Box Set - Knights of Passion (7 Novels)
Page 63
The noise stopped instantly, and all eyes turned toward him.
“Aidan, ye’re alive!” shouted Effie, tears streaming down her face.
“O’ course I’m alive, but I was deid asleep and havin’ a wonderful dream afore ye dunderheids woke me up.”
“Aidan, welcome back ye big galoot,” said Ian with a smile.
“Aye,” agreed Onyx. “We’re happy ye pulled through.”
Effie rushed over to him and fell into his arms, and when his friends let loose of their animals to come greet him, the squirrel ran out the door, with the wildcat and the wolfhound right behind it.
“I’ll get them,” cried Kyla, running out the door.
“I’ll help,” said Coira, following her.
“Aidan, I thought I’d lost ye fore’er,” said Effie, kissing him so passionately that he felt his manhood already stirring.
He looked up to Onyx and Ian. “Is e’eryone all right?” he asked.
“We killed off all the English, and lived te tell aboot it,” said Ian.
“The MacKeefe clan? Were they there too?” asked Aidan, thinking he remembered hearing Storm’s voice sometime during the ordeal.
“Madoc sent a messenger pigeon from Hermitage Castle, telling the rest o’ the clan we needed help. But Madoc, Ian, and I had everything taken care of afore they arrived,” relayed Onyx. “The MacKeefes helped us get ye back here alive.”
“Thank ye. Thank ye all,” he said, looking down to Effie and kissing her gently on the lips. “Where is the stone?” he asked. “Did ye save it?”
“Ye are the one who saved it, Aidan,” Effie told him. “And ye are sleepin’ on it.”
He turned carefully and looked back, now knowing why he was having the dream. He also knew the stone was no longer safe here and that they’d have to move it soon before Lord Ralston’s men back at his castle decided to get together an army and come looking for it. He knew the safest place for the stone, and would take it there personally as soon as he was able.
In the meantime, he’d keep guarding Scotland’s biggest secret the best he could, and keep using it as a pillow, and listening to his dreams. He kept thinking about the dream he’d just had and knew he’d seen Effie in her wedding attire. And with her breasts trussed up and spilling from her bodice in the dream, he also realized he needed her comforts right now more than anything.
He looked at Ian and Onyx standing there staring at him with smiles, and he cleared his throat. “Shouldna ye two go find Reid afore he’s eaten? And by the way, what was thet hound doin’ in here?”
“Thet’s Kyle,” said Ian. “Me new pet.”
Aidan wasn’t surprised, as nothing his friends did ever seemed out of the ordinary to him any more.
“Well?” said Aidan once again.
“Well, what?” asked Ian.
“I think he wants te be alone with Effie,” Onyx told him, pulling him out of the room.
“No threesomes today, Aidan?” Ian asked with a raised brow.
“The only threesome ye’ll be gettin’ is me arm around yer throat, me foot te yer doup, and me hands throwin’ ye outta here by yer ear if ye dinna get out o’ here already.”
“Dinna fash yerself, Aidan, we’re goin’,” said Ian, leaving the room with Onyx and closing the door behind them.
“Aidan, I want te apologize fer e’erythin’,” said Effie, with sincerity in her eyes. “I didna mean fer any o’ this te happen. I was jest confused. I had no one, and I didna want te lose me sister. I didna want te betray ye, I swear, it’s jest thet –”
Aidan reached out and smothered her with a kiss, stopping her in midsentence.
“Haud yer wheesht,” he told her. “Me achin’ head canna take any more of this noise.”
“Do ye fergive me, Aidan? Can ye e’er love me again, after e’erythin’ I put ye through?”
“I understand why ye did what ye did, but do ye understand why this stone means so much te me, lassie?”
“I think I do,” she said, looking down, then nodding. “Aye, I’m sure I do. And I promise ye, Aidan, if ye’ll take me back I’ll ne’er cause ye any grief again.”
“Well, now, if thet’s the case than ye’ll no’ be a true MacKeefe. Mishaps and grief are part o’ the MacKeefes’ lives, but we jest get o’er it all and move on, me angel.”
“Aidan, I’m no’ a true MacKeefe and will ne’er be.”
