Wedded to the Twisted Highlander (Taming the Kilmartins #3)

Chapter 25

25

“ N ae that I dinnae want ye to be happy. I do. But are ye sure that leavin’ the castle tomorrow is the wisest thing to do? Surely there are other places the Laird can show his wife to impress her,” Duncan suggested. His cautious tone grated on Thomas’s nerves.

“I’m takin’ me wife out of the castle. I dinnae think that a few hours away will bring down the place. Besides, I’m merely takin’ her to the loch.”

“Where yer faither proposed to yer maither?”

“Aye,” Thomas answered, a hint of pride ringing in his voice.

He understood the implications of taking Astrid to such a place. But it held a special place in his heart, and for the first time, he found someone he could share it with.

“The one and the same. We’ll get there at sunrise, maybe take a dip, and come back.”

“Ye’re nae just doin’ this to bed the lass, are ye?” Duncan asked as he folded his arms across his chest.

His gray hair and the wrinkles on his face made him look formidable. But the scowl on his face only made Thomas chuckle.

“I dinnae think I’ve ever seen ye wit’ such a pitiful expression on yer face. Ye look as if I’m purposefully burnin’ the castle to the ground,” Thomas said.

“Ye dinnae think that Laird Chalium isnae watchin’ the castle? I guarantee that he has someone at every entrance, ensurin’ that the moment ye leave, he’ll be able to attack.”

“Ye’re bein’ paranoid. Laird Chalium wouldnae dare step foot on me lands. He kens he’ll lose,” Thomas said, a bit too overconfident.

The truth of the matter was that he didn’t know what the future held, but he could no longer put his future with Astrid on hold. He wanted to give her everything right now, not later, when his strength failed him.

“I understand yer concern,” he continued as he pushed through the heavy oak doors of his study. The popping of the fire was a comforting sound as he entered. He pulled in a deep breath, letting the familiar scent of paper and dust fill his nostrils. “I do. But I cannae keep Astrid locked away as if she were a prisoner. And she’ll be wit’ me.”

“If it’s the lass ye’re concerned about, then send her off. But ye shouldnae leave the castle,” Duncan urged. He pursed his lips as Thomas lowered himself into the leather chair behind his desk.

“The purpose is to get to ken me wife,” Thomas pointed out as he plucked a ledger off a nearby stack and began going over the inventory of his grains. “I cannae do that wit’ everyone right on top of us all the time. I barely have any time wit’ her at all.”

“What happened to this bein’ a marriage of convenience? Ye cannae tell me ye’ve fallen in love wit’ the girl?” Duncan asked, his eyes widening with shock.

“And what if I am? So what? It’s nae that uncommon for a husband to dote on his wife every now and again,” Thomas said as images of his parents flashed through his mind.

How he wanted a marriage like the one they had. Their love was epic and spanned over generations.

It was the kind of union that Thomas had always wished for but never thought it would be something he would obtain.

“Then get her flowers. Set up a special dinner for her,” Duncan suggested with a wave of his hand.

“I dinnae think food is the key to producin’ an heir. If it were, I’m sure there would be many marriages spared of adultery,” Thomas argued as he shook his head at the thought of a leg of lamb being nearly as savory or satisfying as lying with Astrid. The thought was nearly inconceivable. “But now that ye’ve mentioned it, a picnic would be nice.”

“Do ye even hear yerself? It’s like ye’ve hit yer head a bit too hard and ye’re nae thinkin’ clearly. I’m tellin’ ye that ye are puttin’ the castle in danger if ye go out tomorrow,” Duncan pressed, slamming his fist on the desk as if that would snap Thomas out of his daze.

The smirk on Thomas’s face dropped. He glared at the fist pressing into his desk and then at Duncan.

“Tell me,” Thomas said smoothly as he pushed Duncan’s fist off the desk. “Who is the Laird? Who has taken up the mantle and carried the burden of that responsibility? Is it nae me?”

“Aye,” Duncan answered. There was no hiding the tremor in his voice as Thomas arched an eyebrow and glared at him. “It’s ye.”

“Then why are ye questionin’ me decisions?”

“Me Laird, ye’re nae thinkin’ wit’ yer head. At least nae the right head. I fear that yer wife may have more sway over ye than ye think.”

“And what if she does?” Thomas shouted.

He couldn’t believe the words coming out of Duncan’s mouth. Why would his man-at-arms be offended by his wish to have time alone?

“She is me wife and should be privy to such things.”

“Yer faither never would have let yer maither take over the clan,” Duncan pointed out, taking him by surprise.

“Since when have I ever said that Astrid would be the one to take over if something were to happen to me? The title and responsibility have only ever gone to a male heir. What makes ye think I would bring down me faither’s dynasty?”

“Me Laird, I only meant that ye have to be cautious. Ye never ken what is out there, waitin’ to attack.”

“And thanks to ye,” Thomas said, resting his hand on Duncan’s shoulder, “I have learned to consider everything a trap. Nay one in the castle will ken that we’ve left. But I am goin’ in the morning. And ye’ll see, nothing is goin’ to happen.”

