Kahleena MacCarthy ~ To Meet a Highlander (23 page)

             
“Aye, lad that he can.” It was Argus who spoke. “It was the way of our people for years, especially when we were stealing a bride, as he's just done. It's binding and cannot be undone, lest we anger fates beyond our control.”

             
“Wait. We're married?” Tsarina looked up at Zarik.

             
“Aye, lassie. We are. Ye are mine.” Zarik waited a moment to see if she was going to go into a fit. When she didn't he continued. “Now, priest, if ye'd be so kind as to do a proper ceremony for us as well, I wish to be married in the two ways that exist so there is no question of our union.”

             
The priest looked at Niall and then over to Galen. Finally looking back at Zarik, deciding this was not a warrior he wished to anger, he did as he was told.

             
“Aye, of course. Let us begin again, hopefully without interruption this time.” The priest's eyes gazed around the gathering of people. He would charge triple for this and never, not ever he vowed, return to MacKinnon lands.

             
“Ye have my word,” Zarik placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, Drostan, Caelan & Tor following doing so with him. “There'll be no more interruptions this day.”

             
Taking a deep breath, the priest once again began the ceremony. “Ceud mìle fàilte! (One hundred thousand welcomes!) The MacKinnon has a few words to say before we begin again.”

             
Niall, rose to his feet and went to his son and Tsarina, a smile on his face. While he did not condone the way it was done, leave it to Zarik to create a wedding the clan would be telling stories of for thousands of years. “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.  If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. So let it be! A huile la sona dhuibh's gun la idir dona dhuibh! (May all your days be happy ones!)” Knowing that there could be no more surprises this day, Niall went to sit with a content look upon his face. Everything had been set right again. Thanks to the fates and his very arrogant son.

             
The priest continued on, skipping the part of anyone having an objection. After all, they'd already wed in the blood vow tradition, it couldn't be undone. So, there was no harm in leaving out that little bit. “Now, it is time to exchange yer vows”

             
“I, Zarik, take thee Tsarina to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth.”

             
“I, Tsarina, take thee Zarik to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be bonny and buxom at bed and at board, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth.”

             
“It is with great pleasure that I present to you, married in the eyes of God and man, Zarik and Tsarina...” The priest didn't even try to speak further as the whoops and hollers over took anything else.

**

             
The celebration seemed to go on forever. Tsarina was exhausted. She was also quite tired of the hateful looks her brother passed her way. It wasn't her fault, but she was relieved things had turned out as they did. There was no telling what might have been thrown off balance were she to have married Galen.

             
Galen also seemed to handle it well. He had immediately congratulated both of them when it was done, with a genuine smile on his face. The girl who married him would truly get a wonderful man to spend the rest of her life with. “Will you be staying here, Galen?” Tsarina asked in the midst of all the other conversations and laughter going on.

             
“Aye, I do believe I will.” Galen had a sparkle in his eyes.

             
“Ahh, you have found someone that you have your eyes set upon?” Tsarina gave a happy laugh. How wonderful would it be to have someone from her time here with her, and have them be happy.

             
“Aye, that I have.”

             
“Does she have an interest in you too?”

             
Galen hesitated for a slight moment. “I'm not sure. Perhaps I'll get to find out soon since I'm not marrying you now.” He winked at her and walked off in another direction after giving her a quick hug.

             
Tsarina turned to see Zarik and Trystan in a heated discussion. No one was yelling, but Zarik's hand was on his sword, with Drostan and Caelan right behind him. “What is going on you two?” Tsarina wasn't going to have all this fighting on her wedding night. “I'll not be listening to the two of you fight all the time. Trystan, what's done is done. I don't have the same rights in this time as I did in ours. And neither do you.” She glared at Trystan before continuing. “It's all as it should be. Leave it be or just go home!” Tsarina couldn't believe she'd said that to her brother. But, after it was out, she realized she truly meant it. She didn't need him putting around in a mood all the time. “Trystan, you no longer have any say over what happens to me, as I'm now married.”

             
“Evidently not.” Trystan bit out, full of anger. “It seems even when I did have say, this asshole decided I didn't and did whatever he saw fit to do. It's not the way things are to work in this time.”

