A Perfect Wife [Highland Menage 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (2 page)

“Och, dinna do that to a poor lassie,” added Duff, though he smiled at the idea. Somerled should marry, but as he never, ever, went past the stables at Duncladach, where would he find a wife?

“Niall would make her laugh, would he not?” asked Colin. “’Tis one advantage of marrying two husbands. If a wife is fashed with one she has the other to console her.”

“I will think on that. As for now, there is work to be done.” MacKenzie shoved back his chair and stood. There was a light in his eyes, one Duff had already learned not to trust. He braced himself. “I hope ye got enough sleep last night, lads. We’re off to Kinrowan.”

“Now?” demanded Duff, blurting the word before thinking.

“Aye. The weather is good to travel and ’tis best I be there to introduce ye to the clan, since ye be MacDougals and all.” He flexed his right arm, grinning. “If we’re lucky we’ll run into Ross of Balnagowan and make my daughter Catherine a widow.” He scowled. “I hated to marry her to the man but King James didna give me a choice. He said ’twould stop the attacks. It hasna.” His eyes went to Duff. “’ Tis why ye’ll keep wearing that wee mask, aye?”

It was not a question so much as a confirmation that he would obey. Duff gave a brisk nod. Wearing the mask, supposedly to cover deep scars, hid the fact few could tell he and Malcolm apart. Laird Ross, who held the land on the far side of Cromarty Strait, wanted to gain a foothold on the Black Isle. Whoever controlled Kiera controlled Kinrowan. If she was captured and Malcolm killed she could be married off to gain possession of the land.

If Malcolm was killed, Duff would fix his mask on his twin’s face and step in as laird to keep the land safe. They were more worried about Kiera. They would keep a close eye on their new wife, especially as she carried his babe. Only Kiera, Laird MacKenzie, his son and heir Colin, and a few trusted others knew they were identical.

“We thank ye for the offer to accompany us,” said Malcolm. “We are honored with your presence.”

“A pretty speech,” murmured Colin. “The truth is Silean’s belly is upset because of the babe she is carrying. Father hopes his young wife will again welcome him to her bed on his return.”

“Ye and Barbara should share one bed as we MacDougals do,” said Duff. “’Tis something to wake with yer arms around a warm woman.”

“We have to marry first. Her father put it off again.”

“Then I shan’t tell ye how little sleep I got last night.” That got him an elbow to the ribs. He chuckled at Colin’s attack but sobered quickly. “Kiera thinks we’re returning to her bed, not traipsing over the countryside for days.”

“’Twill will give her a chance to pine for ye.”

Duff elbowed his new friend back. As Colin had his blind eye next to him the elbow hit its mark.

“You’ll pay for that, laddie,” he threatened.

“Colin, ye’ll act in my place, aye?” demanded MacKenzie. “We’ll ride out now.” He waited for Malcolm’s nod. “I’ll send a lad with a word to yer wife.”

Colin straightened. He gave his father a respectful bow. “Aye, Lord Kintail.” They waited as their lairds passed. “When you return I’ll show you a few things,” murmured Colin menacingly.

“I’ve got a few for ye, as well,” replied Duff. “I’d best get to my horse.”

Colin turned his whole body to see Duff. His one uncovered eyebrow rose. “Having just married my demanding sister, you would leave without telling her you’ll be gone for at least a sennight?”

Duff hesitated. Kiera would be furious with them leaving no matter what. If they snuck out on her the morning after their wedding without explaining…

“Good point. If he asks, tell Malcolm I’ll meet him at the stables.”

Duff wasn’t familiar with the castle, but it was fairly simple to get anywhere. He raced up the stairs and down a long hallway to Kiera’s chamber. She’d fallen asleep again after they left. No surprise as they’d kept her awake most the night. She lay curled on her side, facing him. He stopped for a moment to admire her. He rarely saw Kiera when she was still and quiet. Awake, she was always moving, even if it was just pressing her lips together as her eyes shot fire at them.

Not now. Her long black hair spread behind her like a cape. Though she was covered his hands knew well those large breasts and well-curved arse. Her eyes changed from brown to green depending on her mood. They were bright green just before she peaked, something he wished he could give her right now.