“Ye will if I have anythin’ te say aboot it. Effie, me dream angel, I want ye te stay here with me and be a MacKeefe. Because as much as the stone means te me, ye mean more to me, and I dinna want te live the rest o’ me life without ye. What do ye say?”
“Do ye really mean it, Aidan? Please tell me this is no’ what ye say te all the lassies ye bed.”
“I’ve ne’er said it te anyone afore. Aye, I mean it more than anythin’, but if ye want te seal the agreement with a beddin’, I canna say I’d mind.” He flashed her a smile. “I’ve had a verra nice dream with ye in it, and I’d like te see how it works out.”
“What aboot me sister, Coira? Can she stay here too? We have no family now, and I willna leave her.”
“O’ course she can stay as well,” he said. “I ken our chieftain will give his permission te both o’ ye since ye helped te save the stone.”
“But it was our fault it was stolen in the first place and ye almost died,” she said.
“Storm MacKeefe will understand. His own wife was a leader o’ a band o’ renegades once and took him captive, so I ken he is verra fergivin’.”
“Then I accept fer the both o’ us.”
Effie reached over and anxiously kissed Aidan, so happy that she thought she would burst. He fell back and hit his head on the stone in the process, and she proceeded to kiss his head as well. They both laughed, and then Aidan held his stitches.
“I missed ye, Effie. And I couldna even think o’ anythin’ happenin’ te ye. I will be here te protect ye from harm, I swear I always will.”
“Make love te me, Aidan. I want te feel ye inside me again.”
His hands expertly undressed her while she pulled off the coverlet from over him. He was naked beneath it, as Effie hadn’t wanted to risk putting clothes over his wound until he was healed. His manhood was hard and ready, and it excited her to see him this way.
“Are ye sure this willna be too much fer ye with yer wounds?” she asked. “After all, ye are still weak and far from recoverin’. I dinna want ye te break the stitches after Madoc sewed ye up so nicely. He said his half-brathair is a tailor, and showed him how te sew. He was verra proud o’ his small stitches.”
“Then ye’ll jest have te do all the work,” he said. “And kiss e’ery part o’ me thet is hurtin’.”
She reached out and kissed his wound gently, and then kissed his bruised body as well as the scar on his head.
“Is thet better?” she asked.
“I think there’s more thet hurts.”
“Did I miss a wound?” She didn’t understand what he wanted.
“No’ a wound, but ye did miss the part o’ me body thet hurts the most right now.”
“I did?” She pulled back and looked at his entire body. “Where?”
Then she saw the grin on his face and his eyes directed her downward. “I see what ye mean,” she said, hesitant to try this, but then decided she would do whatever he wanted. She did as instructed and looked up to see his eyes closing and heard the moan of delight coming from deep in his throat. Not long afterwards, he pulled her up to him and pleasured her as well.
“I love ye, Aidan,” she told him as they did the dance of love. It felt so good, and she felt so protected in his strong arms that she never wanted this to end.
“I love ye, too, me dream angel.”
“I love it when ye call me thet,” she laughed, rocking her hips to meet his, feeling herself climbing higher and higher, the heat between them scorching, and their rhythm getting faster.
“Well, welcome te the clan, Effie MacKeefe.”
&nb
sp; She liked the way that sounded. It excited her, and she let loose with her inhibitions. While trying to be careful of his wounds, she screamed out when she found her release. He joined her and then she collapsed atop him, wrapped in his arms as their bodies vibrated as one. She had found her man. Her dream come true. And she would be staying with the clan now, and having a family once again.
She would be a MacKeefe, as all the members of the clan called themselves. She liked that. She would try her hardest to gain back Aidan’s trust through time, as well as show him he’d made the right choice by asking her to stay. The only thing that could make any of this better was if she were Effie MacKeefe – not just a member of the clan, but Aidan’s wife.
AIDAN
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Perth, Highlands
A month later
Aidan, Ian, and Onyx moved the Stone of Destiny into the crypt of an unknown ancient monk, deep in the bowels of the catacombs of Scone Abbey. Then, together they covered the stone by sliding the very heavy and tall headstone over the top, sealing it into the ground where no Englishman would ever find it again. Abbot Murray smiled and gave them a nod of satisfaction.
