by Ria Cantrell
Hugging the woman again, Kiera sniffled back her own tears. “I will tell him. I promise. Thank you. It will make him so happy. Every time he speaks of you, he is filled with such deep sadness. I only wish he could hear it for himself. You would be amazed at the man he has become.”
Rory stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest. He had happened upon the women talking and he had not meant to eavesdrop, so he waited. He had watched the entire scene unfold and though he found what he had heard hard to believe, he was once again astounded at the forgiving heart of the woman he had married. He would ever distrust the likes of the Campbell, but then again, Brielle was a Campbell, too. Their children had ties to the Campbell line. Rory was moved by the gentle spirit of his beautiful wife. She would make the perfect lady of a laird and his heart welled with pride and love for her. When she saw him waiting, Brielle went into his arms and let go a sob she had kept in check until this moment. Rory held her and said, “Yer’ loving heart; it heals where none else can.”
Brielle understood that Rory meant his own healing as much as for her brother and she relaxed in the warmth of his embrace for just a moment longer. After a few minutes more, he said, “We have to go now, aye?”
“Aye, I am ready now.”
Turning back to Kiera she said, “Thank ye’, Lady. T’is taken the bitter sting out of so sad a day. Love my brother and tell him I would if I could. Perhaps the Guardians will see fit to reunite us one day.”
Kiera felt that it was true. If nothing else, there was forgiveness and as Rory had said, forgiveness was the Great Healer. Now, if only she could send some of the healing to her husband, here in this time, while he waited for her to find him hundreds of years from now. It just really sucked that she could not offer him some level of hope to hold onto; to assure him that she waited for him. At least she would have Brielle’s words to comfort him upon her return home. Suddenly, Kiera wanted nothing more than to be safely in her husband’s arms, loving him and nurturing their marriage. All the terrible things that had taken place since their arrival in this time made Kiera appreciate all they had endured to be together.
~
Chapter Fifty-Two ~
After everyone had left with the procession to take Caleb to his place of rest, the royal envoy was also readying themselves to move on with their journey. Already the weather was becoming more inclement and so the king wished to be on his way before the first real snow fall. He hoped to make it back to his Winter Palace by the first week of Advent. He would continue his gyration after the first thaw and so with a gracious spirit, he thanked the hosts of his first stop on his tour. Despite the deception that had transpired, he had been well-pleased with their hospitality.
Richard had planned to continue traveling through to Christmastide but he had not anticipated the weather being so uncooperative. Also, he had not planned for the possibility of an assassination attempt. After much discussion with his guards, he agreed to return to his home where he would call for a Winter Court. He wanted to question all the other Lords Appellant and the rest of his tour would have to wait until the first signs of spring.
While all the activity was taking place in the outer bailey, Tom sought out Jenna. He really needed to speak to her and to spend some time alone with her. He had not had a chance to talk to her since the king had declared them betrothed and he needed to see what she thought of it all. He also really needed to kiss her. He had liked lots of women over the years and slept with his fair share of them, too, but never had he felt like he did when he was with Jenna. It was truly different and the reason was because he was completely and totally in love with her.
He had some very difficult decisions to process and soon he would, but not this day. This day, he had to hold his woman in his arms and let his heart just enjoy how it felt to love. Nothing else mattered for now.
As luck would have it, Tom found Jenna sitting at the bottom of the stairs leading to the private apartments above. His heart hitched painfully at the sight because she was lost in thought and sadness was deeply present by the way she sat so quietly. Her beautiful lips were drawn downward in grief. Tom went and sat beside her, putting his hands between his bent knees.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
“Ye’ have?” Jenna raised sad eyes to him; she searched his face, but for what Tom could not tell.
“I just needed to see you. Are you alright?”
With a heavy sigh, Jenna said, “I dunna’ know. I dunna’ think I will ever be alright again.”
“That’s just grief talking, sweetheart. You will know joy again, I promise you that.”
Jenna tried to pull off a smile, but she failed miserably. Instead her lips trembled and as tears spilled out of the corners of her eyes, she sobbed, “I dunna’ know what we will do without him. I loved him so, Tavish. I loved him so.”
Tom put his arm around her shoulders. Suddenly, for the first time since meeting her, she seemed fragile. She had been such a strong personality and to feel her broken made his heart actually hurt. “I know, love. It’s alright to cry.”
Tom kissed the side of her face and he felt her turn so that her lips brushed his. At first she pulled away, needing to embrace her grief, but after only a few seconds, she looked back at him and meeting the icy shards of silver in his gaze, Jenna flung her arms around his neck and pulled his face closer to hers. She locked her lips against his and kissed him so passionately, Tom instantly felt himself rise under the folds of the kilt. He untangled her arms briefly, but when he saw the look of disappointment on her face, he simply whispered, “Come with me. Your kin are seeing to the king’s departure. I need to be alone with you. Now!”
