Keegan nodded, the corners of his mouth tugging down, and then he slowly shifted toward her on the bed. The laird took her hands, and Willow fought to remain steady, shooing away the tremble that threatened to worm through her.
“Would ye prefer to eat for a moment? I may have had the servant sneak up a bit of the feast.”
Willow’s eyes widened as the rumble in her stomach confirmed how very hungry she was. With a smile, she nodded, and Keegan stood up from the bed and walked to the small table off to the side in his chambers. There was a thin cloth over it, and when the laird pulled it away, a small banquet was laid out for them.
“Och! Ye are brilliant!” Willow laughed. “I was pulled to the floor to dance every time I sought to fill meself more. I feel as though I barely ate a thing.”
Keegan chuckled. “I thought that might be the case. I was watchin' ye a bit, and it dinnae look as if ye’d been able to get yer hands on much.”
He scooped up several pieces of fruit and cheese and bread onto a small plate and brought it over to the bed, setting it between them. Willow took one of the plump purple grapes and popped it into her mouth with a contented sigh. After a moment, she looked up at Keegan again and smirked.
“Ye were watchin' me?” She raised her brows. “Or were ye tryin' to study yer brother’s moves to improve yer dancin'?”
With a bark of laughter, Keegan’s jaw fell open in mock offense, and he tossed one of the grapes at her. “Ye damage me so!”
They were all giggles for a time, and then Willow sighed, taking the thrown fruit and eating it up in one bite.
“Och, I ken that I’m nay skilled dancer.” Keegan shrugged, taking a bit of the cheese to nibble on. “Perhaps ye would be better served by Damon, were he here. Though, I daenae ken if he’d be as keen on sharin' his meal.”
Willow snorted for a moment until she could swallow. “I have noticed that the man is rather protective of his plate.”
Keegan smiled down at her, his stare raking over her as Willow lay across the bed on her side.
“Aye. I have to believe it has something to do with how much I would steal from him when we were lads. But that was several years ago. Damon mustn’t think I would do the same now.”
As Willow reached for a piece of bread, Keegan swiped it from her fingers.
“Keegan!”
He laughed. “Och, perhaps ye're right. Me brother does have a call to think I might steal from him.”
They both grinned, chuckling as the moment allowed both of them to relax a bit. They weren’t in any rush to…get things moving, after all, and Willow could mentally admit that she was anxious about finally laying with someone, particularly Keegan.
The moment between them stretched on for what had to have been an hour. Keegan told her more about his relationship with Damon, commenting on how proud he was that his brother had seen how this mattered to him and apologized to him about how he’d treated her.
“I understand why he dinnae care for me upon me arrival. Everything associated with Magnus has been one disaster after the other in me life, and I only hope that this will finally allow me some peace.”
Keegan’s brows knitted together, and Willow realized that it was the first time she’d spoken so bluntly about living with Laird McCallum.
“I ken he isnae kind to ye, Willow. At the verra least, I can promise ye I willnae be the same.”
She smiled, reaching across the bed to take Keegan’s hand. They’d long since picked away at the food, and the empty plate was back on the table with the remaining items. They could stay in this room for quite a while with how much Keegan had brought up, and Willow had a feeling it was done purposefully—giving them both the time to…complete things.
“I thank ye for that, Keegan. Truly.” She squeezed his hand, and Keegan turned it over, holding hers properly. “I kenned from the moment I met ye, though, that ye are a different man than Magnus. He wouldnae have spared me men.”
Willow expected Keegan to let go, but he didn’t. Instead, the laird returned the squeeze to her hand while he shortened the distance between them. Sitting on his hip as he was, Keegan had one leg bent, and the position nearly revealed quite a bit, considering his kilt.
“Thank ye, Willow. It matters to me a great deal that I daenae put forth the same image as Magnus.”
It was quiet again, and Willow couldn’t help but roam her eyes over Keegan’s form. They’d shed the outer layers of theirclothing, his plaid and shirt were the only things remaining on him, Keegan’s boots and fastenings stowed by the table.
Willow had also removed the restrictive stays that had helped to create the gorgeous gown along with the outer skirts. She lay across the bed now in only her shift, and a long tartan cloth wrapped around her shoulders to stave off the chill.
While they’d been in quite intimate moments before, there was something about seeing each other in such a state of undress and leisure. It served to ease her nervousness as much as the conversation did, and Willow was extremely grateful for it.
Keegan slid his hand out of hers, crawling his fingers gently up her arm. Willow shivered, the sensation overwhelming and curious. Her new husband slid his palm up to her face, cupping Willow’s cheek gently. The caress was soft and unhurried, and she could sense the restrained tension in Keegan’s fingers.
“Willow, I…” He stared down into her eyes, searching for the words. “I wish for ye to understand that I expect nae a thing from ye. I willnae lie to ye and say that I daenae want…”