To Wed A Highlander (20 page)

At first Gorten had decided to engage her lightly, believing time might have slowed her reflexes and ability to fight. He had been wrong. They both knew he was the stronger of the two, but Makenna’s ability to think and outstrategize made her a tough opponent.

Colin watched from afar as the two circled around each other fighting for supremacy. He had never actually observed Makenna spar with anyone before. Soon after he arrived at Lochlen, he had heard of her peculiar interest and her purported talent and immediately ordered his men to end all activity involving Makenna and any lethal object. It seemed she had secretly recruited a few to continue her training, and now he could see why. Never did he dream his wife could wield a claymore with such dexterity. Most women could not even lift one let alone hold and battle with it for long periods.

Gorten was an excellent soldier. One of Colin’s best. Not only was he skilled at riding and fighting, but he was not easily swayed. Once Gorten made a decision, he never deterred from it. It was for those reasons he had been selected to protect Makenna from harm.

Makenna’s laughter drifted to the lone cluster of trees hiding Colin from her view. The sound haunted him; filling him with a physical hunger he thought to have assuaged that morning.

Swords clanked. Makenna turned, easily maintaining her balance where larger men might have fallen. She was self-assured in her abilities, but not overconfident. Her verbal banter was partially a ploy to throw off her opponent and catch him unawares. This was obviously not the first time Gorten had clashed swords with his wife, for he seemed to understand her tactics and countered them. Gorten was also tiring faster than Makenna.

Colin watched his guard advance, deflect, attack, and then retreat. Protecting Makenna had actually improved Gorten’s cunning, but it had seriously reduced his stamina for swordplay. Gorten most likely could still outfight most of his men, but that fact would not remain true if he didn’t have the opportunity to rebuild his strength. Makenna could keep Gorten’s agility alive, but she could not improve his power.

Another crash of metal echoed throughout the hills. Makenna deflected a strike and then spun around, sending dust flying into the air as she aimed for Gorten’s side. He jumped out of the way, slicing her sword down and kicking up further dirt. Then she did something unexpected. Instead of stepping back to ensure that she remained steady, she moved forward, twisting her arms back up. It threw Gorten off balance. Somehow, their limbs hooked together, and Makenna came crashing down with Gorten falling full length on top of her. Dust flew up into the air and took its time settling back to the ground.

Colin could see nothing but a cloud of dirt for a moment, but he heard their laughter. They were practically in hysterics. Makenna sounded so happy, so at ease. And though he knew it to be irrational,
he
wanted to be the cause behind her free, jubilant laugh.

Colin moved toward them, deciding the one-on-one session was over. When he was halfway across the clearing, the dust had settled enough to reveal their positions. Raw fury exploded.

Jealousy, hot and dark, pumped through him, racing over his nerve endings. Makenna was his. No man was ever to know what it felt like to have her beneath him. They belonged to each other and no one else.

Makenna’s eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Colin. She was about to shout a greeting when her eyes locked with his. Fear rushed through her. Colin looked ready to kill.

“Gorten, I think you better get up,” she murmured, never taking her eyes off of Colin. His expression was dark and stone-hard.

Gorten smiled, still recovering from his fit of laughter. “I suppose you are right. This new move of yours still needs work.”

Gorten was still talking when he felt someone grab him by the shoulders and throw him aside as if he weighed nothing. Reaching for his sword to attack the unknown assailant, Gorten felt a sheathed foot slam down hard on his hand. He looked up and realized who and why he had been assaulted.

“Laird, I did not hear you approach,” he managed to say, trying hard to keep his voice level. He had disgraced himself enough already this day. He would not show pain to his laird.

“I believe you were too busy rolling on the ground with my wife.” There was no mistaking the wrath about to be unleashed on Gorten.

Makenna quickly stood and tried to deflect Colin’s attention off her guard, who feared to move or even stand. “Take your anger out on me, Colin McTiernay. Gorten has been a loyal soldier to you. We were only sparring. Nothing more.”

He knew she spoke the truth. He had witnessed it. But he could not erase the vision of Gorten lying on top of her…laughing. “I saw how he has been loyal to me.”

