Highland Warrior Woman (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Becca van

side.
    “How is she?” Calum queried.
    “She’s sleeping,” Ewan answered.
    “Start talking, Calum,” Hamish demanded.
    Calum sighed and then told them how he had slept in his bed with Maeghan and been awakened when she had fallen onto the floor.
    “I helped her up and then I kissed her. She looked so sweet and innocent yet so damn luscious that I couldn’t help myself.” Calum ran a hand over his face and sighed. “I think it was her first kiss. She was so timid at first, but then she became more confident and copied my moves. I had her flat on her back and had covered her with my body without even realizing how deeply I was enthralled. If I hadn’t touched her bruised cheek and seen her flinch, I probably would have made love to her.”
    “So what did ye do?” Ewan asked.
    “I pulled away, of course. I couldn’t take the lass when she was in pain.”
    “More importantly,” Hamish added, “what did ye say?”
    “I apologized and told her it wouldn’t happen again. Then I suggested she rest so her body could heal.”
    “Fuck, Calum,” Hamish spat. “Ye are such a dolt.”
    “What?”
    “Ye donnae get it, do ye, brother?” Ewan quizzed.
    “Get what?”
    “Ye have no idea aboot women,” Hamish sighed. “Ye never apologize for kissing a lass. It makes her think there’s something wrong with her.”
    “Why would ye say that?”
    “Because it happens to be true,” Ewan replied. “If a lass doesnae want yer attention, she’ll let ye know right quick, usually with a slap or a knee. If she kisses ye back, then she’s wanting yer attentions.”
    “And ye think I have it easy with the lasses,” Hamish said to Ewan.
    “Ye do,” Calum said curtly.
    “The laird over there only has to point to a lass and she’ll go running to his bedchamber to wait for him,” Ewan said. “Or she would, if he’d ever ask. He’s been too shy ever since he was scarred.”
    Calum grumbled something about not being shy.
    “Ye should not let that little mark on yer face bother ye, Calum,” Ewan said. “All the lasses like ye well enough.”
    “Besides,” Hamish added, “it’s not terrible to be rejected. I’ve had quite a few lasses refuse me.”
    “When would that be?” Calum adjusted the reins. “When ye were still in swaddling?
    “Ha, ha. Not every lass is willing to have fun, brother. The ones that donnae are usually the ones waiting for marriage.”
    “Hah, we don’t need a lass to be pure to offer marriage.”
    “Ye be right, we don’t. But a lass is taught by her mama to be pure for her husband. Some of the stories I’ve heard told would make any woman scared of sex before betrothal.”
    “Why do they do that?”
    “The kirks have been spouting off aboot waiting for the ceremony before consummation. They put the fear of God into the weaker sex.”
    “Hmm,” Hamish snorted. “We should have been struck by lightning hundreds of times by now.”
    “I’m going to ride ahead and get Lilith to see to Maeghan.”
    “Do ye think that wise, Calum?” Ewan asked.
    “Why wouldn’t it be?”
    “Och, maybe the fact that ye’ve had Lilith in yer bed regularly and broken the lass’s heart.”
    “She knew from the start it wasn’t permanent. I am her laird. She will do as I tell her.”
    Calum nudged his mount into a gallop and raced across the open meadow. The keep was in sight, and even though Hamish knew his brother was concerned for Maeghan and wanted their healer to examine her, he knew it was the wrong move on his brother’s behalf. Lilith played at being lighthearted, but she was very much in love with his kin’s position.
    He and Ewan were going to have to keep a close eye on Maeghan when in Lilith’s presence. He would have to ask Gerty to be his eyes and ears while they went about their duty during the day.
    Once Maeghan had healed, he along with his brothers intended to begin wooing her into their hearts and beds.
    Calum was going to be a problem. He was dictatorial and unbending