He still couldn’t believe this woman belonged to him. He and Malcolm had hoped to find a wife they could get along with, one with a croft they could work and share. Never had he thought he’d find someone who suited him so well. Suited him in bed, and out.

Her eyes fluttered, then opened. She squeaked and ducked her head under the cover, making him laugh.

“What’s this?” He tilted his head to catch the one eye that peeked out. “How can ye be shy after what Malcolm and I shared with ye these last few nights?”

“’Tis why I’m shy,” she admitted. “I took both of you in me, at once!”

He dropped beside her on the bed. He easily tugged the sheet out of her hand, revealing the luscious breasts he loved to admire. “Aye, ye did. And we’d be doing the same again if Laird MacKenzie wasn’t hauling us to Kinrowan.”

“What? Now? But I’m not packed!” She struggled to sit up.

He held her down easily with one palm on her chest. Her breasts flowed to the sides, just begging for his mouth.

“Hush, my sweet. Ye’re staying here. Yer father wishes to show Kinrowan to the new laird and his steward. Ye, my lovely wife, will have a sennight to pack.”

She stopped struggling so he caressed her breast, the nipple already hard and eager. After all they’d done last night how could his cock be hardening once again?

“’Tis my land,” she said. If she was the type to pout it would have been now. Instead, she jutted out her chin. “I wanted to see it first with my husbands.”

“’Twill be a quick trip down and back.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead’s frown wrinkles. “We’ll see what is there and what we should bring with us when we escort our new wife home.” He played with her nipple. “I have a request for ye. Pretend I haven’t told ye that we left, or why. We’ll see if the message is passed to ye, or if someone wants to get back at ye.”

She looked down. “Lots of someones wish to get back at me for the unkind things I’ve said. There will be laughs when my new husbands race off to check my dowry.”

His hand stilled. “I wish ye’d warned us. Kinrowan is no ‘wee tower’, ’tis a full castle.”

“It is?” Her shock could not be false.

“Did none tell ye about it?”

“Father forbid it. I was to know nothing that would give me a stronger wish to leave.”

“Remember, sweetling, I married ye thinking we’d share a wee croft, and Malcolm spoke words with the priest because our lairds signed a marriage contract.” His hand massaged her breast. He did
not
want to leave Kiera like this! “Ask Malcolm to tell ye what he said to yer father about yer dowry.”

“Tell me now!”

Duff leaned close. “That ye were a treasure all by yerself.”

He kissed her forehead knowing if he touched her lips his horse would be standing in the bailey long after the rest of the men left. He groaned at his aching cock and his need for her.

“If I wasn’t my laird’s loyal steward I’d be inside yer hot puss right now.”

She smiled, one designed to tease and arouse. She stretched like a cat, pushing the sheet off to display herself. He stared as her fingers found her clit.

“Ye can touch yerself while we’re gone, wife,” he said, his voice hoarse, “but dinna bring yerself to yer peak.”

This time she did pout. “Why not?”

He couldn’t stand it. He stepped forward, holding her thighs wide to flick his tongue over her clit. She moaned and pressed on his head to keep his mouth tight to her pussy. He inhaled her scent, closing his eyes to imprint her on his mind before pulling back.

“Duff!” she keened in need.

“That will help ye remember why. I want ye eager for us.” He lifted his plaid to show the hard, thick cock jutting out. She eyed him, licking her lips. His cock throbbed in need. He groaned.

“Oh, husband, you’ll be having a hard ride with that atween your legs.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Ye dinna have to enjoy my pain so much, lass.”

“Aye, I do. Because you’re leaving your new bride alone and wet in her wedding bed!”

He turned away, knowing he was already late. Her demands, moods, and sheer joy of their bedding made her almost impossible for him to resist.

“I shall miss ye, wee Kiera. Best ye be as eager on our return.”

He closed the door behind him. Something, perhaps a boot, hit it at the height of his head. It kept him chuckling all the way to his horse.

Kiera stomped up the narrow stairs, one hand on the rope to ensure she didn’t slip on the uneven wedge-shaped steps.

