Page 75 of The Sweetest Sin
Pulling back, Aileana pressed her fingertips to his mouth to quell the confused protest that rose to his lips. “What I’m saying is that I want to be withyou, Duncan, wherever that might be. Whether it is at Eilean Donan, or the other side of the world, it will be home to me, as long as I’m with you.”
Love shone from his gaze, so profound that he seemed transformed by it. His gray eyes took on the quicksilver light she’d come to recognize so well. Right now, he appeared to waver between tenderness and playful exasperation.
One corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. “You had me worried for a moment, love. I keep forgetting that my wee mousie has teeth with which to bite me if she chooses.”
She gazed at him, eyes wide-opened and innocent. “Ach, it was just a nibble.”
With a growl, Duncan bent his head, taking her mouth in a kiss of love and passion. She responded in kind, reveling in the powerful give and take of pleasure as he slid his hands down her back to cup her more fully against him.
She was breathless when he released her mouth, still hungry for the taste of him, the feel of him beneath her hands and along the burning length of her body. Duncan held her close, and she settled into his embrace, lulled by the steady beat of his heart. When he spoke, his voice caressed her, soft and tender.
“It was true, you know. What you said before.”
“What?” Aileana lifted her head from his chest.
He gazed down at her, and again she felt bathed in the warmth of his love. He looked into the very recesses of her soul, and it was as if she could feel him melding to her, becoming one in a way that could never be broken by time, age, or any power on earth. He traced his finger over her lips, brushing his mouth along the same path before he spoke again. “You were right when you said that I looked as if the sky was about to fall in on me. It was. Because if I lost you, I’d lose everything.” Duncan’s gaze caressed her, pulling her deeper into the mystery of his heart. “I love you, Aileana. You are my heart, my soul, my eternity. You and no other.”
A swell of love rose up in her, bringing tightness to her throat and burning behind her eyes. “With all that I am, I love you as well, Duncan,” she murmured through tears of happiness. “You and no other, until the end of time.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “Always, Aileana,” he whispered.
“Aye, my love.” She gazed into his beautiful gray eyes and pressed her lips to his. “Always.”
Epilogue
Nine years later
Loch Duich, near Eilean Donan Castle
Mama was going to be so surprised.
Rowena smiled as she clutched the crumpled spray of flowers tightly in her small fist, watching where she put her feet as she clambered up the slope heading back toward home. Bridgid shook her head and called from the top of the bank for her to come along, but Rowena needed no further encouragement. She was too excited; aye, she might be three years younger than snooty Fia, but it didn’t mean she hadn’t done a fine job in seeking out a present for Mama anyway. In fact, she’d foundtwopresents to celebrate their new baby sister’s birth.
Scrambling the last few paces up the slope leading to Eilean Donan’s causeway, Rowena slid to a halt. She panted with her exertions, disappointment spilling through her at the sight that greeted her. Fia was dancing around Da and Bridgid, her arms filled to bursting with flowers from the wood beyond the glen. Because she was eight, Fia could go to the edge of the wood now by herself, while Rowena was only allowed to walk the rocky edge of Loch Duich within sight of Bridgid or whoever else had been placed in charge of her at the time. They treated her like a baby.
Her eyes stung as she looked at the wilted stalks in her hand before catching a last glimpse of Fia skipping up the causeway with her bountiful present for Mama clutched to her chest; Bridgid followed close behind. Walking slowly forward, Rowena met Da, feeling a little less sour when she saw his smile and the twinkle in his eye. She couldn’t help smiling back, certain in her heart of hearts that he was the most handsome, wonderful Da in the whole wide world. He impressed other people, she knew, by the very fact that he was Duncan MacRae, laird of the mighty clan MacRae. But to her he was finer than the sun and the moon together, and he always made everything better when she was feeling worst.
“And how’s my wee sprite, this morn—did you find some pretty flowers for Mama, then?” he asked with a grin, reaching down to swing her onto his shoulders.
Rowena giggled, wobbling precariously as she clung to his head, which made her drop her handful of wilted blooms.
Da laughed and righted her, preparing to lower her again to retrieve them, but she patted him to stop him, calling, “Nay, Da, go on. I’ve another present in my pocket for Mama. I found it next to the loch. Now gallop me to the castle yard, please? I want to give it to her right now. Oh, let’s gallop!”
He twisted his neck to look up at her, making such a funny face that Rowena giggled again. “You found a pretty pebble for Mama, did you, lass?”
“Aye, it is very pretty,” she murmured, nodding and patting the necklace in her pocket. She felt excited again, thinking of the cool, milky stone with those sparks of color shining from it. That it was circled in gold only added to its magical beauty, she thought. It was going to be great fun to give Mama such a fine gift. “It’s not as pretty as Mama, though,” she said, finishing her thoughts aloud.
“Right you are in that, lassie.” Da chuckled and faced forward again as he prepared to gallop her to the yard. “There’s nothing in this world as beautiful as your mother—except you and your sisters, perhaps.” He gave her a little jounce and set her to laughing again. “Are you ready for your ride now, milady?”
“Aye, Da—giddy up!” And as he galloped forward Rowena squealed with delight, one arm wrapped around his head and the other hand pressed tight to her pocket…keeping safe the precious, opalescent gem resting inside.