“Ye lads have done guid,” he said, sounding very pleased. “Only we, along with King David will ken the new location o’ the stone. It’ll be safe here until we need it to crown Scotland’s next king, as long as we keep this a secret.”
“We will,” said Onyx, “ye can count on us.”
“Aye,” agreed Ian, then he looked over to Aidan. “How aboot ye, Aidan? Will ye haud yer wheesht this time and no’ tell anyone where we hid the stone?”
“I promise,” said Aidan. “And ’twill be easier this time, as Effie told me she didna want me te tell her where it was and thet she would make sure I dinna tell a soul.”
“All right then, I guess our work here is done,” said the abbot.
“No’ exactly,” said Aidan. “I would like ye te join us at the Perth Highland Games, as I am goin’ te surprise me love, Effie, and marry her jest afore the competition.”
“I would love to, Aidan,” said the abbot. “However, if anyone sees me with ye, they’ll ken we were together. It’s too risky, as we dinna want anyone te ken where ye brought the stone. But me congratulations are with ye and yer loved one, and I wish ye the happiest marriage.”
“Thank ye,” said Aidan with a nod of his head. “We’d better be goin’ then, as I still have a lot te do afore the weddin’. Willna Effie be surprised?”
* * *
Effie hadn’t seen Aidan in a sennight, and was excited that he was going to be meeting her here at the Highland Games in Perth today. She’d been here since this morning with the MacKeefe clan, and even Storm’s parents were present. Kyla had introduced her to them this morning.
Effie sat back on the grass, overlooking the open fields and rolling green hills, as well as the high mountains in the distance. Beautiful purple and pink heather spilled down the valleys, and the skies above it were bright blue. She’d never seen such a beautiful sight in her life.
Her sister was picking wildflowers with Kyla, and looked up and waved at her. Effie smiled and waved back. Coira’s health was improving every day, and it did Effie good to see her sister smile again after everything she’d been through. Her sister no longer seemed so frail or afraid. She’d made friends with Kyla and they were almost inseparable. Coira loved her new home with the MacKeefe clan, and Effie did as well.
Perth was bustling with Highlanders as well as some Lowlander Scots too, and Kyla had even pointed out that the MacDuff clan was present. She was curious about them, but refused Kyla’s suggestion to introduce herself to them. She was afraid if they knew who she was they’d be treating her like a hero because of her grandmother. She still felt like a traitor for everything she’d done, even though Aidan as well as all the MacKeefes had forgiven her.
She just wanted to relax and watch the games today, and bask in the happiness of being one of the MacKeefe clan now that Storm had approved and accepted Coira and herself into their family.
Burly men readied themselves for lifting heavy stones or throwing the hammer, while others prepared for the caber toss.
A long rope was being laid out on the ground, as clans would compete against each other in the tug-o-war. The lassies competed in their own events, and Effie knew that Kyla had been practicing tossing the sheaves with a pitchfork high into the air for the last month back at camp. She was trying her hardest to impress Ian.
The children of the clans competed in their smaller versions of the games as well as a footrace.
Bagpipes split the air, and drumming joined in, signaling that the competition would start soon. The smell of mutton pie and haggis drifted lazily through the air, making her hungry, but she was waiting for Aidan before she had anything to eat.
Then, she saw Onyx and Ian riding toward her, and her heart skipped a beat as she shaded her eyes from the sun, eagerly looking for Aidan.
“Lookin’ fer me?” Two hands snaked around her waist from behind, and Aidan nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, kissing her.
“Aidan! Ye’re back.” She jumped up and turned around and threw herself into his arms. “I missed ye.”
“I missed ye as well,” he said, kissing her again. “I brought ye a present.”
“A present? Fer me?” she asked, then raised an eyebrow and grinned devilishly. “Well, if it’s anythin’ like me birthday present, then mayhap we’d better wait til we are at least under the cover o’ some trees.”
“It’s no’ thet,” he said, “no’ now anyway. But I promise ye we’ll have some o’ thet later.”
