His Heart's Home

by Sterling, Stephanie

  Duncan kicked off his boots and helped her with his trousers, and within seconds he was just as naked as she was. Could a man be beautiful? Ciaran wondered, as she stared unashamedly at Duncan’s spectacular body - the proud jut of his manhood was devastating in itself, but coupled with his narrow waist, the taut curve of his buttocks and the powerful muscles of his thighs he looked too good to be true.

  “You can pounce anytime you like,” Duncan teased wickedly.

  Ciaran blushed, and realized she was just standing there staring at him like an idiot. She whimpered his name and he reached for her, dragging her against his body. The shock of feeling him skin-to-skin took Ciaran’s breath away.

  “Bed,” he murmured, kissing her neck, moving his hands up to cup her breasts. He squeezed and fondled, while taking a backwards step towards the bed behind him.

  Ciaran expected Duncan to invert their positions - to push her down on the mattress and cover her with his body. To be perfectly honest, she was looking forward to being dominated by all that virile male flesh. So she started with surprise when Duncan sat himself down on the edge of the bed first and then gave her arm an encouraging tug. She hesitated, not knowing what he wanted her to do.

  Duncan chuckled softly at her confusion. He reached for her again, his large hands resting at first on her hips, before he swept one around her leg to gently part her thighs.

  “D-Duncan?” Ciaran puffed uncertainly, embarrassingly willing to shift her legs apart so Duncan’s fingers could delve into the soft wet heat of her body. She bit her lip and shuddered as he lazily fondled her.

  “I told you before,” he murmured, lifting her hand and kissing her wrist, just at the point where her pulse was thundering. “You have to take what you want.”

  Ciaran blinked, disoriented with his hands on her. He shifted back on the bed a little further and urged Ciaran to follow, to crawl over him and straddle his lap. Ciaran blushed hot red when she realized what he wanted her to do.

  “Duncan,” she whimpered. She wanted what he was offering for the first time in her life, but she had never had to take it before. It was a little daunting, especially if-especially if this was going to be goodbye. Ciaran clenched her eyes shut and pushed that unpleasant reality aside.

  “Come on, lass,” Duncan groaned. He bucked his hips impatiently, once again drawing her attention to his rampant arousal. “Please?” he grunted, flexing his fingers.

  He would grab her soon if she didn’t act now.

  Ciaran narrowed her eyes and licked her lips. She could do this-she wanted to do this. She edged forward and rested one knee on the bed, taking a deep breath and then crawling up onto the mattress. She kept her gaze focused on Duncan’s face, finding that almost as arousing as looking at his body. His eyes were deep pools of swirling blue desire, beckoning her closer, tempting her to take him.

  “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered breathlessly, slipping her knees on either side of his hips.

  “Oh, I think you do,” Duncan moaned, letting out a rather strangled laugh.

  Ciaran giggled softly, sultrily, and reached out to touch him. Duncan’s big body tensed beneath her.

  “Ciaran!” he choked her name and then swore raggedly, surprising her with his language. Instead of finding it offensive Ciaran found arousing. This was Duncan on the brink of losing control. His chest was heaving, his pupils were dilated, his body was throbbing against her palm… but Ciaran wasn’t in the least bit afraid. She was excited, and so wickedly thrilled by the power she realized she held over this incredible man.

  She raised herself up onto her knees. Duncan’s face was locked in a grimace that seemed to mimic pain, while Ciaran gasped, and whimpered, experimenting with what felt good.

  “Ciaran!” Duncan choked, jerking beneath her, unable to bear the exquisite torture in silence.

  “Alright, alright,” Ciaran purred, dizzy with the extent of her own control over the situation. Slowly, achingly, she relented to his demands.

  She had never taken a man so slowly in her life. It was incredibly overwhelming! She could hardly breathe as she felt the intimate invasion of her flesh.

  “Oh God,” she gasped, squeezing her eyes shut as she tried to get used to the exquisite sensation.

  She’d never had so much power-and yet, she felt completely out of control, too overwhelmed to move.

