Precious seconds remained as Eachann took aim with his bow, and Lianna’s heart pounded with fear. He might strike Rhys instead of the MacDonnell holding the sword, if his shot went awry. And the thought was unbearable. She could not imagine living without Rhys de Laurent, the man she had come to love. He was stubborn, proud, and one of the most intelligent men she had ever known. Never in her life had she been so terrified, and her hands shook as she tried to gather control of her emotions.
‘Be careful,’ she whispered to Eachann, just as the MacDonnell raised the blade. They had only one chance to save Rhys’s life.
She prayed with all her heart as Eachann released the bowstring. The arrow flew through the air, across the space...and embedded in the wooden enclosure behind Rhys.
The shot had missed.
Chapter Thirteen
Two men held Rhys by both arms, unable to force him to the ground. And when the MacDonnell’s sword came down towards his torso, Rhys pulled with all his strength. A brutal scream cut through the air as the blade sliced through his enemy’s arm instead. He spun and ducked as the MacDonnell raised his weapon again.
To his shock, the MacKinnon clansmen charged forward, chaos erupting within Eiloch. Men were armed with spears, others with daggers, as they released a fierce battle cry and attacked. Rhys seized a weapon from one of the MacDonnell men and stabbed the chief, shoving him back as he spun to fight against the others.
At that moment, the first group of Normans charged through the gates. His men poured into the fortress, fully clothed in chainmail armour. All around him, Rhys heard the clang of swords and the cries of men being struck down.
He glanced up and saw a flaming arrow soar into the sky—the next signal the men had been waiting for. One by one, the staggered army would launch burning arrows to alert the group behind them to attack. The MacDonnells would not only be surrounded—they would be pounded with wave after wave of highly trained Norman soldiers.
But even as Rhys gave himself over to instinct, his sword cutting through flesh and bone, he searched for a glimpse of Lianna. He needed to know if his wife was safe.
At last, he saw her standing near Janet and Iona, all three with weapons in their hands. Even Janet, in her advanced pregnancy, wielded a spear, staring at the MacDonnells as if daring them to fight her.
His commander, Desmond, joined him, and they fought side by side along with the MacKinnons. He saw the determination of the clansmen and the subtle confidence in their fighting when they realised that they held the advantage.
It took only minutes for the fight to be over. And when only a handful of MacDonnells remained, Rhys barked out orders for their enemy to be brought to him.
His soldiers surrounded the MacDonnells, and from the rigid cast upon the prisoners’ faces, they fully expected to die with the rest of their men. But Rhys wanted to make a point of his own.
‘You attacked our men and women, attempting to seize property that was not yours. By all rights, you should die for this raid. But I am leaving your fate in the hands of the MacKinnon chief.’ He spoke quietly to Eachann, asking him to summon Alastair.
Then, Rhys studied the faces of the MacKinnons. It did appear that most of their men were unharmed, and several were smiling at their victory, in spite of the bloodshed. But there was more they needed to know. ‘The Normans who accompanied me have offered to dwell among you—but not as invaders. We will build homes for them, and they will offer their protection to you for as long as it is needed.’
There were nods among the men, and soon enough, there were murmurs of approval. They would accept Norman soldiers among them, as long as it did not interfere with their lives.
Soon, Alastair emerged from his house, flanked by Eachann and Desmond. The chief appeared weary, and when he saw the fallen MacDonnells, his mouth drew into a line. ‘Many have lost their lives this day. But it could have been far worse for us.’ He switched into the Norman language and addressed the soldiers. ‘I am grateful for your assistance, and we welcome you to stay at Eiloch.’
There were nods of agreement among the people as the chief continued addressing the clan. ‘I have been your chief for over twenty years,’ he began. ‘But time has caught up to me, and it is time that another took my place. Someone who can defend Eiloch and who will protect us from our enemies.’
His attention shifted back to Rhys, and one by one, the clansmen began to chant his name. The uproar of support startled him, but Rhys had already made his own decision. There was someone else who deserved to be chief, far more than himself. Someone who had selflessly taken care of her clan all her life.
He caught a glimpse of Lianna and beckoned for her to come forward. She started to walk calmly, but when she came closer, she broke into a run. Within seconds, she was in his arms. Rhys held her tightly, asking, ‘Are you all right?’
‘No,’ she whispered, embracing him with all her strength. ‘I thought I’d lost you.’
Rhys smoothed back her hair to reassure her. ‘I am unharmed.’
But still, she would not let go of him. Several of the MacKinnons smiled at the sight of her gripping his waist. Rhys leaned down to her ear. ‘I promise I will hold you longer in a moment, my wife. But there is something else I need to say to you.’ He extricated her from his embrace, but continued to hold her hand.
He spoke in Gaelic, so that all would understand his words. ‘For the past few years, there is a MacKinnon who has put this clan before all else. She knows every one of you, the names of your children, and what your needs are. When our lives were in danger, she brought our men together to fight. And I can think of no better chief to lead our clan than Lianna MacKinnon.’
His wife’s face flushed crimson, but he squeezed her fingers in a silent warning not to protest. Janet MacKinnon was the first to lift her arm into the air and cry out, ‘To the MacKinnon!’
