He frowned back at her, his expression tightening as if he was in pain. “I shall do my best to fight my demons.” His voice cracked, making him clear his throat. “When I saw ye with the wee one…” He shook his head. “I canna bear to hurt ye as much as I have.” He cupped her cheek in his hand, lacing his fingers into her hair. Terror darkened the shadows in his eyes. “But if anything happens, if ye are taken from me…” After a hard swallow, he wet his lips and shook his head. “They might as well bury me with ye.”
Her tears welled and overflowed. She couldn’t stop them. On her side, facing him, she combed his hair back from his face. This had to be so hard for him, and yet he was willing to try to overcome his darkness for her.
She started to promise him that everything would be all right, but stopped herself. He was neither a fool nor a child. They both knew the risks. She wouldn’t insult him by minimizing the validity of his fears.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love ye more.”
She scooted closer and kissed him to christen this difficult decision he had made. While she couldn’t imagine all he had dealt with in his past, she knew it had been terrible. All she could do was love him and do her best to protect him in turn. Maybe she should never have given him her ultimatum, but that was a guilty pondering for another day. “I think I would like to disrobe now.”
“That would be verra fine indeed.” He tugged on the ribbon that kept the neckline of her chemise primly closed. With a featherlight touch that sent gooseflesh rippling across her, he shoved it away from her shoulders and tickled his fingertips along her collarbone. “Softer than the rarest silk. My precious love.” He swiped his thumb throughher trail of tears. “Forgive me for causing ye so much pain, I beg ye.”
“It is all in the past.” She shoved the linen chemise the rest of the way off, wiggling it down her body. “I have missed you so.” She kissed him again, pouring herself, all her yearning, into him. She loved this man, and whether or not they ever had children would never change that. She knew that now. Her vow to boot him from her bed had been more a matter of pride than anything. Perhaps she shouldn’t have reacted that way, or maybe she had been right. All she knew for certain was that they needed to be together just like this.
“Love me,” she whispered as she pulled him into her arms.
With a gentleness that nearly made her tears return, he kissed her slowly. Deeply. Tenderly. As he pressed his mouth to hers, he tickled his fingertips along her arms, down her sides, touching her with a hungry, insistent reverence. She shuddered, needing more, needing everything.
“Love me,” she repeated softly. “I need you so very much.”
“My dearest one.” He buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in as he nibbled kisses across her flesh and tenderly nipped along the ridge of her shoulder.
She couldn’t help but giggle because the bristly day’s growth of his beard tickled. “Are you sniffing me?”
“Aye, love. The scent of ye drives me mad.” He settled over her and completed the joining she’d needed ever since the last time. A satisfied groan rumbled free of him, and she felt it reverberate through her. “Never will I ever get enough of ye.”
She thoroughly agreed with the sentiment as their intimate dance crescendoed, then exploded in sheer bliss. The wondrous torment made her cry out while raking her fingernails down his back.
He growled like an enraged beast, driving harder and faster before plunging deep and holding. With a hard shudder and a long, low groan, he sagged over her, locking his elbows just in time to keep from crushing her. “My love,” he said, gasping out the words. “My love.”
She clutched him tighter, closing her eyes as tears slipped free. “My champion,” she whispered, also trying to catch her breath. “My greatest love, greatest joy.”
*
Merry barely crackedopen an eye to find herself sprawled across Duncan, her head on his chest, and her arms and legs hanging off him in exhausted abandon. She and her beloved husband had made up for lost time last night, loving each other until the wee hours of dawn, and it appeared she had fallen asleep where she landed.
A tentative tap on the door made her open both eyes and squint at the small clock squatting on the mantel. “Good heavens.” The hour was almost noon. She tried to rise, but Duncan tightened his arms around her.
“Nay, love. Stay,” he murmured without opening his eyes.
“Someone is at the door.” She gently but firmly disengaged, even though she would much rather do as he asked.
He growled like a sleepy beast, scrubbing his face with one hand while pushing himself upright in the bed. “Tell them to go away.”
After wrapping a blanket around herself for a bit of decency, she went to the door and opened it a crack to discover Felicity standing in the hallway with the smuggest of smiles lighting up her face.
“Good morning,” her sister said. “Or at least it will be for a little while longer. I came up to inquire if you were unwell, but it appears my fears were unfounded.”
“I am quite well, thank you.” Merry attempted to sound lofty but found it difficult while standing there wearing nothing but a blanket. “Did Abby allow you any sleep last night?”
Felicity nodded, obviously doing her level best not to smirk about her sister’s state of undress. “She did indeed. I am fully refreshed and prepared to interview the new nurse and wet nurse today.” Shewinked. “Which means if you would like to return to your bed to actuallysleep, feel free to do so.”
“Do not be a troll.”
“Shall I send up some refreshments? Tea and buns, perhaps? I am sure you would like some fresh water. Drake and I always find that most helpful.”
Merry’s stomach growled, voicing its opinion regarding that offer. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”
