Highlander's Caress: Medieval Romance (The Fae Book 2)

by Joanne Wadsworth

  “I brought my belongings, have no intention of leaving now I’ve arrived.” He slung his satchel from his shoulder, set it beside the bed then with his hands on her shoulders, turned her around and unlaced her stays.

  Eyes closed, she allowed the sensation of his dreamy touch to wash through her, the intimate moment one she only wished to embrace. Aye, he was her mate and there was no other for her, other than him. With the last lacing plucked free, her bodice loosened and the soft fabric slithered down to her feet. In her shift, she stepped out of the pool of velvet, swept it up and tossed it over top of the dressing screen propped in the corner. “I cannae wait to hear how you’ve come to hold fae blood.”

  “Unfortunately, ’tis a sad tale.” He folded back the bedcovers and gestured for her to slide between the sheets.

  “Tell me everything.” She eased into bed and tucked the covers back around her while he wandered around to the other side of the bed.

  Boots toed off, he laid his wrist and ankle daggers on the nightstand, propped his sword against the headboard then unfastened his kilt and folded it on the corner chair. In naught but his tunic reaching him to mid-thigh, he slid into bed beside her. This moment seemed so incredibly intimate and she smiled as they faced each other on their sides, the light from the fire’s flames dancing across his high cheeks. “Are you ready, Ella?”

  “More than ready. I’m listening.”

  “At the age of eight, my brother and I made a pact, to never speak the truth about our birth to another, no’ unless we could be assured that the person we told would keep our secret and never use the knowledge against us.”

  “Your secrets will always be safe with me.” The golden strands of their mated bond continued to strengthen and the delicious pull of it drew them ever closer together.

  “We’re one and the same, my brother and I. Coll has always been right by my side, just as Ethan has always been right by yours.”

  “I’m glad you have a brother you can trust, just as I trust mine. We need our loved ones to be there for us, exactly as we wish to be there for them in return.” She played with the dangling ties of his tunic, loosened the deep V neckline a little more until the smattering of his dark chest hair showed. His skin gleamed in the firelight, his chest so heavily muscled and rippling with strength. “Is it your mother or father who holds fae blood?”

  “The only mother I’ve ever known was Cait MacLennan. She passed away when I was seven. Coll and I loved her deeply. My birth mother, unfortunately, I never knew.” He cleared his throat. “To explain I must start at the beginning, to the time afore I was even born.”

  “Go right ahead.” She longed to hear everything, to learn all about him.

  “During a time of peace between our clans, a lass by the name of Beth Matheson sailed from the fae village to my father’s keep to visit a relative. My father saw Beth and witnessed her fae skill of death-warning arise. Beth received a vision right there in his great hall, sensed death looming for one of his men and immediately hastened to pass the warning along. The man survived, although in allowing my father to see all she could do, she also aroused his greedy desire to hold fae blood within his direct line.”

  “Colin MacKenzie will take advantage of anyone he possibly can.” That she’d learnt well over the years during their warring.

  “Aye, and at the time my father was betrothed to the Chief of MacLennan’s daughter and upon their marriage was due to receive a large dowry of land, along with the all-important allied relationship he coveted.” He spread one palm over her hip and drew gentle circles with his thumb, the pressure so sweet and sublime. “So my father devised a way in order for him to have both Beth and Cait. First, he wooed Beth, spoke handfast vows with her then once she’d conceived, he had her locked away and none permitted entry to care for her, other than a single maid. He intended, once Beth had given birth, to wait out the remainder of the year and a day then wed Cait, only during Beth’s captivity she had a vision of death-warning that involved herself and the two sons she carried.”

  “That is the one thing all those with the death-warning skill fear. Seeing their own death, or that of their loved ones, and being unable to halt what is to come.” She pressed her hands to his shoulders, the warmth of his skin soothing her.

  “Aye, and after seeing her imminent death, she pleaded with my father to allow Grace, her dear friend from her village, permission to visit her. Grace held the same death-warning skill as Beth and she had hoped that Grace would be able to watch over her, to aid her however she could during her labor and ensure she and her sons lived, only when that time came, she bled so terribly. There was naught Grace could do.”

