Highlander's Bride: Medieval Romance (The Fae Book 1)

by Joanne Wadsworth

  “Here, here,” Duncan cheered. “A saying both Coll and I have embraced since the day Grace said those very words to us after her vision. Never will we forget them.”

  “Speaking of visions.” Hamish grunted, his brown eyes clouding over. He grabbed the back of the closest chair and leaned against it. “’Tis another, and a rather strong one at that.”

  “What do you see?” Muirin grasped Hamish’s arm and rubbed his back. “Speak.”

  “I see Jeremiah and Colin MacKenzie.” He groaned, knuckles whitening around the wood. “Jeremiah confronts his father. Oh hell. Jeremiah’s livid, has just learnt the truth about Kyla’s fae blood. Colin said ’twas time.” He shoved his eyes open, his gaze clearing as it landed on Ronan. “Jeremiah sails now for Carron Castle. He wants what he’s been denied, the chance to make Kyla his bride. We need to leave, now.”

  “I’ll allow no one to take Kyla from me, never again.” Ronan raced for the door, Duncan and Hamish one step behind him. She was his, and he’d ensure it.

  * * * *

  Bolting upright in bed, Kyla squinted through the dark toward the window as the head guardsman’s shout resounded. She shoved the covers back and hopped across the cold polished planks and gripped the windowsill. The skies had lightened a touch, dawn so very close. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep after hearing of Hamish’s vision, not while Ronan rode so hard to return to her, but sheer exhaustion had taken ahold and she’d slipped under.

  “Raise the portcullis!” The clunky rattle of the chains reverberated across the yard.

  Horses’ hooves pounded then three riders galloped under the arch and hauled their mounts to a stop. The warrior at the party’s head bounded from his destrier in thick black boots, his plaid belted around his waist and claymore swaying at his side. Ronan. His short black hair blazed blue on the ends, was messed by the wind and when he glanced upward and found her at her window, his piercing golden gaze narrowed in on her and stated one thing loud and clear. He was coming, and wouldn’t be halted.

  He stormed through the main doors while Duncan bellowed orders to his guardsmen on the battlements to secure the keep. The portcullis cranked down, the main gate swiftly barred, the postern gate too. The yard swarmed with men.

  Wringing her hands, she paced her chamber, fussed with her hair, her fingers getting stuck within the usual frizzy mess she made of it when she slept at night.

  A knock rattled the door and Ronan stepped inside, shut the door behind him and slid the bolt home. He scrutinized her from head to foot. “You. Fell. Asleep.”

  “I didnae mean to.”

  “I couldnae stand the loss of our connection.” He dropped his satchel next to the bed, unfastened his sword belt and propped his weapon against the headboard then unlaced his boots and toed them off. Leather jerkin unbuttoned and removed, he hauled his black tunic over his head, tossed his clothing on the upholstered red and gold brocade wingchair and dressed only in his kilt, halted in front of her.

  “You are making yourself quite at home.” She touched one finger to his chest, swirled down over his golden skin then traced along the waistband of his tartan.

  “From this moment forth, your bedchamber is my bedchamber.” He dipped his head, touched his forehead to hers. “I also intend on making you my wife, in every single way. Would you do me the great honor of marrying me, Kyla?”

  “Aye, I would love to be your wife.” Excitement buzzed through her and she shuffled closer, touched the tips of her toes to his toes.

  “Then I wish for you to wear my ring.” He removed a glittering ring from his sporran and taking her hand in his, set it on her palm.

  “Oh my.” A large diamond with two beautiful sapphires either side sparkled bright atop a shiny band of gold. “’Tis so beautiful. Where did you get this from?”

  “During the weeks I spent recovering at Ivanson in the twenty-first century, I had the chance to visit a village where I came across what they call a jewelry store. Within that store sat an array of glass-enclosed cases with a dazzling number of rings and other beautiful trinkets and charms. When I saw this ring with its two sapphires, the same exquisite color of your blue eyes, I couldnae pass it by. I offered the owner of the store one of my daggers for the ring and he graciously accepted, said he’d never seen the likes of such a well-kept piece of ancient weaponry.” He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed each one. “I wish to bind myself to you for the rest of my days. Speak handfast vows with me and I promise once a priest can be procured, we’ll be wed proper.”

