by Ria Cantrell
It was that simple. Love had called her and she had answered. There was no angst or “cat and mouse” games. There was no pretending and playing around. He loved her and she loved him and without question, he wanted to spend his life with her. Wasn’t that how it should always be? As if to assure her, Jamie said quite definitely, “I love ye’, lass. Ye’ have changed my life.”
As two tears slid down Sinead’s cheeks, Jamie drew her tighter into his embrace and he kissed the salty wetness off her face. He felt her let go of a small sob but knew it was from joy; not sadness. When she had calmed and the tears ebbed, holding her the entire time, he finally said, “We’ll wed on Twelfth Night, if that would be alright with ye’.”
Sinead suddenly felt giddy. She laughed and cried at the same time. “That doesn’t give us a lot of time to prepare.”
“The keep will already be donned for the Yule and Christmas celebrations. I see no reason to wait, do ye’?”
Sinead threw her arms around Jamie and she kissed him with all the love and passion she now allowed herself to feel. In medieval times there was more urgency for life was unpredictable. It seemed right and natural to Sinead. “No, there is no reason to wait. You’re right. Let’s do it.”
Jamie smirked again and said, “What are ye’ talkin’ about, lass? The weddin’ or something else?”
“The wedding. And something else.”
She slid down his body, planting kisses over his nipples and then lower down his ribs. She pushed him back and her lips trailed over his stomach, circling his navel. Jamie, fairly growled, “Lass, what do ye’ think ye’ are doin’?”
“What does it look like? Mmmmm….”
“Ye’ are a wicked and wanton woman.”
“MMmmm, how lucky for you then, since I am going to marry you.”
Something in the way she said those words made his cock spring to life again and as he felt her mouth open around it, Jamie had to agree. Luck was his at last.
They took turns exploring one another with kisses and when she had done what no woman had ever done to him, Jamie decided to return the favor. He tasted her and brought her to that place where she spiraled once more into ecstasy. He loved her sighs as much as he loved to hear her laughter. She was so responsive to his every touch that Jamie was feeling more than luck. He felt blessed and he felt loved and he intended to show this woman how much he adored her so that she would never again know what it meant to not be cherished.
After they made love again twice more and after he had brought her to climax equally as many times, they finally found calm comfort in each other’s arms. Both were sated and relaxed. Jamie’s hand stroked her as she snuggled against his broad chest. The crisp curling hairs tickled her cheek but Sinead thought it was the most wonderful thing she had ever felt besides their lovemaking. She loved his scent; spicy and clean like leather and sandalwood, now mingled with the heady scent of their passion. She could still taste him on her lips and she could feel parts of her flesh still rubbed and chaffed from the stubble on his delicious jaw. Above all, Sinead loved Jamie. If a woman could love a man with all her heart, that was how she felt about him. The future be damned! Her future was here, in this man’s arms; in this man’s bed. Her destiny was sealed in the past and suddenly, Sinead had no desire to ever leave.
Chapter 31
As the first rays of sun streaked into the chamber, Sinead woke with a start. Jamie was not beside her and she bolted upright, clutching the bedding about her. She looked about the room and saw Jamie sitting by the fire, pulling his boots on. When he saw that she had awakened, he went over to their bed and he leaned down to kiss her. “Good morning, beautiful,” he said and she hugged him around his waist.
“Oh good morning, my love. When I woke and did not feel you beside me, I thought perhaps I had dreamed the whole thing up.”
Jamie stroked her hair and kissed her lips softly. “I had no wish to wake ye’, love. I needed to see to the lambs and I wanted ye’ to rest a wee bit longer. Ye’ did nay sleep much last night,” he said with a disarming grin.
“Neither did you, as I recall. Oh, my goodness, I feel like I have been run over by a truck, you big beast of a man.”
Jamie looked at her with a puzzled expression on his face. “Oh, that’s right. You have no idea what a truck is. It is a big vehicle used for hauling things in my time…very powerful and well, never mind.”