             
“Brides are stolen all the time. The better warrior gets what he wants, even if he's stolen it. It's simply the way of it.” Caelan shrugged as he spoke. It was the truth. Sometimes they were taken during war, other times just because two people had met, fell in love, and their parents didn't approve of the union.

             
“You really want me to leave?” Trystan ignored Caelan and focused on his sister.

             
“No, I don't. But I also don't want you making everyone miserable. I was supposed to marry Zarik. It's why I was sent here. I'd love for you to stay, but if you're going to be angry and unhappy, I don't need that. I have to adjust, yet again, to a different way of life.” Tsarina thought, in that moment, for the first time about being married to Zarik. What he'd expect of her. What would the clan expect of her? She was now officially the lady of the clan. She wished her mother-in-law were still around to show her the ropes. She suddenly felt filled with panic. Just as she had gotten used to one routine, another entirely different one had now been dropped into her lap.

             
“I think it's been a long day for everyone. I'm going to take my wife and turn in. There'll be plenty of time to argue again on the morrow.” Flashing a smile, he placed Tsarina's arm in his and began to lead her toward the keep.

             
“You'll unhand my sister.” Trystan was all in a mood again.

             
“Nay, I'll not. She's mine. Do ye wish to challenge it? I don't wannae hurt ye, for her sake, but I will.” Zarik waited calmly as his new brother-in-law determined his fate. Battle and fighting came to him easily. They always improved his mood. A little blood shed helped him smile. Zarik almost wished Trystan dared to challenge him. Though it would be far too easy of a fight and Tsarina would hate him for it.

             
“You both will stop!” Tsarina stomped her foot. “This is enough. I'm going with Zarik. I married him. Go find Galen and talk. Maybe you'll be more pleasant to be around in the morning.”

             
Zarik said a few more goodnights on his way to the keep. As they began their climb up the stairs, Tsarina's panic rose. She'd not be sleeping in her chamber tonight. She'd be expected to be in his. She'd also be expected to consummate their marriage. Tsarina let a small cry escape from her lips. Zarik was going to sleep with her and there wasn't a thing she could do about it.

Chapter 16

             
Zarik and Tsarina stepped into his chamber, arm in arm. He let go of her long enough to close the door and latch it. Turning around, he saw the look of panic on her face.

             
“Aye, now let's not get too worried.” Zarik tried to comfort her with a smile. “It will all be well and by morning ye'll wonder why ye worried so.”

             
Tsarina took a deep breath. She felt as though the entire keep had been placed on top of her chest. It was as though her lungs couldn't expand. “I...well...” Tsarina was at a loss for words. As much of a hurry as she'd been in to get away from the activities below, she now longed to be back in the middle of them.

             
“Tsarina, 'tis yer wedding night. Relax.” Zarik went over to his side table and grabbed a bottle of ale. Pouring her a glass, he continued. “Here, drink this. It will calm ye.” He couldn't figure out why she was so worried. Neither of them were virgins.

             
“I don't drink.” Tsarina did before she came to this time. But the drink here burned all the way down and she found no enjoyment in it. It also took far less to cause a hangover. This stuff was potent.

             
“Mayhap just a few sips tonight wouldnae be such a bad idea?”

             
“No. It won't matter.”

             
Zarik shrugged and walked closer to her. He leaned in for a kiss and was surprised when she backed away from him. “Tsarina...”

             
“How will you explain that I'm not a virgin? Won't I be the talk of the keep even more than I already am? I mean...” Tsarina was babbling and she knew it but she didn't care. “First I was to marry you. And you made a number of scenes and made me look like an ass more than several times in front of everyone. Then, I'm to marry Tor and there's a battle in the middle of the ceremony and you return. Then I'm to marry you, we announce it and my brother changes everything and says I'm to marry Galen. At my ceremony to marry Galen, you steal me from him and marry me yourself. Do you really think I need any more talk about me around here?” Finally she stopped, out of breath. Her life now sounded like a cheesy daytime soap opera.

             
Zarik laughed.

             
“What? You're laughing?” Tsarina felt her anger rising. Before she could stop herself, even before she knew really why she wanted to do it, she slapped him across the face. Hard. There was almost instantly an outline of her hand on his cheek.

             
Instead of being angry, he laughed.

             
“Tsarina, sweetling, ye are now my wife. Ken? No one will be saying naught about ye. Ye can bet on it. I'll not have it and no one would dare. As for slapping me, do it again, lass, I rather enjoy it rough.”

