Page 64 of Poison and Wine
At Caterina’s furrowed burrows of confusion, I said, “Wain is Northern Irish slang for a child.”
“Oh, I see,” she replied, with a shy smile.
“You can’t imagine how happy I am for the two of you. This house has needed a woman’s touch for such a long time.”
“I hope you’ll be willing to help me. I don’t know much about running a house.”
“Of course you don’t, sweetheart. You’re so very young.” Lorna gave me a stern look. “Aren’t you a little old for her?”
For fuck’s sake. “There’s barely ten years between us,” I argued. What the hell was Lorna’s problem? Acting like I was some dirty old man just because there was an age difference between Caterina and me.
“Why, she’s practically a wain herself.” With a wink, Lorna added, “But I suppose her age will work in your favor when it comes to getting up the pole.”
“Excuse me?” Caterina asked.
Before Lorna could respond, I replied, “It’s Irish slang for getting pregnant.”
Caterina squeaked before flushing pink. Since I knew she was desperate for a subject change, I said, “Caterina has some culinary skills.”
“Is that right?” Lorna asked.
With a nod, Caterina replied, “I would love to help you cook sometimes.”
Lorna grinned. “And I would love to have some help. The Kavanaugh men certainly go through the food.”
“I can only imagine.”
Wagging her finger, Lorna said, “But for now, you need your rest. Callum, take your lovely wife to bed.”
While Caterina’s face flushed at the insinuation, I jerked my chin at the stove. “I’ll get Caterina settled and then come back for a plate.”
With a knowing smile, Lorna replied, “Take your time.”
Placing my hand on the small of Caterina’s back, I guided her out of the kitchen. As I led Caterina down the hall to my bedroom, she dragged her feet as if she was a lamb being taken to slaughter. Cutting my eyes over to her, I growled with a mixture of anger and frustration. “Stop it.”
“What?”
“Stop acting like I’m about to throw you on the bed and take your virtue.”
“I know you aren’t,” she replied softly.
“Then why are you acting so frightened?” Refusing to meet my gaze, she merely shrugged. “Don’t tell me you’re that nervous about sharing a bed with me?”
She jerked up her chin defiantly. “I’m sure it’s hard for someone like you to imagine, but yes, I am nervous. I’ve never shared a bed with a man. Not even my brothers.” Before I could open my mouth to reassure her, she shook her head. “Let’s also not forget it’s my first night in my new house in a new city after a day where my own father shot at my vehicle on the pretense of kidnapping me to force me into a marriage with an abuser.”
When her chin trembled, I felt like an unimaginable bastard. I ran my hand over my face with a ragged sigh. “I’m sorry, Kitten. I should’ve realized how overwhelming all this was for you. Just like you’re not used to being around men, I’m sure as hell not used to having a woman around.”
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “You’ve never lived with a woman?”
“Not since my mam and Maeve.”
“You haven’t had women here?” she questioned softly.
“You’ll be the first woman to share my bed.” When her eyes bulged in shock, I added, “My bed in my home.”
“Oh,” she murmured.
“If I’m honest, it’s been awhile since I’ve shared my bed overnight.”