Christmas in Kilts
Page 47
This was how every night started, but a few moments after their door closed, Ella would be there, demanding their attention.
Freya heard the door close, and she looked over her shoulder as Gregory moved behind her to undo the buttons of her dress.
“How long do you think we have?” she asked.
She shivered with excitement as his lips brushed against the side of her neck.
“We have all night.”
She didn’t want to ruin the magic of this moment by reminding him of the past few nights. Instead, Freya gathered her hair to one side as Gregory’s strong fingers undid and parted the dress on her back.
He pushed the dress down over her arms and she looked nervously at the door. “Do you think we should put a chair in front of it?”
The child was definitely confused as far as what was appropriate knocking on their door. Last night, there was a soft tap and then she’d put a shoulder to it.
“Maybe that desk,” she suggested next. “The two of us should be able to move it over.”
Still worrying about how Ella would manage to gain access into their room, Freya heard him chuckle to himself, but she was momentarily distracted by the feel of his fingers moving over her body.
“The window,” she said warily, taking a step toward it. “Isn’t that a balcony outside? We should check to see if she can reach . . .”
Her words disappeared when he turned her around and she found he was standing naked in front of her. Naked. She raked his body with her gaze.
“When did you undress me?” she asked, realizing they were both as naked as the day they were born. Shyness quickly gave way to excitement, and desire lit up within her like a flame.
“You are stunning,” he said, his voice husky with feeling.
Her body hummed as he stroked his fingers over her breasts and belly before he bent down and drew her nipple between his lips.
She sighed with pleasure, her head falling back. “Please build a fortress and make sure no one interrupts us at least for an hour,” she moaned.
“We have all night,” he repeated, suckling hard at her other breast.
His hand slid down over her mound and into her waiting sex. Freya inhaled sharply and her fingers held his head as the pleasure continued to build in her.
Suddenly, he lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bed.
“My God, I’m a lucky man,” he said thickly, kissing her lips.
Aching with need, she opened her arms to him as he climbed on the bed with her. “Please come to me now. Hurry. Make love to me. Before we get interrupted.”
His laughter washed over her like silk.
“Not tonight, my dearest love.”
He slid his body down the bed, running his mouth along each rib, circling her navel with his tongue and moving lower. They’d never had enough time for anything like this. She shivered with anticipation and pleasure.
Doors. Windows. Would Shona be an angel and keep Ella away long enough?
All thoughts of interruption disappeared when Gregory slid his hands beneath her bottom and ran his tongue along the lips of her sex. A molten frenzy erupted within her. She nearly crawled out of her skin at the force of the sensation. As he kept building the relentless intensity with his tongue and his mouth, her mind emptied of all worries and centered on the coming release. Then, when he suckled the core of her pleasure, she shattered, driven beyond the edge of reason, exploding into another starlit dimension, her cries of release echoing around her.
As she floated in that ethereal state, she was only vaguely aware of his body moving over her, his mouth closing over hers.
Suddenly, she needed him, wanted him inside of her. Her fingers moved down over the taut muscles of his stomach and wrapped around the velvety length of his erection. She heard his sharp intake of breath as she guided the smooth head to the opening of her sex.
“Take me, my love,” she pleaded, again fearing the imminent knock at the door.
He entered her, slowly at first and she felt herself stretch to take all of him in. Like the other times they’d made love, she expected him to hurry, but tonight he took his time. Feeling him fully embedded in her body, she sighed with pleasure and wrapped herself around him as he began to move. Long, deliberate strokes wrought a different thrill within her, driving her higher as she looked into his eyes and felt his skin go damp beneath the touch of her fingers.
The door, the window, interruptions meant nothing now. Her body rose with each stroke, her mind emptied of everything but the man she loved.
He reached between their bodies and touched her, and she came once again. This time her release went on and on until his name became a muffled chant against his shoulder.
In the next moment, he gripped her hips and, muscles clenching, he whispered her name as he poured himself into her.
Freya marveled at his beauty, at his strength, and at the sound of her own name on his lips. Finally spent, he collapsed on top of her, his head dropping to the curve of her throat.
