The Lion (Clan Ross of the Hebrides Book 1) - Hildie McQueen (best novels to read in english .TXT) 📗

opening and the woman entering, Darach considered what to do. In truth, he was in no mood for lovemaking. The woman Lilia had often shared his bed, but as of late, their times together had become less and less frequent.

“My laird.” Lilia neared, her gaze sliding down his body. “Today has been most tiring for ye, has it not?”

“It was. But I am not sure I want to be…” He stopped talking when Lilia’s hand clutched his shaft through the fabric of his breeches.

Immediately his body responded, ready for relief in whatever form it came.

“Lilia…I cannot possibly satisfy ye today,” Darach said despite obviously going hard, the rest of his body felt as if stones were tied to his ankles and hung from his wrists.

“Allow me to put ye to bed then,” the woman cooed. Lilia was well versed in seeing to a man’s needs and had been his lover for the last year.

He was sure she slept with others but Darach turned a blind eye, as he didn’t care what she did when not with him. The way he saw it, Lilia was intelligent enough to know he would never offer marriage. Other than ensuring she was provided for, he allowed her freedom.

Voluptuous, with waist length brown hair, Lilia was enticing. Her almond shaped eyes that lifted at the outer corners, gave her an exotic look. She poured water into a pot by the fireplace and turned the lever so that it hovered over the fire to warm.

Taking Darach’s hand, Lilia guided him to sit on the bed and then kneeled to remove his boots and stockings. “Ye should not allow yerself to become so exhausted. There are others who could shoulder some of yer burden.”

Darach nodded. “Ye are correct, but as laird I must see to all my responsibilities.”

As she often did, Lilia preferred to distract him from worries of the day, so she smiled, her plump lips then pursed and motioned for him to hold his arms up.

She made quick work dispensing with his tunic and breeches until he was completely naked.

“Just a moment,” Lilia said. Then she went to the hearth and returned with a bowl of warm water. She grabbed a thick piece of cloth and dipped it into the bowl. She wiped his face, arms, legs, and chest. Purposely waiting until last to cleanse his midsection.

“Lay upon the bed, Laird,” she instructed, and Darach did. While she saw to his thighs and hips, his eyes became heavy.

However, when she began to wash his sex, his breath hitched, and there was little he could do to avoid getting hard again.

“Ye are good to me,” he murmured.

Her wet hands slid up and down his shaft until he got even harder. “I see ye need relief, my laird,” Lilia purred, her lips tightening over the tip of his sex, then she took him fully into her mouth. It wasn’t long before he came, his head pushed back into the bedding at the release.

If he was tired before, now he was spent.

Sprawled naked on the bed, the cool air of the room fanned over his heated body, and he realized he had no desire to move. Lilia pulled a blanket over him and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Sleep well, my laird,” she whispered in his ear and left.

Chapter Two

“Must I go?” Isobel Macdonald asked her mother, who flittered about her parent’s huge bedchamber directing servants to pack enough gowns and shoes as if they were traveling to visit royalty.

Lady Macdonald looked at her, patience radiating from her gaze. “Do not forget yer gift for Ella, Isobel.” She then turned to the door. “Where is Beatrice?”

“She is packing,” Isobel said, annoyed at not being heard. “Mother, I would prefer to remain here. I have much to do and there is no reason for me to go. It is Beatrice who Father wishes to marry off to a Ross.”

Her mother looked at her as if she were daft. “There are three other single brothers who would make a good husband for ye. Due to yer unfortunate situation, we cannot offer ye to the new laird, but the next eldest, Duncan, I believe would make a good match for ye.”

Isobel tried a new tactic. “Father is not going; therefore, I should remain with him. What if he becomes unwell? He will certainly be thankful for one of us to remain here to care for him.”

“One of yer brothers can take care of him.”

“It is not the same and ye know it.”

Her mother wrinkled her nose in thought and Isobel became hopeful.

“No, ye will go. I will ensure Maura looks after yer father,” she replied, referring to the housekeeper.

Rounding her shoulders, Isobel gave up, walked out of the bedchamber and headed down the corridor to her own. It was smaller than Beatrice’s, but she’d chosen it because in her opinion this room had a much better view.

From her window, she could see both the forest and a small inlet along which bìrlinns were lined up ready to be sailed off to sea, or in most cases across the inlet to the Isle of Harris.

Annis, her maid, hurried in dragging a small trunk. “Miss Isobel, yer mother said ye get only a small trunk as there willna be room since she and Miss Beatrice have packed so much already.”

It didn’t matter to her since she rarely took time with her appearance. Isobel had no desire to court or to marry anytime soon. Her plans were many as yet, only a very special man could convince her away.

“I forgot to ask Mother how long we will remain. Do ye know?”

Annis nodded. “I believe we are to stay for the remainder of the summer season.”

“I cannot possibly be gone that long. Father needs me,” Isobel grumbled.

“Just a few weeks is all,” Annis, ever cheerful, replied. “It will be a nice change.”

“I suppose,” Isobel said. “We must pack my sketchbooks, pencils, and chalks. It will give me something to do.”

It did not take