As he waded toward the bank, his body emerged from the water, inch by glorious inch. His lean lower abdomen, his trim hips, his…. “Oh my,” she whispered, then covered her mouth. She had never seen a completely naked man before. The male parts between his legs both shocked and amazed her. The light was too dim to see much detail, but she saw dangly parts that were substantial in size.

“Who are you spying on?” The whisper came from behind her.

She jumped and spun. Only her hand over her mouth prevented her squeal from emerging.

Isobel waited there with a wicked grin.

Lowering her hand, Seona took in a few deep breaths and tried to calm her rapid heartbeat. “You scared the life out of me, Isobel.”

She snickered and sent a quick glance through the bushes. “You are being a very naughty lass.”

Seona placed her hands on her burning cheeks. “Aye. ’Tis true. I pray you won’t tell Aunt Patience.”

“Don’t be silly. I would tell her naught. Did you see anything over there you liked?”

Seona left the bushes, heading toward a sheep enclosure out to the side of the cottages. “Don’t tease me, I beg of you.”

Isobel kept pace beside her. “I cannot help myself. ’Tis too much fun.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

“Dirk thinks so, too.” Once they stopped at the sheep pen, Isobel whispered, “I have been wondering all day whether Keegan kissed you today after he rescued you. When you two returned, you seemed very cozy.”

Seona’s face felt like an inferno. Thank the heavens for the low light of gloaming.

“I won’t tell anyone,” Isobel whispered.

“Do you promise?” Seona asked.

“Aye, of course, I promise.” She placed a hand over her heart.

Seona nodded. “Aye,” she admitted, though she could not bring herself to say Keegan kissed me. “Unfortunately, Laird Rebbinglen happened upon us. I pray he tells no one.”

Isobel snorted softly. “He may tease Keegan about it, but he won’t tell your aunt. That is a fact.”

Seona relaxed a bit, hoping she was right.

“And how was it?” Isobel inquired.

Seona considered for a moment, trying to think of the right word. But there was none to describe how she’d felt when Keegan kissed her. “Wonderful.”

“Well, ’tis only natural that you’d want to know what he looks like naked, then.”

“Shh.” Seona spun to see if anyone else was listening. They were alone, thank the heavens. “I heard a noise. I didn’t know the men were bathing. What a shock.”

Isobel giggled. “Last November, I was in a similar situation, wishing to know what Dirk looked like completely bare of clothes. I was fortunate one night when he needed help with his bath. I volunteered for the task.” Isobel bit her lip to hold back a naughty grin.

Seona shook her head, unable to believe how daring Isobel had been. Seona wished to be just as confident. If she was, could she have everything she wanted just as Isobel did?

“That night turned out to be quite amazing.” Isobel smiled wistfully.

Seona wanted to ask what she meant, but couldn’t bring herself to pry about such a private matter. But maybe she could ask a general question to satisfy some of her curiosity. “My aunt would never tell me anything about… you know… the marriage bed. And my mother passed when I was too young to know about such things.”

“I’m sorry to hear this.” Isobel appeared pensive for a moment. “My maid tried to educate me about what goes on between men and women, but she did a poor job. She told me sexual relations with a man was the worst thing imaginable. Like torture.”

“Was she wrong?” Seona asked, unsure what Isobel meant.

“If a woman is forced against her will, it would be like torture, aye. But with the right man—a man you are in love with—there is naught in the world like a proper bedding.”

What did she mean by proper bedding? Surely ’twas one of the least proper things imaginable. “Why?” Seona asked.

“How did you feel when Keegan kissed you?”

Seona’s whole body flushed and burned. “Heavens. I know not how to describe it. ’Twas like standing next to a bonfire, but at the same time, my mind floated away on the clouds.” She would not mention how certain parts of her body awakened with a quickening excitement.

“Indeed. Making love to a man you are strongly drawn to is like that, only a hundred times more intense and exciting. The kisses, the touches. The need to have him fill that void.”

Seona held her breath for she was certain she was going to learn more than she’d ever expected. “Is it painful?”

“I will admit it hurt the first time, but only for a minute or two,” Isobel said, then shrugged. “After that, there was naught but an overwhelming pleasure that I couldn’t have imagined before I experienced it.”

When Seona realized her eyes were wide as platters, she blinked and tried to appear nonchalant. She didn’t want Isobel to think her a complete idiot. She had seen animals mating and knew human mating had to be much the same. Back at home, she had heard a couple of maids working in a chamber, giggling and talking about a man one of them had a tryst with. They had gone into some detail about his large shaft, but Seona still had a difficult time understanding how things worked.

“What is hard to imagine is how…certain parts would fit,” Seona said. ’Twas even harder to imagine since she’d caught a glimpse of Keegan’s masculine parts minutes ago.

“Aye, I wondered the same thing,” Isobel said in a whisper. “’Tis true when a man becomes aroused, his member becomes larger, harder and it stands at attention.”

“In truth? Larger?” Seona was afraid to ask how large.

“Aye, but apparently, a woman’s body is designed to accommodate his size, whether he is small or large. When he kisses you, strokes his fingers over you, you will start to feel very warm and tingly in certain places.” Isobel grinned.

Aye, Seona could understand that. She’d already marveled at how tingly Keegan had made her feel during their kisses. ’Twas a spellbinding feeling which stole her thoughts and only made her want more.

“A purely primal urge will overcome you and you cannot wait for him to… how should I say this?”

Seona waited, anxious to hear what Isobel would reveal next.

“You will crave having his hard shaft inside you,” Isobel whispered. “Once you are past the pain and used to his size, he will start moving and… thrusting. That is when you will lose your mind with the pleasure and not be aware of whether you are crying out or not.”

“Lose your mind?” Heavens! Seona didn’t want to lose control of her responses. Crying out without restraint must be mortifying.

“In a manner of speaking. You won’t care what you say or how loud you scream.” Isobel grinned and Seona knew she must look horrified. “’Tis naught to worry over. He will keep you quiet.”

“How?” Seona was having a difficult time picturing it.

“With his mouth, his kisses.”

“Heavens,” Seona whispered. Surely kisses combined with thrusting would be overwhelming.

“Aye, ’tis heavenly.” Isobel appeared dreamy. “Saints, I wish I could share my husband’s bedroll this night. But he wishes me to sleep in the cottage with the rest of the women.”

A little laugh escaped Seona before she could quell it. Isobel did indeed appear to enjoy her husband’s company. Seona thought of another question. “What does a man expect of a woman? I would have no inkling what to do.”

Isobel waved a hand. “He will show you soon enough. Anyway, it will come to you as if ’twas something you’d always known. Accepting his kisses and kissing him back. Touching him. Men love to be touched.”

“Where?”

“Anywhere.” Isobel snickered. “I remember one thing that surprised me the first time. Although I should have known, considering how men are always staring down at my breasts.”

Seona felt her eyes fly wide again, then tried to hide her shock.