  “Handfast vows can too easily be broken. Jeremiah is on his way. He is devious, just as his father is, will demand his right to a betrothal. Afore Coll and Duncan brought me here, I gave Colin MacKenzie my word I’d wed one of his sons. I had no other choice, no’ if I wished to travel so far from him.”

  “Duncan will never allow Jeremiah near you, and neither shall I. Should we consummate our handfast vows then there’ll be far less of a chance Jeremiah can make any demands on you that will hold. Think only of keeping your word to me, of the oath which you gave me by the pool.” He pulled out a strip of Matheson plaid from his sporran, clasped his right hand with her right and wound the tartan of her true clan around both their wrists, the ring held firm between their clasped palms.

  Tears misted her gaze. This tartan was one she hadn’t touched in over twenty years and now it would bind them together in matrimony. His gesture spoke to her very heart, made those tears fall free and slide down her cheeks.

  “Nay, dinnae cry.” He scooped her up, sat on the end of the bed and cradled her on his lap. “Please, no tears.”

  “These tears are good tears, and this feels like a dream to be here with you right now.” Her heart lifted, such joy encompassing her. “I want to keep my word to you.”

  “I need you.” The look in his eyes burned hungry and hot. “I want your hands all over me, for you to touch me as you did beside the pool, but this time when we both reach that peak together, I want my cock buried deep inside you.”

  Warmth flushed her cheeks, his words heating her from within. She wanted that too, more than wanted it. “You say the naughtiest things.” Grinning and emboldened, she pushed him onto his back and straddled his thighs. “Since the moment you escaped Duncan’s dungeons, I feared your return, yet also secretly desired it. I wanted to be claimed by you, but I also had no desire to take you from your own fae kind and set you squarely within the ranks of your enemy.” She wriggled one finger between their clasped palms, slid the ring free and eased it onto her finger. “I want to speak handfast vows with you, then you must ride out and return with a priest, with all haste.”

  “Of course. I’ll begin.” He cleared his throat, his gaze holding her captive. “I, Ronan Niall Matheson, of the House of Clan Matheson, pledge my troth to Kyla, of Carron Castle. With this handfast, I take her as my wife for the next year and a day, and as my chosen one for all time.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “’Tis your turn.”

  “Aye, my turn.” She breathed deep, her fingers twined firmly with his. “I, Kyla, of Carron Castle, pledge my troth to Ronan Niall Matheson, of the House of Clan Matheson. With this handfast, I take him as my husband for the next year and a day, and as my chosen one for all time.” She touched the plaid bound around their wrists, her heart lifting even farther. “I will be Kyla Matheson from this day forth, once again taking my true clan’s name.”

  “Aye, as you should have from the very beginning.” He plucked the tartan free, captured her face in his hands and gently stroked his fingers back and forth over her cheeks. “Any other requests other than that I ride out for a priest with all haste?”

  “You must speak to my parents immediately and let them know of the danger they’re now in.” She covered his hands with hers, snuggled her cheeks deeper into his palms.

  “I’ll ensure they’re made aware of the danger, to always be on the lookout. I adore your parents and have since the very beginning, would never wish any harm to fall upon them
.” He stroked his thumbs over her lower lip. “Following your disappearance, I visited them often. Doing so brought me closer to you, even though we had no knowledge of where you were. All your mama knew was that she’d never seen a vision of death-warning hovering over you. Such an inquisitive child you were, always wandering here and there and your papa searched far and wide for you, listened out for any who might have heard of a lost child. Never did he hear a word or even receive a demand for coin. They were at such a loss for what had truly happened.”

  “They never considered the MacKenzie had taken me?”

  “Unfortunately we have many enemies, clans who both covet and fear our fae blood. They wish to have what we have, as well as destroy it too. The MacKenzie is only one of amongst many, and he’s never gone so far as to steal one of our children away. His preference is for warring and that alone.”

