Page 66 of Hold Fast

“Today, Ewan,” she whispered, kissing him again.

CHAPTER26

The handfasting was over in a matter of minutes, though she was bewildered to find that Ewan had indeed fetched a priest as witness, making it feel far more like a wedding. She wore the pale blue gown, which Ewan had returned to Cat for just such an occasion. Her father had served as a witness and, though the mechanics were so similar to the last time, the tone could not have been more different.

Ewan was not happy about it. He wanted a wedding. He wanted amarriage. But there was something that felt safer about this. Her last handfasting had been a nightmare from beginning to end, but there had been a safety in the knowledge that it would eventually end. And while she knew that Ewan would never mistreat her, there was a certain peace in knowing that shecouldleave if she wanted to.

After she and Ewan had made their marks, he with a flourishing signature and she with an X, the priest signed as witness. Ewan broke with formality and sealed the arrangement with a kiss that had him bending her over backward and blushing so furiously she didn’t know if she’d ever be right again.

No sooner had the ink dried but the doors to the Great Hall had been thrown open and scores of people rushed inside. The MacDonalds, come to wish their laird well. Out of the crowd came a low bellow followed by the reedy, high pitch of the pipes. A drum joined the lively tune.

Kenneth clapped his hands on Ewan’s shoulders and said with a wink, “I arranged for the music, big brother. We’ll be dancing till morning.”

Ewan looked down at Una, who still clung to his hand. “Shall we?”

She bit her lip and grimaced. “If we must.”

“Nae much of a dancer, Una?”

“Nay.”

“Well then,” Ewan said with a smirk before sweeping her into his arms and whisking her into the space that had been cleared in the center of the hall while his clansmen cheered loudly. “’Tis a good thing indeed that ye are a healer and can mend my broken toes tomorrow.”

They danced, together and with members of the clan. Even Fergus asked Una for the courtesy of a dance and she found herself laughing at how clumsy he was as he spun her chaotically around the space. They feasted. They received the many wishes for health and wealth and a gaggle of sons. The hour grew late, the celebration as strong as ever. A cask of ale had just been tapped and the music was loud and joyous.

Ewan bent his head to hear ear.

“’Tis time to go, mo cridhe.”

She felt her cheeks turn cherry red as he led her out of the hall. The crowd erupted into hoots and cheers as they passed. When they stepped off the top step and into the hallway, Ewan pressed her against the wall, his mouth crashing down over hers at the exact moment she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. She was too warm and too full and tooemptyall at once.

He followed her down the hallway to the Laird’s chamber, which Connor had vacated that morning to continue his recovery in his own room. As she pushed open the door, she looked over her shoulder.

“Are you coming?”

“I certainly hope so, Una,” he growled, stalking after her.

She laughed as he picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, giving her a hard swat on the backside and kicking the door shut behind him. He set her down and backed her into the door. She felt the hard wood behind her and Ewan’s scorching heat at her front. The way he kissed her felt almost desperate, his rough hands holding her face as though she would slip through his fingers if he wasn’t careful. Una certainly felt as if she might, as if her body might just dissolve into a flash of fire and blow away on the breeze of his breath.

She clutched at his shirt, and he gripped the skirt of her gown in one hand, using it to anchor her tightly against him. He had been so gentle last night. She didn’t know what she had expected this evening. Not carrying her across the threshold like a bridegroom, perhaps, but she had not predicted the clumsy tripping up the stairs, being slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain. And being devoured against the door? She had never imagined such a thing.

But his desire didn’t frighten her the way she had once worried it would. There was that pervasive feeling of safety that surrounded her when he was near. And in the midst of his passion, he still took care with her. The way he gently set her down and rested his hand behind her head before he had pushed her against the door so she would not bang it on the hard wood. The way he clutched her dress in one strong hand while tracing the lines of her face as gently as if she was a newborn with the other.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. He groaned into her mouth as he thrust his hips against hers, too many layers of wool between them.

“Una,” he said, his voice hoarse.

An impish idea took hold, and she reached around and smacked Ewan’s arse the way he’d done to her moments before.

A wicked smile crossed his face. “Now you’ve done it, Una,” he said before he bent and picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder again and swatting her even harder. She shrieked with laughter. He tossed her onto the bed and practically leapt to cover her, and she squealed. But that sound turned into something else entirely when Ewan slid down her body, causing the fabric of her gown and shift to drag against her breasts.

He sat back on his heels and gathered handfuls of her skirts.

“I want this off. Can I take this off of you?” Ewan asked, eyes bright and hair wild from her hands.

Una nodded. She took the hand he offered and let him pull her up to sit. With reverent care, he undid the laces on her gown before lifting it over her head. He untied the knot on her shift, his eyes flashing as he watched the fabric drop, revealing her breasts. Ewan traced a tight, aching nipple with a gentle finger. She gasped at the sensation of his rough fingertip against her delicate skin.

He leaned closer, taking the taut peak into his mouth and sucking harder than he had before. Her head fell back, and she gripped Ewan’s strong arm as her breath sawed in and out. Ewan nipped her with his teeth and she whispered his name, begging. He sat back with a devilish smile on his face.