The echoes and cheers were deafening, and Rhys was glad for her sake. Lianna was the rightful leader and deserved her clan’s loyalty. Several men pounded their spears against the ground in a show of support, while others continued to shout, ‘The MacKinnon!’
Lianna squeezed his hand and then took a step forward to address her people. Although she paled at being the centre of attention, she steadied herself and began to speak.
‘For years, I served my father and then my brother, because I wanted every person in this clan to have all that they needed. I spent my days watching as each of your families changed and grew. And it gave me joy to see homes repaired, to give you food to eat, and to see smiles on the faces of your children.’
She reached out to Rhys and drew him to stand beside her. It now seemed that she had gathered her courage, and her voice held conviction. ‘When my father commanded me to wed a Norman lord, I tried in all ways to avoid it. I feared what it would mean for us, and never in my wildest imaginings, did I think to see the day when Norman soldiers would fight our enemies alongside us. But they have. And these men are our allies now, not our captors. And we are not alone.’
He reached out to touch the small of her back, letting her know that he would always stand by her. The men and women were serious now, listening to every word she spoke.
‘In the next two days, I ask you to choose six men who will be a part of my council. I will not make decisions on behalf of the MacKinnon clan without listening to your views first.’
It was a wise move, and pride swelled within him at her decision. Rhys reached down beneath her hips and lifted his wife into the air, letting her hear the sound of the people’s cheering.
And he knew the decision to choose her had been the right one.
* * *
Later that night, Lianna returned to their bedchamber. His wife appeared exhausted, and there was dirt on her face and hands after the long day.
‘Do you think the council made the right decision to release the MacDonnell men?’ she asked, pu
lling the ribbon free from her long braid.
‘As long as they send one of their boys for fostering,’ Rhys agreed. Since there was so little trust remaining between the two clans, Lianna had spoken with several of the MacKinnons, and they had all agreed to take a hostage from the MacDonnells. She would demand one of the sons of the high-ranking men, and as long as peace remained between their clans, the boy would be treated well. One day, the boy might even marry a MacKinnon woman, securing the bonds between the clans.
Lianna used her fingers to unbraid her hair and poured water into a basin. She had never been more beautiful to Rhys than before now. Her courage and strength had led them to victory against their enemies.
‘Let me help you,’ he commanded, guiding her to sit down. He dipped a clean piece of linen into the warmed water and washed his wife’s face. Rivulets of water spilled down her cheeks towards her bodice. He took her hands and drew them into the basin, washing them gently.
Her brown eyes grew heated, and she shivered when his thumbs caressed the centre of her palms.
‘I didn’t like being left behind,’ she murmured.
‘I know. But I didn’t want anything to happen to you. I would have sent for you afterwards.’ And he meant that. A part of him wanted to chide her for disobeying, but he understood that this was her true home.
‘These are my people,’ she admitted. ‘I could not abandon them.’
He went to fetch a comb from her belongings. ‘Sit down.’ She did, and he began to draw the comb through her hair. She leaned back as he did, and he was careful not to pull against the tangles.
‘Seventy-seven times, is that it?’
She turned and smiled at him, taking the comb. ‘I ken you must think me foolish. But my mother taught me this.’ A sadness drifted across her face, and she added, ‘She was always beautiful to me. Her hair was soft, and everything about her was clean. Wherever she went, she was always keeping the house tidy and neat.’
The hollow tone of her voice revealed her grief, and he was beginning to understand that she had fallen into her mother’s footsteps.
‘I—I tried to do the same after she died. She loved my father, Sían, and me. It was her way of showing she cared, and I thought I could keep her memory alive by holding on to those habits.’
He moved her hair to the side and kissed her nape. Lianna drew her hands to his shoulders. ‘She died giving birth to a son when I was eight years old.’
He didn’t miss the tremor in her voice, and he moved his hand down to the swelling at her waist. ‘Don’t be afraid, Lianna.’ Though he spoke the words, he knew that there was danger in childbirth. Many women died, and so did the infants. The very thought caught his gut with fear. He made the silent vow that he would protect Lianna and their unborn child in every way possible.
‘I cannot help but be afraid. I was there on the day she laboured with my brother. And there was nothing the midwife could do. Th-they cut her open to try to save the baby, but it was too late.’
Tears gleamed in her eyes and spilled over. ‘I don’t want to die, Rhys. Not like that.’
He held her close, stroking her hair. ‘I won’t allow it.’
At that, an unexpected smile crept through her tears. ‘You speak as if you can command me not to die.’
‘And so I do.’ He needed to distract her from her fears, to show her how much she meant to him. ‘I would walk to Hell and back to keep you with me.’
‘I’m not going to Hell.’
But her smile deepened at his words. ‘You might. For you have been quite disobedient as of late. I told you to stay at Montbrooke.’
‘I was never going to listen to that command, you ken this.’
He supposed he had. Lianna would do anything for her people, and she would never stand aside while they were in danger. ‘You prefer to give the commands, is that it?’ he asked softly.
Her eyes flared with interest. ‘I might. Perhaps I’ll tell you the way I want to be touched.’
