Grisell had summoned her Board. She presented the outline of her Desalination Project to them. She informed them it was a joint project with their neighbours and that each clan would split all costs fifty -fifty. She had held her breath for a second, waiting for pandemonium to break out, but that never happened. Surprisingly, they were all in agreement, and jumped for joy at the potential success of the proposed fresh water project. Grisell was shocked, amazed. Clearly the Board was feeling the pressure of the limited fresh water supply. They signed off approval without having her final project plan. Clearly the Board was now surprisingly more trusting. She had observed since Gadd's death, there was a new respect for the Chief around the Dalmahoy camp.

The DeMartino clan was overly enthusiastic in starting the desalination plant. There were more than twenty men vigorously digging away for the installation of the pipelines. They seemed happy and merry singing loudly as they worked. Grisell thought to check with Eskine on the number of labourers, she would need to supply. Should she commit to the same number of workers as he did, though they were a much larger clan, almost three times the size of hers. Perhaps she needn't supply that many workers, though they did need to sit and discuss the division of labour for the specialized tasks like the engineering and plumbing aspects.

It was past midnight. Grisell was a tad nervous. She wanted to make love with Eskine, just the unknown about sex, made her feel a little anxious. She had taken a long, leisurely bath. Her hair smelt deliciously fragrant. She left it untied, cascading about her shoulders. He seemed to prefer it that way. She waited for him now, patiently pacing about her bedroom. And then she heard the handle turn. Nobody walked into her bedroom, without knocking. Her Uncle Gadd had once walked into her lounge without knocking, but never into her bedroom. That was her sanctuary, her private space, so only one very handsome enemy of the Dalmahoy, would dare be so courageous. She looked over her shoulder and there he stood, tall, brave, bold, and oh so divine. He smiled. She turned around to face him. They stared at each other neither talking. His eyes roved over her admiringly. She had a long gypsy style dress on, almost over her ankles. It moulded to her beautiful breasts, slim waist and shaped her rounded buttocks. He inhaled heavily; her beautiful hair fell over her shoulders, soft and shiny, framing her face. She took the three steps to him and flung her arms around him.

'You had to be careful again?' she asked.

He nodded. 'You look beautiful darling,' his fingers slid down her hair caressingly. He kissed her, his mouth closing over hers hungrily. He pulled her roughly against his chest, his arms imprisoning her as he deepened his kiss. He was shaking with need, his heart thumping wildly.

'Undress me,' he smiled.

'What!' She mumbled, shyly.

He chuckled softly. 'Darling I cannot wait to undress you and admire your beautiful body, but I think you will be more comfortable if we removed my clothes first.'

'Okay,' she nodded and began unbuttoning his shirt.

He expected her to be hasty and rip his shirt over his head, but she smiled, her fingers released two buttons, kissed him, then continued as if she had no hurry in the world. All the buttons undone, her palms pressed onto his chest experimentally. He shuddered from her touch. She touched the dark springy hairs, they tingled her fingers. It was arousing. Her palms pressed against the ridges of his powerful muscles, she bent her head and pressed light kisses on his nipple. His shirt was still not off.

She heard his groan, felt his fingers tighten on her shoulders. Her hand gently pushed the shirt off one shoulder, then the other. It fell to the floor. She touched the buckle of his pants, heard him breathe heavily. She moved with a little more urgency, unzipping his pants and letting it fall to his ankles. His eyes locked on hers, he hopped out of his pants, removed his boots and underpants and stood before her gloriously naked. Her eyes fell to his erect shaft. It bobbed against his navel. She swallowed, wondering about his size fitting into her. Curious, she reached out a finger and touched the velvet ridge. It jerked to her touch, she stepped back hastily. He laughed. She smiled shyly. The control he held was exciting and powerful. As he stood before her naked, beautiful like a gladiator, magnificent, he reminded her of her mare, well defined powerful muscles, spirited with coiled strength.

He reached for her, brushing the dress off her shoulders, it bunched around her ankles. He groaned with pleasurable delight, she was naked under her dress. His eyes leisurely noted the hour glass figure, the firm breasts, pert pink nipples. He studied her upright breasts, her nipples grew tight with need beneath his intent gaze. She whispered his name, resisting the urge to cover her nervousness. Her innocence fired his hunger. Slowly he drew her closer, he brushed his lips teasingly against hers; then kissed her neck with open mouth kisses.

