All the papers had been signed. Now, Seona and her family members waited outside the charming small chapel, almost hidden amongst the trees. She held a bouquet of bluebells tied with a yellow ribbon. When Keegan had presented them to her earlier, tears had gathered in her eyes.
“Wait! Wait!” Aunt Patience trotted along the flagstone pathway, near out of breath, her face red. MacMillan followed behind her.
“Och, nay,” Talia whispered beside her.
“What is she about?” Malcolm muttered.
Seona prayed her aunt wasn’t going to cause a fuss.
“I have to be here for this.”
Seona frowned. “You’re not going to try to stop me?”
“Nay. You deserve happiness.” She gave Seona an awkward hug then stood back, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry I was so… harsh and uncaring before. I only did it because of your father. He’d threatened me. If I’d let you associate with any man he wouldn’t approve of, he would’ve turned me out on the muddy street without a shilling to my name. I hope you can forgive me.”
Was her aunt being truthful? She couldn’t figure out a reason Patience would need to manipulate her now. Malcolm would treat her well and provide for her.
Seona was unsure she’d had such a quick change of heart, but she didn’t want to argue on her official wedding day. “I’m willing to forgive anyone who’s truly sorry for what they’ve done.”
Her aunt nodded with sad acceptance. “I know you have a hard time believing me, but I’ll prove it to you.”
The reverend motioned them forward. Seona took Malcolm’s arm and they stepped into the tiny chapel with its polished oak ceiling and gray stone floor. She found her knees were weak as she stood on the threshold. She had been in this chapel a few times before, but never had the stained glass windows appeared so vivid and colorful.
Keegan waited for her at the front, near the altar. She focused on his smiling sky-blue eyes, shining with love and happiness, as she made her way toward him.
They repeated the vows they’d already said to each other in private days before. If possible, Seona meant the words even more now. Her love for Keegan grew each day.
When the ceremony was over, the minister announced they were man and wife. Keegan placed a quick kiss upon her lips and rushed her out the door. His friends followed, and once they’d exited the church, let loose shrill whistles and made raucous and bawdy comments.
Keegan glanced back, then dragged Seona behind a thick yew bush where he promptly kissed her senseless.
***
A week later, relief flowed through Keegan when they topped a very tall hill and spied Teasairg Castle in the distance. The sun hung low in the sky, casting vivid yellow, orange and pink across the horizon and the loch.
“What a beautiful sunset,” Seona said, riding pillion. Although she had her own horse, he wanted her as close as possible in the event Haldane attacked again. And he was simply addicted to the feel of her body against his.
“Aye,” he agreed. “But not as beautiful as you.”
“You are naught but a charmer,” she chided, playfully smacking his arm.
He grinned and twisted around for a kiss. He savored her sweet lips, wanting to drag her onto his lap.
“We’ll arrive at Teasairg soon enough and you two can take a private room,” Fraser said.
Talia, riding a separate horse behind his, blushed.
“Do you think your brother will allow us to honeymoon there?” Keegan asked.
Fraser snorted. “’Haps. So long as you don’t flaunt your marital bliss too much.”
MacMillan rode by, Lady Patience behind him. They had secretly married just a few hours after Seona and Keegan. And he was glad to see the lady no longer glared at him. In fact, she had taken on the unusual habit of smiling at everyone. He supposed MacMillan deserved the credit for that. Keegan still didn’t trust her, but he hoped she’d truly changed.
He guided his horse forward, wanting to arrive and see how Dirk fared, not to mention eating and taking Seona to bed. Not that he preferred eating food to bedding her, but he would need his strength. He grinned, imagining all the delicious, naughty things he would do to her. They’d had very little private time over the past week and he looked forward to much more.
An hour later, they neared the castle gates. Once the guards recognized Dermott and Fraser at the forefront of their party, they raised the portcullis.
Horses’ hooves clomped across the thick wooden boards of the long bridge that led out to the small island where the castle sat.
Guards and groomsmen greeted them in the walled courtyard. Keegan dismounted and lifted Seona down. The smile she gifted him with inspired him to give her another quick kiss.
“What the devil is going on here?”
Keegan turned at the familiar voice and watched Dirk approaching with a grin, hardly a limp in his step.
“Cousin.” Keegan took Dirk’s forearm in a warrior handshake. “Are you well?”