Jamie’s hand touched her face and he said quite seriously, “And ye’ feel as if ye’ have been run down by one of these things? I ne’er meant to cause ye’ discomfort.”
Sinead stretched seductively and said, “Mmm, but it is so good because I will be reminded all day about our night of lovemaking, Jamie. It was delicious and I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved everything you did to me; I loved how your body cherished me and I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any other way.”
“Ye’ dunna’ hurt?”
“Hurt isn’t the right word. Ache, maybe a little, but I am fine. I don’t think I have ever been loved like that. You have ruined me for other men.”
Jamie raised an eyebrow, sensing she was teasing him and goading him again. He said, “Well, perhaps that is a good thing, seein’ how yer’ supposed to be marryin’ me in a fortnight.”
At that reminder, Sinead sat upright again, dropping her covers and she said, “Oh my gosh, we really are getting married.”
His hand reached out and cupped a breast with a familiarity that had come from their intimate night of passion. As he felt it pearl into his palm at his touch he said, “Ye’ are not changin’ yer mind are ye’?”
She put her hand over his and she felt him give her the gentlest of squeezes. She said, “No, of course not. I am totally in love with you. It’s just that, well, what are we going to tell everyone? I mean, don’t you think they will object since we don’t know each other very long?”
“I think that mayhap they are rather expecting it. Lass, yesterday’s exhibition was not exactly unnoticeable.”
Jamie watched blush creep into Sinead’s cheeks and she gulped. “I had almost forgotten about that. I was so…I mean, well I was….”
“Enticed? Aroused?”
“Jamie. Stop.”
“Why, t’is the truth and ye’ know it.”
It was his turn to goad her. He was enchanted with her sudden shyness. They had done many sensual things in the past hours and he was surprised that a woman who could show no coyness in his bed would suddenly be uneasy with their conversation. He liked it, though. It was just another facet of this woman and Jamie had decided, when they declared their love for each other, that he would enjoy learning all about her.
He kissed her and he said, “Why not take some time and rest. Then, when I am done feeding my flock, I will come fer’ ye’ and we will tell my family together.”
Sinead sighed and she said, “I really want to run a bit today if it isn’t too cold. I need to work the muscles in my leg now that it is healing nicely. I usually get up early, though not to feed lambs. Could you use an extra pair of hands to help?”
“If ye’d want to join me, I would love that. Let me help ye’ dress.”
“Gosh I could really use a shower. I love having your scent on me, but I feel a bit…you know...well like I could use a shower.”
“Shower?”
“Oh Jamie,” she laughed. “There are so many things in my time that I will love to explain to you. Like showers; we have indoor plumbing and we have these things that spray warm water upon us so we can bathe quickly.”
“I can have a bath drawn fer ye’, lass.”
“No. I don’t want to bother anyone.”
“T’is no bother. If it will make ye’ feel better, I shall tell the maids to bring water for a bath. Those showers sound wonderful. I am used to bathing in the lochs, but it is a tad frigid. Especially on days like today.”
“Oh my goodness, Jamie, you can’t be serious about bathing in the lake now? Why it is frozen solid and you would have to cut away the ic
e to submerge. It could give you a heart attack.”
Sinead saw his confusion again at her words and she just murmured, “It’s when your heart stops beating. It many times causes death.”
He leaned in and whispered near her ear, and she felt his warm breath tickle against her earlobe. “My heart has only just begun beatin’, love. I dunna’ worry it should stop.”
Then as he seemed to tuck her into the bed covers, he said softly, “Are ye’ going to miss those things of yer’ time like trucks and showers?”
“I may miss showers and things like coffee, but the truth is Jamie, that my life with all those things, was seriously lacking. I realize that now. I came for you. It seems it was my destiny all along.”
Jamie wrapped his arms around her. He was not certain he could have made a choice such as she had done for him. He thought her to be courageous and loving. He was not certain he was worthy of her, and he silently vowed he would do everything he could to never make her regret her choice. He whispered, “I have fallen so in love with ye’, lass. I dunna’ think I deserve ye’.”