  “Are they well? My parents?” She adored that he’d been so near them.

  “You’ve never tried to even touch their minds to see, just once?” Such compassion shone in his gaze.

  “Nay, to begin with I was too young and couldnae cross the distance, my skill too weak, then as the years passed, I feared the pain and heartache if I did since there was naught I could do to return to them. I certainly cannae reach them from here. The distance is too great.” Such love for her parents filled her heart. “I’ll never forget Mama’s smile and her big blue eyes, as well as Papa’s immense love for her, the way he always stole a kiss from Mama afore he walked out of the house. I’ve kept them in my heart all these years, just as I know they’ve kept me in theirs.”

  “They love you, will understand why you’ve remained quiet all this time. You sought only to ensure their protection, a most admirable trait.” He palmed the back of her head, drew her closer, his gaze burning a smoldering golden hue. “As I shall now ensure their protection and yours. Afore I ride out, we need to consummate our vows. Are you ready?”

  “More than ready.”

  Chapter 5

  All Ronan had ever desired since the moment he’d walked into Kyla’s chamber and found her anxiously awaiting him, was to speak vows with her then make ravenous love until they’d exhausted each other. “I want to remove your shift. Is that permissible?” He traced over the beaded tips of her nipples poking through the thin white fabric, the glow from the fire behind her outlining every inch of her womanly curves.

  “Very, provided you also remove your kilt.” Sitting over top of him, she wriggled and her saucy move made his already hard cock harden further.

  “Ladies first.” He needed to learn her body, every delectable plane and heavenly contour before she ever touched him. “Arms up.”

  “As you wish.” She raised her hands and her full breasts rose.

  He’d been waiting an entire lifetime for this moment, to have his chosen one as his wife and he gripped her hem, lifted it over her spread legs and exposed her womanhood. His throat went dry. Luscious golden curls sat at her juncture and he touched one finger to her mound as he lifted his gaze back to hers. “You’re about to be mine.”

  “I’ve always been yours.” She swayed and sighed. “Touch me, all of me.”

  “I dinnae intend to leave one inch of you untouched, either by my hands or my tongue. Consider that fair warning.” His chosen one was all he’d ever hoped for in a mate. She was feisty and determined, prepared to do all she could for her closest kin. Aye, she was his match in every way and now he had her behind a locked door and all to himself, he intended to love her exactly as he desired. No more waiting. He peeled her shift higher, over her flat belly until the undersides of her bountiful breasts became exposed. He groaned as a fiery burn blazed at the base of his spine.

  “You are taking far too long in undressing me.” She snuck the hem from his fingers, swept her shift over her head and tossed it aside.

  “Hell, you’re so beautiful.” He could barely breathe at the sight of her body fully uncovered for him. Her decadently creamy skin beckoned and he trailed his fingers down between the valley of her breasts until she arched and thrust her breasts out farther. Accepting all she offered, he cupped the exquisite fullness, weighed both mounds in his hands then eased them together and swiped his thumbs over the beaded tips. Elbows shoved underneath him, he lifted up a little and licked one tempting nipple.

  “More,” she whimpered, her eyelids fluttering closed.

  “Aye, more.” He flipped her onto her back and she squealed at his fast move. “Stay still, my bride, because I intend to consume you.”

  “Oh goodness.” Her breathing came harder, the desire in her blue eyes blazing bright.

  “I promise I’ll take the utmost care.” Everything about her called to him, from her breasts tipped with rosy nipples all puckered and straining toward him, to the long curve of her creamy flesh on display and the delicate lines of her face. In this moment, she’d given him her complete trust and he never intended on breaking it, not now, not ever.

  On his knees between her legs, he swept his hands down her body, over her flat belly and across her hips which would cradle his to sheer perfection when they joined together. Such sweetly curved thighs, beguiling calves and dainty toes. His bride’s body was one to worship and adore. He leaned in, rubbed his cheek over the satiny soft skin of her midriff, her alluring fragrance, all woman with a touch of vanilla, swirling about him. He wriggled lower, nuzzled the thatch of golden curls covering her mound then licked along each indented line of her groin.

