Page 65 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

She wanted her husband to know how happy she was. She leaned over and kissed him again. When he kissed her just once, she persisted, teasing him with her tongue.

With a groan he gave in easily to whatever weak resistance he’d planned.

“We should sleep.” His scold held no bite.

“I will sleep better after ye give me a reason to,” she said, rolling away.

He moved on top of her, tugging her nightgown up between them. It was dark and for a moment his grasping reminded her of another time. With…them.

“What is it?” Liam whispered. “Did I hurt ye?”

As quick as it had formed, the memory was gone. Dispersed by Liam’s kind words and his gentle voice.

“I’m well.” She managed to get the gown off, but Liam hadn’t continued. “Why do you stop?” she asked.

“Maybe the darkness and me pushing at you, made you—”

“I want ye, Liam.” But he apparently wasn’t convinced enough to proceed. She decided to tell him the truth instead of trying to prove the lie. “Yes. For a small moment I remembered the darkness and the weight of a man’s body on mine, but it was gone just as quickly. I could never mistake you for them, Liam. Never. The way you touch me and kiss me is nothing like what happened. You are safe and I know it in my bones.”

He let out a breath and kissed her softly. Too softly.

“Make love to me Liam. I want ye. I’m not afraid.” She found his hair and ran her fingers through it.

“Let it not be said I ever made ye beg me. ’Tis not gentlemanly.”

She laughed as he kissed her breast and nipped her skin as he teased her. She didn’t know where his lips might land next. Each touch made her whimper with need.

“If you don’t want to degrade me to begging, you’d best get on with it, husband, because I can’t take much more.”

With the naughtiest chuckle she’d ever heard, he entered her. The breath whooshed out of her chest, and she gasped in the scent of him. A smile curved on her lips even though it was too dark for him to see it.

It was for herself and the power she felt as she conquered her fears.

…

Gwennie muttered a bit of dissatisfaction as Evelyn handed her up to rest in Liam’s lap, but before his horse had taken a step, she’d settled against him and was sleeping again.

Many a time as they’d traveled from the Stewarts, Gwennie had slept just like this, so he knew she wouldn’t stir as he and Ev led the group of wagons out of the bailey on their way to Baehaven.

The sun had not yet met the day, but its glow lit their way. It was sure to be a hot day; it was already warm. A light breeze would keep it from being uncomfortable. They’d be in the cover of trees before the sun really started burning.

He didn’t expect any trouble, since it was only MacKinlay lands between Dunardry and Baehaven. But an occasional intruder did pass through, so Liam was alert as they moved into less familiar territory.

They’d been riding for only two hours when Gwennie woke fully and blinked. She spun about, looking for her mother and then started crying in earnest.

“What is it, love? Mama is just there.” Liam waved at Ev who rode up closer. But Gwennie wasn’t to be comforted. Instead, she started crying, “No! No!”

Liam checked her closer to see if perhaps she wasn’t truly awake and was having a terror, but she continued crying until he stopped.

“What is it, Gwennie? What’s wrong?”

“Don’t take me back. I want to stay here with you. Please. I’ll be a good lass.”

Liam’s heart broke. Not just because of Gwennie’s confusion, but that she thought his love was contingent on her being good and not a bother. He knew well how hard it was for a child to live that way. He’d tried his best to be good at all times as well.

Not being a MacKinlay, he never wanted them to regret their decision to keep him on as one of them. He’d always gone out of his way to be pleasant. He didn’t want the same worries for Gwennie.

He repositioned her so she was looking at him and raised her chin as her lip trembled and tears streaked her rounded cheeks.