Owned by the Highlanders

by Lily Harlem

  “Shall we?” Kendal pulled back and gestured along the aisle. “A gargantuan feast awaits.”

  Moira nodded. Her cheeks were a little flushed; it suited her much better than the sickly colour she’d sported the day before when he’d carried her back from the forest.

  Damn, the woman scared me half to death.

  He held out his arm and shook his head to rid the memories of the day before. They weren’t the sort he wanted to linger.

  Moira linked her dainty hand into the crook of his elbow.

  Kendal searched the crowd. There was one person he especially wanted to see. Or rather, have Moira see.

  Suddenly she stopped and tugged on his arm. “Oh, my Lord.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Is it?”

  “Aye.” Kendal rested his palm over her knuckles. “It is.” He looked at the tall, lean man standing before him in the aisle. His hair was the same chestnut brown as Moira’s and his eyes the same almond shape. He wore his clan kilt, a decorative sporran, and black tunic.

  “Moira,” he said with a smile.

  “Bryce.” She held in a sob. “Is it really you?”

  “Aye.” Bryce held out his hands. “It is, sister.”

  “I…” She looked at Kendal. “You ken of this?”

  “Aye.”

  Glancing behind herself, she directed at Reid, “And you?”

  He smiled.

  “Oh, Bryce, I’ve missed you.” She untangled herself from Kendal and threw her arms around her brother.

  Bryce hugged her close and squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m sorry for the long absence. I was unable to get word to you and—”

  “Nay apologies, please.” She pulled back and seemed to study him as if looking for injuries, or at the very least changes since she’d last set eyes on him. “But where have you been for so long? It’s been over two years.”

  “I spent time incarcerated, in London. Damn Red Coats caught me and young Dai from the village when we travelled to the Lowlands that time. They accused us of being traitors despite having no evidence and gave us the choice of being bled like wild boars or going with them. We figured we had a better chance of escaping if we were at least alive.”

  Moira sucked in a breath and worry crossed her pretty face.

  “When we escaped it was too dangerous for me to come back to Leannan Creag,” Bryce went on. “That would have been the first place they’d look for me and then, you too, would have been in danger, my dear sister.” He paused and shook his head. “And your dealings with the cause possibly exposed. I wasn’t sure how much you and Angus were still hosting and contributing.”

  “Angus…” She tensed and a sudden sadness seemed to flow from her.

  “Is dead. I ken that now.” Bryce nodded at Kendal, his expression serious. “I’ve been filled in by your new husband. I’m so sorry for your loss. I ken how dear he was to you, and you him.”

  Kendal decided his new wife had been out of his arms for too long and he didn’t want the many emotions of the day to overwhelm her. So he pulled her close—aware the entire gathering was watching them—and slotted her against his body once more. “Thank you for being here, Bryce. It clearly means a lot to my new wife, and also to me. You’re one of us.”

  “Aye, that I am, glory to the true king.” He smiled. “Thank you for finding me.”

  “I couldn’t think of a better wedding present for my bride.” Kendal chuckled. “Happy wedding day, darling.”

  “Oh, Kendal. Thank you.” She touched his cheek and kissed him. “I feel so complete, so thoroughly and totally happy.”

  “Aye, me too.”

  She glanced at Reid, conveying with her gaze that she felt the same for him.

  Kendal was sure his heart would burst out of his chest. There was so much love in it. They’d found the sweetest, most giving woman in all of Scotland to call their own.

  “Let’s feast.” Stewart’s loud voice bellowed through the grand room. “And celebrate the newest member of my family, Lady Kendal McDonald. A woman of pure Scot blood and a worthy owner of the title.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The wedding breakfast was decadent and jovial. The tables groaned under the weight of the food and the ale flowed like mountain spring water, the tippler never seeming to rest a moment. As Moira looked around she was delighted to see everyone wore a smile. The mood was truly celebratory. Her fellow Scots might be at war with the English and battling to put the rightful king on the throne but they still knew how to revel.

  “Are you enjoying yourself, my love?” Kendal asked, stabbing his fork into the buttery crust of a venison pie.

  “Aye, very much.” She smiled at him.

  “Eat up,” Reid said, from her other side. “You’ll need your strength for your wedding night.”

  She raised her eyebrows at him. Anyone overhearing would presume he meant her wedding night with Kendal. She, however, knew there’d be two men in her bed.

  Glancing at her hands, and the two rings that sat there, she also knew that later, in their own private ceremony, Reid would place on a third ring. The rest of the world, if they asked, would be told it was one of friendship. But really it was one of their lifelong commitment to each other.

  There were three men in her life who loved and ruled her with passion and kindness; sadly Angus was not with her anymore, but she’d never forget him.

  “Sister,” Bryce said from across the table. “What has become of Leannan Creag?”

  “We left in a hurry. The place is closed up but I’m not sure how it’s faring. The goats and chickens were turned loose, I’m sorry to say.”

  “Haps you would like me to journey there and inspect it.” He paused. “Now my doing so would not pose a risk to anyone.”

  Moira glanced at Kendal. “He could take a few coins for my old maid Emily. I’ve been worrying about her.”