She stood up and he took hold of her hand. Looking back over her shoulder, Jenna saw no one behind them and she hurried to keep up with the long strides of Tavish as he led her up to his quarters. He barred the door behind him and he grabbed Jenna with force, but not to hurt her. He just had to feel her in his arms. He pulled her so that she was pressed completely to him, and he could feel her breasts pushing into his chest. He felt the delicious shock of Jenna’s fingers raking through his hair as his mouth plundered hers in a kiss that punished him more than it did her. His tongue darted between her lips and he gently nipped down on her bottom lip. Again, it did not feel painful; nay indeed. To Jenna, it felt sublime. She wanted him to devour her and when she felt his hand inch under the swell of her breast, she leaned into his palm and dueled her tongue with his. Tom’s hand moved from her breast down her side and held her at the small of her back. He pressed her closer and his fingers pressed into her derriere, causing her to moan into his open mouth. He kneaded the softer roundness of her bum and he caught her between his thighs as he kissed her deeply. Every time he did, she moaned and Tom nearly lost his mind at the sound.
“I want you so much right now but I don’t want to force you if you are too….”
He never got to finish the sentence because she kissed him with so much passion, Tom almost felt his knees buckle. Taking her hand, he inched it up his thigh under his kilt. He pressed her palm to his hard length and said gruffly, “Feel what you do to me.”
Even though they had made love before, there was still a sweet innocence about her and her eyes widened at the contact. Even so, she did not even try to remove her hand. Instead, with her eyes still wide with surprise, she closed her fingers around his cock and she gave him a gentle squeeze. It was him that moaned this time and the sound actually made Jenna giggle a little.
“Wanton wench,” he said playfully.
“Ye’ make me feel like that,” she admitted. Never had any man made her want to be out of her clothes so fast as Tavish MacCollum did. And as if he could read her mind, his fingers pulled at the laces in the black gown she wore in order to loosen them sufficiently. When his fingers snagged in the loops of the ribbons she pleaded breathlessly, “Do nay worry about them. I need ye’ now, Tavish. I canna’ wait.”
Tom wanted to rip the lacings right out of her gow
n, but instead, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his bed. Pushing her skirts up, he caressed her thighs. She was trembling and Tom knew it was desire that was ruling her now; not fear or grief, and that suited him just fine. He loosened his belt and felt the plaid pool at his feet. He peeled off his leine, tossing it beside the plaid on the floor. Jenna’s eyes had darkened with passion and her tongue licked her lips as she boldly assessed him; never taking her eyes from his nakedness for even one shy second. Jenna slipped her gown down her shoulders for Tom had sufficiently loosed the lacings and as it slid lower, one breast peaked from the top of her bodice. “Ooh,” he sighed. “I must taste that delicious breast.”
Jenna laughed nervously but when his mouth gently clamped over one peaked nipple, she arched beneath him and moaned. Tom then stuck one of his fingers into his own mouth and while he kissed her, he slid that finger between her slightly parted legs. He found her to be quite wet already and when he eased that finger slowly inside of her, she threw her head back on his pillow and cried out.
“Ssh,” he warned playfully. As he put a soft touch against her lips, his other hand moved through her dampened curls. “Open a little wider for me, will you, beautiful one?”
Jenna, not usually one to obey any man, felt herself complying to anything he asked of her. She said softly, “Please; I need ye’ now.”
“I know. As do I. I just wanted to take a little time.”
“Later, we can take our time later. Please love me, Tavish. Love me now.”
Brushing a kiss on her brow, he said, “I do love you. With all my heart.”
“Love me with yer’ body, then. Make me one with ye. I need ye’ to fill me. Be inside me, my love. Dunna’ make me beg.”
With a wicked smile, Tom said, “But you are so beautiful when you beg me.”
“Blackguard,” she hissed.
Tom gently rotated his middle finger inside of her, mimicking how he would thrust within her when he joined her. With each stroke, he could feel her tightening about his knuckles and he longed to feel that around his manhood. He caressed her, finding her sweet little nub and he walked his fingers around it. He wanted to make her wild with wanting and when she began to writhe to the rhythm of his fingers, Tom could barely contain himself. He ached to be inside of her so without much further torment to either of them, he drew her legs around his hips and he slowly slid into her waiting body. He cupped her exposed breast and he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. That made her cry out and so he did it again. Her hips danced with his as he moved with her, sliding in and out and making her sigh in pleasure.
Afterward, they lay wrapped in each other’s arms, breathing as one. Jenna had finally managed to slide her gown off and they held one another; flesh against flesh. He stroked her hair and felt her warmth as they lay tangled amid the bedding. She put her head onto his chest and she listened to the steady beat of his heart.
She spoke and said, “Will ye’ stay with me, now?”
It was a question that he wasn’t prepared to answer yet. Part of him never wanted to let her go. His heart almost could explode at the thought of leaving her, but his life was not here. He had a life that he had left behind and he was not sure he could put it aside. Still, life without her was something he could not even fathom at the moment. He said, honestly, “I don’t know.”
“Oh.”
“Jenna, I have a different life where I am from but the thought of leaving you here is too hard for me to bear. I have never been in love before but now I know that I love you so very much.”
In a voice just above a whisper, with her hand stroking over his arm that held her, Jenna said, “Then take me with ye’, Tavish. I will go with ye’, if ye’ wish me to.”