  “I’m so sorry.” A tear sprang forth and trickled down her cheek.

  “I wish my mother had never passed, but afore she did, she asked Grace to watch over her newborn babes and ensure they lived. Grace gave my mother her word she would.” He touched his forehead to hers, his voice lowering to a husky whisper. “Following our birth, Coll and I were so sickly, what with being born almost two months too soon, although because of Grace and her dedication to our care, we lived.”

  “’Tis terrible you lost your mother, although had you perished along with her, I’d be without a mate this day. I’m so grateful she asked Grace to watch over you.” Everything within her cried out at the thought of possibly losing him, and before she’d ever met him. Under the covers, she wriggled closer still, rubbed her body against his and sought the comfort she needed. “What happened next?”

  “Within days of Beth’s death, my father sent for the MacLennan lass and he and Cait spoke vows, her dowry and lands quickly added to his so they might strengthen his own holdings. He then halted Grace’s ability to speak of all he’d done. Should Grace have told another the truth about our parentage, then he promised he’d send his warriors to her village and slay as many as he could. He had no desire to lose the lands he’d gained by incurring the MacLennan’s wrath and his intentions rang true, a vision assailing Grace should she ever speak the truth to her own kinsmen. So many innocent lives would have been lost.”

  “Your father is a cruel, hard-hearted man.” All were well aware of the Chief of MacKenzie’s ruthlessness. “I’d rather never meet him again.”

  “I’ll never permit such a meeting either. My father has deceived even me of late and I no longer trust him, not’ that I ever truly have.” Brows furrowed, he breathed deep. “When Coll and I were young, Grace returned to her village and Cait continued to care for us, just as wonderfully as any mother could.”

  “Cait claimed both you and Coll as hers?”

  “Aye, although she had little choice. She too fell victim to my father’s control. Thankfully though, she did all she could to raise us with all the love our true mother would have.” He pressed a kiss to her nose, his warm breath fluttering across her cheeks. “Cait passed the winter Coll and I turned seven, after suffering from an illness which made her breath so ragged she could barely take in any air. I sat at her bedside as she gave up the fight for her life.”

  “I’m sorry you lost her too.”

  “She was greatly loved by all within our clan.” He cleared his throat. “A year later, Grace returned to us once more after receiving a vision of death-warning regarding Coll and I. When she came to our father’s stronghold, she warned us of what she’d seen and that was when we learnt the full truth about our birth, that Cait had no’ been our true mother at all. That day we also learnt we’d soon come into our fae battle skill.”

  “So that’s why you hold such strength.” She’d witnessed his great ability to battle from Dunscaith’s ramparts. “You fought against both the MacDonald and Gavin and held your position well.”

  “Coll and I both hold the same skill, although afore one and all, our father has always declared our added strength came from holding his strong MacKenzie blood alone.”

  “Now I understand why you’ve never harmed a Matheson.”

  “Aye, for doing so would be the same
as bringing harm down upon our own heads. The Mathesons are our blood kin.”

  “Colin MacKenzie should never have withheld the truth about your true mother and her people from you for so long. In doing so, he took away your right to learn all you needed to know about your fae heritage.” She cupped his cheeks, stroked her fingers back and forth over his stubbly jaw. “I’m so sorry you’ve never had us to stand by your side. We Mathesons do when it comes to each other.”

  “I have you now, and I wish to claim you as my wife.”

  “You wish to wed?” Surprise and pure happiness rolled through her.

  “Aye, and right this very moment.” He gripped the hem of his tunic, lifted it over his head and tossed it behind him where it landed with a soft swish on the corner chair.

  “Wait. Right now?”

  “There is no other way I’ll join with you otherwise.” He pushed the covers back and she gasped at the sight of his cock rising high and firm from a thatch of black curls at his groin. “Look at me.” He caught her face in his hands and steered her gaze back to his. Such a hungry need swirled within his stunning blue eyes. “I wish to accept the bond, to take you as mine, Ella, for us to be man and wife, from this moment forth.”