She would not scream in frustration. She would not throw anything, not that there was much left in her chamber to throw. She was not a spiteful, bitter widow anymore. She was Lady Kiera MacKenzie of Kinrowan Castle. She would hold her head high and her temper in. She would show everyone she could be the best wife any laird ever had.

Even if she wanted to kick both husbands in the backside!

Her husbands were handsome, tall and muscular with dark hair and the most intense blue eyes she’d ever seen. Duff was fun, teasing and encouraging her to laugh. He was one of the few men who didn’t curse when she beat him at chess. Malcolm, though identical but for a few scars, was more concerned about what people thought of him.

Duff said his brother needed to have the stick pulled out of his arse every now and then. She was quite ready to do so! She stopped to catch her breath.

“Best wait to tell him off until he gives me a few of those toe-curling orgasms.”

Colin, her older brother and heir, told her MacDougals always made sure their wife had at least one orgasm before their own. Her pussy throbbed in memory. The downside to a MacDougal husband, especially with Malcolm, was that they demanded obedience. As Malcolm had become Laird Kinrowan when he married her, and all must obey their laird, she could do little about it.

Though she hated to admit it, she did like it that way.

What she didn’t like was them racing off the morning after their wedding on orders from her father. Instead of spending the first ten days getting to know one another better, most of which she’d hoped to do naked, she’d been alone. Not even Chester stayed with her now as Cook was fond of her dog, and he was fond of food. And to make it worse, Duff had ordered her not to give herself an orgasm!

No doubt her father and his men had filled Malcolm and Duff’s ears with all the stupid things she’d done over the years. All the times she’d said hurtful things. That was likely why her bedchamber had been stripped a few days after her husbands left. Some excuse about the furniture needing to be elsewhere, and since she was going to be gone soon anyway...

All they’d left her was a hard pallet and a stool, so she’d spent the time spinning or in the garden, avoiding everyone. Just an hour ago she’d been quietly using her spindle when a servant told her Silean, her new stepmother, needed something that only she, as the previous Lady MacKenzie, could find. Something that was high in the attics and required her to stick her head in numerous dusty old trunks. She’d searched eight of them before realizing she’d been sent on another fool’s errand.

She’d descended just far enough to discover her father, and her husbands, had finally returned. Furious at not being there to meet them in a fresh gown with a smile, she was eager to tidy her hair, clean the cobwebs off, and wash the dirt off before she was seen.

“Is that you on the stair, Kiera?”

Duff’s voice came from below. She turned at the top, caught. He stopped a few steps down from her. Though he wore the leather mask she could tell his surprise at her appearance. Malcolm pushed past him. Her new laird’s displeasure was easy to see. This was not how she’d planned to greet them after their long absence. She forced a smile she did not feel.

“A belated welcome, husbands,” she said, sinking into a graceful curtsy. “I regret I was not informed of your arrival, or I would have met you in the bailey, as no doubt my sainted stepmother did for my father.”

She rose, keeping her face calm and placid looking, just like Silean. Her new stepmother, only a few years older, was perfect, or so Kiera had been told too many times lately. She was beginning to think it was Silean’s servants who were behind the whispered comments, missed instructions, and downright lies. No matter, soon it would be over. They’d be at Kinrowan, and she’d be free of her past. Free to enjoy her new life with a pair of men who cared for her.

Malcolm didn’t look too caring at the moment, though.

“Laird MacKenzie said he sent word,” said Malcolm, his voice as cold as his expression.

She brushed her hair from her face. Finding dusty cobwebs on her hand, she wiped them on her skirt. This was just another in a series of strange happenings that made her all the more eager to escape Castle Leod for her own home. Her husbands had just arrived home and already her laird was angry at her. He would not know what had happened. At least, she didn’t think he did. Right now she didn’t know who was friend or foe.

“No doubt my father sent word to his new wife,” she politely replied. “However, I was not informed.” She set her jaw. “Nor was I informed you had left, other than a quick word by Duff.”

Her husbands shared a glance. She’d heard about twins being able to understand each other without speaking. Whatever they said to each other it was not something they chose to share with her. So be it. She had a few things she wasn’t going to tell them, either.

“We’d hoped to find ye welcoming us,” said Duff.