             
Tsarina ignored his comment, though if she could be certain it wouldn't bring him more pleasure, she may have slapped him again. “So fear is what you use. And you think those fearing you is good?”

             
It seemed his answer, rather than making her feel better, only made her anger grow. “Fear is needed sometimes. They need know that I can defend them, lead the clan when it is my time, be fair but firm. It's just how it is.”

             
“They don't fear your father.” Tsarina wasn't sure she should point that out, but she did anyway.

             
“They don't need to. My father has me. They fear me. It saves him the blackguard that I have.”

             
“Why can you not do as he has? Find someone to be the cruel asshole in your place?”

             
Again Zarik laughed. “Aye, so it is now that I am a cruel arsehole.” He let out a sigh and kicked off his shoes. “I think this may be a discussion for another time, seeing as it looks like it will take a while and my concentration is elsewhere.” Zarik greedily looked to her bust and down further. “I think, sweetling, that ye are overdressed for this occasion.”

             
Tsarina felt herself shudder as she watched his shoes tumble across the floor. Soon, his sword was placed within reach of the bed. His bed. Their bed. She watched Zarik's sword belt fall onto the floor. As he undid his shirt, she couldn't stop her deep intake of breath – a breath she held far too long. When his shirt hit the floor as well, she licked her lips. There was that muscular chest. How would she ever survive this night? “Wait. I'm not a virgin, Zarik.” She began as she allowed herself the opportunity to really look at him. Tsarina noted the various scars that outlined his chest and arms, remembering feeling them on his back as well. She would have thought they'd turn her off, but for some odd reason they were having the exact opposite effect on her. She longed to trace them; for him to trust her enough to explain each one of them...

             
“I ken it. We've already had this discussion.” Zarik spoke calmly as he began to move his brais.

             
“No, wait.” Tsarina felt panic take over again. She wanted him. Badly. But, she felt as though she couldn't breathe. When his hands went to his pants, she thought she was going to suffocate. This simply wasn't going to work. Perhaps she should have agreed to let him bed whores and have a leman.

             
Zarik raised an eyebrow at her scared look.

             
“Perhaps I spoke in haste before, Zarik. Who am I to change customs? Maybe I should allow whores and a leman for your comfort.”

             
A look of shock crossed Zarik's face. She no longer wanted him? He knew the way he swooped in, cut her, married her and then claimed her was rushed and brutish, but he'd had no other choice. “Ye donnae wish me to bed ye?”

             
“I, it's just, well...”

             
“Out with it, lass.”

             
“I just need time. I think.”

             
“Ye think ye need time? In the meantime ye wish me to sleep with anything with a warm, wet center? Do ye?” Zarik tried to pull back in the anger that was rising. This was not how he'd pictured his wedding night. They had sparks between them. He'd thought Tsarina would easily fall willingly into his arms and into his bed.

             
“I, well...”

             
“Mayhap I should flaunt them around as well. A different whore on my lap at the head table each night. Would this please ye, wife?”

             
“Yes. I mean, no. Of course not.” Tsarina was confused. She'd made a mess of the night. That was certain. She could see the temper rising in Zarik.

             
“Enough of this foolishness. I find my patience is at it's end. Ye are my wife. Mine. I will have ye – willing or no. Take of yer dress.”

             
Tsarina watched as he turned his back and moved the blankets on the bed. The bed was huge, just like the man who slept in it each night. “So this is now a business deal?”

             
“Is it not how ye wished it to be?”

             
“I want love, Zarik. You know this.”

             
“Aye, love. Ye wish to be wooed and placed upon a balcony with yer humble man adoring ye on his knees.” Zarik's sarcasm was clear. “Tsarina, let's be clear on one thing, I kneel to no one. Best ye remember it. One day, that may be of use to ye. Fer yer protection. The day will come when ye'll have need of my sword.”

             
“I'd rather have a coward, if he loved me.”

             
“Of course ye would. 'Tis easy to say when ye aren't in danger.” Zarik, out of patience, walked over and placed a kiss on her lips. It was not the slow, soft one that all his others had been. This one was of sheer possession. Demanding. He took her lips roughly, pushing them apart so that he could slip his tongue inside. No space in her mouth was spared his relentless attack. “Ye are mine. Ye will submit to me, lass. Dinnae bother trying to fight it.”

