“Niall,” she whispered back as she put her hand over his.
“What think ye of this?” he said softly, unable to stop his brogue.
Another tear rolled down her cheek. “What do you think of this?”
“I asked ye first.”
“You did.” She nodded and shrugged. “But I want to hear your answer first.”
Niall understood that she needed to hear it. She needed confirmation.
“I think I’m the luckiest bloody lad alive,” he whispered.
“Yeah, I think you are too.” Her voice was wobbly as she pulled him closer. “But I suppose I’m pretty lucky too.”
“Aye?” he murmured, walking her back a few steps until she was against the wall and he knew she was safe and sound between him and the mystical mountain. “Why?”
“I think it’s pretty obvious.”
He brushed the pad of his thumb over the erect nipple straining through the material of her dress. “Only one thing’s obvious, lass.” His purposefully innocent eyes met hers. “Is there more?”
“You just want to pull it right outta me, huh?” she murmured as her hands rode up his chest.
“Aye,” he murmured back. “But I can see as always you’re determined to be stubborn.”
Nicole shrugged a shoulder and gave a crooked grin. “I don’t know how else to be.”
Neither did Niall, but he knew this moment deserved more than them not being absolutely truthful with one another. So he said what needed to be said.
“As I told you back at the Sinclair’s, I want you to stay here with me in Scotland, Nicole.” He clenched his teeth before he said the entirety of what she needed to hear. “But I willnae hold you back if you want to go home.” His eyes dropped. “Even in light of our wee one.”
He hated giving her the option to flee but knew she deserved it. His was a lass who should never be held back. They might have connected when fighting the enemy. He might have felt true love.
But had she?
Nicole remained silent for far too long as she fiddled with the collar of his tunic. He imagined she was trying to figure out a way to run, but he was never more wrong.
“I think you can do better than that, Brute,” she said softly.
“Can I?” he whispered, hope surging.
“I think you should give it a shot,” she whispered back.
“Aye, then.” Not needing to be told twice, he cupped her cheeks and looked deeply into her eyes. “I love you, Nicole. With everything I am and everything I never knew I was. Dinnae leave. Not ever. Stay with me. Let us start a family together. Let’s spoil our wee bairn together and give him or her a Ma and Da that will love them unconditionally.”
Another tear rolled down her cheek. “That was much better.”
“Aye?”
“Yeah.” She swallowed. “I wouldn’t be opposed to teaching a little brute how to use his dagger.”
He worked at a smile, gratefulness making it hard to speak. “And I wouldnae mind teaching a wee feisty redhead how to swing her sword.”
“Damn, okay,” she whispered and closed her eyes, but not before another tear rolled. Then her eyes shot open. “There are a few conditions, though.”
“Love shouldnae come with conditions.”
“No, but I play by my own set of rules.”
“Aye.” The corner of his lip hitched up. “What are they?”
“No coddling when I lose my hearing. Not ever. Because on occasion I’ll need to take this thing out of my ear and go natural. When I do, you better never go soft on me or I’m outta here.”
Niall nodded. “Agreed. No coddling.”
“And, pregnant or not, I still want to fight against this thing trying to get Robert.”
When he frowned and pulled his hands away, her eyes widened. “I’m serious. I’ll play it safe and hang back if I’m not needed but if things get heavy, I’m in it, babe. I made a promise to that kid just as much as you did and I won’t have anyone, including you, telling me I can’t help.”
Everything inside him rebelled against her request, but he understood that Nicole was only being Nicole. She couldn’t be anything else. And would he want her to be? No. Everything she was made him love her more and more. So how could he deny her? What he could do was try his best to keep her out of harm’s way then pray that the gods kept her and his bairn safe after that.
So though it took everything he had to say it…he said it.
“I will never hold you back, lass. If you need to fight, I’ll be right there fighting alongside you.”
She cupped his cheeks and searched his eyes. “Do you mean that?”
“Aye.” He kept his eyes locked with hers. “I mean it.”
“You do, don’t you.” She nodded and pressed her lips together. “Thank you.”
Before he could speak, she pressed her thumb against his lips and shook her head. “My turn.” Nicole released his cheeks and pulled him closer until she could whisper in his ear. “I love you, Niall.” She kissed his cheek and murmured, “I seriously just love the hell out of you.”
Deep emotion overwhelmed him and Niall closed his eyes, whispering, “Aye, ‘tis bloody good to hear.”
She peppered kisses along his cheek until her lips met his. The kiss they found was different and new. The first of its kind. Soft, gentle and seeking even though they had already found what they were looking for. Still, it was precious and all theirs because they shared it with a new life.
The waterfall roared and sunlight speckled around them as moist mist blew in and their passion only intensified. As always, they could not get close enough.
The war against evil had not been won, but all their mini-battles were over.
Robert the Bruce was still safe and no ring had been taken by the enemy.
The future of Scotland remained unchanged.
A Highlander maintained his honor.
A twenty-first century woman faced her fear.
Niall and Nicole had fought, struggled and outright battled but still found their way into one another’s heart. Right where they were always supposed to be.
As it turned out, love finally found them.
More than that, it had definitely saved the day.
The End
Determined to confront the beautiful woman who reached out to him in the Celtic Otherworld, Rònan heads for the twenty-first century. But what he finds when he arrives is the last thing he expects. Two Broun lasses are supposed to be there, but only one remains. And not the one he was looking for. Yet the enemy is hot on his heels. Now he is torn. Does he protect the one he’s with or the one he swore an oath to save? Find out in Oath of a Scottish Warrior, available for pre-order now.
The MacLomain Series
Later Years
Quest of a Scottish Warrior (Logan’s story)
Honor of a Scottish Warrior (Niall’s story)
Oath of a Scottish Warrior (Rònan’s story)
Passion of a Scottish Warrior (Darach’s story)
Previous Releases
~The MacLomain Series- Early Years~
Highland Defiance- Book One
Highland Persuasion- Book Two
Highland Mystic- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series~
The King’s Druidess- Prelude
Fate’s Monolith- Book One
Destiny’s Denial- Book Two
Sylvan Mist- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series- Next Generation~
Mark of the Highlander- Book One
Vow of the Highlander- Book Two
Wrath of the Highlander- Book Three
Faith of the Highlander- Book Four
Plight of the Highlander- Book Five
~The MacLomain Series- Viking Ancestors~
Viking King- Book One
Viking Claim- Book Two
Viking Heart- Book Three
~The MacLomain Series- Later Years~
Quest of a Scottish Warrior- Book One
Honor of a Sc
ottish Warrior- Book Two
Oath of a Scottish Warrior- Book Three
Passion of a Scottish Warrior- Book Four
~Calum’s Curse Series~
The Victorian Lure- Book One
The Georgian Embrace- Book Two
The Tudor Revival- Book Three
~Holiday Tales~
Yule’s Fallen Angel
~Forsaken Brethren Series~
Darkest Memory- Book One
Heart of Vesuvius- Book Two
~Song of the Muses Series~
Highland Muse
About the Author
Sky Purington is the best-selling author of nineteen novels and several novellas. A New Englander born and bred, Sky was raised hearing stories of folklore, myth and legend. When combined with a love for nature, romance and time-travel, elements from the stories of her youth found release in her books.
Purington loves to hear from readers and can be contacted at [email protected]. Interested in keeping up with Sky's latest news and releases? Visit Sky's website, http://www.skypurington.com to download her free App on iTunes and Android or sign up for her quarterly newsletter. Love social networking? Find Sky on Facebook and Twitter.
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