Highlander Medieval 06 - Her Highland Hero (29 page)

She smiled and moved the cloth lower to stroke his staff. “I would not want us to stop this.”

He laughed, lifted her in his arms, and carried her to the bed. She tossed the damp cloth to the floor and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Why would I ever want to stop making love to my bonny lass? There isna any chance of that.”

She just smiled as he set her on the bed, then he lowered his body next to hers. He ran his hand over her breast, and she tried hard not to let on how sore they were. She knew she was carrying a bairn, but she was afraid if she told him, he’d stop making love to her. Her belly was still flat, though even she could see it was starting to grow just a wee bit. She loved the changes in her body to accommodate the bairn growing inside her. She’d been careful not to let on to any of the maids who served her. She knew when Mary was here, she’d suspect right away.

Isobel lowered his hand between her legs so that he would pleasure her there, and then began to kiss his mouth. She loved his mouth and the way he slid his tongue into hers, the way he nibbled on her lips, and kissed her all over. She still remembered that day at the loch when he had first kissed her and she had wanted the rest of what he could give her.

With his touches, she was burning for him, craving the intimacy and she was so afraid he’d want to stop.

He stroked her between her legs and made her feel deliciously wicked and loved and all his. God, how she cherished the way he touched her, eager to please her. She caressed his whiskery cheek and teased his tongue with hers. His hand went again to her breasts, and she loved that he wished to feel them, just as she craved the sensation of his touch.
Until now.
Because of the tenderness in them, she sought to distract him by touching his shaft. Her diverting his attention in such a manner had worked the last two days when he had wanted to feel her breasts, to kiss them, and lick her nipples. It worked this time, too. Besides, she loved wrapping her hand around his rigid staff and stroking him. She relished seeing the way his blue eyes clouded with lust, and hearing him moan at her touch.

He started to stroke her in that sensitive spot between her legs again, touching her, lifting her to the heavens above, ecstatic to feel that all-consuming pleasure driving her higher. She was grateful that part of her was not tender and sore, but eager for his ministrations.

She rose so high until she hit the peak and felt as if she was flying off the goose down mattress right before he plunged his staff into her. She loved feeling him inside of her, the connectedness, the closeness, the intimacy.

She rode a new wave of high, wanting them to be like this always, even after they were old and gray.

Marcus loved making love to his wife, but he knew things had changed between them. She no longer wanted him to touch her breasts, but they seemed plumper and he loved touching them. Not wanting to ask her in the middle of their lovemaking, he would question her later when they were resting afterward. He wanted only to please his wife in every way as much as she pleased him.

For now, he plunged his staff deep into his lady wife’s welcoming, warm, wet sheath, felt her near the verge of coming again as her fingers dug into his hips, and he continued to drive forth. He loved these early morning wake-ups, though they usually didn’t start out with a bath. Today was special because today he was marrying his bonny lass in the kirk.

Her long, dark tresses spilled across her pillow, her blue eyes filled with awe, her face flushed with pleasure, she couldn’t look any more beautiful than she did this moment.

This time, he really tried to hold back, tried to make this last longer. He slowed down to savor the moment, valuing this intimate time spent with her, then gave up the battle as his seed spilled inside her. She tensed, gripped his hips with her fingers, and he rubbed against her until she cried out with pleasure.

His thirst for her slaked—for the moment—he sank down on top of her, then moved off her, pulling her into his arms. In the past, she nestled against him without any trouble, but now she seemed to have to be…well, careful, the way she rested on top of him. He caressed her arm as she resituated herself again, appearing to attempt to get comfortable.

“Are you feeling all right, lass?” He couldn’t help his concern that he had done something wrong, or she’d labored at something recently and injured herself.

“Oh, aye. ‘Tis a wondrous day.” She was so cheerful, he wondered if he imagined her discomfort.

“You seem to be… sore. Have I hurt you in some way? Or made you feel uncomfortable?” He hated to think she didn’t like him touching her breasts any longer. They were remarkable and he loved kissing them and more.

“Oh, Marcus, do not treat me any differently, I beg of you.”