They both tried to catch their breath. Their bodies were still joined. The warm feeling of happiness and contentment washed through her. There was nowhere else in the world that she wished to be. There was nothing else that she wanted but the happiness of a life with him.
She glanced at the still quiet door and smiled. With him and with Ella.
“What did you blackmail her with?” she asked with a contented sigh.
“With a baby.”
He lifted his head and looked down at her.
“She wants a baby brother or sister. I simply told her we have to dance all night . . . with no interruptions.”
She smiled and raised her lips to his. “My brilliant husband.”
Epilogue
Christmas Eve
Baronsford loomed above the frozen lake, stately and majestic, its windows lit with candles. Blazing torches illuminated paths leading from the house to the ice, with branches going off into the magnificent gardens.
The Pennington family and their tenants, neighbors, and guests had gathered for their traditional celebrations, and the annual Christmas Eve skating party was now going strong. The entire household—from the aging earl and countess to the very last stable boy and scullery maid—was partaking in the festivities that extended into the Christmas dinner tomorrow and the great ball the day after.
Freya’s skates cut into the ice and she stopped. Her eyes were drawn to the carolers singing by the roaring bonfire at the edge of the lake, where wassail was being ladled into great bowls and passed around. Happy faces flushed with the cold and drink reflected the bright flames.
All of this resembled some joyous dream. They’d arrived at Baronsford two days ago and Freya had been overjoyed and brought to tears by the reception the family had given her and Ella. They already knew she and Gregory had married. He’d written to his parents and siblings from Dundee at the same time she’d written to her father.
She had no worries about her father’s reaction. Baron Sutherland was as certain of her judgment as he was certain the sun would rise in the east. Still, her relief was unbounded at the knowledge that Gregory’s family also celebrated their union. Freya had no doubt that her father would be packing his trunk to come south for the church wedding within minutes of reading her letter.
Yesterday, Lady Dacre had also arrived. With Gregory and the rest of the Pennington family at her side, Freya had met the dowager and introduced Ella to her grandmother with confidence. And her reaction was better than they expected. The frail and aging lady was delighted. Her concerns about the child’s well-being had been answered.
Freya breathed in the bracing night air and gazed at the tall, handsome skater approaching. His eyes sparkled as he smiled and slipped his arm around her.
“Cold?” Gregory asked.
“Not a bit.” She snuggled against him.
“Happy?”
“Very.”
Around the lake a score of smaller fires had been lit, and skate
rs glided in pairs and groups between them. Young ones raced, laughing as they bumped into elders and each other. In the midst of all those activities, she saw Ella taking center stage amongst Gregory’s sisters as the young women laughed over the child’s stories and antics.
“We won’t be able to live with her after all this attention,” she told him.
“We shall seriously have great difficulty taking her back with us to Torrishbrae,” he warned with a smile. “My mother is in love with her, and so are my sisters. My sister-in-law, Grace, believes that Ella is the funniest and most loving child she’s met in her life.”
“I may need to give her a lecture about what children are really like. You and I both know Ella is a wild, wee elf covered in a lass’s clothing.”
They both smiled as their gazes were attracted to the pregnant Grace coming down the hill supported by Viscount Greysteil, her husband. Their story was a fascinating one, Freya thought, for it was just this past May that the young woman had arrived at Baronsford, half dead in a crate intended for his lordship.
“Let’s go over,” Gregory suggested.
Together, they skated to where the elders in the family were gathered by a fire at the edge of the ice. Lady Dacre sat beside Lady Aytoun on a bench.
Ella appeared as well, dancing around them like a sprite on skates.
“Millicent, I can’t tell you what peace of mind it gives me to see these two together,” Lady Dacre said.
“We’re all exceedingly happy,” Gregory’s mother said, beaming at them.
As Grace and the viscount joined them, Lady Dacre addressed them. “And I must thank you, Greysteil, for asking your brother to escort these two ladies to the Borders. I’m so grateful to you for bringing them together.”