She laughed and said, “Well you have me. If you love me like you did last night, I am quite certain that all those things you think I will miss will easily be forgotten.”
“Wanton and wicked woman,” he growled against her lips as he kissed her deeply. Before the kiss went any further, Sinead pushed Jamie off and she said, “Oh no you don’t. I won’t be able to walk if we start that again. Let me get washed at least and I will join you with the lambs. They are so cute.”
Jamie smiled to himself. Sinead was not only a remarkable, and brave woman who loved him, she also was interested in his flock. If he had any misgivings about marriage to this woman, he realized that she was truly the right one for him. He suddenly did not know why he had resisted the notion of it. Why had it taken this stranger from another time to turn his heart so quickly? He had been carrying the guilt of what had happened with Ruiri for so long and he felt he had failed as a protector of his younger brothers, but now as he watched his woman preparing herself for the new day, Jamie realized how foolish it was to harbor those destructive things. Nothing he could have done could have prevented the turn of events that day long ago. The things and feelings he denied himself since could not bring Caitlyn back to Ruiri. It all became so clear that Ruiri would have to put those ghosts to rest sooner or later.
Aye, Jamie still worried for the safety of one who would love him, especially in light of how she had come to be here. The very presence of Sinead was proof that her life was in danger, simply for associating with him, but Jamie knew now that he would die to protect her and that was an unspoken promise he would vow to her. Then, there was the attack on Old Hugh. Jamie had cause to worry about that, but Morag had said he had been drinking and more than likely got into some scuffle over the roll of a dice game or such. Despite what Morag had claimed, Jamie knew to trust his gut. If there was trouble afoot with the approaching celebrations, he would see to it that Sinead stayed far from it.
After she had finished washing, she pulled on a warm woolen gown. The icy water from the basin had revived her from any lingering sleepiness and she felt the chill of the room now that the fire had nearly burned to embers. Jamie came behind her and he fitted his hands over her stomach. He felt her lean into him and heard her sigh softly. He kissed her neck and he said, “Here, let me get those laces for ye’, my love.”
He pulled the ties sharply until Sinead was snuggly fit into the gown once more. “There, no one will suspect that I practically had to rip this gown off of ye’,” he said; quite pleased with himself.
“Hmm, well I shall only hope that I can walk properly…I feel like I have been plowed with a battering ram.”
Biting into the soft flesh against her shoulder, Jamie said, “Ye’ have.”
“You are so bad!”
“Ye’ are pretty wicked, yerself, lass. The things ye’ did to me! I shall have to spend days in chapel repenting.”
Sinead turned in his arms and she looked up into his smoldering eyes. “You? In chapel? Really?”
“Why? Do ye’ think the likes of my heathen soul would nay dare to befoul the inside of a church?”
“I hadn’t really given it much thought. Are you religious?” Sinead remembered that everyone was religious in the Middle Ages. Somehow, imaging Jamie on his knees in prayer made her heart flip. They were so complex, these warrior men.”
“I’ve been known to say a prayer or two. Does that surprise ye?”
“Well, yes, actually. I mean, well, I sort of can see why but you are such a…how shall I explain…you are a warrior and a sheep herder and breeder and a laird’s son, and the most passionate man I have ever met. It just seems odd that a man with that much sex appeal would be a church goer.”
Jamie looked at Sinead as she had grown another head. “Do the people of yer’ time not pray?”
“Oh, sure, we pray; many are quite spiritual, I guess. I just did not imagine you to be. Besides, you know, after meeting Morag, I had a feeling that you were less Christian and more, well you know….”
“Pagan?”
“Well, yeah, now that you mention it.” Jamie laughed. He said, “Lass, we are all Christians, in fact, our clan name came from the great saint Columba.”
“I know…the one who brought Christianity to Scotland.”
“Aye. He settled in Iona and to this day, my people are very tied to that sacred place.”