He walked over to his horse and pulled something out of a travel bag, and handed it to her. She took it gingerly in her hands and opened the bundle to see the most beautiful gown made entirely of the MacKeef purple and green plaid, with a white leine with billowy sleeves to wear beneath it. The bodice was laced with purple and green braided ribbons, and there was a matching circlet for her head as well.
“It’s beautiful, Aidan. Where did ye get it?”
“I had Madoc’s step-brathair who is a tailor make it fer ye. Madoc may be handy with a needle when it comes te closin’ up a wound, but his step-brathair, William, is a Master Tailor, so I hired him te do it. It is constructed so well it’ll last ye a lifetime. Ye ken, William even has his own shop and belongs te the guild.”
“Why would ye hire him te make this, when I already have clothes te wear?” she asked, feeling like something good was about to happen.
“I did it so ye’d have somethin’ special te wear today. Somethin’ thet is yers and no’ borrowed from someone else.”
“Fer the Highland Games?” she asked. “I dinna understand.”
“Effie,” he said, pulling something from the pouch at his waist. “I have somethin’ else te give ye as well. I’ve been thinkin’ aboot this fer a long time now, and I hope ye’ll say yes.”
“Say yes?” She was sure now that something good was about to happen. And when Aidan got down on one knee and took her hands in his, she knew she hadn’t been mistaken.
“Effie, say ye’ll marry me and be me wife. I love ye, me dream angel.” He opened his fist and there was a ring. A shiny, gold ring with an amethyst stone, and angels etched into the band.
Tears welled in her eyes and her throat tightened and she felt as if she couldn’t speak. She nodded her head furiously, and then choked out the words, “I will, Aidan. I will be yer wife. I love ye, too.”
She sank to her knees and fell atop him, kissing him as they rolled to the ground.
“The priest is here as well, Effie,” he said. “We can get married right here, right now.”
“I’d like thet,” she said.
“I brought yer grandmathair’s brooch, too. I was hopin’ thet ye would wear it when I bring ye te meet the MacDuffs today.”
“Nay, Aidan, I canna. I dinna deserve the brooch nor te meet the MacDuffs after I was te blame fer Scotland almost
losin’ the Stone o’ Destiny fore’er.”
“They dinna ken thet, angel. Only the MacKeefes ken the truth, and we are all goin’ te keep quiet aboot thet, I assure ye.”
“But I’m afeard. I dinna ken any o’ them. They are strangers te me.”
“Then I’ll be there by yer side when ye and yer sister meet the MacDuffs. And ye’ll have nothin’ te fret aboot becooz ye’ll be there as me wife.”
“All right,” she said nervously. “I’ll meet them, Aidan. No’ fer me, but fer Coira. She’s ne’er even kent her own mathair nor her faither, so I think ye’re right and this is important.
“Then put on the gown, me angel, and let’s go get married.”
AIDAN
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Effie felt like the luckiest girl in the world as Aidan slipped the ring on her finger just as they’d finished their vows. She wore her new gown that matched Aidan’s plaid. Her sister stood next to her, holding the bouquet of wildflowers she and Kyla had picked for her this morning, and Kyla was next to her, crying happy tears. Onyx and Ian stood alongside Aidan, while Storm, Wren, and the entire MacKeefe clan as well as the MacDuffs watched on.
Aidan had convinced her to meet the MacDuffs before they were married, so they could be present at the wedding as well. It had gone better than she’d hoped and she’d even found a few blood relatives she never knew she had. Coira enjoyed meeting them as well, and now Effie felt as if they had two families.
Madoc had brought his wife, Abbey, and their new baby boy, as well as their other two children to the competition as well. Onyx’s wife, Lovelle, stood next to them with their new baby boy, Creighton, in her arms. They had given him a Scottish name at Onyx’s insistence. And Onyx had even brought his father, Talbot, from England, so he could be with Onyx’s Scottish family.
“I pronounce ye husband and wife,” said the priest, closing his book.
A shout went up from the crowd, and Aidan reached over and kissed Effie, then lifted her off her feet and kissed her again.
“Congratulations,” said Storm, coming to greet them. With that, congratulations and hugs and kisses were given all around.