“But it wasn’t his lordship’s doing at all,” a small voice exclaimed.
Everyone’s gaze turned to Ella, standing in the center of the group and looking around to make sure she had their attention.
“I’m the one who arranged their bloody marriage!”
Author’s Note
We hope you enjoyed the story of Gregory and Freya, another tale in our Pennington family saga. For those of you who have read our previous work, you’re familiar with Millicent and Lyon, the Earl of Aytoun, from Borrowed Dreams. And as you’ve probably already guessed, we have a new series of books in the works featuring the next generation of Penningtons. The romantic adventure of Grace Ware and Viscount Greysteil (Gregory’s brother) is available in the first installment, Romancing the Scot. We hope you check it out.
As always, we want to say that we love getting feedback from our readers. We write our stories for you. We’d love to hear what you liked, what you loved, and even what you didn’t like. We are constantly learning, so please help us write stories that you will cherish and recommend to your friends. You can contact us at may@maymcgoldrick.com, and visit us on our website at www.MayMcGoldrick.com. Also, please sign up for our newsletter. We want you to be among the first to be notified about our new releases and giveaways and other pertinent news.
Finally, we need a favor. If you’re so inclined, we’d love a review of this story. As you may already know, reviews can be difficult to come by these days. You, the reader, have the power now to make or break a book. If you have the time, please consider posting one to a major bookstore or reading group site. Thank you.
Wishing you peace and health!
Nikoo and Jim
Also by May McGoldrick
Pennington Family (Regency)
Sweet Home Highlands (novella in Christmas in Kilts)
Romancing the Scot
It Happened in the Highlands
Sleepless in Scotland
Pennington Family (First Generation)
The Promise
Scottish Dream Trilogy
Borrowed Dreams (Book 1)
Captured Dreams (Book 2)
Dreams of Destiny (Book 3)
Macpherson Family Series
Scottish Relic Trilogy
Much Ado About Highlanders (Book 1)
Taming the Highlander (Book 2)
Tempest in the Highlands (Book 3)
“A Midsummer Wedding” (novella in Say Yes to the Scot)
Macpherson Brothers Trilogy
The Thistle and the Rose (Book 0)
Angel of Skye (Book 1)
Heart of Gold (Book 2)
Beauty of the Mist (Book 3)
Standalones
The Intended
Flame
Tess and the Highlander
For a complete list of May McGoldrick titles, please visit www.MayMcGoldrick.com
About the Author(s)
Author photograph © Loghan Rose
Authors Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick (writing as May McGoldrick) weave emotionally satisfying tales of love and danger. Publishing under the names of May McGoldrick and Jan Coffey, these authors have written thirty-nine novels. Nikoo, an engineer, also conducts frequent workshops on writing and publishing and serves as a Resident Author. Jim holds a PhD in medieval and Renaissance literature. They live in northwestern Connecticut.
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
A HIGHLANDER’S HOPE
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
Also by Terri Brisbin
About the Author
A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS WAGER
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
Also by Lecia Cornwall
About the Author
A SCOT FOR CHRISTMAS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Also by Bronwen Evans
About the Author
LEFTOVER MISTLETOE
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Epilogue
Also by Lavinia Kent
About the Author
SWEET HOME HIGHLANDS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Also by May McGoldrick
About the Author(s)
Copyright Page
These stories are works of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in these novellas are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
CHRISTMAS IN KILTS. Copyright © 2017 by St. Martin’s Press.
“A Highlander’s Hope” copyright © 2017 by Theresa S. Brisbin
“A Highland Christmas
Wager” copyright © 2017 by Lecia Cornwall
“A Scot for Christmas” copyright © 2017 by Bronwen Evans
“Leftover Mistletoe” copyright © 2017 by Lavinia Kent
“Sweet Home Highlands” copyright © 2017 by May McGoldrick
All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover photographs: couple © Hot Damn Stock; bow © Elena Titova/Shutterstock.com; plaid © Vectorchoice/Shutterstock.com
ISBN 978-1-250-17932-6 (ebook)
First Edition: October 2017
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