Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (20 page)

The
day of Laila and Garrick’s wedding arrived with sunshine as the clans of the
KirkConnell and the MacKinnon joined through marriage. The clans’ people were
in good cheer and Kate was glad she’d joined the celebration. They arrived at
the KirkConnell keep, early enough that they could assist Sarah in the wedding
preparations. Sarah greeted her, and she watched Bonnie run through the hall in
glee to play with Sara’s son, Jamie. Kate sat at the opposite end of the table,
watching the bride and groom. Their touching display of love made her envy
them. Garrick obviously didn’t have reservations about showing his affection.
Would that Brendan be so loving, but since he kept his distance, she didn’t
expect a show of tenderness.

Brendan
sat on the opposite side of the room with several KirkConnell soldiers, he all
but ignored her. She became dispirited and homesick, and missed Lolly, Madam
Serena, and being needed. The longer she sat by herself, the lonelier she felt,
and the angrier she became with Brendan. He was turning out to be a retched
husband, just as she’d predicted he would be. How she wished King Henry had
sent her to her betrothed instead of her guardian. Her betrothed was likely
someone more like Gil, which would have been preferable. She noticed Gil
dancing with a lady, his manner was sweet-natured and his charm flocked the
ladies to his side. None of the ladies looked at Brendan, except of course for
her. Why couldn’t she have fallen in love with someone like Gil?

“Pardon,
my lady, may I join you?”

She
looked up to see Walt standing beside her. “Certainly, Walt. May I pour you
some ale?” He nodded. She handed him the cup and smiled.

“I
wanted to tell you that I’m really glad you married Brendan, lass. He’s done
well. You are a blessing to him.”

His
sweet words made Kate blush. “You are very kind to say that, Walt. I haven’t
had a chance to talk to you yet, and I wondered …” She felt awkward speaking so
forward to the man, but she couldn’t help but wonder how he was related to
Brendan. They looked too much alike for them not to be related.

Walt
placed his cup on the table. “Aye, you can speak freely, lass.”

“I
noticed the resemblance between you and Brendan. How are you related to him?”

Walt
laughed. “Aye, we’re related by very close lines.”

“How
is he not as chivalrous as you then?” She smiled, when his eyes crinkled
blithely.

“Give
him time, lass. Brendan may be rough around the edges, but I know he has
feelings for you. I can read him better than anyone, and know you have set my
lad on a jagged path. I have not seen him so beguiled before. He’ll come
around.”

“Lady
Kate, I’m in need of a dance partner. Would you do me the honor?” Gil placed
his cup on the table, and helped to pull her chair out when she stood.

“Will
you excuse me, Walt?”

“Aye,
lass, go.” His laughter followed her as she walked to the center of the room.

Gil
smiled at her and led her around the dance floor. They moved in line with the
dancers and ended up in front of Brendan, who looked unaffected by her dancing
with Gil. She smiled at him, and continued on with the dance.

The
dance ended and Gil bowed to her. “You’re a bonny lass to have danced with me.
You look so beautiful tonight.”

Kate
giggled. “Thank you, Gil, you’re kind to say that.”

Gil
gasped. “Did I actually hear you aright? You called me by my given name.” He
placed his hand over his heart and pretended to be chagrined.

“I’m
sorry about my travesty, but I had to put some effort into my plan to get out
of telling you the man’s name. Do you forgive me?”

“So
you’re telling me it was all a ruse?” He burst with laughter.

Gil
took her hand and kissed it. She pulled her hand back, and saw Brendan
approaching them. Daggers shot from his eyes. Gil turned his best grin, and was
about to say something when she spoke.

“Gil,
I am a married—”

“I
cannot deny my attraction for ye.”

“Oh,
I do thank you for the compliment, Gil, but—”

“Lass,
I’ll make you howl your pleasure to the sky.”

“Take
your hand off my wife. No one is going to make Katie howl her pleasure to the
sky but me.” Brendan’s voice rose well above those in the hall. Everyone
stopped, the music ceased, the children stilled, all eyes fastened on them.
Kate was mortified.

“Brendan,
what goes?”

His
answer was a sock to Gil’s nose. Gil grunted at the blow, and his nose began
bleeding from the impact. Brendan placed his arm in front of Kate and moved her
back.

“Damn,
Brendan, I think you broke my nose.” Gil was handed a cloth for his bleeding
nose by Walt, who stood by, smiling.

“It
goes well with your black eye.” Brendan shrugged, then grabbed Kate by the
hand, and pulled her through the hall.

Kate’s
mouth hung open in shock that he would strike his friend. She frowned at him
and jerked his hand, getting him to stop. “Why did you hit Gil? You hurt that
boy.”

He
didn’t answer. She heard Gil’s laughter as Brendan pulled her out the doorway.
She ran to keep up with him, he practically sprinted, and she dug her heels
into the grass, slowing him. She tried to pull her hand free, but he wouldn’t
let her go.

“Release
me this instant.” Kate pulled her hand from his and shoved him. Brendan stood
anchored to the ground. His face showed no emotion, but his eyes glowered his
anger. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“What
I’m doing? You practically threw yourself at Gil, woman.”

“I
did not, all I did was dance with him. You had no right to hit him like that.”

“No
man will touch you, but me.”

“Touch
me? You haven’t even spoken to me in days. I realize you’re not interested in
pursing our marriage, Brendan, and believe me I agree. I don’t answer to you,
and if you—”

Before
Kate could finish, Brendan yanked her off her feet, and carried her to the
loch. She shrieked at his audacity. He set her feet on the grass. As soon as he
released her, she shoved his shoulder, but didn’t move him at all. She fisted
her hands at her sides, and resisted the urge to strike him as he’d done to
Gil. He motioned for her to sit, but she shook her head.

