Finally, the morning came after a fitful night of very little sleep. He stood in front of the polished mirror of their bedroom and tried to trim his beard and tame his hair. One of the house servants brought him his clothing and a brand-new knee-length leather coat.
“A gift from your cousins,” they announced.
He smiled and stroked the butter soft leather. The back was etched with the eagle of their clan and he traced the design with a rough fingertip. It was a beautiful gesture, and fitting wedding attire for the head of the family.
Breakfast was awkwardly silent in the dining hall after he thanked the gift givers. The group spent a quiet morning sipping their tea and chewing their bread thoughtfully, as they all pondered how Dylan’s life was going to change.
Just before lunchtime, Dylan looked up from his reverie at the table as he heard the caravan approach.
Inside the carriage, Victoria gasped as she peered out the window.
Chapter Five
Dylan strode out of the house alone, leaving his friends and family at the table. He was ready to shake hands on this deal and to meet his bride. The carriage stopped at the entrance to the front garden and the mounted escorts pulled alongside to monitor the interaction. Andrew dismounted and approached Dylan.
Victoria peered out of the carriage window and whispered, “He lives in a castle….”
Lydia laughed softly, “Maybe this won’t be so bad m’dear.”
Abigail just stared up at the towering structure with awe.
The women watched as the men shook hands, and Andrew approached the door of the carriage. Quickly Lydia smoothed Victoria’s hair into place and pinched her cheeks lightly to add a hint of pink to her creamy complexion. Abigail patted her hand one more time and the door opened.
Dylan crossed his arms over his chest and watched intently, his cobalt eyes narrowing in expectation and anxiety. Andrew swung the door wide and offered his hand up into the carriage. Dylan’s eyes widened and he sucked in a hard breath as a petite blonde head appeared. It was bowed towards the ground as she watched her steps exiting the carriage and she smoothed her skirts into place before finally turning her heart-shaped face up to him.
Her green eyes widened when she caught her first glimpse of her betrothed. He had to be the largest man she had ever seen up close. His shoulders seemed as wide as her leg was long and his arms bulged and rippled looked like they carry entire trees. His dark hair curled over his deep blue eyes and his thick brown beard seemed almost red in the sunlight. Not only was he the largest man, but he had to be one of the most handsome men she had ever met.
He tried to smother his chuckle at her amazement. He knew he cut an intimidating figure, and he could only imagine what was racing through her head. After a long moment, he approached her steadily and she bowed slightly when he took her hand.
“Victoria, I presume,” his rich voice boomed in a thick Scottish brogue.
“Yes, sir,” she whispered.
Andrew even had to stifle his amazement at how subdued his wild child seemed to be in Dylan’s presence.
Since Dylan stood nearly a foot taller than Victoria, he had an eye-popping view down the bodice of her dress. From what he could tell, her breasts were full and firm and his mind tumbled over the ideas and possibilities. He could feel a telltale tingling and twitching that reminded him how long it had been since he had the company of a woman.
He mutely offered her his arm, and she rested one tiny hand on his forearm. The couple entered the castle with Victoria’s parents following. Behind her parents came the guards and Abigail. The four noblemen and women headed into the dining hall, while the guards and Abigail were politely escorted to the kitchen.
“Dinner will be along shortly. I hope you all are hungry after your trip.”
Lydia gushed over how generous and kind he was, and how much they appreciated his hospitality. They would be staying over for just a couple of days; the wedding was tomorrow and they would leave the following day.
The clansmen had cleared out of the room but returned in time for dinner. It was a filling but simple meal of lamb stew and homemade bread. The elaborate meal would come tomorrow, after the wedding celebration. After supper, Victoria and her family were shown to one large bedroom for the night, while Dylan and his family retired to their own quarters.
Neither Victoria nor Dylan got much sleep that night. Victoria tossed and turned, struggling to reconcile the gentleman she had just met with everything she had heard about the Scots. Even her body was reacting to him in ways she did not fully understand. He made her blush simply by looking at her, and the heat seemed to spread from her cheeks to her belly. Dylan considered himself truly lucky to have made the deal thus far, and silently thanked Andrew for being so pushy. He tried to ignore the stirring in his groin but he could not stop thinking about the way Victoria filled out the bodice of her dress or the way it highlighted her slender waist.
Chapter Six
The next morning dawned too early, and neither the bride nor the bridegroom was quite ready to face this life-changing day. Andrew and Lydia had risen early and were strolling around the grounds, admiring Dylan’s vegetable garden and rose bushes. Abigail snuck into the room quietly, and gently woke Victoria.
“Miss? It’s time to get up.”
Victoria moaned softly and rolled over to face the older woman.
“Oh Abigail,” she whispered, as soon as reality swept the cobwebs from her sleepy head. “Am I really ready for this?”
“As ready as any young woman, I suppose. I never married so I can’t really say Miss.”
“Could I have some tea please? I don’t quite feel like having my breakfast in the dining hall.”
“Of course Miss. Your groom shouldn’t see you before the wedding any way.”
“Oh that’s just superstition,” Victoria dismissed the comment with a wave of her hand.
