The day, which had started out with clear blue skies and southerly breezes, turned cold quickly as the wind shifted to the north and storm clouds gathered. Gwain was far out on the moors when the weather changed. By the time he returned to the manor house, the fall sun was slipping beneath the western horizon and the first drops of cold rain were beginning to fall.
As he stabled his horse, he noticed that the mare Brian had ridden earlier had been left in her stall. On closer examination, he saw that the man had not taken the time to remove the saddle from the poor beast’s back. It was likely she hadn’t been rubbed down properly either. As he had noticed in the past several months, Brian was a lazy bastard who demanded that the servants do the work he should have done himself. After unsaddling his horse and rubbing him down, he turned to do the same for Brian’s mount.
Once he finished his tasks in the stable, Gwain headed for the manor house. He was more than ready for a glass of whiskey, the warmth of the hall, and the meal he knew would soon be served.
“Where have ye been, lad?” Angus inquired as soon as he entered the house. “Had ye not returned soon, I was going to go out to search for you myself.”
“I rode out into the moors. When the weather changed, I was far from the house. All the way back I thought of some of the clan’s good whiskey or perhaps a tankard of ale. I would have been in earlier, but I found that Brian had neglected his horse again. That poor animal deserves much better than that man for her master. I unsaddled her and gave her a good rubdown before I came into the house. If I thought it would do any good, I’d speak to Charles about him, but that is one battle I do not intend to instigate.”
“Ye are wise to choose yer battles, Gwain. Perhaps ye should think twice about your other duties as well. If I were in yer boots, I would not be thinkin’ of spirits to warm my being when there is a beautiful lass who can do it for ye. Davida was radiant when she broke her fast and Charles declared that her virginity had been taken. It was evident she had been fucked and fucked well. From the look on her face, tonight will be even better, but only if you are not too drunk to enjoy it.”
Gwain laughed heartily as he accepted a tankard of ale from his uncle. The liquid warmed its way to his belly. He would be careful not to consume too much of the potent brew in order to bring warmth to his body. Instead he moved closer to the hearth and enjoyed the heat produced by the peat that was stored from the moors as well as the precious logs that added fuel to the fire.
Once he was warmed he took a seat at the back of the hall so he could watch Davida without anyone becoming suspicious about his connection to her. With the chill that hung in the air, she had dressed in a purple wool dress with a length of plaid over her shoulder. The shade of the dress reminded him of the heather that bloomed in the spring as well as the fall.
Before his eyes, Charles took a piece of roasted duckling in his fingers and held it up to Davida’s lips. Delicately, she nibbled at the piece of meat, and then licked his fingers. To all who watched, they were a loving and devoted couple. To him, the scene brought on waves of jealousy. I should be the one feeding her. It should be my fingers she licks in appreciation.
“Be careful, laddy,” Angus warned. “Do not be so concerned with the act they put on for the clan. There are those who do not respect Charles and would take any opportunity to soil his name and remove him as head of the clan.”
“Do you not think the thought of doing the same hasn’t crossed my mind? He has a temper that is known throughout Scotland and as far away as the courts of London. I understand his anger is because of his condition, but does it not hamper his ability to lead?”
“Ye know it does not. As I said before, he has put you in an awkward position. Ye cannot jeopardize your brother’s position. Remember what awaits ye at yer uncle’s estate.”
Gwain lowered his eyes to avoid Angus’ gaze. As he did, he realized that with his eyes trained on the plate of food in front of him he would not have to watch Charles and Davida. Tonight, my love, tonight I will be in your bed. Only by the dark of night will you belong to me.
“The sight of the two of them together makes me want to retch.”
Gwain looked up to see that Brian had joined him at the table. “They are man and wife. They are merely doing what is expected of them.”
“It is I who belongs at the high table, not some country bitch that he picked up along the road. The man exasperates me. He brings in strays as though they were treasured pets.”
Gwain felt his temper begin to boil. “At least Charles knows how to treat both humans and animals. It was I who had to unsaddle your horse and give her a rubdown. Are you really as stupid as you look, or do you not know how to treat the living creatures that you seem to think are there for your pleasure only?”
“I have never unsaddled a horse, nor have I given one a rubdown. The thought of either task is disgusting. That is the reason one has servants.”
“Perhaps there are servants in your father’s household, but within the clan each man is expected to pull his own weight, even if he is my brother’s lover.”
Gwain could see that his words had prompted Brian to an anger that would someday be his undoing. He balled and unballed his fists, and for one moment Gwain wished the man would strike the first blow and give him reason to bloody his face and take the milksop grin from his lips.
“Charles and I will discuss your vile accusations. If you do not watch your step, your position in this household could easily be reversed. It is not only I who lives off the generosity of Charles, but you as well.”
Gwain returned his attention to his food. In no way did he want to bring Davida into the conversation that had turned so bitter. Like it or not, Gwain would remain in the household until the naming day of his son. Then he would return to his uncle’s estate and claim the birthright promised him. With his uncle having only daughters, his estate and all of his monies were to go to Gwain upon his death. His cousins had married well and each received generous dowries. With those obligations met, the estate and the monies left to Gwain would be more than enough to last him the rest of his life.
