His Bonnie Bride (40 page)

"Tavis," she groaned as she fought to control a passion run mad. "I am ... God, 'tis time. Ye must cease."

"Nay, give it all to me. I have such a thirst. Let go and quench it. Ah, aye, 'tis the sweetest of nectars."

He drank deeply of her love as she cried out his name and gave herself over to her ecstasy. Then he leapt to his feet. Lifting her hips, he drove into her languid body, bringing it to life once again. Bracing himself with his palms flat on the bed on either side of her, he bent his head to her breasts. His suckling was in rhythm with his thrusts. The dual assault brought Storm to the heights yet again. When he felt her passionate inner tremors he drove deeply, finding his own release, one that had been so long denied him.

When they finally lay wrapped in each other's arms beneath the covers he said, "I have kenned many women. Nay, dinnae stiffen, lass. Hear me out. Ne'er has it been so good. I didnae crave them, just the act. Once done, I would leave their arms ne'er caring to linger. I had had all I wanted o' them."

"Even Katerine?" she asked softly, her hand moving with loving awe over his hard chest, touching her amulet that he wore with pride.

"Aye, e'en Katerine. I kenned in my heart e'en as I tried to ignore it that ye were far more. The first time I saw ye, fighting off Sir Hugh, I wanted ye. Not just a lovely woman but ye, Storm Eldon MacLagan. It was a while afore I saw the difference. I wasnae lusting for a woman only, but for ye alone."

"It was a near mortal wound when ye held silent that day," she whispered.

"I ken it. I near killed myself as weel. 'Twas an awakening that came too late." His voice grew hoarse as her fingers idly traced the arrow of hair that trailed from his chest down to the seat of his passion. "My lust was still there, but it responded only to the memory of ye."

"And mine to ye alone. I let no other man touch me, Tavis, though they offered." She felt his sigh of relief. "I lied to hurt ye as I was hurting when I thought ye back in Katerine MacBroth's arms."

"I hoped 'twas so, but I kenned that I deserved no faithfulness. I had neither asked it nor offered it."

" 'Tis yours despite that. I cannot stop my love for ye, though I did try to." She felt his hold tighten.

"Am pos thu mi?"
he asked thickly, feeling nearly unmanned in his love for her.

"What does that mean, Tavis?"

"Will ye be my wife?"

"I am now."

"Nay, ye but hold my name. Will ye hold my heart as weel?"

"Oh, Tavis, 'tis a most precious gift, and I will cherish it as it deserves," she whispered huskily, and proceeded to show him so to the best of her ability throughout the night, an endeavor that Tavis did his best to reward in kind.

None of those in the hall were surprised to see nary a sign of the pair as day proceeded into night and edged toward day again.