her side and walked the room, trying very hard to keep himself calm.“Are ye finished yet?”

“What’s the hurry?I’m enjoying something for the first time in a verra long time.”

Realizing he was acting out of selfish reasons, he smiled.“Aye, I’m sorry, lass.Ye can take yer time.”

Just then there was a knock on the door, and he prayed it was a maid who could take over his duty.He opened the portal and a maid stood there, but she carried a tray with food.“Here is the evening meal for Lady Lorena.”

He ran his fingers through his hair.“Aye.Ye can put it on the table over there.”He waved in the direction of the bed.He walked out the door with the maid.“Is it possible for ye to help my wife with her bath?”

“Nay, ‘tis sorry I am Mister Craig, but we’re getting ready to bring the food out to the great hall for the evening meal.”

He nodded.“Aye.Doona let me keep ye from yer duties then lass.”

As soon as he closed the door, a soft voice like one he’d heard many times in the darkness of night, sharing a bed with a warm lass said, “Can ye do my hair now?I’m getting sleepy again.”

I can do his.I can do this.I can do this.He smiled at his wife.“Aye.Let me get the jug.”

He managed to wash her hair, then rinse it.It would not have been so hard if she hadn’t been moaning with pleasure as the water washed over her body.He placed the jug on the floor and grabbed the dying cloth.“Here ye go, lass.”Grabbing her under her arm, he pulled her from the bath.

“Goodness, Craig, ye’re hurting me.”

“’Tis sorry I am.”He lifted her from the tub, dried her as quickly as he could, keeping his eyes closed most of the time.“Where do ye have more night clothes?”

She waved to the wardrobe.He wrapped her in the linen, not wanting to see anymore of her lovely body.Once he had her in a fresh shift and the same dressing gown she wore before, he escorted her over to the bed.“In ye go, lass.They brought yer supper.”

She looked at him oddly.“Is something amiss?Ye’re certainly looking strange and ye seem to be in quite a hurry.”

“Nay, no’ at all.I’m just anxious to see ye settled in bed.”

“After I eat, I need to sit by the hearth and brush my hair dry.”

Now that she was dressed and settled in bed with the blankets practically up to her chin as he’d placed them, he felt himself calm down.He pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat.“Agnes said to make sure ye eat, she seems to thin ye’re returning too much food on the trays she sends.”