  “Aye, please, I want that too.” Elbows underneath her, she eased up a touch and gasped as his shaft thickened and lengthened further. It jabbed right into her belly, the head glistening with his essence. “You are the only man I’ll ever wish for, ever desire, ever long for. Our clans might no’ be at peace, but you and I shall always be so.”

  “We’ll need to speak handfast vows since there isnae a clergyman about.” He gripped the hem of her shift, tore a thin strip of white cotton from it then clasped her right hand with his right and wrapped the thin strip around both their wrists. “Will you bind yourself to me as my wife for the next year and a day?”

  “For the rest of my life if you’ll allow it.”

  “I want to ravish you senseless.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I, Duncan Angus MacKenzie, of Ardan House, pledge my troth to Ella, of the House of Clan Matheson. With this handfast, I take her as my wife for the next year and a day.” He hauled her shift over her head, the fabric bunched around their joined hands. Her breasts spilled forth and he lowered his head, licked across one beaded nipple. “Speak your vow now, Ella, afore I lose all control.”

  With his hot tongue lapping her breast, she murmured, “I, Ella, of the House of Clan Matheson, pledge my troth to Duncan Angus MacKenzie. With this handfast, I take him as my husband for the next year and a day.” She unraveled the binding, freed their hands and pushed her shift aside. “You are my stubborn one, and I shall never forsake you.”

  “’Tis time to seal our vows.” Gaze smoldering, he captured her mouth in a scorching kiss, his muscled body a fierce heat she wanted to embrace in every way. “My wife,” he murmured as he slid down her body to the end of the bed.

  “Duncan, where are you going?”

  “I’m allowing my instincts to take over, as I quite often do, and right now they’re demanding this of me.” He widened her legs and stroked along her inner thighs, his fingers moving all the way to the crease of her groin. Nuzzling her mound, he breathed deep, spread her legs even wider and revealed all of her to his ravenous gaze. With a low rumble, he trailed one finger along her slit. “I want my cock inside you, right here. Compel me, Ella. Make me wait.”

  “Oh, please, aye.” The heat of his breath washing over her made her burn for a full joining.

  “I said to compel me to wait, no’ to entice me.”

  “Wait, of course. You must wait.” She speared her fingers through his hair and held onto him.

  “I’ve heard my men speak of the pleasure they sometimes take in tasting a lass below, and of having her suck his cock.” Blue eyes twinkling, he blew warm air across her lower folds. “Do you wish for me to bring you such pleasure, to taste you right here?”

  “You speak so wickedly.” She slid her legs along his shoulders, her heartbeat a pounding mess.

  “I’ll take that as an aye.” He grinned and separated her folds. “You’re so sweetly pink and all mine.” Hands curled around her hips, he lowered his head and swept his tongue across her flesh then delved deeper and licked until a fire blazed in her core and sizzled along her senses. Heat radiated out from where he touched her, made her crazed for so much more.

  “Do that again,” she whispered, her voice so ragged. Hips lifting, she panted, struggling for breath as a kaleidoscope of emotions surged through her. “I never thought I could be so wanton and make that kind of demand.”

  “I adore your wantonness.” He rose up over top of her, pressed the head of his shaft against her entrance and moaned as he rubbed himself along her slickness. With his hands planted either side of her head, he kissed her, his tongue surging inside her mouth just as she wished for his cock to surge into her below.

  “Do it,” she murmured, her compelling voice strong. “Make us one.”

  “You’re my wife, always mine.” With one hearty thrust, he plunged through her barrier below in one fast and sure stroke, his cock buried so deep within.

  She gasped at the fierce intrusion, yet never had she felt so wonderfully full.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Aye, I’m your wife, your mate, the one who holds the other half of your soul.” She caught his face in her hands, brought his mouth back to hers and kissed him, with all the desire and intense need she held deep within her soaring forth. “Move slowly so I might adjust to you.”

  “I shall, but tell me if I bring you any further pain.” Ever so slowly, he slid back out then halted and pushed all the way back inside her again.