“What is the matter?” He began to sit up, but she pushed him back down and cuddled with him.

He sighed and caressed her back, her long hair cascading over his chest.

“We are going to have a bairn.”

In disbelief, he stared at her. Then he grinned, so thrilled to hear the good news, he bolted upright again, taking her with him. “When? Why didna you tell me?”

“To begin with, I was uncertain. I was going to ask Mary. But I am certain of it now.”

He kissed Isobel and held her tight, then let loose of her. “You are hurting.”

She cupped her breasts lightly. “They are growing and I am a little tender. I do not want you to treat me any differently. Some husbands no longer bed their wives when they are carrying a wee one. I do not want you to—”

“I would never neglect you. Near the end, we will have to stop, but you are a Highland lass, and in the Highlands, we dinna stop. By the heavens, I couldna be more thrilled at the news. Ah, lass, you dinna know how much this means to me.”

She smiled and he kissed his loving wife, thanking God that was all that had concerned her. He couldn’t wait to tell all of his kin. “When can we tell the clan?”

She raised her brows. “Mayhap after we are married in the kirk? At the celebration?”

“It will kill me to keep the secret.” It would. He was certain they’d guess it when they saw him fussing over his wife and grinning like a fool. “Aye, you have my word. Do you no’ think the maids who attend to you know already?” If they knew, everyone else already knew. Then he wouldn’t have to wait to tell the clan.

“Mayhap. If they helped me to dress and saw me wince, they might have realized it.”

He nodded and looked down at his sweet wife. “I can love you no more than I do now.” Then he kissed her again and hugged her gently.

“I love you, Highlander. Now, and for always.”

A knock on the door startled Isobel and she jumped a little in his arms.

“Aye?” Marcus called out.

“Guests have begun to arrive. Our Chattan cousins, Gunnolf, Angus, our uncle. And, just so the lass knows,” Rob said beyond the door, “Oona had her pups.”

“Oh.” Isobel quickly scrambled out of the bed to get dressed.

Marcus laughed. “We will be down shortly.”

“Aye, I will let everyone know.”

Marcus helped Isobel to dress. “She likely willna want you seeing her pups for a couple of days, lass.”

“Nay. I have been with her several times a day. It was the same with my father’s deerhounds, and the mother let me see her and her pups, though she hid her pups afterward. Oona will trust me. I will not touch them until they are older and she is agreeable.”

They were soon dressed, much quicker than he had ever seen Isobel dress. Once they left the chamber, she practically raced down the stairs. She was about to head to the kennel when Ulicia’s children, Druce and Fiona, came out of the kitchen and tackled her with hugs. Marcus was both surprised and glad to see the lass and lad.

“Druce, Fiona,” Isobel said, smiling. “Are your mother and other brothers here? And is she well now?”

“Aye, she is well. And Da is with us.” Druce beamed with the news.

“Da?” Marcus said, and the children looked up at him until he motioned to them to give him hugs also. They quickly obliged. Their exuberance pleased him and he thought how someday he and Isobel would cherish their own bairns just like this.

“Leith took our mother to wife.” Fiona sounded as proud as could be.

Marcus laughed, glad that Leith had found a family to care for. Then he saw Leith and Ulicia with the two younger boys headed their way. “You are here for the wedding?”

“Aye, and to stay, if it is all right with you.” Leith was holding each of the younger lads’ hands in his. He looked like a proud da.

Ulicia looked just as cheered.

“Aye, we are happy to have you home again.”

Edana and the rest of the Chattan kin headed their way, but this time Edana went to hug Isobel first. “I am so happy to see you again.” She threw her arms around her and gave her a light hug. “Come, we must talk before the wedding.”

As soon as they were alone in the misty, cool gardens, Edana walked hand in hand with Isobel as if they had always been sisters, which Isobel dearly loved.

Edana cleared her throat. “I have to tell you the news. I am carrying our first bairn. I knew way before I…really knew, but anyway, I have this, well, gift, and I learned that our bairns will be playing together when they are wee young’uns and that means…”

Isobel stared at her, not quite understanding Edana’s meaning. “How did you know? About me? I have not told anyone. Yet.”

