Chapter 34: Chapter Thirteen

ADA

I did not want to leave—I wanted him. I wanted to be with him, to stay here as his wife and the mother of his child.

“Cayden, what happened with Weylin was not your fault. He would have waited for any opportunity to attack me,” I said.

He looked disappointed, and I could see he really was struggling with what had happened between me and Weylin. “What upsets me is that you close yourself off from everyone, especially me, when something bothers you.

“When I needed you to comfort me, you were gone. I needed you then… I need you now. When I stabbed that man last night, all I could see was Lugh’s face. I’m scared.”

“Ada, I promise I will do better. I wanted so badly to find out who those men were. To do something to make the situation right. I even failed at that. You are right, I should have stayed.

“I promise to stay in the future.” He looked at me nervously. “You’re the only one I wish to be with.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his words. “Then, I will stay.” Before I could even get the last word out, he was kissing me. I let him kiss me as long as he wanted, and then followed with, “But, I have one demand.”

“Of course you do.” He flashed me a knowing smile.

“I wish us to be married tomorrow. A small ceremony with just your family and our friends.”

His face grew serious and his smile disappeared for a second. I felt my stomach flip, worrying he did not wish the same. Taking me by my hand, Cayden pulled me off the log and into his arms for a kiss.

“Well then, let us go tell our friends there will be a celebration tomorrow.”

***

We entered the main hall where Muireann and Kyra had just awoken. We couldn’t help but beam at one another as we approached them.

“And what has you two so happy this morning, or should I even ask?” Muireann said.

“Mother, sister… We have come to tell you to free your day of any obligations. Ada and I will be married tomorrow.”

The two women looked at each other with stone cold faces. It didn’t appear that they were too pleased by our news, and I squeezed Cayden’s hand as hard as I could.

“You are to be married…tomorrow?” Kyra asked while a girl finished tying up the back of her dress. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes.” Cayden looked equally confused as I was at their reaction. His arm tightened around my waist. We both felt uneasy in their presence. “Are you not excited for us?”

“Excited? We have too much to do to be excited!” Kyra exclaimed. She told the girl behind her to summon all the other help in the hall.

“Now shoo, Cayden. It is tradition that you not see Ada until the ceremony.”

“Oh, that will not be necessary,” I said, grasping Cayden more than I ever had. My efforts were futile. As Muireann shoved Cayden out of the hall, he looked at me apologetically.

“Tell the men they and their families are welcome,” I shouted after him.

For the rest of the morning, Muireann and Kyra ran about the hall ordering things from different servants, making sure the hall was being cleaned, food being prepared, and that my dress would be completed in time.

I felt so guilty that everyone would be working extra hard for the next day. I tried to insist the ceremony remain simple, but the two women would not accept it.

By the afternoon, I couldn’t stop myself from yawning excessively. We had eaten a great deal, tasting different dishes Muireann wished to serve, and now all I could think about was a long nap.

I excused myself and passed on all remaining decisions to Kyra. In the end, it didn’t matter where the garland hung in the hall or what meat would be served for dinner.

All I cared about was being married to Cayden, belonging to someone. I made my way through the cold back to our house. The fire was lit when I entered the front room.

It seemed odd, but I never put anything past my future mother-in-law. She made sure everything was kept in order, always anticipating our needs.

I placed my coat on the hook by the front door and headed into the bedroom to undress.

Gathering my hair with both of my hands, I twisted it up with one hand so I could untie the back of my dress. I heard a creak behind me, and before I could turn to look, I felt Cayden’s warm arms around me.

Being held in his arms was a feeling that would never grow old. He rubbed my body and then moved his hands up to help me with my dress.

“I thought it was the custom that we were not to see each other until tomorrow,” I said as he finished unlacing the ribbon. I turned around, holding onto him for support as I stripped down to my underlay.

“I wanted to make sure all was mended between us before tomorrow…that you were all right.”

“Yes, we’re fine,” I said, smiling. “Are you still feeling uncertain about us?”

He scoffed. “I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life. It is just that I did not ~feel~ everything was mended between us, with my mother and sister pulling you away this morning.”

“And how do you wish to ~feel~ all is fixed, Cayden Barrason?” I asked him coyly. He took my hand and began kissing it slowly, moving to my shoulder and then moving his body behind me.

I could feel his hands all over me, moving over my breasts, down my waist, to my backside, and back up again. “Why do we not move to the bed?” I asked, already yearning for him.

“Because, for the first time, I don’t have to worry about anyone interrupting us. We have as much time as we want to be together, and I intend on taking it.”

“Oh, so it is all about you then?” I teased.

He did not respond for a moment, but gathered the end of my dress, lifting it over my head. I faced him and began undoing his belt; he was just as ready.

He stopped me from removing his pants, only allowing me to take everything else off. We moved onto the bed, and I waited for the rest of his body to move between my legs.

But he stayed, half-kneeling, half-lying to my side. His lips began softly kissing my neck, slowly and precisely. My whole body tingled as his mouth moved to a new place.

He started to move down to my chest, and the tingle intensified. I moved my hands to his sides, unsuccessfully trying to shift him over me.

All I wanted was to wrap my legs around his body, hold onto his strong arms. His kisses were traveling lower.

“Cayden, this is torture,” I pleaded breathlessly.

“That is exactly my intention,” he said with a smile.