Bethia

by Keira Montclair

  He reached between them and caressed her pleasure spot until she felt the pain ease and her need return.

  She moved against him and he slid inside her, then pulled back out. “Nay…stay inside me.”

  “You are better?”

  “Aye.”

  He thrust inside her and pulled back out again slowly until her need built inside her enough for her to pulse around him. “More.”

  He moved inside her and she joined him in his rhythm, rocking against him over and over again until her need swelled and pushed her over the edge, her orgasm rocking her insides, her muscles contracting on him until he groaned, pouring his seed into her.

  He held her as they both panted, doing their best to calm their breathing. He kissed her lips and rolled to the side of her. “You are not sore?”

  “Nay, ‘twas most wonderful. Did I please you?”

  He sighed and kissed her again. “Aye, you pleased me, more than I even thought possible.”

  She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder, more pleased than she’d ever been before.

  She’d had no idea love could be this wonderful or this all-consuming.

  ***

  Two days later, they married in the middle of the great hall of Cairnie Castle, her mother on one side of her and her sire behind her, and Bethia could not be happier. She kissed her husband with as much exuberance as she dared.

  She wore the gown Donnan’s mother had created for her and her cousins and siblings stood behind them, along with Joan and her husband, many tears flowing. Once the congratulations ended, Donnan settled his hand around Bethia’s waist. He turned to his sister. “I love you, Joan. I know you’ll continue to run the castle as well as you always have.”

  Joan gave both of them a hug and said, “Please promise me you’ll visit.”

  “We will.”

  Bethia gave each of her cousins a hug and they cheered her on. Lily couldn’t stop crying, and Sorcha gave her the biggest squeeze and whispered, “I’m glad you’re staying on Ramsay land. I’d miss you too much. We all need you.”

  Her mother took her by the hand and said, “Say good-bye to everyone. Your husband wishes to take you home this night. We’ll follow on the morrow. There are two others waiting to congratulate you outside, and I do hate to keep either of them waiting long.”

  Puzzled, she waved to everyone while Donnan took the package of food that had been prepared for them. Then she and her new husband followed her mother and father out the door.

  Uncle Logan stood outside, brushing one of the horses down. The second guest her mother had spoken of surprised her even more.

  Shewolf sat off to the side of the gates.

  “Shewolf!” She rushed over to the beast, but did not touch her until the wolf met her eyes. Then she gave the creature a small hug. “Many thanks for saving me, my girl.”

  Donnan patted the wolf fondly on the head before turning Bethia to face her uncle.

  “I know you prefer animals to me. You’re my niece. I’ve known that for years.”

  She laughed and ran over to throw her arms around her uncle’s neck. Her sire watched the two of them with a gleam of fondness in his gaze. “Are you upset that we decided against the big ceremony?”

  Uncle Logan chuckled. “Hellfire, nay.”

  She asked, “Why not? With all your trips to Edinburgh, I thought you’d want me to marry there. I expected you to be more upset than anyone.”

  “Nay. I wish for you to be true to yourself.” He tipped his head to Donnan. “If you wouldn’t keep my crown as Queen of the Festival, then how could you possibly wish to be dressed up as a countess and flaunted in front of everyone?”

  She couldn’t help but smile at her uncle’s reasoning.

  He was exactly right.

  Epilogue

  Ten months after her wedding, Bethia sat in her bed, a smile on her face, watching the man she adored. Her mother came in and asked, “Is there aught else I can do for you, Bethia? The birth went beautifully. He’s a perfect wee laddie. We brought meat pies for you that should last a couple of days in that fancy cold storage your husband built deep in the ground. You still have fruit. I’ll stop by in a few days and help you take a tub bath if you would like.”

  Her sire joined her mother, grinning like a fool. “He’s a fine laddie, daughter.”

  Donnan finally stopped staring at their sweet bairn in the cradle next to the bed. “Nay, Brenna. I can help her into the tub.”

  “I wouldn’t do it tomorrow. I did have to stitch you in one place, so I’d let that settle for a few days. You know we’ll probably be back on the morrow.” She winked at her daughter and whispered, “I doubt I’ll be able to keep your sire away.”

  Once they had left, Donnan stared at their son again. “Bethia, he’s perfect. Look how he’s sleeping. Your mother said not to leave too many blankets in the cradle. I like the thick dressing gown she sewed for him. Mayhap he will not need an extra blanket at night.” He glanced at her, hope in his eyes. “You know how worried my thoughts will be otherwise. What shall we call him?”

  She rested back on the pillows her mother had arranged for her. “I’m not sure.”

  “Not Donnie.”

  “Nay. Not Donnie. But we’ll never forget Donnie. I promise. He’s your firstborn. How about Drystan or Drostan? ‘Tis not exactly the same, but ‘twould be similar enough to be a tribute to your first son.”

  “Thank you,” he said. He thought for a moment, then replied, “I like that. How about Drystan? It will remind us of Donnie, but he’ll be different.”

  “Aye,” she agreed happily.

