"Och Garreth, I've seen it enough already, so don't be all ashamed and shy aboot it. I need tae look at the wound and see if the infection is easing up. If it is, ye should be up and oot of my bed soon." Arabella told him chuckling, as she looked at the wound in his leg and checked how it was healing. "I will say, it's a nice one ye ha'e though. Quite grand in fact." to which Arabella smiled and giggled girlishly, while Garreth went beet red in embarrassment.
"I see yer colour is returning, quite well in fact." she said to him, upon noticing the deep blush to his cheeks.
Arabella raised his leg and checked the backside of his thigh, where the arrow had gone through. She lowered it gently and placed her hand on his thigh.
"Yer healing well, Garreth. Ye should be up and aboot soon. Just gi' those stitchings a chance tae keep the wound closed and ye'll be fine. By the end of the week, ye'll be up and swinging yer Claymore aboot." Arabella told him smiling, happy to see a full recovery in store in the next few days.
Arabella rose and placed a small kiss on Garreth's forehead, her bountiful breasts becoming more exposed to him, as she bent over, then left to arrange for some food to be brought up. Garreth drew back the covers and touched his wound and remembered how he had escaped from the Earl's. More of the past events of the Earl rushed back in, his mind trying to fathom the meaning of them all. It started to made sense now, why the Earl took the charges against his prisoners so lightly, why he gave a charter to MacRae, to have possession of Eilean Donan. He was in league with James MacRae and they were taking lands and castles in the name of King James. Garreth wasn't sure in his mind if the King was behind it, or just the Earl himself, using his powers for personal gain. Whatever the reasoning, he knew none of the clans that held allegiance to the Lord of the Isles, were safe from attack. Footsteps outside the door had him throwing the robes over himself, just as the door opened.
Arabella returned with a bowl of lamb stew and some crusty bread, along with a jug of mild cider. She laid it on the table and had Garreth sit up and lean back against the headboard and put a pillow behind him.
"Arabella, I owe a great debit of gratitude fer yer kindness. I owe ye my life." Garreth told her, his eyes showing the gratefulness and affection he was feeling.
Arabella smiled and patted his chest softly, saying nothing in response, knowing everything that needed to be said, was said. She took the bowl and spoon-fed her dearest of friends the warm liquid, meat and vegetables, taking great delight in nursing him back to health. She made sure he ate everything and drank a goodly amount of cider. Licking her thumb, she wiped away the remains from around his mouth, Garreth passively resisted being treated like a bairn, then Arabella placed another affectionate kiss on Garreth's cheek, before she smiled at him and rose to take the empty dishes away.
Garreth felt the need for rest, far out-weighed his need to think. His stomach felt better with food and drink in it, so he laid his head back and in moments, was fast asleep in recuperative sleep. Arabella came back and saw he was sleeping when she poked her head in and left him to rest, knowing he was okay and on the mend. She went to a guest room that night and lay there thinking of Garreth and her feelings for him. She remembered how he looked at her and saw his feelings for her. In her heart, he had always been her love interest, since that first kiss on her thirteenth birthday. As much as she put him out of her mind, when she married Logan, he was always there lurking in the
depths of her mind, so easy to re-call when the need arose.
She held thoughts of Braedon and felt the pangs of losing him, but understood his grief was what was separating them. Only sadness held, with no hope of a re-joining in sight. Her feelings for Garreth over-shadowed her yearnings for Braedon, Garreth being a life-long love to her and many of her lust-filled dreams. Something she never even told Therese in all their intimate confidences, was that it was Garreth she was thinking of, that day she was caned for touching herself. The more she thought of Garreth, it brought her to the point of repeating her chastised pleasure, knowing punishment for it would never happen now.
The sun broke through the chamber's windows and moved slowly along Garreth's body, illuminating him. It slowly crept along his body to his face, until it shone brightly on his eyes, making him squeeze them tighter and stir. He started to open his eyes and it blinded him, so he shut them tight again. He turned his head and tried again and saw he was still in Arabella's chambers. The day before seemed like another blur to his memory and tried to shake the fuzzy feeling in his head. He sat up and stretched, yawning widely and feeling much more rested and energized.
He sat in bed, just enjoying the peace of the morning and drank the water Arabella had left for him. He felt dehydrated and his thirst seemed endless. A knock at the door had him bid entry and two servant women came in, one with a few oatcakes, a few slices of bacon and another jug of warm, mild cider, the other with a large bowl of water and a cloth. Garreth thanked them, as they bowed and took away the empty jug. He ate all of the food heartily and felt his body thank him for the sustenance.
As the day wore on, Garreth felt more of his strength returning and the urge to relieve himself. He rose to use the chamber pot and it felt good to be up and moving once again, despite the aching throb of the wound. He finished and put the pot by the door to be emptied later. He walked back and stood looking out the window at the loch, the calm waters giving a sense of peace and serenity to everything. He knew that peace and calm were going to be short-lived.
He took notice of his own foul body odour and stripped his tunic off, tossing it on the bed. He went to the bowl of water and took the cloth and washed himself as best he could. Satisfied he wasn't as repugnant smelling, he went back to the window and let the warm sun dry him, his mind drifting off in the peacefulness.
Arabella returned to her chambers and entered quietly, then saw him standing there, staring out the window, the sun illuminating his body for her in detail. She admired his nudity and studied his well-defined body, his strongly muscled legs and the curve of his buttocks. The lustful feelings from last night's self-pleasuring came back and her yearning to experience her dreamt desires. Stealthily she came up behind him, then reached around and took his pride in her hand, feeling it pulse at her touch, as she wrapped her other around his waist.
"Arabella!!, what are ye doing?" Garreth's utter shock at feeling her touch him like that, brought him out of his thoughts, but had him stunned to react.
"Garreth, don't be so shocked by it. I've wanted tae do this since we were just young. E'er since I saw ye going swimming wi' Grayson in River Sheil." Arabella told him, as she smiled happily.
Garreth stood in stunned amazement at the feelings she created in him. As much as he felt like resisting, the sensation had him entranced to enjoy it more. He looked at the enjoyment in Arabella's eyes and forgot everything and anything, revelling in the moment they were sharing.
"Come Garreth, let me show you hoo much I enjoy this." Arabella told him, urging him to