Her innocence demanded a measured response. For the first time in his life, he felt no command or control over his body. She laced her fingers through his hair, bringing his head down to kiss her, as if she was worldly experienced in the things between a man and a woman. He smelt arousing, the scent of his skin and soap was delectable. Her breasts felt heavy, tight, desperate for his caress. Awakening caused the grey of her eyes to turn somewhat crystal blue. Sinuous heat slithered through her. Primal need spiraled through her. Her eyelids felt heavy, they wanted to stay closed. She held him around his neck, so her breasts were pressed against his chest. Her mounting desire couldn't be misinterpreted.

Swinging her into his arms, he carried her to her bed, laid her down on the fresh, crisply dressed white sheets. He stretched out his length alongside her. The pad of his thumb caressed her cheek. She was attuned to his fractured breathing. He buried his mouth at the crook of throat, where her pulse hammered. His palm caressed the dip of her waist, stroked the curve of her hips, and the length of her toned legs. She touched his chest, his muscles shifted and shuddered beneath her hands.

'Lie down. I want to touch you,' she whispered.

She did not believe her desire to please him showed weakness, she was confident there was strength in demonstrating she wanted to please him. Her fingers ran the width of his erection. She cupped him, her eyes watching his face. He hissed through his teeth. A film of perspiration covered his upper lip.

'You're beautiful,' she smiled.

He almost choked as she dipped her head and allowed her tongue to caress the length of his engorged member. He was rock hard, but satiny smooth. She delighted in her pleasure, murmuring guttural sounds as she tasted his substance at the tip of him.

'Grisell!' His fingers pierced into her shoulders.

'Sorry, did I hurt you?' Concern filled her innocent eyes.

'No, but if you continue doing that, I will explode before I make love to you.'

She leaned over him, mapped her breasts to his muscular chest. Her pink nipples turned pebble hard. She gasped with pleasurable torture and pressed open mouthed kisses on his neck. He brought her mouth to his and kissed her hungrily. His tongue wrapped around hers, tasting his salty substance on her tongue. He moulded her over his body, his palms caressing her plump bottom. She was going to be the death of him! He pushed her off him, leaning on his elbow. He traced the pads of his fingers on her lower lip, over her neck. It followed a path on her chest. His fingers hovered over her breasts. Her nipples ached for his touch.

'Eskine___' she pleaded.

He smiled, dipped his head. His tongue circled her nipple. His teeth bit gently on the aroused tip. She made loud noises of pleasure, wanting more closer contact with his naked body.

'Eskine ___' she whispered with eager anticipation. Instinctively her hips lifted off the bed.

His tongue laved her nipples. She opened her eyes and gazed at him adoringly, his handsome face, halo of brown curls. She smiled. Twin streaks of colour highlighted his cheeks. The fire inside her raged for his consummation. Anticipation ran like quick silver. Her hands explored every inch of his body with curious delight. The ache in her pelvis so pleasurable, she greedily sucked in air.

He pushed her legs apart. She cried with excitement, at the feathered touch of his fingers on her inner thighs. His gaze hungry as he took his time admiring her femininity splayed open for him. The curly ash blonde hairs hid her most private parts. He drew evocative patterns with his fingers on her inner thighs, going close but not where she desperately needed his fingers. Instinctively she arched in blatant invitation, silently begging for him to explore her feminine parts. His thumb stroked into her wet folds searching for the knot of sensation. Her breath hissed in and out. Her heart roared a thundering sound like the notorious Cape of Storms in winter...in contrast to the silence around her. His fingertip brushed across that painfully sensitive nub. He groaned with throbbing need, but he was determined to go slowly. Arcing her body towards him, she thrust mindlessly, aching with uncontrollable need, wanting him inside her.

'Eskine,' she cupped his face, 'please take me now____ please.'

He leaned over her, prodded gently with the tip of his shaft at her opening. She hummed contentedly, lifting her hips, to welcome him deeper. He thrust deeper. His mouth caught her gasp of pain. He kissed her continuously wanting her focusing on his kiss and not her pain as he filled her insides with his erect shaft. She lost control immediately, bucking wildly. He adjusted his hip, filling her totally with all of him. He was rigid with want, desperate for release. A pulse of pleasure ripped through her, hot and throbbing. She moaned with pleasure, cried out at the friction, as the hot quiver of his muscles rocked against her pelvis. Instinctively her thighs moulded against his, her bottom raised to meet his returning thrust. Her fingers groped and cradled his taut bottom.