  With a frustrated moan, Duncan’s hands curled around her bottom and forced her to rock back on her knees, and then forward again.

  The bright flash of sensation that seared through her body finally jarred her into action. She began to move on her own.

  They were both wound too tight to last. Ciaran’s nails bit into the skin of Duncan’s shoulders as she neared her peak. Her body was taut and arched like a drawn bowstring, waiting for release.

  Duncan was impatient too. She could feel his thighs quivering beneath her own, and hear the quick pants of his breath.

  “Duncan!” she gasped as she neared the edge. “Duncan, I-oh, please!” She tried to cry out his name again, but only managed an inarticulate moan as she finally slipped over the brink.

  Ciaran didn’t have the energy to hold herself up. She collapsed, curling against Duncan’s sweat-damped chest in a puddle of contentment, snuggling even closer when he curled his arm around her back, holding her carefully in place.

  This was perfect.

  Ciaran sighed with contentment and closed her eyes, willing time to stand still, or else to stop completely. She could die contented, safe in Duncan’s arms, honestly happy for the first time in much too long.

  If life had taught Ciaran anything however, it was that happiness was a fragile and fleeting thing. Eventually, Duncan began to squirm and stretch, dislodging her from his chest. He rolled onto his side and looked up at the wall, making note of how the slant of the light had changed.

  “We’d better head back soon,” he said with a yawn, “I won’t be able to catch Brodie if I wait too long.”

  Ciaran nodded, unhappily reminded of what Duncan intended to do. She made to move, and was pleasantly surprised when Duncan held her in place.

  “Not just yet,” he said, and then bent forward to kiss the back of her neck as Ciaran settled down again.

  Duncan’s fingers slipped into her hair, lazily twirling one of the deep auburn locks as his eyes cast around the room. He was enjoying the stillness, and the closeness, relieved that his long wait was finally over.

  He didn’t trust himself to close his eyes. He was so comfortable and contented he would almost certainly fall asleep, and he did need to ride back to the trading post and make an offer on the farm. Duncan’s lips curled into a happy smile as he imagined all the other quiet afternoons that he would spend here with Ciaran wrapped up in his arms.

  Of course, they would make some improvements. Duncan was grateful for the soft, summer breeze that blew through the gaps in the logs - but it would be far less welcome come December!

  “We’ll need to mud up these walls,” he remarked aloud as he tried to hide a yawn, “And probably put on another roof and another room before the summer is out. It won’t be too long until Mary will need a place of her own.”

  He was surprised to feel Ciaran stiffen in his arms, and more puzzled still when she twisted to face him, her face pale and her eyes as wide as saucers. “What did you say?” she gasped.

  Duncan frowned, “I said it won’t be long until Mary will need a place of her own. We’ll keep her cradle here for a while, of course - but I meant, eventually, she-”

  “You mean to have Mary here?” Ciaran said, breathless.

  Duncan’s brow furrowed, “Well, I reckon she’ll be here with us,” he chuckled nervously, “Where else do you expect her to be?”

  Ciaran swallowed, her eyes bright and moist. “Then you mean…You want me here with you? All of us?”

  Duncan exhaled in shock as the point of her odd behavior became clear. Did she honestly think he meant to let her go? “Of course I want you!” he said ar
dently - but then he reconsidered. Perhaps she didn’t want him? He hesitated. “If you’ll stay?”

  Ciaran sobbed something Duncan couldn’t understand. She was smiling shakily though, and she looked happy, even if there were also tears running down her cheeks. He took that to be a good, if slightly odd, sign.

  “Of-of course I’ll stay!” she managed to choke out at last, dashing away her tears with the back of her hand.

  “You will?” Duncan gave a great sigh of relief. She’d had him scared for a second there. He reached for her again, and kissed her gently. “Then why are you crying, lassie?” he whispered, bemused.

  “Because I feel so-so much better! I thought-I thought-you were going to make us go on without you,” Ciaran hiccupped.

  Duncan shook his head and ran his hands over his lover’s body in soothing, relaxing circles, until she was soft and pliant beneath his touch.