  “Aye, I think that’s a good idea, on both counts,” he said. “And if it’s safe, if the Red Coats have retreated to the Lowlands as McTavish suggested, in a month or so we could travel back there.”

  “And live there?” she asked hopefully.

  “Aye, we could think about it.” He ran the back of his index finger down her cheek. “If it would please you.”

  She nodded. “I’d like our own house.” Hiding her feelings for Reid was okay for a short time, but in the long term she didn’t want to have to sneak around to be with him, or not reach for him and kiss him if the need took her. Privacy was required to truly be a threesome.

  “Then that’s what we’ll have, if not Leannan Creag then somewhere else until Fifths Castle is ours. We’ll need space for all the children you’re going to have.” Kendal smiled gently at her then glanced at Reid.

  Instinctively she ran her hand over her belly, the soft lace of her dress caressing her palm. Bairns. Aye, she wanted that. Always had done.

  “Aye,” Reid said. “I agree. Privacy is worth more than gold.” Beneath the table he stroked her thigh, then lifted his hand up again and reached for his ale.

  A small tremble attacked her. His touch was always able to elicit a powerful need for him.

  Kendal refilled her goblet. “One more drink, my love, then we will leave the revellers to party and take to our bedchamber.”

  “Aye.” She studied his handsome face. The desire in his eyes added another tremble over the first. She wanted him too. As soon as possible.

  * * *

  It took longer to extract from the festivities than Moira had expected. Bryce had hauled her onto the dance floor when a flutist had started playing a happy tune. He’d twirled her around and she’d laughed so much her cheeks had pained her.

  Knowing Bryce was well made her special day utterly perfect.

  Eventually, though, Kendal wrapped his arm around her waist and began to steer her toward the doorway.

  He didn’t speak to people he’d already spent time with. Instead he clapped his uncle on the shoulder and told him how much he’d enjoyed his hospitality and under
standing about him marrying a widow.

  Stewart had beamed at Moira. It was clear he had no problem with the arrangement and was as pleased to have her as part of the McDonald clan as she was to be there.

  “Now, my beautiful bride,” Kendal said, as they made their way up the quiet candlelit staircase to their chambers. “We have some unfinished business.”

  “We have?”

  “Aye, several matters.”

  She’d known that Reid would soon join them to place a ring on her finger, but what else did he mean?

  “You appear perplexed,” he said.

  “Aye, I am.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Is Reid joining us soon?”

  “I believe he’s already there. He slipped away, unnoticed, a short while ago.”

  “Good.” She looked at the solid bedroom door. Behind it waited the other man she was in love with.

  “There’s also the small matter of consummating our marriage.”

  A thrill went through her. “Aye, there is that.”

  His hand slid to her ass as he pushed the door open. He gave it a slight squeeze. “And the issue of you straying too far from the castle yesterday. You put yourself in grave danger.”

  She sucked in a breath and turned to him. Did he mean to punish her? Now? On their wedding night?

  “You may well look nervous,” he said. “You disobeyed us both.”

  “We were foraging, that is all. T’is not my fault those vagrants sought us.”

  “Shh.” He pressed his lips to hers. “The lady of the house should naught be foraging in the first place, but all of that is begone now. You must learn to do as your husbands instruct.”

  As he ushered her into the bedroom, Reid came into view.

  Tall and wide and dashing in his wedding day outfit, he stood by the fireplace with his hands on his hips and a stern expression on his face.

  “Ah,” he said, stepping forward as Kendal closed the door. “You’re finally here.”

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, my friend.” Kendal slid a bolt to secure them in.

  “I have waited all day for this moment.” Reid’s face remained stern as he stepped up to her.

  Moira’s heart was skipping along. Her skin tingled and she clenched her buttocks. What was in store for her?

  “My love.” Reid cupped her face in his hands and holding it firm he delivered a possessive, breath-taking kiss. His tongue delved deep and his lips worked with hers.

  Moira moaned and clung to his thick forearms. He made her feel so safe and so feminine.

  Eventually he pulled back with his eyes glistening. He took hold of her left hand then sank to one knee.

  “Reid,” she said, still catching her breath.

  “Today you married my best friend, kin in all but blood,” he said. “And together we wish to keep you satisfied, protected, and full of the knowledge of our love for you.”

  “Aye.” She nodded then gulped as the strength of her feelings for him and Kendal threatened to consume her. “I want that.”

  “That pleases me.” He pulled a ring from his sporran. “And with this, a circular ring that represents the never-ending force that is my love, I wish to make you my wife also.”

  She splayed her fingers and he slid it onto her middle finger, so it sat beside the one Kendal had given her earlier in front of the congregation. Angus’s ring now sat on her opposite hand.

  “I ken it’s only in our eyes you are wife to both of us, but make no mistake, this is as strong a commitment as if it were made before God and the king himself.”

  “I understand. It’s what I want. I love you both.”

  “We ken that.” He stood. “And finding you has made us happier than we ever believed we could be.” He breezed his lips over hers and took hold of the highest lace tie on her bodice. “To find a strong, giving woman willing to let us share her life is so special. As is that you understand the need for obedience without giving up your smiles and character. Truly the greatest gift for us full-blooded Scotsmen.”