* * * *
Davida accepted the roast duck from Charles’ fingers and licked the grease from them. Earlier, Charles had instructed her how to act in front of the clan. The deception disgusted her, but she knew it was one in which she had to take part.
Not only had Briana instructed her as to her duties as mistress of the manor, she had also told her of Charles’ temper when things did not go his way. In no way did she want to be at the mercy of his fists. With his hands spread on the table where he was feeding her, she could imagine the strength of them when they were balled into lethal weapons.
At the back of the hall, she saw Gwain watching them intently. Just seeing him brought to mind the plans she had for him tonight. From the look in his eyes, she knew Gwain wished he were the one feeding her the roast duckling.
Davida averted her eyes so as not to show her desire for the man who had shared her bed last night. Instead, she purposely turned her attention to Charles. He, in turn, slipped his hand from the table to rest it first on her knee and then to pull on the hem of her skirt in order to run his hand up her leg until he found her pubic hair and then the moist crevice that it hid.
“From the way you are already wet,” he whispered in her ear, “it is evident that my brother will have a wild night ahead of him. It is a shame that it has to be Gwain and not me who occupies your bed.”
With the words spoken he pinched her clit until it was all she could do not to scream out in pain. The tears that pooled in her eyes seemed to bring delight to Charles.
“Be prepared, for some night I may be tempted to join the two of you in your chamber. It could be interesting to see what you can do to two brothers at the same time.”
The thought sickened her. She didn’t want to make love to anyone but Gwain, and yet she would have no say in the matter.
As suddenly as Charles had taken liberties with her, he stopped. To her disgust, he licked her essence from his fingers before he looked out across the crowded hall. As soon as he did, he became suddenly preoccupied.
She followed his gaze until she saw Brian taking a seat next to Gwain. Instead of staring, she studied her husband’s expression. It was evident that Charles was fond of Brian, perhaps even cared deeply for him, but she did not see the love that radiated from Brian’s eyes mirrored in those of her husband. He had settled for something less than love because of his injuries. It was sad to think that such a brave man had settled for less than what he deserved.
“Is something wrong, my dear?” Charles asked, when he caught her looking at him.
“Nothing is wrong. I was only wondering what Brian is thinking about when we are together like this. He has been a loyal and true friend to you. It is not often that one finds a friend of such merit.”
Charles took her hand and held it to his lips. “My wife is as wise as she is beautiful. I must say I worried as to how you would adjust to this situation.”
“I am your wife. It is my duty to adapt to whatever situation my husband deems proper.” The words made her sick to her stomach. When I married Fred in the sixties, I fought like a she-bear to keep the word “obey” out of our vows. What a hypocrite I’ve become.
“What did you do to occupy your day?” Charles asked, as though they were any normal married couple in any period of time.
“Briana gave me a tour of the house. I was very impressed with the kitchen. The meals I have enjoyed here are some of the best I have ever eaten.” Let’s face it, the only cooking I do anymore is in the microwave. It’s quicker but it certainly doesn’t make the food taste this good.
“I am happy that this house is to your liking. This is to be your home for the remainder of your life. It is where we will raise our children. The servants will be pleased to hear your compliments.”
Davida gave him a smile. Will I ever get used to servants? I can’t allow anyone to figure out that I’m not Davida and I know very little of this time period. As for the children, they will belong to Charles in name only. To me, they will always belong to Gwain.
* * * *
With the meal ended, the women retired for the night, allowing the men to enjoy a drop of whiskey and talk over the events of the day.
Gwain tried to concentrate on what was being said around him, but the thought of Davida waiting in her bedchamber dominated his thoughts. By the time Charles retired for the night, Gwain’s cock felt as though it would explode. After waiting for an appropriate length of time, he excused himself to go up to bed.
He was pleased that his chamber opened into the one occupied by Davida. With the rest of the clan that occupied the manor house quartered in the other wing of the house, as well as the great room, no one would know where he spent the night.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” she said, her voice soft as that of a mewing kitten.
A fire burned in the grate, giving off a warm light that complimented the glow from the candles that burned in the room. She sat in the chair next to the fireplace, her naked body glowing as though she wanted it to be the first thing he saw when he entered the room. Bathed in that light, Davida looked like a redheaded angel sent from God for his pleasure.
Her skin glowed with the radiance of youth. To his surprise and pleasure, her nipples had been rubbed with something that turned them an inviting red. A glance around the room showed him a bowl of juicy fall berries sitting on a table next to the hearth where Davida sat to enjoy the warmth of the fire.
“I did not want any of the clan to guess where I spend my nights. It is bad enough that Briana and Uncle Angus know of our secret.
She held out her hand to him and he took it to help her to her feet. “You are so beautiful. Although I would have never wished my brother ill, I am pleased that it is my duty to plant the seed of the next generation to rule the clan.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. He could not believe her brazen actions when she began to remove first his shirt and then his britches. The moment her fingers curled around his cock, it sprang to life as though pleased to be released from the constraints of his clothing.
