This– this was where he belonged, where she belonged. He and Adaira.
He was not sure he would have the strength to complete the act. After all, he was starving, abused, had been riding most of the night, and he'd had to face off with her family and her new, potential suitor, then run with her into the woods for a moment of privacy.
He had no strength. Nothing left. When he had entered that church, he had been so sapped of everything, he was not sure he would remain upright.
Yet seeing Adaira beside him, having her pledge her life to him revitalized him in a way he had not known existed. Touching Adaira was like giving this starving man food, a thirsty man drink, sustaining him in a way that nothing else in the world could.
One touch from Adaira and he was a man again. A Highlander. Adaira’s Highlander.
His need for her, though, drove any passionate and loving thoughts from his mind, and he became craven with need. Once inside her warm sheath, his hips moved with a mind of their own. Claiming her, ramming into her, shaky legs be damned, was his singular focus.
His moment rose quickly, far too quickly. He had longed for his first moment back with Adaira to last longer, but that was not to happen.
Gripping her backside (no’ as plush as it had been, but then, neither was he) with one hand, he cupped her face with the other. Her fingertips dug into his shoulders and her eyes were green slits.
“Look at me, my beauty,” he panted.
Her green eyes parted slightly to meet his gaze.
“I’m almost there,” he huffed. “I wanted this to last longer, but I need ye too much. I needed this too much –”
Sweat broke out on his brow, and Adaira wiped his face with a light sweep of her hand.
“Ye were no’ the only one with need, Sawny.”
Despite their rough joining against the tree, tears reflected in her eyes, green pools that filled Sawny with a raw mix of fury and defense.
“Ada-”
“Dinna leave me again,” she whispered and closed her eyes.
Sawny’s moment was here, and he groaned as his hips moved a final time, driving as deeply as possible inside her, as if he might never have to leave, never separate from her. Absolutely spent, he dropped his sweaty head and kissed her lips.
“Never again,” he whispered against her mouth. “I made ye a vow in that church, and I make another now. Never again will I be parted from ye. I will fight death himself to come back to ye.”
“I’m sorry for the tryst in the woods. I had hoped our first time after this would be in a comfortable bed with lingering touches. A more appropriate place for a wedding night. But I could no’ control myself.”
They had stepped from the woods and were approaching the church to walk on the road toward the keep. Adaira paused and tugged on Sawny’s hand.
“I am glad ye did no’ wait.” She stepped closer and rested her hand on his chest. So thin, so emaciated. Och how the past months had ravaged them, but he seemed to have received the worst of their separation and she dreaded hearing his story. “We dinna know when life will make those unexpected turns, so we should never wait.”
An expression she could not interpret crossed his face and he kissed her forehead.
“’Tis a vow I can make. Hell, I want ye again now, but I can barely stand. I dinna know how I’m going to make it to Glenachulish Tower.”
They had reached the church when Adaira noted two horses tethered outside. She giggled. For the first time in months.
“We dinna have to walk. Look.” She pointed to the horses, and a smile broke across Sawny’s tight face, a real smile, wide and encompassing his entire face.
A Sawny smile.
Her heart leapt.
Sawny tugged her to the horses and boosted her into the saddle. Adaira watched as his arms tensed and for a moment she wondered if he’d have the strength to pull himself into the saddle. Then he was up and settled in, and she released a shaky breath. She had not realized how worried she was about his wreaked body.
Their escapade in the woods gave her family time to return to the keep and prepare a manner of feast in celebration. While this was not the wedding she imagined when she anticipated in her union with Sawny and the Keppoch MacDonalds, they were married and any celebration with Sawny was one she would be thankful for.
Having missed him for months, Adaira made her own vow to celebrate anything and everything with him.