  “You still don’t know me all that well, do you?” he murmured. He was a little sad this was the case, but he was determined to correct the omission. He was determined Ciaran would get used to being well treated! He wanted her to expect it-to demand it as her right.

  “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I couldn’t see why you would want us to stay with you.”

  Ciaran’s tears had stopped now, and there was just a timid little smile playing on her lips. Seeing it made Duncan want to kiss her, and so he did, slowly and thoroughly until Ciaran was clutching at him desperately.

  After masterfully enslaving her mouth until they were both panting and breathless, Duncan forced himself to roll out of bed and reach for his clothes.

  “We should get going,” he said regretfully.

  Ciaran nodded. “Yes, you want to make sure you speak to Mr. Brodie before anyone else has the chance,” she said, looking a little concerned. “You don’t think anyone else will make an offer on the land, do you?” she asked anxiously.

  Duncan smiled, and fastened his belt. He didn’t see any need to worry, but he was pleased to see that Ciaran was taking a greater interest in the purchase of the farm now that she knew she was staying. He couldn’t believe she had really doubted it.

  “If they have I’m pretty sure I can better it,” he said calmly.

  “You are?” Ciaran didn’t sound as confident. The look on her face as she fetched her own clothes told Duncan that she was worrying, but he was surprised to hear what it was that had her concerned this time. “Duncan,” she murmured uncertainly. “Are you a very rich man?”

  “Lord no!” he laughed.

  “But-but you were? Back in Scotland?” Ciaran pressed.

  Duncan fastened the last button of his shirt and looked at his lover in confusion. “Does it matter?”

  “The children and I, we’re not very rich,” Ciaran blurted, blushing.

  Duncan chuckled. “Well it’s a good thing I’m not after you for your money then, isn’t it?” he chuckled, kissing the top of her head affectionately, and helping her on with her dress.

  “Oh, Duncan! It isn’t funny!” she persisted anxiously. “You’re the Laird and I’m just….”

  “Just what?” he asked, turning her around to face him and dragging her in to another tender embrace. He didn’t give her a chance to answer. He was already well aware of what she was going to say, and equally certain it didn’t matter. He smothered her lips in a kiss, and then nudged her to the door. “We have to go.”

  Getting back outside in the clean air and bright sunshine seemed to revive Ciaran’s spirits. The knowledge she was staying in Staunton had revised her interest in the rich, dark earth.

  “We’ll want to be getting the barley in immediately,” she told him, looking over the gently sloping hill that ran to the river bank. “And it’s not too late to get some squash in too - and, of course, the potatoes. If we have a mild winter to start, they’ll stretch a bit, and that’ll be a blessing…the sheep can stay up on the hillside here…if you think we can fence them in? Oh, it would be a shame if they got into the cabbages!”

  Ciaran chattered on happily for the rest of the ride, impressing Duncan with her knowledge of farming, and pleasing him with her obvious enthusiasm.

  Duncan took her back to the wagons, and then returned to the trading post, leaving Ciaran behind to speak with the children, who were full of questions about where she’d been and what she’d seen.

  Ciaran was bursting with excitement. She wanted to tell the boys all about the beautiful valley they were going to call home, but she didn’t know if Duncan wanted her to keep it a secret, and she wasn’t certain it wouldn’t all fall through. After all, someone else might want the land, or Brodie could change his mind, or Duncan could change his mind when he heard the price.

  In the end, however, her fears proved unfounded. Just as she was dishing up dinner, Duncan finally returned. His gait was a bit unsteady, and his eyes were over bright. Ciaran had been with Sean too long not to recognize immediately that he’d had too much to drink, but apart from the things she’d noticed, he didn’t seem any the worse for it. He was smiling broadly, and toting two rolls of parchment in his hands.

  “Well then, lads!” Duncan announced, sitting down on the back of the wagon and gesturing for the family to gather round. “I suppose then your mother has told you the news?” Four pairs of eyes settled warily on Duncan, who laughed affectionately at the concerned frowns and then ruffled Aidan on the head. “Well, perhaps she didn’t-so I will. We’ve reached the end of the trail!”