“Hmmm,” Sinead said thoughtfully. “I had nearly forgotten about the monastic order that was formed there. Iona! I don’t know why I always attributed that place to the mystical.”
“It is, my love. It is a place that forges both our beliefs. It is a powerful place. We are Christian, but we are of the Old Ways, too. Do ye’ understand?”
Sinead nodded. Jamie, tucked his finger under her chin and he said, “I thought ye’ might, what with yer’ gift that brought ye’ to me.”
“Oh Jamie, I have not embraced my spiritual path at all and now here, in this place…in your world, it lies before me.”
“Aye. I think yer’ journey to me is only the beginning.”
“I think you may be right. Will you promise something to me?”
“Anything.”
“Will you take me to Iona some day? I have spent my life studying the past and trying to unlock the treasures it holds. Now, the past is my reality. I want to see the places I have only studied about in books. Iona has always called to me for reasons I never could explain. ”
“Aye, love. I will make a pilgrimage there with ye’. I think t’is time for me to embrace my path, as well. The Ancients have called me most of my life and I have denied their pleas, but now They have sent ye’ to me. I can deny Them no longer. In the Spring, we shall go. With ye’ beside me, I am ready to heed Destiny’s hand.”
Sinead kissed him. He had shared some very important things with her. What had started out as a way to tease him, Sinead quickly learned that these things were very deep in the hearts of these people. All of a sudden, she wanted to learn everything she could about them because they would soon be her people, too. Sinead tamped down feelings of loss that her friends or for that matter, her nearly always absent parents, would not be there to celebrate her marriage. Yes, she would miss them, but the prospect of spending her life with Jamie seemed to sweeten the bitterness of what she would lose.
She said, “Thank you for loving me.”
“T’is I who should thank ye’, lass. Ye’ have unlocked me from a prison I had set myself in. It is suddenly beautiful to take in the fresh air.”
Sinead threw her arms around Jamie and kissed him so hard, he practically tumbled backward and somehow, even though he kept his balance, his legs felt unsteady and wobbly. This woman was really something! He did not know what was happening to him, but he meant his words. She was like a breath of clean, fresh air or a cool drink from a crystal loch. And the best part was that she was his.
Chapter 32
News of the wedding plans spread rapidly through the clan. If Sinead was worried that she would not be accepted, her fears were soon turned around as she was surrounded by acceptance and she was embraced by Jamie’s family and clan. People were probably curious about how Sinead had come to be at Castle MacCollum, but they were polite enough to not ask too many questions. Sinead thought that perhaps, it was more enjoyable to speculate than to learn the actuality of it. If truth were to be told, Sinead did not know how she would explain it so when people did not interrogate her, she was able to just enjoy the planning of the wedding and the new love she and Jamie had found. For the most part, Sinead was extremely happy. She tried not to think back to her life before she had fallen through time too much and fill herself with regrets because what she had realized was that, as she looked back on her past, she had never felt as happy as she did now.
She kept thinking that perhaps it all was a dream that she would wake from and she prayed it would not be so. She had fallen completely in love with Jamie and she also realized that whatever had pushed them together, be it fate or the Ancients or Guardians, Sinead was eternally grateful. Sometimes, after they made love, they would spend hours just lying close to one another and they would talk about so many things; things of Jamie’s world and things of Sinead’s. There was so much to learn and Sinead could scarcely keep track of it all. She imagined that Jamie must have been overwhelmed by the information Sinead told him, too. Sinead was excited to be part of the bustling and thriving keep; that was MacCollum and Jamie was captivated by the things of the future.
Christmas was almost a serene holiday compared to Yule and 12th Night. Sinead loved that they combined the traditions that tied both Pagan and Christian. It was so much part of these people that it was hard to separate the two. 12th Night would be the night she spoke her vows to Jamie. They would have an intimate church wedding but the celebration that would follow would rival that of a queen’s coronation. It was all a little overwhelming, really, but Sinead was ready to take the next step and become the wife of the future laird of Clan MacCollum.