  Still staring at their newly born son, Donnan’s brow furrowed when the bairn scrunched his face up and let out a howl, his face turning bright red. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “Why don’t you bring him to me? Mayhap he’s hungry.”

  “Och, Bethia. We forgot to ask your mother about a wet nurse or for some contraption to feed the bairn goat’s milk. I can go after her.”

  She could tell by his expression that he was overwrought. “Donnan, bring him to me. I’ll feed him.”

  He did as she asked, handling the bairn with such care, she had to control her smile. Donnan would be a wonderful father.

  She opened her gown and brought the wee babe to her breast. He rooted for a bit, expressing his frustration with his wee fists, but Bethia readjusted him and cooed encouragement to their handsome lad. Once he latched on to her nipple, his fists relaxed and he suckled with pleasure. “Oh, I think he’s latched on well.”

  Donnan continued to stare at her. Tears ran down his cheeks and he turned away, looking for a linen square.

  “Husband, I cannot promise he’ll live forever, but both of us will do everything in our power to keep this baby alive and well. You believe that, do you not?”

  Donnan nodded.

  “Why do you cry?”

  He reached down to pet Wynda’s head, then opened the door to let the dogs outside for a bit. When he came back, tears still slid down his cheek.

  “Donnan? Help me understand.”

  “Glenna never wished to feed Donnie from her breast. She said it didn’t work, so we fed him goat’s milk. I fed him goat’s milk.”

  “Oh, I’ll feed our son. You need not worry about that. I love doing this. It makes me feel close to him. You may sit with us.”

  “I would like that if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not.”

  He moved over to the bed and rested across it, in a perfect position to watch the two of them as Drystan nursed.

  After a few moments of observing the mother and child, he whispered, “You worried many days in your life about being beautiful, wife, do you not agree?”

  “Aye. I know ‘twas foolish of me. As long as I’m beautiful to you, I’ll be happy.”

  He paused, thoughtful about what was in front of him, before he said, “There is nothing more beautiful than you feeding our son. ‘Tis the true meaning of beauty to me.”<
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  She leaned over and kissed her husband. “I will forever remember that, husband.”

  THE END

  Dear Readers,

  Thank you for reading Bethia’s story. This will be the last story in The Highland Clan for a while, but not forever. I will return to it as there are many more stories to tell.

  My plan is to pull seven characters from The Highland Clan and give them their own series, as yet untitled. Which ones?

  Maggie, Connor, Roddy, Braden, Gavin, Gregor, and David. They will join together for some special excursions…well, that’s all I’ll say for now, but I promise they will each receive their own story. Stay tuned for this new series in the Grant/Ramsay saga, which will begin in early 2018.

  I will also release the next Summerhill novel before the end of the year, Lauren’s story.

  The last is a super secret story. You’ll see.

  Please share your interest in my writing with other readers. I would also greatly appreciate it if you would write a review. I do read them.

  Happy reading and keep in touch!

  www.keiramontclair.com

  http://facebook.com/KeiraMontclair/

  http://www.pinterest.com/KeiraMontclair/

  Keira Montclair

  NOVELS BY KEIRA MONTCLAIR

  THE CLAN GRANT SERIES

  #1- RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER-Alex and Maddie

  #2- HEALING A HIGHLANDER’S HEART-Brenna and Quade

  #3- LOVE LETTERS FROM LARGS-Brodie and Celestina

  #4-JOURNEY TO THE HIGHLANDS-Robbie and Caralyn

  #5-HIGHLAND SPARKS-Logan and Gwyneth

  #6-MY DESPERATE HIGHLANDER-Micheil and Diana

  #7-THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE HIGHLANDS-Jennie and Aedan

  #8- HIGHLAND HARMONY-Avelina and Drew

  THE HIGHLAND CLAN

  LOKI-Book One

  TORRIAN-Book Two

  LILY-Book Three

  JAKE-Book Four

  ASHLYN-Book Five

  MOLLY-Book Six

  JAMIE AND GRACIE- Book Seven

  SORCHA-Book Eight

  KYLA-Book Nine

  BETHIA-Book Ten

  THE SOULMATE CHRONICLES

  #1 TRUSTING A HIGHLANDER

  THE SUMMERHILL SERIES- CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

  #1-ONE SUMMERHILL DAY

  #2-A FRESH START FOR TWO

  REGENCY

  THE DUKE AND THE DRESSMAKER

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Keira Montclair is the pen name of an author who lives in Florida with her husband. She loves to write fast-paced, emotional romance, especially with children as secondary characters in her stories.

  She has worked as a registered nurse in pediatrics and recovery room nursing. Teaching is another of her loves, and she has taught both high school mathematics and practical nursing.

  Now she loves to spend her time writing, but there isn’t enough time to write everything she wants! Her Highlander Clan Grant series, comprising of eight standalone novels, is a reader favorite. Her third series, The Highland Clan, set twenty years after the Clan Grant series, focuses on the Grant/Ramsay descendants. She also has a contemporary series set in The Finger Lakes of Western New York.

  Her newest series is The Soulmate Chronicles, historical romance with a touch of paranormal.

  Copyright © 2017 Keira Montclair

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

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