Page 69 of The Eagle

“Take a deep breath,” he instructed and when she did, he thrust into her.

Cait cried out into Stuart’s mouth. Thankfully it muffled her sound enough that no one would hear. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes at the sharp pain that began to ebb immediately. “It hurt.”

“Only once,” Stuart said kissing her tears and beginning to move. He slid out just a bit and then drove back in.

Cait concentrated on each movement, her eyes closed and her hands on his bottom. She liked the feel of his flexing with each movement and soon was entranced by the rhythm he set. When he kissed her and began moving faster, she had to break the kiss to catch her breath. Something explosive was happening and she wondered if what he did would render her again.

Every muscle in her body tensed as the heat grew hotter. She didn’t want to move for fear of dousing the ember that swelled within.

By the time Stuart was pumping into her with vigor, Cait’s legs were straight, and she held her breath both fighting and welcoming the wave that threatened.

Suddenly she shuddered with a release so hard, she could not make a sound. She screamed silently, her fingernails digging into Stuart’s shoulders. Then slowly everything settled into place.

It was delightful and a bit scary if she was to be honest.

Meanwhile, Stuart seemed to feel the same, he’d lost his rhythm, went rigid, and uttering a deep groan he collapsed over her.

Cait wanted to laugh at how silly they must have looked. But never before in her life had she felt so as one with another human.

Lazily sliding her hands down his back, she grinned at him like a madwoman.

Stuart lifted his head and met her gaze. He didn’t look happy, but instead concerned. “Did ye mean it?”

“What are ye referring to?” Cait asked genuinely perplexed.

“That ye will marry me. I want ye to be my wife forever, Cait.”

She pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “I said I would. I love ye Stuart and want ye to be my husband forever.”

He lowered his head to the pillow beside hers. The man was quite heavy and yet she never wanted him to move.

“Ye love me?”

Her entire being filled with emotion. “More than ye will ever know.”

A moment later, he shifted to lay beside her and pulled the bedding over them.

“Ye cannot remain. Someone will see us,” Cait whispered.

“We are to be married,” Stuart replied with a yawn. “I will sneak out in the morning.”

“I cannot wait for ye to see our bedchamber at the house,” he said groggily. “It has a very large bed.”

His feet probably hung over the end of her small bed. “Are ye comfortable?”

When he pulled her against him and nuzzled her neck, she sighed.

“I am very comfortable.” Cait giggled knowing he lied.

Chapter Nineteen

Two days later, there was a feast to celebrate the laird’s firstborn and the arrival of Isobel and Beatrice’s mother, Lady Macdonald.

Ella Ross Macdonald, who’d married the new laird Evander Macdonald, came as well.

Cait immediately loved Ella, who claimed that Cait was the most beautiful woman she’d ever met. It was sweet of the other women to agree with her and for their husbands to reassure them that they were the most beautiful in their eyes.

“I for one am glad to be preparing for this son’s wedding,” Lady Mariel announced, and everyone laughed.