“I have this gift, you see…”

***

Before her father and Mary arrived with their escort, Isobel was so excited to see Oona with her pups, she could barely contain her enthusiasm as she made her escape from everyone and slipped into the kennel. Oona allowed her to see all five before tucking them underneath her legs in a protective way.

Isobel was so engrossed with seeing Oona and her pups, she didn’t realize that her father and Mary had arrived until she heard all the commotion in the inner bailey. She hurried out of the kennel to greet them.

She gave her father a hug first, tears filling her eyes. “Father,” was all she was able to choke out. To think if John had his way, her father would not be here now.

“There, there, daughter. It is a happy occasion—your marriage to the man you love, just as it was when I married your mother. I am glad to be here and to see…” Her father glanced around at the castle. “Your accommodations.”

“I was just checking on the deerhound’s new pups,” she said, smiling.

He shook his head. “You will spoil the hunting hounds here now instead of mine.”

She laughed and turned to hug Mary who was just as teary-eyed. But Mary’s jaw dropped when Isobel hugged her so lightly and not exuberantly like she would normally do after being separated for so long.

“Are you…?”

Isobel grinned and nodded.

Mary quickly looked at Isobel’s father.

“For heaven’s sake, what now?” He frowned, then his brows shot up. He seized Isobel’s arm and headed toward the kirk. “Let us get this wedding over with now.”

The celebration was an extravagant affair as Marcus had made sure that everyone would have the opportunity to feast and make merry for several days. The announcement at the first of the feasts that they had a bairn on the way was met with enthusiastic cheers.

He had enjoyed dancing with his wife, and even slipped into the kennels with her to quietly check on Oona and her pups. What he witnessed was nothing less than a miracle. Oona, the pups, Isobel here with him, adoring them, and him adoring her. Even more wondrous—his own bairn on the way.

When they returned to the great hall, Lord Pembroke took Marcus and Isobel aside while pipers played in the background. Many of his people danced, drank, and talked as Lord Pembroke said, “I had planned to allow you to marry my daughter before I was left for dead, I wished you to know.”

Marcus stared at him slack-jawed.

“Aye. You see, in the last missive you sent, you said something that really resonated with me. You said how much my wife had cherished me and how she gave up her close family, her home, and the rest of her kin to be with me. That she loved me for who I was, for how I handled the Scots at the border, for how I made her feel special, just as she made me feel. There was not a day that went by that I did not think of her when we were separated, or when I had seen her at the first, and wished to see her again. ‘Twas not the same as the way she had felt about MacLauchlan.”

“Her being with him had been a mistake,” Marcus said.

“Aye. So I intended to send you a missive that said you were welcome to court my daughter and if she chose you, I would be agreeable.”

“I have saved you the trouble.” Marcus grinned.

“Aye. I wish I had seen that my nephew was not the man to take my place. Had Isobel been a son…”

Isobel smiled and reached across Marcus to pat her father’s arm. “You would have had a worse time of it.”

He chuckled. “Think you I do not know all that you were up to? Swordplay with Marcus and his cousins? Bow hunting? Fishing? And all manner of other unladylike behaviors.”

“Mary told on me?”

“Nay. I had men watching out for you. They reported all that you had done.”

“You… you never objected to it.”

“I loved your mother. She had grown up just the way you had. How could I not love seeing you turn out as beautiful as her? So, nay, I could not keep you from doing that which made you the person you have become today. Marcus and his cousins were always careful with you and protective. Though my own men were there watching out for your welfare, they said they trusted in Marcus to keep you safe.”

Lord Pembroke cleared his throat. “I…I apologize for sending Marcus away the day he was injured. I had learned that, for the first time, he had kissed you at the loch and I feared, especially after the way you danced with him, that you would end up like your mother had—with MacLauchlan.”

“MacLauchlan was married! And Marcus was not. He wished to marry me.”

“Aye, and I was not ready to listen to reason.” Lord Pembroke took a heavy breath. “John’s younger brother, Rian, has handled things nicely. He has my gift of persuasion. He has already helped me to quell two skirmishes with just a couple of talks.”