Arianna searched his face, then spoke once more, more certain this time. “I love ye.”
“I…” Ian exhaled sharply, his hand lifting to cradle her cheek. “I thought I would never hear those words spoken to me,” he admitted, his voice unsteady. His gaze searched hers, as though anchoring himself in the truth of what she had said.
Her worry softened into something gentler. “I do,” she said again.
Ian let out a breath that seemed to carry years of doubt with it. “Then hear me well,” he said, his voice deepening with quiet conviction. “I love ye, Arianna.”
Arianna’s lips parted slightly, relief and warmth flooding through her all at once.
He guided his hard staff into her. Arianna arched her back up, receiving him.
“Oh, lass. Ye feel heavenly. I never want to part,” he moaned as he moved his hips back and forth, gliding inside of her.
Her hands rose to rest against his chest as she felt the steady beat of his heart beneath her palms.
“Ye’ve undone me completely,” he murmured against her hair.
“Then we are even,” she replied with a soft moan.
His mouth covered hers in a hungry kiss, and passion took hold. Arianna opened her thighs wider as Ian moved faster and faster. She never knew it could feel like this. Having him inside of her made all of her senses heightened. She felt secure and desirable in the same instance.
Her fingers moved along the rigid muscles in his back. They traced the battle scars that made him a hard man.
She felt herself moving toward bliss as he pumped in short bursts of movements.
“Oh, Ian. Daenae stop, please” she whispered.
A quiver soared into elation as she released again. Her body shivered.
“Arianna, me wife. Ye are everythin',” Ian groaned.
With those words Ian's body tensed. He delivered his seed inside of her.
They remained locked together like that for a long moment, wrapped in one another, the fire crackling softly behind them. His hands moved once more, gentler now, tracing along her side in a slow, comforting rhythm.
Arianna closed her eyes, letting the warmth of him, of his words, settle deep within her. And for the first time, there was nothing left unspoken between them.
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER…
Arianna stood beneath the glow of torchlight in the great hall of Castle McDonald, her hand resting lightly in Ian’s as laughter and music swelled around them.
The McDonald ceilidh was alive with movement, kilts swaying and skirts twirling as fiddles sang through the air.
“I must say,” Arianna teased, glancing up at him with a playful spark, “the musicians here are far better than the ones at Castle McGuire.”
Ian huffed softly, his lips quirking despite himself as he drew her a step closer into the rhythm of the dance.
“Aye, but we’ve twice the number of them at McGuire,” Ian replied, his voice warm with humor as he guided her through a turn. “And they ken how to play a tune that keeps a man on his feet till dawn.”
Arianna laughed, the sound light and free, her earlier worries long since faded with time and healing. “More doesnae mean better, me Laird,” she countered, her eyes glinting as she leaned in slightly, her voice lowering with mock seriousness.
Ian arched a brow, his grip tightening just enough to pull her back toward him. “Ye wound me, wife,” he said, though his tone held no true offense, only affection. “Next ye’ll be tellin’ me the McDonalds outdo us in food as well.”
Arianna tilted her chin, clearly delighted by the challenge. “Well in some ways…,” she said without hesitation, her smile widening.
Ian scoffed softly. “We’ve fresh fish pulled straight from the river,” he argued. “There’s nae finer meal than trout caught that morn.”