There had been a time when he had rebelled against the thought of a woman commanding him in the way Analise had tried to. He had always demanded control, never surrendering his will.
But the idea of letting Lianna give commands aroused him deeply. He admired her strength and wanted to see what she would do.
‘What is your first command?’ he asked, sliding his hand beneath the shoulder of her gown. He needed to touch her bare skin, to quench his thirst for this woman.
‘Take off your clothes. Let me see you,’ she said quietly. Her brown eyes were fixed upon him, and her skin was flushed with anticipation.
Rhys removed the outer tunic, revealing the heavy chainmail armour he’d worn beneath it. Then at last, he took off the undertunic until he was half-naked before her. She bit her lip slightly, and he reached for the fallen clothing to fold it. She disliked any chamber in disarray, and he wanted to please her.
But she surprised him, saying, ‘Leave it be, Rhys. I want to see the rest of you.’
He caught her gaze, slowly unfastening his chausses and braies. Those, too, he left on the floor before he straightened to face her. His heavy erection bobbed, but he let her look her fill. Seeing the fascination in her expression and the unveiled interest only intensified his arousal.
‘Lie down,’ she commanded. He walked towards the bed and pulled back the coverlet. Then he arranged the pillows and lay back so his shaft rested against his stomach. She went to stand beside the bed. Her red hair held the waves of her braid, and it spilled over her bodice. She let the brat fall from her shoulders, and slowly unlaced her gown. It hung against her shoulders, and he was spellbound by the sight of her creamy skin. She lifted the gown away until she stood naked before him.
Her breasts were fuller, rosier than he’d remembered. Her waist held a slight curve, one that made his heart ache at the sight of it.
‘Come here,’ he bade his wife. ‘Let me love you.’
‘In time,’ she answered. She moved to lie beside him, and he rolled to face her, resting his palm against her backside. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and he was grateful that she was his to protect.
‘What do you want, Lianna?’ he asked.
She took his right hand and guided it between her legs. He gritted his teeth when he discovered that she was already wet for him. ‘I want you to pleasure me.’
‘All night,’ he swore. ‘Until you beg me to stop.’
Lianna lifted her leg atop his hip, giving him easier access. He stroked the wet pearl of her, watching as she responded, rising to his call.
She reached out to cup one of her breasts, and offered it to his mouth. ‘Kiss me here. But be gentle.’
Rhys obeyed, gently stroking the tip with his tongue. Her reaction was instantaneous, a moan spilling from her lips. He stilled instantly, not wanting to hurt her.
‘No, don’t stop,’ she breathed. ‘It feels good...only stronger than I’d imagined.’
He used two fingers to enter her body, caressing her deep within. With his thumb, he circled her nodule, with the gentlest touch.
Her body was trembling, her breathing coming in shorter gasps. And this time when he suckled her breast again, she arched hard, her nails digging into his hair. Her response was almost violent, and seeing her like this only made him want her more.
He was startled when she reached for his erection and guided him inside. He slid home easily, sheathing himself fully. Lianna changed her position, pressing him to his back so she was atop him.
Her eyes were bright with desire, and he drank in the sight of her beautiful body with the swollen nipples and the growing child within her. She remained on her knees, rising and thrusting against him.
When she squeezed her inner walls against his shaft, his hands fisted the sheets, unable to stop the fierce jolt of pleasure that rolled through him. She took charge of him, makin
g love to him.
But it was not about conquest. With each thrust, she was offering herself to him, giving him what he needed most. He sat up to bring them closer, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
‘Is this all right?’ she whispered. ‘Does it bother you that I am claiming you?’
It didn’t. Instead, he felt the rightness of being with this woman, of loving her. There was no sense that she was trying to force him into anything—only that she was trying to please him.
‘Do what you will with me,’ he murmured against her mouth, kissing her deeply. ‘I belong to you, Lianna. And I love you.’
* * *
The words transformed her, and Lianna kissed him back, sliding her tongue against his. She had wanted to show her husband how much she needed him, and she had also wanted to take away the harsh memories of Analise. Once before, a woman had given orders, punishing him when he did not obey.
But she had wanted to take command of him in a manner that pleased him. She wanted to love him, to give of herself, until he could no longer bear the intensity of her touch.
‘I love you,’ she told him, continuing to thrust upon him. The kiss grew more heated, and he moved in counterpoint, penetrating her deeply. Lianna was fighting for her own control, and when he moved his thumb between them, pressing against her intimate flesh, she felt the release rising within her.
She leaned back, changing the angle so he was rubbing against her as she sat back. But it still was not quite what she needed. He seemed to sense it, and he asked, ‘What do you want from me, Lianna?’
‘I want you to take command now,’ she whispered.
Rhys stopped moving but remained embedded inside her. He leaned forward and kissed one nipple, then the other. The heat and wetness of his mouth echoed in her womb, and she murmured, ‘Yes. Like that.’
He changed their position, rolling her to her back. Then he slid his tongue over the erect nipple, softly touching it until she began to shiver with need. Her body was burgeoning against his, needing him.
Forbidden Night with the Highlander Page 22