Her pelvis held him in a vice grip, her palms holding him in position, where she wanted him. She moved her hip experimentally, gasped at how deep he was embedded inside her. Then he was completely inside her. She sighed blissfully. Her lips pressed against his neck. He tasted of sweat and musk. He continued to thrust into her, slow, deep then hard as he felt her arms clutching him tighter wanting more of him. She trembled with exploding sensations. He thrust again and again. The walls of her sex thrummed feverishly. She sobbed his name over and over. She came violently, the waves of her orgasm unending like an advancing tsunami. Her thigh muscles quivered from the aftershocks. A sense of completion filled her. A guttural sound ripped deep from Eskine's throat as he held himself, wanting her pleasure first. She marveled at the power she held over him, this man shuddering under her palms until he grunted uncontrollably and exploded inside her. She finally fell back exhausted and satiated. Settling back, with her safely in his arms, he closed his eyes. He did not want to leave her bed, he refused.

Some minutes later, she opened her eyes, still breathless. 'Darling I didn't know it would be so beautiful.'

He laughed softly. 'Thank you,' he kissed her lips. 'I am afraid I was irresponsible!'

'No. I wanted you.'

'I am talking about protection.'

"'Protection?'"

'I should have used a condom.'

'Oh.'

She didn't care if he'd impregnated her. She loved him and that was all that mattered, and he was the most amazing lover, not that she'd had any others to compare him to. She smiled, cupping his face. She pressed a kiss to his mouth and pressed closer to him. She could not get enough of him.

'Eskine?'

'Yes, my heart?'

'Do you think ___we can do it again?'

He chuckled, lifted himself up. 'I would love nothing more, but you must be sore. Perhaps we should wait a little.'

She shook her head. 'I want you one more time.'

'Your wish is my command, but first, let us take a shower and get you cleaned up. And I need to clean the blood of your sheets.'

She lifted herself and spread her legs and saw a splash of blood on the white sheet. 'I'll sort out the sheets,' she grinned. 'My maids will think it's that time of the month. I've messed it on a few occasions,' she giggled.

'In that case,' he smiled broadly, 'let us take that shower, perhaps if you are adventurous, we can do it in your shower.'

'Oh. Okay,' she bravely agreed.

They made love again, in the shower and in her bed again on fresh sheets, it was daybreak, when Eskine dragged himself from Grisell's bed, and stole away.

Eskine did not go to bed, instead, he went to his bedroom took a bath and with a spring in his step went about his day. He enjoyed a hearty breakfast and could not erase the smile on his face. He wanted to go to Grisell to take her back to bed, but he knew that would be impossible in broad daylight.

Grisell did sleep for a few hours. She got up, washed out the sheets she soaked in soap from her amorous night of passion and went to have some breakfast. She had a little yoghurt with honey and slices of a green apple and polished it off with steaming coffee. She closed her eyes and relived her night with Eskine. It had been heavenly. She wanted more. She wanted it every night. She wanted to sleep with him in her bed every night. She did not want this separation, and she planned to do something about that today.

After breakfast, she went to check on progress at the desalination plant. She was pleased to see Dalmahoy men were working alongside the DeMartino. She had put Alfie Deonaid in charge. He was delighted at her new trust in him. His shoulders rose ramrod straight. He felt important at this significant task given to him to manage. Grisell was happy with her decision to put Alfie in charge. Alfie was young, strong, hard-working and obedient. She went to chat to him, about the project and what needs he envisioned they would have. She was requesting him to make a list of requirements, when Macrae came to chat to her.

'Chief Dalmahoy, good morning,' he tipped his hat.

'Longrod, good morning,' she smiled, comfortably feeling no desire to be formal with him.

Macrae smiled, thinking she looked very beautiful this morning, and her striking face emitted a ray of sunshine. 'The project's going at a quick pace,' he smiled. 'In a few days we will have a sample of our first desalinated drinking water.'

Grisell laughed. 'I'm going to watch you drink it, if you don't fall over, then I will sample it.'

Macrae laughed, 'But this was your idea Chief, do you not ___'

'Are you on an early lunch break Macrae?' A familiar voice barked from behind Grisell. Eskine was jealous at Grisell laughing and standing so close to his Number Two. He didn't like her spending so much time in Macrae's company.