Gorten remained motionless. One word spoken out of place, and his life would end. Makenna must have sensed that as well.

“How dare you!” Makenna admonished through her teeth. She struggled for composure. Adrenaline pumped through her, and she began to tremble violently.

Colin took a step back. Blue pools of fury shifted from Gorten back to her. “How dare I?”

Gorten took the chance to stand.

Without even looking in his direction, Makenna ordered, “Leave now, Gorten. I am about to fight with my husband and would like to do so in private. Please make sure no one comes within hearing distance of this clearing.” Makenna’s chin came up angrily, her green eyes sparkling with equal intensity, daring him to counter her order.

“Gorten!” Colin yelled without removing his eyes from Makenna. Very carefully, fully aware of his tightly leashed anger and its absurdity, he called out, “Leave, and do your lady’s bidding.” Then much more quietly Colin added, “For she is right. We
are
about to fight,” he growled through compressed lips.

With Gorten gone, Makenna hoped Colin would calm and become more rational. He looked both menacing—and thoroughly male. She wanted the chance to explain her innocence and then throw herself into his arms and kiss all his doubts away.

Her hope died a quick death.

Gorten might be gone, but their quarrel was not over. Colin’s pride had been injured just as deeply as a sword could do to the flesh. It would not be mended with the mere disappearance of one man.

“So this is what you have been doing while I was away. I am surprised you had the energy for me upon my return. Or maybe I should consider myself fortunate to have a wife with such stamina.”

Makenna cringed at the coldness in his voice. She wanted to shake him into admitting that he knew she would never, ever even look at another man.

“Are you so insecure as to believe I would do that to you? Do you think that I have such a low sense of self-worth? Or maybe I do at that. I did marry you.” Pride spoke now for both of them, slicing through newly built layers of trust.

Colin brought his face very close to Makenna’s so that she had no trouble seeing just how blazingly furious he was. Makenna returned his stare. His eyes were brilliant and frighteningly bright. She saw his anger, but she also recognized possessiveness, pain, and fear. This man, who needed no one, who could stand impassively at a crowd openly hating him, who could ignore taunts delivered by his enemies, needed her.

Makenna pulled at his leine until he leaned down. She could feel the strength radiating through the soft fabric. Lord, he was as inflexible as his stubborn nature. “Listen to me now, Colin McTiernay, for I would never say this if it were not the utter truth. I didn’t want to marry you.”

She could feel him pull away, but she kept him near. “Aye, but I will be forever happy that I did. Never did I dream that I could love a domineering giant, but I do.” Hot tears burned her eyes. She could feel them fall, but she continued. “Do you hear me, Colin? I love you. I would never bear the touch of any man but you. I will never, ever dishonor you or what I feel for you. You complete me in ways I never thought possible. It is because
of you
I was able to laugh today. It is because
of you
I feel safe enough, loved enough, to
be myself.
Do you know how much that means to me? How much
you
mean to me?”

She let him go and felt him rise, but his gaze did not leave hers. The heat rose in Makenna’s cheeks as she saw the cool possessiveness fill his eyes as he realized what she was saying. It took him several seconds to regain his ability to breathe, and even when he was sure he had himself in hand again, he still did not dare to touch her.

Makenna reached up and cupped his cheek. Colin closed his eyes and felt his hot anger dissipate under the light touch. When it was gone, his eyes sprang open. Two tumultuous green pools shimmered into his. He spread his hands wide against the sides of her face, his fingers tangling in her glorious red mane.

Makenna needed him more than ever before. She had opened her heart to him, told him what she felt. “I love you, Colin,” she pledged again.

The anguished whisper tore at Colin’s heart. He wanted to say the words back, but fear stopped him. He had loved before and barely survived its loss. Loving and losing Makenna would cause a pain he would not be able to endure.

Colin looked down intently into her now serene and confident eyes. He needed some of that serenity, some of that assurance. “Never leave me,” he said roughly, barely able to speak. “Vow it.”

She nodded within his grasp. “I belong to you,” she said, making the same promise she had the night before he left.

