Page 54 of At the Highlander's Mercy
‘Lilidh MacLerie, I take you as my wife, before this witness, and pledge that you have the protection of my name and this vow for a year and a day,’ he said. Dougal handed him a strip of their clan’s plaid and he wrapped it around their joined hands. Then he waited for her to say the words.
Her voice came out as a whisper, soft and gentle, as she spoke, her eyes staring into his as she uttered the words of joining.
‘Rob Matheson, I take you as my husband, before this witness, and pledge my faithfulness to you and to this vow for a year and a day.’ She wrapped the plaid striponce more around their hands and looked up at him. Rob leaned down and kissed her mouth to seal the vows.
‘You are both fools and I have witnessed it,’ Dougal said, cursing again before he walked away towards the door.
‘Thank you, Dougal,’ Rob offered, but Dougal left without stopping or looking back.
Rob poured himself some whisky and filled a cup with wine for Lilidh, handing it to her while trying to gauge her reaction to the last few minutes. She walked over and sat on the long bench where she’d sat with her mother earlier.
Dazed and confused. Lovely and exhausted. His wife and the love of his heart.
But that was only temporary and, once any danger was over for her, it would be over, as well.
‘What happened at your meeting with Duncan? Did something there cause Symon to act this way?’
‘Lilidh, I cannot understand him at all. At times he is reasonable.’ At her expression—one of complete disbelief—he laughed and nodded. ‘No, truly, sometimes he is quite rational. Then he acts like this, as he did when he kidnapped you, and I am left wondering if he is insane.’ He let out a breath. ‘And I got the sense that Duncan is delaying. This is not something that should take days of negotiating, but he seems to treat it as such.’
‘What good would a delay do, Rob?’ she asked, as he sat down next to her and took her hand in his.
He finished his whisky and shook his head. ‘It is just a feeling. More than that, I have seen him do this before. He is waiting.’ Putting his cup down, he tookin the dark circles under her eyes and her pale face and smiled. ‘Come. Let us get some rest so that we can face the morrow.’
She allowed him to lead her to the bed. He tugged the covers loose and held them back for her. His intentions to sleep, just sleep and allow her to, as well, were ruined when she lifted her shift off before climbing in. His body was ready before he reached the other side of the bed.
He tried to take no notice of the call of her passion to his as he placed his weapons on the floor and in the mattress, but by the time he lay at her side, she was impossible to ignore.
She would always be impossible to ignore.
Hell, if he could have, it would have prevented most all of the problems they now faced.
In spite of the willingness of his flesh, he just wanted to hold her this night. To hold her close for this last night.
He fell asleep in minutes, wrapped around her, their bodies entwined. But he woke to find her touching him, skimming her fingers over his skin with her eyes closed as though trying to see him through her touch. Then she opened her eyes and her body and took him inside of her.
This time was unlike any of those before. This joining was slow and easy and left him feeling complete and empty at the same time.
* * *
When the first light of dawn streamed through his window and the sounds of hell arriving at his gatewoke them, he knew it was over. The only question was whether or not he would live to see another day.
As he looked out from the battlements at the sea of newly arrived MacLeries and other warriors who were pledged to them, Rob wished someone had summoned the MacKenzies to their side.
They dressed without a word and he took Lilidh down to the chamber where her mother and maid were before gathering with his men and facing the enemy.
* * *
Still stunned over the events of the night, Lilidh woke next to Rob with a profound sadness in her heart. Their last time together, something she never thought would ever happen at all, was over and now she would have to face living her life without him. She understood that nothing could or would come of the vows they’d spoken, but that he thought of her safety touched her deeply.
Now, as she walked at his side towards the chamber where her mother was being held, she could not help it if her hand lingered in his grasp, or if she stood too close to him. When the door opened, Rob informed them of his plans.
‘Lady MacLerie, if you would follow me now, I’ll take you back to your men.’
‘I am taking my daughter with me,’ she demanded. Standing up to Rob was most likely no problem for the woman who had tamed theBeast.
‘You will take the maid with you,’ he said. Calling out to a few men in the corridor, Rob gave orders that Isla was to be released along with her mother.
A flurry of activity followed as the men carried Islaout of the keep and Rob began to leave, escorting her mother away.
