Page 86 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

“Thank God ye didnae wear a veil,” he whispered in her ear, practically brushing her skin with his lips as the whole room erupted in applause.

“I wouldnae have pulled that cruel trick on ye!” She laughed and smiled back up at him.

Murdoch’s eyes wandered over her. He was quite intoxicated by the new gown she had chosen for the wedding. Made of deep red and luscious silk, it complimented her hair perfectly. It made his eyes wander to places that were reserved for after they had retired from the feast. He shifted his arm to hold her hand instead and walked into the room, having to tear his gaze away from all of her curves.

On all sides, people had gathered between the tables, applauding warmly as the pipers struck up their music. Murdoch led Eloise to the top table, where Fergus awaited them along with Clyde. Both Fergus and Clyde kissed Eloise on the cheek and congratulated her, as Murdoch turned to look at his friends close by.

As they’d taken the extra time to prepare ahead of the wedding, he was relieved to see more of their friends had made it in time for their ceremony, including Scarlett, Eloise’s sister. She and Laird Noah Chattan sat at the head of the second table, with Aila and Ian on one side, and Callie and Avery on the other. Elliot had managed to make it too and was currently laughing loudly about some jest Ian had made as he quaffed a large flagon of ale. Fiadh sat close to her sister, Aila, a sweet smile on her features, though that smile seemed to dampen each time she glanced at Elliot.

“Aye, aye, let the celebrations begin!” Fergus lifted his flagon into the air at the top table and many men around the room followed suit, drinking ale and mead, as others took the cleared space in the middle of the feasting room, ready to dance.

Murdoch took Eloise’s hand and drew her down to sit with him for a few minutes. They’d spent so long talking with people as they left the church that Murdoch’s stomach was rumbling with hunger, and from the paleness in Eloise’s cheeks, he judged her to be just as famished.

“Eat, quickly,” he urged. “Before anyone else comes up tae congratulate us.”

She laughed and delved into the pile of food in front of her, though her body was angled toward Murdoch the entire time. Distracted by her presence and the heat of that look, he soon broke off from his food and wrapped his arm around the back of her chair, taking the opportunity to brush his fingers across the back of her shoulder.

“Are ye happy?” he whispered, for her ears only.

“Aye, very happy indeed,” she murmured softly, leaning toward him. “It’s been an eventful few months, but I wouldnae change them.”

“Nay? I would.” He laughed, shaking his head. “I would take out the part where Harper had ye at the top of that cliff, threatening tae throw ye off.”

“Aye, maybe I would take out that bit.” Eloise laughed. “Tell me more about what her father said when he came tae see ye three.” She nodded her head at Clyde and Fergus nearby, who were currently drinking and sharing in some jest together.

“He was heartbroken,” Murdoch felt his voice deepening. It was a hard memory, one that would live with him to the end of his days. Harper’s father had dropped to his knees and prayed to the heavens, but nothing would change the facts. One of his daughters had killed the other, and he blamed himself for not having discovered the truth alone. “I have nae seen a man more crushed. Yet because of it all, he has agreed tae an alliance without a marriage between the families. When Laird Douglas heard the clans were uniting their forces, strangely enough, all his attacks on our land stopped.”

“He’s afraid,” Eloise murmured, her eyebrows lifting.

“Well, he always was more a child than a man, trying tae prove himself.” Murdoch reached for his ale and lifted it to his lips, deep in thought for a moment. He’d seen Laird Douglas once since the attack on the castle. There had been a skirmish at the edge of his father’s lands, before Laird Douglas saw the combined forces of two clans together. “He turned and ran from here like a lamb with his fluffy tail between his legs. Nay, I dinnae think we’ll be seeing anymore of him.”

“Thank God above for that.” Eloise sighed and leaned back in the chair. Her movement meant she was enveloped more in the curve of his arm. Murdoch couldn’t help leaning into her, pulling her a bit toward him, desperate to be that bit closer to her. She smiled knowingly, clearly sensing what he was doing. “Ye cannae resist, can ye?” she said playfully.

“Can ye blame me?” he said with a heated tone. “Since that day on the cliffs, Avery has kept a close eye on ye and has insisted we find a separate bedchamber for ye. Fortunately, after today, he can nay longer insist on such a mad thing.”

“Indeed, he cannae.” Her hand found his thigh under the table and his eyes shot down to that touch. It started as a slow brush of her fingers, but as it lifted up his thigh, it became a firmer touch, one that was tantalizingly close to his hip. A deep rumble escaped Murdoch’s lips as a spiral of excitement coiled in his stomach.

“Ye cannae tempt me now,” he whispered, moving his lips to her ear.

“Why nae? As ye said, we are married now.”

“Because I am supposed tae be here fer the celebrations, and currently ye are just making me want tae retire tae our bedchamber already.”

“We could come back downstairs again.” The way Eloise smiled gave rise to too many pictures in Murdoch’s head. She lifted her eyebrow, waiting for him to respond.

“Ye tempt me too much, wife.”

“Wife,” she repeated, her smile growing impossibly wider. When her hand tightened even more so close to his hip, he couldn’t stop himself.

Murdoch reached down and took that hand, and lifting it and holding it tightly in his own, he drew her to her feet. He glanced back, expecting to come up with some excuse to his father and brother as to where they were going, but fortunately Fergus and Clyde were caught up too much in their own conversation to notice.

Murdoch led Eloise through the great hall, being careful to keep to the shadows between the candelabras so they didn’t draw attention. Even Avery didn’t notice their escape, but that might have had more to do with the fact that Callie was dragging him to dance, just as Elliot was encouraging Fiadh to dance with him, something she didn’t seem particularly keen on doing.

“Quick, before they see,” Eloise whispered and darted out of the door first with Murdoch following close behind.

Their path to the bedchamber was a blur to Murdoch. He remembered kissing Eloise for much of it, pressing her into alcoves and corners, needing to be closer to her. The ale that thrummed in his veins made him lightheaded, giddy for her, but what centered him most was the touch of her. It anchored his body to her, and when they ended up in their chamber, he kicked the door haphazardly shut behind them in his eagerness to be with her.

They moved toward the bed, with Murdoch reaching for her gown and lifting it around her hips.