“Whether it is or isn’t, I don’t think we want to risk it,” Abigail smiled.
She left and returned with a china cup of hot tea.
“He even owns china,” Victoria said, amazed.
“What were you expecting?”
“Some kind of bear skin hut and one wooden bowl for everything,” Victoria laughed.
“Missy, you are too much.”
Dylan’s house servants brought up a large metal tub and started filling it with warm water while Victoria sat wrapped in her blanket on the bed. Once they left, Abigail thoroughly scrubbed her down and dried her off. Wrapped in a dressing gown, Abigail began to get her ready for the wedding. It was a few hours off, but they were both excited.
After her hair was dried, curled, and twisted up, Abigail dabbed a touch of pink lipstick to the young woman’s cheeks and lips. She kissed Victoria’s forehead gently and whispered to her.
“It’s like I’m giving away my own daughter.”
Victoria embraced the woman, “I’m so glad you’re staying with me. You’re like family.”
Lydia crept into the room and kissed her daughter. “Just beautiful m’dear.”
“Is it almost time?” Victoria was anxious and nervous, but only half of it was fear. The other half was that unexplained heat she felt whenever Dylan looked at her with those searching eyes.
“Almost. I think they are finishing the flowers in the living area. We best get you into your dress.”
The cream-colored lace skimmed over her full breasts, slim waist, and curvy hips. Her ivory skin and blonde hair made her look like a tiny porcelain doll. Lydia gasped at how fragile her willful and disobedient girl looked. When her mind flashed to her impending son-in-law, she became worried about the upcoming wedding night.
One of the house servants opened the door and signaled to the trio that it was time. Victoria stepped out of the room and her father took her arm roughly.
“You’re going to be someone else’s headache now,” he smirked smugly.
She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath as they made their way down the stairc
ase with her mother in tow.
Dylan’s eyes widened noticeably when he caught sight of her. Her perfect hourglass figure sheathed in lace, her dancing green eyes, and her tiny hands captivated him. And caused that uncomfortable twitching again. He took her hand from her father’s arm, and rested it on his own. They both looked down as he hand covered hers completely, and a tingle ignited both of their bloodstreams.
The ceremony was a blur to both of them, as was the celebration afterwards. After a small glass of ale, Victoria could hardly understand any of the Scotsmen when they stood up to toast the couple. As the sun faded away into the grey sky, her stomach knotted up with thoughts of what came next. One by one the clansmen drifted off into the night to sleep off their party. Abigail retired to the servants’ quarters. And her parents made their way to the guest room upstairs. Finally, just Victoria and Dylan were left in the dining hall.
Dylan was shocked at how nervous he was. He ran his hand over his beard and cleared his throat.
“Well, my wife, are you ready to see your new room?”
Victoria nodded mutely and rose to follow him.
Dylan ushered his trembling bride to their suite and held open the large wooden door for her. It opened into a huge open space, outfitted with a beautiful wooden bed, two large chairs, and even a brand-new vanity, probably made just for her. In the corner there was even a thick dark green curtain, drawn back to reveal the metal washtub she had used earlier.
Victoria took a deep breath and stepped into the room. Dylan could feel her hesitation in the trembling of her tiny hand on his arm. He wanted to show her who was in charge of her life now, but he certainly did not want to terrify the young woman.
He turned her body to face the foot of the bed, and started to unlace the back of her bodice. He stopped when he realized that she was holding her breath as he worked with the thin strings.
“Victoria?” he said softly.
“Yes?” she whispered, turning her head back towards him.
“Don’t be afraid, I will do my best not to hurt you.”
“It’s going to hurt?” her voice sounded fragile and thin.
He smiled, “Yes, probably a bit. And I’m sorry for that.”
She sighed and turned around fully to face him. She rested her palms flat on his broad chest and looked up into his face.
“Shall we make it quick then?”
He gently brushed a loose curl from her cheek and nodded, “Not quick but easy.”
He reached around her and finished untying all of the strings that held her dress against her body. He carefully slipped the shoulder straps down and let the bodice fall away. Dylan sucked in a sharp breath when her full breasts slid into view.
“You are beautiful,” he exhaled.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she was tempted to cover herself but tightened her hands into fists instead. He slid the dress down over the curve of her hips and let it pool on the floor. Just as slowly and deliberately, he removed his leather jacket, the soft cotton shirt, and his trousers. She gasped at the sight of his body, the muscles tightening and rippling. She dared not let her eyes drift too far down.
He carefully picked her up and laid her on the bed. Lying down next to her, he covered them both with a thick quilted blanket. The callouses on his hands felt rough but his touch was gentle. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths as she experiences a man’s touch for the first time.
The heat that she felt when he looked at her with his hypnotic eyes returned; it seemed to flow through her very veins as he continued to explore her body. She could feel something velvety yet hard twitching against her thigh but made no motions to touch him in return. Her groin felt slippery and for a moment she was horrified that she had wet herself, but there did not seem to be any wetness on the sheet beneath her.
He tenderly parted her legs, shifted on top of her, and bid her to open her eyes. She looked at him and saw a fire in his face that she assumed must be this male need that her mother warned her about.
