"Oh, Adam, how can I involve you in this? You're English."
"English, Irish," he replied. "It matters not, Skye. You are a woman; I, a man. We love each other, and because we do one's problems become the other's. It's really that simple. Your brothers' nationality has nothing to do with their being pigheaded. I’ve known Frenchmen, and Devonmen, and other Englishmen just as stubborn. It's simply their nature, and together you and I will overcome that nature. I am encouraged that Conn desires to see the Tudor court."
"Let's take him back to Lynmouth first," she said. "We'll have to clean him up, and get him outfitted, and teach him how to behave, for I’ll not have the court laughing at him. Like as not, Conn would kill half a dozen men should he feel insulted. I’m not introducing him into Elizabeth Tudor's world to cause havoc and be sneered at as a typical Irisher. I want those letters of marque for the O'Malleys."
"You'll get them, Skye."
"I wish I was as sure as you are, Adam."
Adam chuckled. "If Conn is half the charmer I suspect he is, the Queen will melt. Besides, being a practical woman, she will be relieved to have the O'Malleys of Innisfana off harrying the Spanish instead of the English."
Skye smiled to herself, realizing the simple truth of Adam's words, and she snuggled harder against him. "Then I'll not worry, my husband, and instead I shall concentrate on indulging my baser appetites," she murmured, sliding her hand beneath his nightshirt. With teasing hands she fondled him, caressing and cupping him, and feeling him grow hard beneath her touch.
Adam lay very still, only the sudden quickening of his breath indication at first of her success. He loved the way she touched him with her hot and gentle little hands. In his lifetime he could not remember any woman rousing him as completely and as quickly as Skye could. When she moved herself down to take him in her mouth he groaned with unashamed pleasure at her actions, and fought to maintain his control, for now he desperately desired to possess and be possessed. "Ahh, my Celtic witch, ride me!" he finally begged her, and Skye willingly obeyed her husband's request, lifting her head from his manhood, kissing its throbbing scarlet head, and then mounting him to plunge downward so that he was enclosed by her eager sheath. Reaching up, Adam played gently with her beautiful breasts, tormenting the little nipples so that they thrust and quivered with his touch. Watching her through half-closed eyes, he was amused to find her own eyes closed.
Drawing her closer, he raised his head up and took one of those little peaks into his mouth. Balanced on one elbow, he cupped her breast in his other hand, loving it thoroughly as he did so. His tongue encircled the tautness, warm and so, so soft against her hardness. He sucked and nibbled on her flesh, and Skye gasped with pleasure as small darts of liquid fire raced through her veins, leaving her weak. With a smile of triumph Adam rolled her onto her back, and began thrusting into her honeyed warmth. Skye's nails dug fiercely into his muscled shoulders, but her rounded hips began to thrust back at him. He pushed deeper and deeper into her until she thought he could go no further, but the next thrust penetrated deeper still as she threw her legs up and wrapped them around liim. Now her nails raked down his back, scoring the smooth skin with fine crimson lines. Skye felt she was soaring; soaring higher than she had ever gone before. She felt helpless beneath his strength, and yet she felt stronger than she ever had.
The first wave of passion washed wildly over her, and Adam slowed his movement despite her whimpered protest. He laughed softly, a deep and sensuous sound. "Oh no, little girl, not quite yet. You're a hungry wench, I can see, but I’m of a mind to play with you a bit longer. What you started, sweetheart, I shall finish.'' All the while he spoke he moved slowly upon her. Again he increased the tempo of his erotic rhythm until she was sobbing with pleasure.
The whirling world was filled with a golden light that pulsed and throbbed all about her. His possession filled her with unbelievable peace amidst the turbulence of their passion. He gave so much, and Skye wanted to give back, but the second wave overtook her, and then in quick bursts the third and forth waves overcame her, rendering her almost unconscious, and she cried out. To her surprise, he cried out also, and then she felt his seed filling her full, and his head dropped to her breasts. She could barely catch her breath, but she kissed his head and caressed the back of his neck soothingly. He rolled away from her, and they lay side by side until at last the storm had passed and they drifted into a contented sleep.
When they awoke the morning was well along, and Skye scrambled guiltily from the warmth of their bed. "God's nightshirt!" she swore. "My family will think me a slugabed. 'Tis past nine, I'm certain, and I had planned to visit my Uncle Seamus today. Where in Hell is Daisy with my bath water?" She flung open the bedchamber door and peered into the day room.
"So, ye're up!" Daisy looked somewhat askance at her mistress, and Skye realized she was nude.
"Where's my bath?" she demanded with an effort at nonchalance.
"If I'd fetched it earlier," Daisy replied tartly, "'twould be ice cold at this moment. I'll see to it now, m'lady," and she busded out of the room.
"You've the prettiest bottom I’ve ever seen," Adam teased her.
Skye whirled about, laughing. "Oh, 'tis a bold one you are, my lord husband! It's a good hour's ride to my uncle's house, and I did promise him I'd come whenever I arrived back on Innisfana. 'Tis certain he knows I'm here, and has, I've not a doubt, been waiting for me since dawn. He's an old man, Adam, and frail. I would not disappoint him."
"We'll not disappoint him, little girl, and I intend to ride with you, for I've not met the good bishop. Does he hate the English, too?"
"I’m not sure it's all the English, Adam. Just the ones who happen to gain his disfavor by not agreeing with him," she chuckled, and Adam laughed.
"In other words," he said, "a typical O'Malley."
She launched herself at him, grabbing a large handful of his dark hair and yanking. "Beast! I can see I must teach you to be more respectful of the O'Malleys of Innisfana!"
He wrestled her to the mattress, and then across the bed as they playfully fought and struggled until both collapsed in a fit of laughter. Mischievously he spanked her bottom, eliciting a shriek of outrage from her. "'Twill teach you better manners toward your lord, wench!" he scolded with mock ferocity.
"My lord is a lop-eared ass," she threw back, rubbing her injured flesh.
Adam grabbed Skye and drew her down into a passionate embrace. "My lady is a hot-blooded little bitch who arouses me beyond mortal comprehension," he murmured softly as he began to nibble at her lips.
"Is this bath to get cold too, or will you wash?" came the scathing demand from Daisy.
Skye squirmed from her husband's arms, but their eyes met in total understanding and love. "I’m coming," she said to her tiring woman.
"So am I," Adam said, beginning to rise from the bed. "Get thee hence, Daisy lass, unless you're interested in my bottom and…" He waggled his eyebrows at her threateningly.
"Who's to wash my lady?" Daisy demanded, outraged.
"I will," came Adam's reply.
"More than likely ye'll end up back in that tumbled bed," Daisy grumbled, "but who am I to say. Very well then, I'll give you both fifteen minutes, and as fer being interested, m'lord, there's nothing ye've got I ain't seen before." Then with her nose in the air Daisy flounced out.
Skye giggled at Adam's look of outrage as much as Daisy's tart comment. "Aye, Adam," she further teased her husband, "Daisy's a married woman now, and I've heard it said that Bran Kelly can hold his own with the best of them." Then sticking out her tongue at her husband, Skye scampered from their bedchamber to the day-room, where the tall oak tub had been placed before the fire. Wrinkling her nose with pleasure, she breathed in the rose bath oil already perfuming the room in the tendrils of steam that came from the hot water. Quickly she pinned her hair atop her head. Adam caught up with her as she was about to climb up the three wooden steps that led to the tub, and twirling her about, he kissed her.