             
When he let her go, she was gasping for air. Tsarina was also light-headed from his passion. Zarik showed no hesitation. Complete confidence of what he was going to do to her.

             
Tsarina gasped as he ripped off her gown with one good pull. She stood before him in her bra and panties, a thing from her own time she hated to give up. “You ruined my dress.”

             
“Ye can have as many dresses as ye like. There's no need to worry yerself over one.” Zarik pulled her back into his arms. This time he pressed his cock into her stomach. “Ye ken what ye do to me, lass?” After he had spoken the words, Zarik immediately wishe he could take them back. Tsarina didn't need to know she very well could be his only weakness.

             
Anything she might have said to him was stuck in her throat, unable to come out as he ground his hips into her. Tsarina couldn't think straight with his huge erection against her. She had not been wrong. He was hung better, or so it felt at this point, better than anyone she'd ever seen.

             
“Aye, see? Ye like that too.” Zarik had her out of her bra now. She silently hoped he hadn't broken it. It wasn't like she could go buy another here. She focused back on what Zarik was doing as she felt her panties sliding down her hips. “Get on yer knees.”

             
Again, a rush of panic closed in around Tsarina.

             
“Now.”

             
Tsarina dropped to her knees next to the bed. She could feel the tingle in her vagina. She wanted him. Zarik's bossiness and boldness just seemed to make her want him all the more. He clearly had to be in control everywhere. Including the bedroom.

             
“Untie my brais.” Zarik gritted his teeth together as she untied him. He hoped he could take the fate he'd sent himself to. “Take me in yer mouth.” The moment her warm lips touched him, when he felt her pull him into the warm wetness of her mouth, he felt as though he were a young boy again and with his first woman. He sucked in a deep breath and tried to regain control of his senses.

             
Letting her hair down, he grabbed onto a handful, trying to get her to take more in. Instead, she fought to pull herself back. “I can't Zarik. It's too big.” Once she'd said those words, she felt heat rising to her face.

             
Zarik let out a chuckle. “Come this way, turn so that yer head can lay back onto the bed.”

             
Tsarina didn't know what he had in mind, but she listened. Once she was in position, still on her knees, back against the bed, head laid back onto it, he came over her. Zarik leaned himself over the bed, placing himself back into her mouth.

             
“Just relax, lass.” He started pumping himself in and out of her open mouth. Every few strokes, he pushed a bit deeper. At this angle, her throat stayed open, allowing her to take more of him. Zarik shoved down a moan that was trying to escape. At every turn it seemed his body betrayed him when it came to his new bride.

             
When he pulled from her mouth, thankfully before his release, Tsarina knew only that she wanted him. “Zarik, please...”

             
“Aye, lass. Donnae worry yerself. I'll take care of ye.” He pulled her up from the floor with one arm and laid her onto the bed. Quickly undressing himself the rest of the way, he crawled in next to her. “Touch me, lass.”

             
Shyness took over, but Tsarina did as asked. She ran her hands over the ridged muscles of his chest, down to his corded abdomen and even further to the V at the top of his hips. She couldn't hold in her gasp when she looked at his throbbing manhood.

             
“Aye, lass. Touch it.” Zarik's voice sounded strained.

             
As she did, she felt his deep intake of breath and could swear she heard him curse. Tsarina was simply too focused on his cock and wanting it inside of her, to be fully aware. Slowly she moved to caress his balls.

             
“Nay, lass.” Zarik had never been much for having his balls touched. So, it was best to train her as he wanted her from the start. He carefully pushed her back onto the bed and moved on top of her. He took his time moving down her body, kissing every inch. Zarik delighted in hearing her moans, feeling her squirm beneath him.

             
“Zarik, please.” Tsarina begged again, this time it was as she bucked her hips against him.

             
“Patience, lass.” Zarik had to reel himself in before he could ever think about entering her or he'd cum right as he was inside. He rose back up slightly to take a nipple in his mouth again, twisting it between his teeth he prayed to the fates that they give him the stamina he needed to pleasure them both.

             
Tsarina wrapped her hands in his hair, giving a tug. “You like it rough, do you?” She brought his words back to him, hoping to make him step back some. She'd never had rough sex and wasn't sure she'd be able to survive it with a man as big as Zarik.