He strode angrily to his chamber mumbling and rebuking himself. He thought he could kiss her and maintain control of his desire for her. He was treading on dangerous ground having her so close.

Why was it so difficult for him to believe her?

Shaking his head he cursed. Things like this simply did not happen.

She was sent here by someone.  She probably has everyone else fooled but not him.

He turned and walked over to his bed. He quickly discarded his clothing and climbed in to large king. Resting his head on his pillow, his eyes stared at the ceiling above him. His mind toiled and swam with the vision of her in his arms. Try as he might to forget about her, his eyes closed and the images of their kiss burned on his mind. 

Staying away from her wasn't going to be an easy task. He let out a frustrated  breath, turning to his side he closed  his eyes, exhaustion  had him in a deep  sleep immediately .

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

The early morning light caught her at the windowsill  looking out at the beautiful scenery  before her. The slight tap at the door broke her from her thoughts, and she turned to watch Moira poke her head through the door.
With a bright smile, she welcomed the elderly woman that tended to her with such a caring heart. She entered with three other serving girls.

"Good morning  lass, I pray you slept well?" She smiled at Tara with a warm grin.

Raising her knees to her chest she smiled back with a warm smile as well.

"Yes,I did Moira."

With a curt nod,  Moira turned to instruct the girls on spreading her bed and setting her clothing out to wear for the day.

The bright summer day began with a glorious start. all of the towns people attended to their chores.  Duncan and  Aidan along with their men trained in the list mock battle among the men began while others engaged in swordplay and rough wrestling matches. Not one man passed the opportunity for swordplay or joust with their lords.  The day continued on with their practice. Tara felt the long day drool on after breakfast she walked around the vast corridors looking at paintings and sculptures. she felt very bored there was nothing to do.  she felt tired of being in her room so she decided to eat breakfast but to her amazement everyone ate and left.
So she ate alone.

Slowly she walked the corridor until she passed an open door. The inviting light beckoned her closer as she nudged it open softly. Looking around, she peeped her head in then saw Duncans father sitting at a large table. The room was a huge library they would call it a study or Solar the bright light of the day gave the room all it's necessary light needed to write and read. Slowly she walked in and knocked. Soft gray eyes looked up from beneath bushy snow white brows.  With a happy smile Ardolf stood and welcomed Tara to come in, guiding her to the chairs near the windows she faced him.

"How do you fair my child ?" he smiled looking at the rare beauty before him . She was dressed in a delicate beige gown, soft ringlets of raven curls drizzled her shoulder and down her back.  The soft honey tone of her eyes gave him a warm feeling to have a young beautiful girl as she in the keep.

He would have loved to have a daughter along with his two boys. But, his beloved Eleanor could bear no more for with the birth of Aidan he had lost his precious love forever. The simple enjoyment of this child's presence was all he needed. She was a share blessing from God set before him.

Slowly she smiled "I am ok" she said softly.

"And what may I do for you my dear child," he gave her a hearty smile.

With a sad look she turned her gaze and looked around before saying to him "I'm bored is there anything fun around here to do," she looked sadly at him.

Thoughtfully he rubbed his long beard for a while.  He suggested some things but, she still looked sad refusing to stitch with the servants, pick strawberries in the nearby field, all efforts felt useless until she beamed when he asked if she liked horses. Granted that if she could ride, she could pick any horse for her own.

Standing he came closer to her meek petite form that made him more the taller  older man he felt. With a soft kiss on her forehead, he was unprepared for the hearty strong hug she gave him when she wrapped her arms around his waist and thanked him. Like a wood sprite she flew off to her exciting new day that began.

She strode into the stable with an angelic smile that caught the young stable boy in a frenzy helping her choose a delicate horse only to be in complete awe when she picked a large horse saddled him and put a bridle over his nose. Slowly and gracefully she mounted the saddle and clucked nudging the beautiful horse into a slow trot outside of the stable.

Slowly she guided the horse towards the open nearby field letting him ever-so-slightly grace the grass.
Not paying any attention to where the men were training. She continued  in her slow trots in circles while she gently cooed and clucked to the horse. Her gentle voice calmed him she notice. She stayed close to the stables and within  the distance of the keep and yard.

With a smile she walked in circles noticing it was a tamed horse, she marveled in the fact that he knelt and pranced for her with ease. She was beginning to see the day as beautiful as she enjoyed it splendidly. The one thing or person that can ruin her day was nowhere in sight.