  “Ronan?” Eyes closed, she fisted the bedcovers either side of her and arched her back.

  “Aye.” He slid his fingers over her lower folds. “Do you wish for this kind of touch?”

  “Immensely.”

  “You’re so lush and exquisitely pink right here.” He pushed one finger deep inside her channel, lifted his head and seized her mouth with his. He kissed her while down below, he fondled her passage and stroked over her nub.

  “Dinnae cease touching me so.” She nipped his lower lip. “I want all that you want, the pleasure, the joining, all of you inside of me.”

  “You are going to make the perfect wife.” Kissing her, he delved into the sweetly warm recesses of her mouth, her entire body bared for him alone and every inch of her his to taste and treasure. With his finger, he continued to massage her inner channel as he built her pleasure, then added a second finger and pushed even deeper. He needed to stretch her wonderfully tight passage and as gently as he could if he intended on keeping any pain from their joining to a minimum.

  His cock ached with an incessant pounding, his balls drawing tighter and his essence leaking from the head. If only he could alleviate some of this pressure building inside him as well. He rolled his hips against hers, but to no avail. That action only tightened his cock to the point of pain and he groaned.

  “Let me touch you, as I did at the pool.” She gripped the belt holding his kilt in place and unbuckled it, pushed the heavy folds of tartan aside and licked her lips as his erection poked into her belly. Blue eyes twinkling, she touched her finger to the head of his shaft, swirled along the slit and rubbed the drops of pre-come oozing free. “Can I tell you a secret?”

  “Always.”

  “Beside the pool, as we kissed and touched each other, when you came and your essence shot from you, I lay on my back afterward with your seed glistening on my fingertips and wished that you’d come inside me instead. In that moment, I wanted my choices taken from me, so that I no longer had to consider anyone else except you. Now I’m about to get my wish, to join with you now as I’d fervently wished to then.” Carefully, she cupped his balls with one hand and wrapped her fingers around his shaft with the other. “I am yours, Ronan, as you are mine. None can ignore this bond, no’ even I.”

  “Aye, as it shall always be.” He kissed her, suckled her tongue between his lips and she moaned into his mouth, tightened her grip on his cock, her fingers so wickedly firm he almost shot his load right then and there. Hell, her exquisite touch would be hi
s undoing and since he intended for her to find her pleasure first, he needed to take firm action. He shuffled back, lost her exquisite hold on his cock as he did, but got her entire body as a platter to feast on. Hands underneath her bottom, he caressed her firm lower cheeks, his mouth watering for all she offered. “I want to touch you, everywhere.”

  “I want to touch you too.”

  “Later, much later.” He grinned at the sight of her inner flesh, all his for the taking. Nose pressed to the curls covering her entrance, he breathed deep and got lost in the heady sensations washing over him. He licked along her inner thighs, first one side and then the other until he reached her folds where her womanhood beckoned him. He stroked along her slit. So wet. So gloriously wet.

  “Wait.” She tangled her fingers in his hair and held onto him, as if her very life depended on it. His certainly did.

  “No more waiting.” Licking across her flesh, he moved his mouth over her sensitive nub and sucked, hard. He gorged himself on her, the only woman who would ever be his.

  “Ronan.” Her bottom went tight under his palms. “I cannae hold on if you keep touching me like this.

  “Then let go. Show me your pleasure, that it has come at my hands alone.” He lunged in and consumed her, drawing her pleasure to a steep pinnacle and as she cried out and shuddered in his arms, he thrust two fingers deep inside her inner channel and groaned as she pulsed around his fingers and sucked them in with such a greedy pull. “I need to be inside you.”

  “Mmm, aye, please,” she murmured as she slumped back on the bed, her eyes closed and an expression of pure bliss crossing her face, one he never wished to see disappear.

  With his achingly hard shaft in his hand and a powerful surge of desire slamming through him, he rubbed the head of his cock over her drenched folds, his desperation to join with her at its most intense. He’d waited forever for this moment, his need feverish and all-consuming.