“It will hurt, I can’t take that away. But I hope you do not fear this in the future.”
She held her breath and felt something warm and soft and thick between her legs, and then it was inside of her body. There was a sharp pain in her belly and then he was fully inside her. She gasped as he filled her and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
His hips shifted back and forth, and she could feel movement inside her. The heat in her blood seemed to be collecting between her legs and she could not stop the light moan that escaped her soft pink lips.
He groaned deep in his chest, and within just a few moments, she felt him twitch inside her. It felt like several splashes of warm water against her insides, and then he collapsed on top of her.
“I’m sorry, it has been a while.”
“Sorry? It did not hurt that much.”
He laughed and shifted off of her, onto the bed next to her. “I hope you will come to understand my comment better.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his body heat. They drifted off to sleep as Victoria wondered what all the fuss was about.
Chapter Seven
The next morning, they rose and dressed to join their families for breakfast in the dining hall.
Lydia kissed her daughter on the cheek, and whispered, “My little girl is a woman now.”
Victoria blushed, realizing in an instant that the entire household knew what she and Dylan had done the previous night.
After a quick breakfast, Andrew and Lydia and their own staff packed up and said their goodbyes. Victoria was cold and distant to her father but embraced her mother roughly. Lydia brushed away tears from her daughter’s eyes and climbed into the carriage. Victoria turned back and went into the castle so that she did not have to watch them drive off the property.
Dylan followed her back inside, and up to their room.
“What would you like to do today, Mrs. Walker?”
She smiled up at him and twisted her hands in her lap as she perched on the edge of one of the chairs.
Dylan knelt in front of her, “Anything you ask, I shall make it so.”
Her cheeks flushed dark pink and she avoided looking into his penetrating blue eyes.
He caught her chin with a finger and pulled her face up towards his. “What is it?”
“I should like to do what we did last night,” she said so softly that he could barely hear.
“What was that?”
“I should like to do what we did last night,” she repeated.
He grinned at her, “Now that request I can manage.”
She could not explain why she wanted to be with him again, only that she liked the heat he created inside her and she wanted to feel it again. She wanted to feel his hands again, and to be near him.
He pulled her up from the chair and made quicker work of her house dress than the fancy wedding gown. His clothes seemed to dissolve off of his body and he swept her up and to the bed.
“Please? Could we do it longer though?” she asked quietly.
He laughed, “I said I was sorry.”
His hand covered her belly as he bent his mouth to her exposed breast. She giggled softly when his beard tickled her delicate skin but her giggle dissolved into a gasp when his mouth closed over her taut nipple. It tingled throughout her entire body as his tongue traced circles on her skin while his beard still tickled. She squirmed and felt his hand drift further down her stomach.
His fingers grazed her thigh and she squirmed again. He kissed and nibbled her neck, shushing her softly. She tried to hold still as his hands and lips explored her skin, but it tingled and tickled and she could not stop herself from responding.
Finally, his fingers dipped down between her legs and she gasped as fire seemed to leap from her groin to her fingers and toes.
“Shh, shh, shh,” he murmured against her neck. “It’s okay.”
As much as he wanted to drive himself back into her tight warm body, he also wanted to sh
ow her that she could enjoy their union too. He had to brace himself and exert every bit of his self-control to take his time.
His fingers teased and tickled her most private parts until she was gasping and writhing.
“Dylan… what are you doing?”
Victoria was baffled by the feelings that overwhelmed her senses. During the entire journey to Scotland, her mother and Abigail had tried to instruct and warn her about marital relations, but neither of them had ever mentioned that it would feel like this.
“I’m taking care of you,” he smiled down at her confused and flushed face.
“Of me? I thought, I thought it was supposed to be a, um, wifely duty to be with her husband.”
He chuckled softly, “It is, so to speak, but there’s no reason it can’t be enjoyable for you as well.”
“Ohhh…” she breathed softly.
His fingers kept circling and rubbing, and the tingles got stronger. Her fingers clenched the sheet underneath them. The heat in her body had collected into her lower stomach and she thought it was going to burn her. Suddenly it all popped inside her, like the logs in a fireplace and she looked at Dylan with a mixture of surprise and pleasure on her face. Her back arched and he felt her muscles kiss his fingers as she gasped his name.
He could not wait any longer and in one motion, he climbed on top of her and entered her slowly but firmly. She moaned softly and wrapped her hands around his neck. He looked down at her delicate face, illuminated by the fire in the fireplace and by a light from inside, and he kissed his bride. Her full pink lips parted for his tongue just as her body welcomed his cock.
She felt so warm and slippery and tight around him that once again, he could not last and within a few strokes found himself releasing inside her with a low deep grunt. After he collapsed on top of her, she held him close to her body and tried to catch her breath.
“Dylan, I could get used to this,” she murmured quietly into his ear.
Her warm breath tickled and tempted his hips to keep moving, but he willed them to be still. He slid to one side and cupped her body into his, pulling the blanket back over them.
The Highlander's Taken Bride (Scottish Highlander Romance) Page 12
