A Fierce Archer (Clan Ross Book 6) Hildie McQueen (online e reader TXT) 📖

been hired. A companion had not been chosen yet, but Catriona was considering the young woman who’d been caring for her since her arrival. Maisie was sweet and quite proficient at ensuring her needs were met.

“May I ask,” Catriona said looking at Elspeth Ross, “will ye protest to me asking Maisie to be my companion?”

Elspeth thought about it for a moment. “I will not. Ye may want to include her brother, one of the stable lads in yer offer. They have no other family.”

“I will ask her then,” Catriona replied with a smile.

“I am sad not go be going with ye,” her mother said. “But the weather will soon turn cold and I must head back with Lady Fraser.”

Catriona kissed her mother’s cheek. “Audra must see about her children as well. Do not worry, all will be well. Next time ye visit, ye will be coming to my home. I insist ye bring all the bairns so ye both can stay longer.”

Lady Fraser and her mother and sister were to leave the following day. Soon after, she and Ewan, along with their companions, would be leaving for Tuath Avon.

It has been over a week since the wedding and, still, she and Ewan had not had relations. If anything, the man’s patience was beginning to wear thin on Catriona.

Every night, he kissed her, touched her, caressing her breasts until she wanted to scream. It was heavenly for those short moments and just as passion threatened to overcome them, Ewan stopped. He’d then kiss her on the forehead and tell her to sleep.

“Would ye like to walk in the garden?” Esme asked her. “I need fresh air.”

Catriona practically jumped up, glad to be away from the stuffiness of the room. As much as she was delighted to be with the women, she wanted time alone to ask Esme questions.

Seeming to sense they were not invited, no one made to join them.

“What is going on?” Esme asked as soon as their privacy was ensured. “Ye seem totally unchanged at being bedded by yer husband. I expected some sort of...oh, I don’t know. Distress perhaps?”

Catriona let out a breath. Her friend knew her better than anyone else. “It is because nothing has occurred between us. Kisses, caresses, but that is all. I do not believe my husband desires me, which I suppose I should be thankful for.”

“Has he said anything to ye about it?”

Biting her bottom lip, Catriona thought back to their wedding night. “He said that nothing would occur between us until I was ready.”

“And are ye?” Esme asked, studying her with interest. “Do ye think ye are ready?”

“What exactly should I be ready for?”

Esme’s lips curved. “Do ye feel heated? A sort of pooling between yer legs?”

Catriona’s eyes widened at the exact description, especially the night before when Ewan had kissed her longer than the previous times. “Aye. I do. My body seems to crave more.”

“I believe ye are ready.”

“What do I do?” Catriona asked.

Pacing before her, Esme looked up to the sky as if for inspiration. “When a man is aroused, he becomes hard. His member, between his legs.”

Catriona shuddered at the thought of a man’s hardness. She’d experience first-hand what they did with it. It had been painful and humiliating.

“Not like that,” Esme said quickly, seeming to understand where her mind went. “It turns hard, but the skin surrounding it is so very silky.”

“Is it?” Catriona looked at her friend, interested in knowing more.

“Ye will become moist, making it easier for him to enter ye. The heat will only be sated by his cock, not that it’s cool or anything.” Esme giggled. “But the movements…oh, the way he will slip in and out of ye, will bring ye to...”

“What?” Catriona asked, entranced now.

“Well,” Esme looked around to ensure no one could overhear. “It will bring ye to lose all control. Ye will not know whether to scream or laugh at the wonderful culmination it will bring. Then just as ye feel as if ye can take no longer, ye will shatter and float.”

Her eyes rounded. “Float? Ye mean fly? Like a bird?”

At this, Esme guffawed. “No, silly, not physically, but it will feel as if ye’re are indeed flying.”

“It sounds delightful. No wonder ye always are in a hurry to drag Ruari to yer bedchamber,” Catriona exclaimed. “I do not know that I can keep from insisting Ewan take me.” Her face fell. “Does a couple have to be in love for these occurrences to happen?”

Esme frowned. “As long as there is attraction, I think it happens.”

The day dragged by. Every hour seeming to take twice as long. During last meal, Catriona and Esme kept exchanging glances, each doing their best to keep from smiling.

Finally, Ewan turned to her. “What is so funny?”

“I do not know what ye mean,” Catriona replied much too quickly. She bit her bottom lip at the mistake. “I have not laughed.”

“Ye and Esme keep exchanging glances as if ye are sharing a secret.”

“We are,” she admitted. “An anecdote ye would probably not find humor in.”

He let out a sigh and turned his attention back to his plate. Ewan was so utterly handsome, his dark hair framing a face that could only be described as beautiful.

And yet, he remained cool to her. Other than when they were in bed, he paid her little heed.

“Mother and my sister leave in the morning,” she told him. “I will be sad to see them go.”

He glanced in the direction of where her parents were seated. “I am sure they will return for a visit. I have extended an invitation to yer father.”

She’d not considered he may have spent time with her father until that moment. “Ye and he spent time together?”

“Yes, a bit. We went for