“Aye. My leg is mended and only a wee bit of soreness remains.”
“Thanks be to God,” Seona said.
“Chief, I’d like you to meet my wife,” Keegan said proudly, his arm around Seona’s shoulders.
Dirk’s smile grew wider and he bowed. “I’m more than happy to welcome you to the clan, m’lady.” He shook Keegan’s hand again and gave him a back-slapping embrace. “’Twas what I was hoping to hear. But how could it be anything else since you brought her back, aye? Isobel will be happy to hear this news as well.”
“I’ll go find her.” Seona rushed up the steps and inside, Talia following.
Rebbie strode forward and greeted Dirk.
“What of Chief Murray?” Dirk asked.
“Dead,” Rebbie said.
Dirk’s eyes widened and darted to Keegan. “What happened?”
“’Tis a long story,” Keegan said. “Come. I’ll tell you. But first, I will say there is naught to worry over. I signed a peace treaty with Malcolm Murray, the new chief.”
“In truth? You did well, Keegan.”
“The only bad thing is that Haldane and McMurdo are still roaming free.”
Dirk frowned. “Well, they are wily. And I always feel torn about Haldane. On the one hand, he is my brother and I hate to see him dead. On the other, he keeps trying to kill me, so we have to take him out if we can.”
Keegan nodded. “I feel the same way. I suspect he and his men have hastened to Durness to ambush us when we arrive back there.”
“Saints! ’Tis a good thing I left plenty of men guarding Dunnakeil, including my sword-bearer. I ken Jessie couldn’t handle it alone,” Dirk said.
“Nay.” ’Twas true Dirk’s sister was tough, but she was not a fearsome warrior.
“We’ll need to return as soon as possible.”
***
That night after supper, Seona and Keegan were escorted to one of the nicest bedchambers at Teasairg. Seona had noticed Isobel whispering with the maids during supper. Now, she and Keegan stood just inside the closed door of the chamber. A huge tub of steaming water sat before the hearth, where a roaring fire burned. The covers were turned back on the bed, the clean white sheets glowing in the candlelight. A bottle of wine and two silver goblets sat on a small table along with a vase of bluebells.
“’Tis amazing,” Seona whispered, her throat tight. Tears burned her eyes.
“Och.” Keegan took her into his arms, his warmth and strength seeping into her. “Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy. I never truly thought ’twould be possible to have you for my own.”
He grinned and kissed her forehead. “Well, maybe I believed it enough for both of us.”
She stared up into his blue eyes, turned darker in the night. There was naught she enjoyed more… well, except for kissing him… and making love to him.
He leaned down, claiming her lips with slow sweet kisses that grew hotter and more urgent with each moment that passed. He tasted of spice
d wine and she could not get enough.
He groaned and pulled back an inch. “’Tis time for us to indulge in something we haven’t yet.”
“What?” Seona wondered what else she needed to know about lovemaking. Since they’d only gotten to spend two nights together since that first time, because of crowded sleeping arrangements and various other problems, she was certain she had a lot more to learn about marital relations.
“Bathing each other.” He unclasped the brooch holding his plaid together at his shoulder, then unbuttoned his doublet.
She watched, fascinated, as he quickly stripped off each article of clothing—his boots, his belt, his plaid, his shirt. And then he was bare. She held her breath, taking in all his delicious golden skin and sculpted muscles. His chest, his rippled abdomen and the trail of gilded hair that led down to… Heavens! He was fully aroused.
And now, so was she.
“What are you doing?” he asked, moving toward her.
She swallowed hard. “Naught.”
“Aye, exactly. You were supposed to be undressing.” He unbelted her arisaid and let it drop to the floor, then quickly divested her of the rest of her clothing.
When she stood before him naked, she shivered. Not because of cold, but because his gaze was so hot, like blue flame touched to kindling. He lifted her and stood her in the tub, then sat down on the opposite end.
“Come.” He motioned her toward him.
When she lowered herself between his muscular thighs and leaned back against his hard chest and hard… other things, she felt almost sinful. But he was her husband, and there was no need for shame or embarrassment.
Taking the soap, he lathered his hands, then glided his palms up her wet arms and over her shoulders, massaging deeply. She sighed in delight. After bathing her neck, he trailed his hands down to her breasts, gently cupped and caressed them. He uttered a breathy moan in her ear.