Brendan
forced her to sit by pressing on her shoulders, and then he sat behind her,
with his arms around her waist. She sat between his straddled legs, the length
of his legs touched hers practically to her feet.

“What
the hell do you mean, I’m not interested?” Brendan pulled her against him.

Kate
watched the water, hoping to distract her mind from his touches. “Why are you
doing this? You’re turning out to be a retched husband, Brendan.”

“Lass,
I want ye.” His whispered words made her shiver, and she felt his breath next
to her ear. She turned and looked into his eyes.

“You
don’t mean that, Brendan.”

His
voice became low and roughly arousing. “Aye, I do, you make me hard.” To
emphasize his statement, he placed her hand beneath his tartan. He wasn’t
wearing anything under it. He took advantage of their position, adjusting his
hands to hold each of her breasts.

Kate’s
stomach did several flips, and the muscles in her waist tightened in
anticipation of his touch. She closed her eyes, against the passion flowing
through her body.

“You
make me want to ram—”

“Brendan,
pray don’t say such things.”

“I
want to take you, and to hell with everything else.” Brendan began edging her
bodice lower, uncovering her breasts, his hand moved gently over the scar above
her breast. He groaned softly, kissing her shoulder, trailing his lips to her
neck. “I’ve missed ye,” he said hoarsely.

She
moaned, relaxing her back against him, leaning against his hard body. His hands
cupped her, and all she could do was feel the pleasure of it. He turned her in
his arms, and her body stretched over his. She tried to move off him, but he wouldn’t
let her. He moved her back and took her nipple in his mouth. Kate moaned and
threw her head back. With his hand supporting her back, he shifted her legs to
his sides. She felt the hardness of him through the fabric of her gown. An
exquisite yearning overtook her. She wanted him too.

He
kept his mouth joined to hers, while he shifted her garments. She abandoned all
thoughts, reveling in the sensual touches of his hand moving over her skin. He
lifted her, set her atop his erection, and lowered her onto him. Kate gasped
when she felt him slipping inside her. A sense of power came to her, because
she knew he had given up his control, something she didn’t believe he normally
would do. He let her move against his body, and she lifted herself, taking her
own pleasure.

Brendan
watched her with such affection that she couldn’t control her emotions. She
cried as their bodies joined.

“I
love you.” The words came so easily to her. She held onto his firm shoulders,
and felt his hands holding her back. Kate groaned his name and found herself
entwined in erotic pleasure.

Brendan
took control from there. He made her ride him fast and steady, supporting her
body, lifting her with little effort. Her cries of lustful torment fueled his
need to drive into her, knowing the climax only she could evoke would engulf
him in a blaze of triumph. He grunted his manly response at his own release,
and didn’t stop moving until every ounce of his strength was depleted, so it
seemed to her.

She
fell against his chest, waiting for her breath to come under control, and
placed her face in the crook of his neck. His vein pulsed against her bottom
lip. He held her tightly against him.

“I
want to stay like this for the rest of the night. Hell, for the rest of my
life. I should have known I couldn’t stay away from you, you’re just too
tempting.”

“Brendan.”

“Aye,
love?”

“I
don’t know how you do it.”

“Do
what?”

“Make
me want you so badly.”

He
kissed the side of her neck, and let his mouth linger for a moment, smelling
the sweet fragrance of her skin. “We better dress before someone comes along.”

Kate
fixed her gown, and watched him fold his tartan around his waist. His body
looked magnificent in the moonlight, highlighting his smooth chest. She went to
him, and moved her hand down his chest, but he stopped her hand with his.

“If
you don’t stop that, I’ll …”

“You’ll
what?”

He
grinned. “Do you want to do it again?”

Kate
laughed a girlish giggle, which made him smile. He pulled her back against his
chest, and she faced the loch. With his hands wrapped around her waist, he
leaned his head against hers.

“When
this is over … after we dispatch that beastie dog, you’ll be my wife in every
way. Won’t you, Katie?”

Kate
noticed the anguish in his voice. She didn’t want to love him, didn’t want to
deceive him, and most of all didn’t want to get hurt. Once she returned to
England, she wouldn’t return. Her duty would cause her to leave her husband. He
squeezed her arm to get her answer.

“I
must gain justice in my father’s name and give the medallion to King Henry. I
will return to my people.” She’d spoken softly, and tried not to anger him.

“I
will gain justice for your father. You’re my wife, and you should leave it up
to your husband, me.”

“I
will not. This began with my father and it will end with me,” she said
emphatically.

Brendan
ran his hand through his hair in agitation, and started to say something. He
closed his mouth, turned, and left her standing by the loch.

She
stayed at the loch for an hour, watching the moon rise higher. He knew the
verity of it, that she would leave him, yet he made no offer to go with her.

Kate
spent a restless night feeling a surfeit of emotions. Brokenhearted at the
prospect of leaving Brendan, she should never have given herself to him again.
Each time they were together made it harder for her accept her fate that she
would leave the man she loved.

She
was relieved they would leave for the MacKinnon holding in the morning. After
breakfast, they readied to leave and she said her goodbyes to Laila, who would
now live with Garrick. Kate walked to her horse, and mounted it. Bonnie was
allowed to ride with her, and she was thankful for the distraction. Once again,
Brendan took to his cold demeanor and gave her that stone-faced look.

As
they rode along, they came across a group of soldiers. Kate listened to
Bonnie’s chatter, and shushed her when she saw them. Two soldiers held flags
bearing the king’s insignia. The Highlanders immediately stopped and waited for
them. Kate tilted her head to get a better look, and saw King Henry ride up to
Colin.

“Colin,
Julianna, I have arrived.”