  “We have?” Avery frowned and looked at his mother. “This isn’t Kentucky. What do you mean?”

  “I mean,” Duncan told him, “That I’ve bought some land right here-nine thousand acres and-!”

  “NINE THOUSAND ACRES?” Ciaran repeated, much too loud. She clamped her hand over her mouth and stared at him. “You said Brodie’s farm was three hundred!”

  “Aye,” Duncan admitted, nodding, “He’s only got three hundred cleared, but the patent was for a thousand, and he had a few other stakes besides…”

  “Nine thousand acres!” Ciaran said again, seemingly unable to wrap around the number in her mind. “We’ll never be able to farm so much!”

  “Well, we won’t,” Duncan agreed, “But the boys will need places of their own when they’re grown….and Frasure wants a plot…and Ross….and MacNab.”

  “Duncan?” Ciaran spoke his name impatiently, demanding an explanation.

  He blushed, “Well-there isn’t a lot to spend gold on in these parts. I reckon I’m only risking getting it stolen if I keep it under the bed. I went ahead and bought up the land and the others will pay us rent. It’s a fair idea, Ciaran. There won’t be much this first harvest, but we’ll have a little extra for the baby and the kids, and after trade really starts going then….”

  “How many tenants are you meaning to have, exactly?” Ciaran asked.

  “Uhm…” Duncan shifted guiltily. “All,” he finally admitted.

  “All?” Ciaran echoed.

  “Well-all of the MacRaes…and a few of the others decided to throw their lot in with us, didn’t have a choice, really. There aren’t enough to press on west, and the reports are that the Indians are raiding the whole frontier. LaSoeur’s hopping mad,” Duncan chuckled as if the idea of upsetting the Frenchman had been more than worth his gold.

  “But…” Ciaran shook her head, once again overwhelmed by his generosity and willingness to help his friends. “Why did you do that?” she asked him.

  Duncan shrugged, “Well, I am…was…the Laird.”

  Ciaran’s lips twitched in an uncertain little smile. She was willing to admit that maybe – just maybe she had fallen in love with Duncan. He was everything she had ever dreamed about finding in a man (and long ago given up as pure fantasy), but she could have done without the issue of his standing among the Scots hanging over them.

  She felt bad for feeling that way. She really did, but she couldn’t help it. He was so far above her. It made her feel small and inadequate, and a little bit insecure
. So many people depended on him. She was just one in a long queue.

  “Seeing as we’re all settled, I thought we’d stay put here for the night and head off to the farm tomorrow morning?” Duncan said, looking to Ciaran for approval.

  Personally, she wouldn’t have minded the hassle of packing everything up, if it meant she could sleep in a bed again, but the children were sleepy and almost settled, and she could surely face one last night of lying outside under the stars. Besides, she was too well trained from her marriage to Sean to oppose anything Duncan suggested.

  Not that she was married to Duncan…

  Ciaran frowned over that thought as she put her children to bed. Duncan had said they would all live on the farm together, but he hadn’t mentioned marriage. She shook her head to banish the crazy notion. As if he would to marry her. The idea was ludicrous. Why did she have to go and spoil everything by even thinking about it?

  “Do you want to see the deed?” Duncan asked excitedly, pulling Ciaran down beside him by the fire once the children were all tucked up and snoring. She tensed a little, but he didn’t appear to notice.

  “I-ugh-”

  “Go on, have a look,” he grinned widely, unrolling the parchment.

  Ciaran squirmed and looked down at the paper obediently. Letters and numbers swam in front of her eyes, but the order they had been placed in didn’t make the least bit of sense. She smiled and nodded, and tried to make it seem like she knew what it all said, but knew she would be caught in her lie if Duncan asked the least little question about what was written on the deed.

  She glanced up from the paper to Duncan’s face, and found him staring at her expectantly. He was wearing a rather boyish, uncertain smile she had never seen before, and instinctively she knew he was waiting for some kind of reaction from her - but what?

  “It’s ugh-nice?” she said weakly, panic instantly flaring to life in her stomach when Duncan’s expression crumpled. She’d said something wrong.