He cupped her breast in his hand and lowered his head in order to suck the sweetness of the juice from her nipple. The taste of the berries combined with the salty essence of Davida’s skin to excite him even further.
“Where did you get such a delightful idea?” he asked when he raised his head in order to begin sucking the juice from her second nipple.
She looked up and allowed their eyes to meet. “It is something I read about while in my uncle’s household.”
Although he didn’t believe her story, he said nothing. While he’d been taught to read and write in his uncle’s home, he knew that few households taught such things, especially to their daughters. If he weren’t secure in the knowledge of her virginity, he would have thought her a woman of the world.
“It matters not where you learned of such erotic pleasures,” he finally said. “I will show you more love games tonight.”
To his surprise, she put her finger to his lips. “Not tonight. Last night you pleasured me. Tonight it is my turn to do the same for you.”
Before he could protest, she took his cock in her hand and led him to the bed where they had shared such pleasures but one night earlier.
At her command, he lay down on his back. Once he did, she knelt between his legs and took his cock in her mouth. Never before had he experienced pleasure of this nature.
While she imitated intercourse using her mouth instead of her cunt, she teased his balls with her fingers. Just when he thought he could stand no more of it, she released his cock, only to begin sucking on his balls.
If he thought the pleasure she’d given him earlier was better than anything he’d ever encountered before, this was beyond compare. “What are you doing to me, woman?”
She stopped and rose up to look at him. “Don’t you like this?”
Her voice was deep and husky with desire. From the training he’d received at the hands of his uncle, he knew she was more than ready to be fucked for the rest of the night.
“It is the most intense pleasure I have ever enjoyed. I have been with many women, but have never experienced anything like this before. Where you learned of such things a proper maiden has no way of knowing is beyond me, but I am glad that you know them.”
* * * *
Gwain’s comment made Davida realize she had made a bad mistake. Telling him she had learned her erotic behavior by reading was the worst thing she could have said. In this time period, proper young ladies were taught to keep a house, handle household servants, and to sew. What they weren’t taught was to read. She knew she couldn’t take back the words that had slipped past her lips without even realizing it. She also knew that she would have to be more careful in the future. Rather than dwelling on her mistake, she returned to her lovemaking as though she was unaware of her guffaw.
The blowjob she gave to Gwain combined with the sucking of his balls to make her hotter than hell and so wet that Davida knew she would never make it as a seductress. She needed him inside her to ease the ache of desire.
Instead of assuming the missionary position, Davida straddled Gwain’s prone body and allowed his stiff cock into her wet pussy. She had always wanted to try different positions with Fred, but he didn’t. This was her one and only chance to do all the things she had only read about and yearned to experience.
From this position, the way his cock filled her cunt in places she didn’t know existed were touched and brought to life. Even her clit felt differently since his cock rubbed against it seductively with every thrust.
Without realizing it, a shriek of pleasure passed her lips. As her screams echoed off the stone walls of her chamber, her body shuddered in release. The orgasm that held her in the throes of pleasure sent a shudder of delight throughout her entire body.
Why wasn’t it like this with Fred? Her mind screamed the question over and over again as she at last relaxed in Gwain’s embrace. No answers rushed into her mind, because there were no answers, only those that she already knew. Fred was never obsessed with sex in the same way as her friends’ husbands. Making love had been a chore, like taking out the trash and mowing the lawn. The only sex they’d had in years was when she asked him to make love to her, and then it was nothing like this.
“You’re purring,” Gwain said, as he caressed the curve of her breast.
“Purring?” she questioned.
“You know like a contented kitten. Are you contented in our lovemaking?”
She looked up to stare into his incredible eyes. “I’m more contented than you will ever know.”
“You are indeed a strange woman. I have heard many stories of how long it takes for a virgin to learn to enjoy bed sport.”
He paused as though trying to remember something. “Last night, you promised to tell me how you know so much about lovemaking.”
“And, as I recall, you said you would tell me why you are the one in my bed and not Charles and yet, I had to learn about it from your sister.”
“Then you know the position into which I have been placed. Charles has made it very clear that during the nights you belong to me, but your days are reserved for him. I was sent to the stables as soon as I left your bedchamber this morning and told not to return until it was time for the evening meal.”
Even though she knew what his answer would be, she remained silent, as though hearing the words for the first time. From the expression on his face, she knew he wasn’t at all happy with her keeping secrets from him.
“I don’t think I’m ready to reveal all of my secrets. In time I am certain you will know all about me. For now, let’s just enjoy each other while we can.” She knew her voice sounded sad but she couldn’t help it. Somehow she had been transported to the past and a life she had only dreamed of living. Davida was afraid if she told anyone what had happened to her, somehow she would go back to her lonely existence in the twenty-first century.
As though Gwain completely understood her reluctance to speak of her past, he pulled her into a tender embrace and again started to bring her body to the point of full arousal. For however long it lasted, she would enjoy his attentions and savor the memory for the rest of her life.