“And I to you, Makenna,” Colin whispered just before his mouth closed roughly over hers, searing her lips with his own.

Makenna moaned softly and gripped his neck as he picked her up and moved to the soft grass near the trees where he had been hiding. He lay down and pulled her on top of him. Cupping his hand behind her neck, he gathered her close and brushed his mouth lightly, but possessively across hers.

Makenna wanted him, needed him, but this time she intended to sweep him away in passion. Never again would Colin doubt what she felt for him.

Makenna parted his lips and boldly stroked the inside of his mouth. Her tongue dove in, then withdrew, then plunged again, mimicking the rhythm of lovemaking. She kissed with wild abandon, tasting, teasing, drinking in everything about him.

Colin knew he should do something to gain control of this passionate assault upon his senses, but he couldn’t muster the will to stop her. Not yet. It was the most incredible kiss he had ever experienced.

He moaned and moved his arms slowly around her waist. He felt her warm skin and realized her gown had ridden up, giving him access to inside. His hands stroked her round buttock, enjoying the soft skin before moving down her leg. The blood in his veins turned molten, and his male member rose hot and hard.

Makenna could feel Colin’s fingers caress her, teasing her body into a fever. She decided it was time to issue the same exquisite torment. She felt him, hard and impatient against her thigh, and slid her hand down his body. She removed his belt and plaid and finally found what she sought. It was tight, hot, and hard.

Colin felt her fingers close around him and thought his heart might stop. “God, Makenna, what you do to me,” he groaned softly, deeply.

Makenna smiled and leaned down to capture his lips in a kiss. Her hand never stopped moving up and down his hard shaft, leisurely massaging its tip with her thumb.

Colin could take no more and grabbed her wrist. Before she could argue, he shifted so that she straddled his thighs. Her eyes grew large on her face as she realized what he wanted her to do. “Colin, I—”

“Shhh,” he commanded softly. He reached out and touched her between her thighs. She was hot and moist, and already wild with need for him. Picking her up, she naturally parted her thighs. Then Colin positioned her so that she was astride him, engulfing him with one long, sure movement.

Makenna gasped. She didn’t think it was possible, but Colin felt even more enormous. At first, she expected to burst, but after a moment, her body adjusted, and sudden wild abandon filled her.

Slowly she began the primitive rhythm, moving up, down, and around, taking delight in his bold, aggressive hardness. Makenna gazed down at Colin, looking thoroughly satisfied. Her lips were dewy and swollen, and the sparkle in her eyes drove him into a new, frenzied level of need.

Colin could stand no more. Makenna didn’t even have time to gasp before she found herself on her back with Colin driving himself into her. He pulled her close and showered her face and shoulders with hungry kisses, groaning with intense yearning as he removed clothing frantically, seeking new places to caress.

He was there at the core of her body, pushing into her with each thrust. His mouth was savoring and claiming every morsel of her, branding her as his own.

Her fingers sank into his shoulders. She tipped back, and a small cry caught in her throat. A sweet, hot flame scorched through her.

Makenna climaxed with a shock of immense pleasure that shook her whole body. Colin felt it all just before the wave of sweet bliss claimed him.

Minutes later, he could still feel her trembling with the aftermath of their lovemaking. He had rolled to his back and moved her onto him once again. She was limp, but he knew she was happy. His arms stole protectively around her and he kissed the top of her head.

Colin was glad Makenna could not see him. He was wearing a huge grin and all because Makenna loved him. It sent a wave of elation through him that couldn’t be equaled by any other kind of knowledge.

If anyone had told him that passion and the need for a woman could rule his head, his heart, even his life, he would have thought they were mad. He had needs as any man, but they were well within his control. That was until he had experienced passion with Makenna. Each time, whether hot and wild or slow and exploring, she had brought him to levels of physical want beyond the imagination. And each time, he floated down to earth filled with indescribable happiness.

With her, he felt complete.

Makenna swatted Colin’s hand away for the umpteenth time. “Colin, stop that! You’re making it very difficult for me to get dressed.”