  She clung to him, the initial pain of his entrance slowly ebbing and when he pushed ever so deeper a second time, a tingle of pleasure radiated out and she sighed at the sheer beauty of it. “More, give me more of that.”

  “It feels so exquisite being inside of you.” He eased out, slid back in and groaned. “Your body is so tight and hot. I want to go deeper still.”

  “Do as you please.” Never could she deny him anything. She stroked over his tight backside, her fingers firm on his flesh as he thrust with an ever-increasing pace that had her crying out for more. Every inch of her channel gripped him. Goodness, she never wanted this moment to end.

  “Do you still feel any pain?”

  “There is only pleasure now.” A heavenly heat roared through her and it sent her mind spinning.

  “I need you, Ella.” He thrust harder, made her body sizzle and spark and she rocked underneath him, his muscles all hard angles that made her ache at the sheer beauty of him.

  His pace increased. So divine. She nibbled along the other side of his neck, rubbed her breasts against his chest to ease the sweet pressure in them. More kisses. She wanted his lips on hers. She kissed him as he slid one hand down between them and stroked over her nub. She wanted to let go, to accept the ultimate pleasure that beckoned and claim it, but not without him. Teetering on the verge, she cried out his name, “Duncan. Do something.”

  “I cannae hold on any longer.” He flicked her clit and she plunged over the edge and soared. Wave after wave of pure bliss rippled through her core and a sizzling array of colors exploded before her eyes in a wicked display. So beautiful.

  * * * *

  Duncan roared as Ella came, her core pulsing tight around him. No longer could he wait. His seed spurted hot and heavy inside her, his release coming fiercely hard on the tail of hers. Such sensations stormed through him, her hot channel contracting and pulling his cock ever deeper inside her. Shuddering, he gave her every last drop of himself then sated, held onto her as he looked deep into her eyes. “I may form quite the craving for this.”

  “You took me to a place I’ve never been afore.” She kissed him, so seductively it made his cock twitch and stir back to full life within her.

  “’Twas beyond momentous for me too.” Never had he experienced such a soul-satisfying join
ing. He tightened his hold on her, the all-consuming emotions that had taken ahold of him still continuing to thrum strongly. “Are you sore?”

  “Possibly, although all I feel right now is a desperate hunger for even more of you.” She kissed him again and he kissed her back.

  Naught tasted more divine than his woman and he treasured her luscious lips and exquisite kisses. She was so alluring with her soft, creamy skin and brown eyes that sparkled with such effervescence. When he’d joined with her, buried himself so deeply inside her body, he’d lost all control, hadn’t had a chance of holding onto it.

  “You are somewhat heavy though. Let me up on top for a moment.” She pushed against his shoulders and he rolled onto his back, swept her with him until she came up over top of him.

  Slowly, she lifted up until she sat astride his hips, every inch of her body on stunning display as she stretched her hands high above her head and wriggled against his groin, his cock still wedged deep within her and her full breasts swaying so deliciously close.

  “Your body is a platter of new treasures I want to taste and devour.” Grazing one finger from between her breasts to her belly, he struggled to control his breathing. He swirled through the brown curls covering her entrance and rubbed her nub.

  “Oooh, too sensitive.” Squirming back, she gasped, her breasts bobbing about.

  “Hold still.” He tweaked her nipples, the tips so berry-ripe, hard and pointy. He branded this image of her into his very heart and soul, leveraged up farther with his elbows and scraped his teeth across each bud.

  “I adore having your mouth on me.” Back arched, she pressed those sweet morsels even deeper into his mouth and he soaked in the exquisite moment, wrapped his lips fully around her and suckled until fire raced through his blood and his cock pounded for more.

  Unable to halt himself, he lost what remained of his control, flipped her over onto her back, his shaft throbbing, painfully. He plunged into her over and over, her cries for more sending him half-crazed as he took her hard and fast. This bond was more than a gift. ’Twas a connection of the very heart and soul he’d crave for the rest of his days. Aye, never would he relinquish her, not now, not ever.