  “Finding you and Kendal is my greatest gift.”

  “I’m glad you think so,” Kendal said from the opposite side of the room.

  Reid continued to release her bodice and she watched him closely, a little impatience and a lot of arousal filling her mind and body.

  “Though we’ll see,” Kendal went on, “how you feel after your punishment for straying to the forest yesterday.”

  She glanced at him, then gulped as a shot of fear mixed with her arousal.

  In his hand he held a birch. It was different to the one Angus had used on her. It was made of finer branches; they were pale too, as was the sturdy handle.

  Kendal raised his eyebrows at her and swatted it against his palm. It made a soft slapping sound.

  “I’m… sorry for straying,” she managed.

  “You nearly lost your life,” Reid said, removing the first of her layers. “That cannot be ignored, nor can the fact it was you who put yourself in that position.”

  “How can we protect you if we don’t ken where you are?” Kendal stepped closer. “This will possibly be the most important lesson you must learn, my love.”

  “But tonight, on our wedding night?” She held up her hand with the two rings. “Can’t it wait, please?”

  “Nay.” Kendal ran the birch lightly over her shoulders. “It can’t. But we will promise to add pleasure to the pain.” He set his mouth by her ear. “Lots of pleasure.”

  She shivered, her belly tensing and her knees weakening. What the hell had she let herself in for with Reid Murray and Kendal McDonald?

  “This is better,” Reid said, removing the last layer of her wedding dress. “We prefer you naked.”

  Standing between them their heights and widths made her feel tiny, almost doll-like. Their handsome faces were full of love, but equally full of strength and determination.

  Reid removed his sporran, then his tunic and boots. Kendal did the same.

  She watched their movements and admired their chest, back, and arm muscles—muscles that would soon be used on her.

  Pleasure and pain.

  “You must be strong now,” Kendal said, once again picking up the birch. “And trust us.”

  “I do.”

  “Good girl.” Reid kissed the tip of her nose. “Now you may hold onto me as Kendal delivers the punishment.”

  So it was Kendal’s turn. Is this how it would always be?

  “Come on now, Lady McDonald,” Kendal said, “offer me your naughty pale ass.”

  She swallowed, stuck out her buttocks, and gripped Reid’s forearms.

  He tensed and cupped her elbows, his attention not leaving her face. His eyes flashed and his lips were a thin straight line.

  “That’s a sight that pleases me,” Kendal said. “Not least because you’re putting a little meat on your bones, which will serve your ass well if you insist on breaking our rules in the future.”

  “I’ll try not to.”

  “I’m sure you’ll try. Now brace yourself, my bride,” Kendal said. “For this punishment is about to start.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Moira locked her knees. There was no changing the situation she’d found herself in. This was the choice she’d made, to marry two men who both sought it fit to discipline their wife.

  A sharp, wide fan of pain flicked over her buttocks.

  She jerked forward, gasping.

  Reid steadied her. “It’s okay,” he said. “You can do this.”

  She nodded and continued to stare into his eyes.

  Another swat landed, harder this time, the pain of it searing hot.

  She cried out.

  “Shh, no, you must keep quiet.” Reid frowned. “We demand that here.”

  “Aye, pleasure you can be vocal about, this we’d prefer silence,” Kendal added.

  “Oh, but it hurts.”

  “As it’s intended to.” Kendal kissed her shoulder. “Now try to relax into it, allow the pain to lift you into pl
easure.”

  “I don’t ken if I can.”

  “Aye, you can, we ken you can.” He stepped back and swatted the birch through the air several times.

  He then set it on her ass, soft and unmoving. “I’m going to deliver the full punishment now. You should hold onto Reid tighter.”

  Her mouth was dry, her nipples tingling, and her skin goose-bumped. She gripped Reid and tipped her chin upward, determined to do their bidding and prove she could be the wife they wanted.

  “I’ve got you,” Reid said. “For always.”

  Kendal thwacked the birch over her backside again. Hard. She jerked and curled her toes into the rug.

  He repeated the action, then again and again. A fast, steady rhythm that allowed for barely a breath between each strike.

  Soon, as he continued, the heated stinging in her flesh was layering up. She groaned and allowed her head to loll to the side, closing her eyes.

  “Let it take you,” Reid whispered. “It will feel so good, very soon.”

  “Aye,” she managed. Her pussy was dampening, the pain creating a dull thud in her internal muscles.

  “So pretty,” Kendal murmured as he sent the birch higher, to the small of her back then up to her shoulders.

  She gasped and bowed her back, the bite of the branches filling her mind.

  “You’re doing so well,” Reid said.

  “I… it’s so much.”

  “It’s what you need,” Kendal said, sending his whooshing slaps back down her body. When he reached her buttocks he increased the force, making her prance onto her toes and buck away. “Oh… oh…”

  “Stay still,” Reid said. “This is nearly over.”

  “Now, I need it over now.” She hissed in a breath.

  “You won’t stray again?” Kendal asked.

  “Nay, never.” She closed her eyes; they were moist. “I promise.”

  “Good.” He eased up, but continued to strike her gently, down her thighs to the backs of her knees.