“Sweetheart, your place is here, with your family and clan.”
“I have lands, aye, but all my life I have wanted to be my own woman. Oddly, I finally feel that way only after being with ye’. T’is as if I could nay be myself until ye’ became a part of me.”
Tom kissed her for her words struck a chord that rang hollow in his chest. He felt like something had been missing, too and all along he thought it was because he was adopted. Now that he knew who his biological mother was, Tom understood it wasn’t that at all. It was that he needed to find Jenna. With Jenna, he felt completed; as if all that yearning for belonging was no longer there. Even though they only knew each other a short time, Tom felt more attuned to this woman than anyone else in his entire life. Trying to be rational about things he replied, “Besides, I don’t know if I can bring you with me. I still don’t understand how all of this works.”
“Ye’ are Morag’s son, Tavish. She can help ye’ understand.”
Those words sank into his soul and he wondered if it could be possible. Perhaps she had a point. He had made it to the fourteenth century. Why couldn’t he bring Jenna back with him if he wished hard enough for it?
Jenna turned and straddling him, she leaned her forearms on his chest and she said, “I made a vow, Tavish. One ye’ need to know. I promised myself I would nay force yer’ hand. Ye’ have to make the choice, no’ me. I have made my choice, but I will nay bend yer’ will for I hated it when I was being manipulated to do the things I did nay wish to do. Ye’ will know in yer’ heart and only ye’ can make the choice. I promise this to ye’ and I promise to give ye’ the time ye’ need to come to the decision on yer’ own. But ye’ must know, that given a choice, I choose ye’, my love. The rest is now up to ye’.”
“You honor me with such a great gift. I think I know what I must do but give me a little time and you will have my answer.”
~
Chapter Fifty-Three ~
Left to her own devices, Kiera found herself lonesome for her husband and her little girl. She pulled her cloak tightly about herself and she crossed the open drawbridge toward the rolling countryside that expanded before her as far as her eye could see. The loch behind the keep sparkled beneath the pink streaked sky of dawn. Having lived in Scotland for nearly two years, she was growing used to the chill that permeated the warmest clothes. She was grateful to have one of Bronwyn’s fur-lined cloaks to keep the cold from settling into her bones for without the sun’s full rays, the slightest breeze could be felt like a cutting blade.
With the hood tucked over her head, she ventured out into the beckoning hills. All had been quiet in the keep when she awoke, what with the funeral procession and the royal progress gone. She normally was an early riser and without the warmth of Derek beside her, Kiera decided to explore the grounds of her home as it appeared in Derek’s time.
As her leather boots crunched on the soft dusting of newly fallen snow, Kiera breathed in the sweet air, unfettered with pollution and grime. Everything seemed brighter and clearer in this time. Colors seemed more vivid and scents were more vibrant. She took another deep breath; filling her lungs with it like sweet nectar for her soul. God, she adored this land and knowing this was the place that Derek had lived in his youth filled her with love and longing. It seemed wrong that he was not with her to experience it beside of her.
Turning from the lake, Kiera eyed the dense copse of trees that bordered the clearing. They seemed thicker than she had remembered and as she neared them, she heard her name whispered in the wind. Kiera; it was just like the first time she had stepped foot there and now she heard it again. She looked around to see if anyone had called out to her, but there was no one near enough to call her; certainly none that she could hear if someone had.
Picking up her skirts in her hand, she held the long dress out of her feet’s way as she walked ever closer to the beckoning woods. In her musings, she thought how comfortable she had become wearing the garments of the past and she was reminded of her own wedding, when she had chosen to wear a similar style gown to honor the time from which Derek had come. Now, it felt so natural, she wondered if she would wear more like it once she got home. Would she ever get home? That thought haunted her and she dashed it away with the sense of fe
ar that came with it. Kiera could not even be sure how much time had passed since she left. Would she have been gone weeks or months by now? She was not certain and thinking about it made her head pound. She did not want to spoil her refreshing walk with a headache so she focused on the line of trees that had been in her sight.
She knew where she was heading and she realized that it was a dangerous thing to do, but she just needed to be near him. She was certain that she would not be stupid enough to jeopardize her life with Derek in the future by breaching the unspoken laws set in place but she just needed to be near him. She hoped she could find her way to the tower in the thicket for there seemed to be no clear path leading there. Landmarks that she was used to were very different in this time.
She whispered, “Can you feel me, my love? I am here just outside of your tower. You do not know me yet, but I think our hearts are linked through space and time. Can you sense me?”
Suddenly a dark raven flew up from the trees and cawed loudly overhead. Kiera must have startled it while she walked deeper into the forest. It scared me pretty good, too, she thought and she wondered if it was some sort of ominous warning for her to turn back. Tendrils of unease began to creep up her spine and Kiera shook it off. She was just being silly. There was nothing to worry about. This was her home; just six hundred plus years earlier. She shook herself mentally and said out loud, “Stop this nonsense. You’re giving yourself the heebie jeebies. It’s just a well-needed walk in the fresh air. You needed the peace and quiet after the past couple of weeks of madness in the keep. Stop being a baby.”