Amidst all the clanking of steel and noise, out of the corner of his eyes Duncan turned and saw her. His feature was unreadable as he watched patiently as Tara led the horse in a slow trot in circles. Her hair billlowed behind her in curly raven strands as she bid the steed to prance sideways. Her smile beamed brighter than the Sun itself, something he had not seen in her before.

Of course you lack whit, all you've ever done since you've laid your eyes upon her is make her cry. He berated himself in his head.

The way she rode astride the steed burned a new sensation deep in his groin.  Watching her sweetly lean over and caress the long neck of the horse brought provocative images of her sitting above him in such a manner.

No more cheers went up or laughter came from the list as he turned to look at every eye of the men behind him gaping at the alluring beauty riding the steed. The last of her movements that made his very control snap is when she flicked her long hair sideways Bearing the creamy flesh of her shoulder and her neck.

Sharply he barked his order for all the men to get back to training. He strode furiously off towards  her.
Quickly Aidan pulled his arm to stop him.
"Leave her be! She has not done anything wrong,"  Aidan begged.
Roughly Duncan brushed his hand away and continued towards her.

He was angered that she was so damn  beautiful that she rendered all of his men senseless during training, she was a distraction they did not need. That he did not need.
In truth, it angered him that any man look at her. 
His jealous side was rearing it's ugly head and taking the best of his judgement.

She wished she had just stayed in her room. She watched as Duncan strode towards her.  Without no concern or words, he held the horse in place and he reached up with his strong arm and pulled her down. his smoldering gaze clashed with hers.  With amazement she did not fight him. But, he felt the small fight begging to rise within her firey glare.

"Why did you do that?" She looked confused and upset.

"You can not ride the horse in that manner," he growled at her.

With a raise of his hand he summoned the stable boy to retrieve the horse. Quickly he grabbed the reins and slowly pulled the horse away towards the Stables.

Angrily she huffed and shoved him out of the way and stormed off leaving him to walk off furiously behind her.

But, he was stopped by Aidan.

Angry and upset she dashed away a tear as she strode off in a hurry  past Ardolf not noticing him as he sadly watched her run up the stairs. Sadly he shook his head. When was his son going to learn?

Clearing the last landing she angrily ran to her room slamming the door behind her. Inside, she began to pace  before deciding to remove her dress to change it something more comfortable  more familiar.

Downstairs in the courtyard Aidan tried  with the thick headed man for a brother that he had. It was useless talking to him when he was upset. Giving up the two brother angrily turned away from one another. Aidan went back to the list and Duncan turned to seek Tara out. The little chit needed a quick lesson about modesty.

~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

He was furious as he stormed down the corridor towards her chamber. That little spitfire was going to hear him out today.

He  quickly walked up to the large door and barged right in to her chamber.

"You listen to me you..." his voice trailed off.

Tara gasped with a frightened yelp and immediately covered herself with the gown she had just removed.

She glared at Duncan and her brows furrowed.

"Don't you know how to knock?" she angrily spoke.

She watched as his eyes curiously stared at her, mouth agape.

"What is that?" he pointed to her in awe.

Slowly she looked down puzzled at what he was pointing at.

"What is What? she asked.

Slowly he walked close to her. He was so very tall as she looked up at him. She looked at his face and took in his gorgeous feature and she honestly had to admit that this curious side to him only made him more desirable.

She swallowed and watched as his hand pulled away her gown and she stood before him in her bra and panty, the obvious objects of his attention.

His eyes slowly roamed over her body.

"What is this?" he gently grazed the edge of her bra that passed over the swell of her left breast.

His eyes looked at the sheer burgundy colored  fabric that demurely but teasingly hid her breasts but, the sheerness only enticed the eyes.

He could see her nipples.

What manner of fabric was this? he mused.

She looked from his fingers slowly to his eyes that held hers.

"Its called a brazier, but most call it  bra," she whispered.

"Bb.raa" he repeated the foreign word that sounded so odd to him yet on her it made his heart thump fiercely in his chest.

She gasped as he slowly glided his fingers down her abdomen to her waist to gently touch the edge of her panty that hung low on her hips.

"And these?" he asked with a husky smoothness that had her heart racing.

She licked her lips nervously.

"Their called panties," her voice was shaky and soft and it did things to his senses.

He hungrily stared at her lips but he would hold off on such delicatessen he wished to ravish because he wanted to explore more of the strange Bra and panties she wore.