Once he’d soaped his hands again, he trailed them down to her hips. He drew her onto his lap, turned her slightly toward him and kissed her lips, delicious sinful tongue kisses. The next thing she knew, his hand was between her thighs, stroking over her most sensitive parts. She gasped and widened her legs, craving more of his intoxicating touch.
He groaned. “Aye.”
“I want you,” she whispered, the ache inside her growing more intense.
“You must bathe me first, m’lady.” He grinned and handed her the soap.
What? She could scarce form a coherent thought. But she made an effort.
After scrambling off his lap, she knelt facing him, between his legs. She glanced down to see the tip of his shaft protruding from the water. Heat and arousal drenched her. Dropping the soap, she slid her lathered hands up and down his sleek, stone-hard length.
He muttered a curse and stiffened, his eyes growing even darker. Was he near to losing control? Deciding to tease and tempt him, she took the soap and slicked it over his sculpted chest, around his neck, under his arms.
When he tried to stroke her nipples, she caught his hand and washed his arm but his other hand found its mark, tweaking her already hard nipple.
He pulled her astride his thighs. “Lean back.”
“Why?”
“I want to wash your hair.” He grinned.
Looking into his mischievous eyes, she wondered what he was about. “How?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Aye, you ken I do.”
“Then relax.”
When she leaned backward, he dipped her long hair into the water, then pulled her upright. He combed soapy fingers through her hair then rubbed his fingertips against her scalp. It felt heavenly. She sighed, enjoying that and his hard member pressed against her lower belly.
“Time to lean back and rinse,” he said. Once she did and her hair was free of suds, he tugged her up again. “That was one luscious sight,” he murmured, his eyes heavy-lidded with desire.
She blushed, imagining herself as he must have seen her, back arched, breasts thrust upward.
He captured her lips in a carnal kiss, sliding his tongue inside and taunting hers.
Abruptly, he pushed himself from the tub, supporting her with one arm, and stood.
“We didn’t wash your hair yet.”
“Later,” he said against her mouth and carried her toward the bed.
“My hair is too wet,” she said. “’Twill drench the sheets.”
He grinned wickedly. “Well, who needs a bed?”
What did he mean?
She had already wrapped her legs around his waist. Now, his shaft rubbed against her in a most enticing way. She hissed. “Aye, Keegan.”
“Are you certain?” he teased.
“Aye, I want you. Now.”
“Och, you are a demanding wench.” He nibbled on her neck and positioned himself. With one hard thrust, he slid to her depths.
She cried out at the sudden penetration. Although she craved him, she was not yet accustomed to his size. It always took her a few moments to adjust.
Holding himself deep within her, he tongued her nipples, suckled them. She moaned and he started moving, sliding in a slow and provocative manner. She sensed something at her back. The door. And his arm. The other beneath her hips. He held her just so, driving himself up into her at a faster pace with each moment that passed. Pleasure ricocheted through her, resounding, overwhelming. How was such intense sensation possible? She held on ’round his neck, her fingers buried in his thick hair, his mouth against hers, breathing hard, devouring. He consumed every part of her and she begged for more.
He moved his hand between their bodies, stroking with his thumb against a highly inflamed spot. Her pleasure shot skyward and she screamed, clutching onto him. Ecstasy crashed through her, rolling her along its violent waves. It stole her breath.
“God, how I love you,” Keegan growled against her ear, pushed deep and trembled against her, groaning.
She gasped, tears flooding her eyes. “I love you.” Though she wanted to say more, there were not enough words to explain how much she loved him. Because of him, she truly lived.
***
Please look for other books in my Highland Adventure series.
Book 1: My Fierce Highlander
Book 2: My Wild Highlander
Book 3: My Brave Highlander
Book 4: My Daring Highlander
Look for book 5, Torrin and Jessie's story, next.
Thank you!
About The Author
Vonda Sinclair's favorite indulgent pastime is exploring Scotland, from Edinburgh to the untamed and windblown north coast. She also enjoys creating hot, Highland heroes and spirited lasses to drive them mad. She is an EPIC Award winner, a past Golden Heart finalist and Laurie award winner. She lives with her amazing and supportive husband in the mountains of North Carolina where she is no doubt creating another Scottish story. Please visit her website to learn more. www.vondasinclair.com
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