'No Chief,' Macrae mumbled, the smile disappearing from his face.

Grisell turned around to face Eskine. She caught her breath. He had that effect on her. She ached to throw her arms around him, but obviously she could not do that in public. What annoyed her was that stoic look on his face, like she was unfamiliar, like they hadn't spent the entire night making love.

'Good morning Eskine!' She dared to call him by his first name.

He directed his eyes to her. His eyelids shuttered low, so she could not see the expression in his eyes. Like her, he wanted to have her in his arms as well, but damn, Macrae just spoilt his morning.

'The cat got your tongue Eskine?' She taunted, when he did not respond to her.

'Good morning Lady Dalmahoy and no the cat did not get my tongue,' he stormed off.

'Come back when you're in a better mood,' she shouted, 'we need to talk about costs.'

Grisell turned her head to Macrae, 'sorry, don't know what his problem is,' she shrugged.

Macrae's jaw dropped at her apologizing for his boss. 'No worries Chief Dalmahoy,' he tipped his hat. 'The boss is not normally ___ grumpy, but he will be right as rain in a flash.'

She smiled at him, reaching her arm towards Alfie. 'I see you and Alfie are already working together. He is running point for me on this project, so whatever is needed from my side, you may raise it with Alfie, he will bring it to my attention.'

'Okay Chief, Be seeing you,' he tipped his hat and went back to work, seeing his boss was having a bad morning.

Grisell went to visit her parent. She felt the heaviness in her chest and the decision she had made.

'Morning Father,' she smiled and kissed his cheek. He was busy with breakfast.

'Morning Child. Coffee?' He nodded to the flask.

'Thank you,' she poured herself a cup. 'How are you this morning? He looked bright and chirpy.

'Today is good,' he nodded. 'I spent some time outside, enjoying the sea breeze.'

She inhaled and took the bull by the horns, telling her father her bold news. 'Father, I want to marry Eskine Aird, Chief of DeMartino.'

Her father choked on his coffee. She quickly removed the cup from his hand.

'What! That good for nothing rogue! Can't you marry one of ours?' He demanded

'I love him.'

Her parent raised his eyebrows. 'When did you have the time, amidst killing the enemy within. Reclaiming the land and now converting sea water to fresh?'

She laughed.

Secretly Udny was pleased she has finally decided to marry somebody. He knew there was not a man in their camp who she wouldn't run circles around. Perhaps she needed a man like DeMartino, who was intelligent, wealthy, could hold his own. He was no pushover. Udny knew of his sterling war record and his fearless leadership. Perhaps together they could finally unite both camps.

'So you received a marriage proposal from him?' Her father thought it was abhorrently impertinent that DeMartino had not first asked him, for his daughter's hand in marriage.

'No.'

Udny blinked. His eyes widened. 'Does he know he's going to marry you?'

She laughed again. Her parent observed the illuminated eyes, the bright smile and the radiance on her face.

'We have talked___ about a future, but he has not asked me to marry him.'

'What if he won't marry you?'

'He will father.'

Udny searched his daughter's eyes. He saw no insecurity, doubt, fear or concern. From the age of three, she exuded a fiery spirit, confidence, strength, intelligence, boldness and she commanded attention. If she was convinced Aird was going to take her to wife, who was he to argue with her, never mind that he was her only surviving parent.

'Do I have your blessing father?' She interrupted his thoughts again.

'Yes my child.'

She flung her arms around his neck. 'Oh thank you father. I am so very happy.'

He took her hands into his. 'May our Almighty Lord, bless you with good health and prosperity. May your life be long, that you witness your children's' children's grandchildren, become adults.

She laughed. 'Father I would be two hundred years old by then.'

He laughed too, then began to cough. Her eyes filled with concern. She placed her palm on his shoulder. 'Please lie down father.'

He brushed her concern aside. 'I will not die today my child!'

'But it does not mean, you should not take care of yourself!'

'Take me to see this water plant,' he ordered.

'Yes father,' she signaled to his nurse, for a guard to assist her father into his wheelchair

'And Child?'

'Yes Father.'

'I want to meet him.'

She did not pretend not to know who he spoke of. 'Yes Father,' she acknowledged.

                -end chapter 15-