The pale moonlight cut through the veil of shadow. Thomas carefully pulled the door to the balcony open and stepped out, testing the chill in the air. The sound of the critters was like a sweet melody as he pulled his cloak over his shoulder to ward off the icy nibbles of the night.

The soft, golden glow of a candle caught his eye. Turning his attention to Astrid’s door, he tiptoed over to it. Leaning closer, he pressed his ear to the door. The only sound was the popping of the fire that kept the chill at bay.

For a moment, he thought of barging in, catching her unaware. He wondered if he’d find her in her shift or nothing at all.

The thought intrigued him as he knelt to peer through the lock at the knob. Frustrated by the lack of view, he stepped back.

“I’ll be right there.” Astrid’s voice was muffled but clear.

Thomas froze. Was she talking to him? Had she completely forgotten about their trip this morning? His uncertainty triggered his panic. It was like dominoes falling one after another until he had to put a hand on the door to steady himself.

“Ye dinnae trust easily, do ye?” Astrid asked as she opened the balcony door and joined him outside.

Thomas couldn’t help but smile, knowing that she had been talking to him.

“It’s hard to when ye’re a man in me position. There’s a lot of people who want to harm the ones I love,” Thomas said as he brushed back a loose strand of her hair to admire her in the silvery light.

“How do ye nae hide away all day if such terrors greet ye every day?” Astrid asked as she stepped closer.

Thomas pulled in a long, deep breath, savoring her floral scent. It reminded him of spring and the glen.

“I dinnae think about the what ifs that can happen in life,” he answered as he curled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “If I did, I’d never get anything done, and I’d been frozen wit’ fear. I’d rather live me life the way I want rather than bend the knee to fear and uncertainty.”

Astrid’s lips curled into a smile that lit up the night.

Thomas pulled her closer still, crushing her body against his, and kissed her. The kiss was sudden and earnest but sweet and tender. Her lips were like a honeycomb—there was always a bit more to savor.

“I thought ye said ye wanted to get out of the castle,” Astrid murmured as she ran her fingers through his hair.

A light, tingling sensation rippled through him, following the path of her nails as she dragged them over his scalp. He could have her do that all day—it felt so good.

“Aye, that was the plan,” Thomas said with a wink. “But now I’m thinkin’ that there are things we could do here. Why go out so early? ‘Tis nae like the loch will go anywhere. Surely we could see it at a later date if that’s what ye want to do.”

“I dinnae think so.” Astrid planted one more kiss on his lips before pushing him away. “I’ve been stuck indoors for far too long. I miss the moors.”

“The moors? Is that where ye’d like to go?” Thomas asked, jumping at the chance to please his wife.

“Ye said ye had someplace ye wanted to take me—we should go there,” she said in a firm tone.

Thomas smiled and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Then we should get goin’. The ride might be short, but I think we are wastin’ time,” he urged as he turned a weather eye to the sky.

The horizon glowed with a soft light that threatened to brighten as the sun came back around in its daily orbit.

Taking Astrid by the hand, Thomas guided her through the castle and out to the stables. Astrid glared at him the second she spotted the single-saddled horse.

“What is this? Do ye nae think I can ride?” she asked.

Thomas couldn’t help but chuckle. “Maybe I wanted ye close,” he said as he pulled back the hood to his cloak.

“Can I nae have one of me own?”

“Nay, ye cannae. Ye dinnae ken where I’m takin’ ye. And if I gave ye a horse, then it wouldnae be a surprise,” he reasoned as he led her to the horse and cupped his hands to make a step for her. “Now, get on. Ye take any longer, and we might as well go to the moors.”

“I’m goin’,” Astrid huffed as he effortlessly hoisted her up into the saddle.

He slipped into the space behind her and glanced at the saddle bag. Reaching a hand inside, he double-checked to ensure that he had packed all the goodies he had in store for her.

With a final check and a squeeze of his thighs, they were off.

The ride to the loch was quick, and as they crested the hill to get the optimal view of the valley, the sun rose.

“This,” Thomas whispered as he watched the deep hues of the night shift into pastel purples and oranges. “This is what I wanted ye to see.”

“It’s lovely.”

“It’s the place where I was conceived,” he whispered.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back.

“And where ye’re hopin’ I would conceive if ye took me up here?” Astrid asked as she stepped closer.

Suddenly, the silly notion of starting a family took root within Thomas’s soul. It was like a splinter shoved into him and left to fester and rot. But instead of festering, it created a new life that reinvigorated him.

He turned to her as his heart swelled with emotion and lust. He felt as if he had been waiting for this very moment his whole life. Without thinking, he leaned in to kiss her, nibbling and sucking on her lips.

Then, he pulled back, smiling. “Would ye like me to lay a blanket for ye?” he asked as he reluctantly released her to go to the horse. He pulled a blanket and a bottle of whiskey from his saddle bag and handed them to her. “Here.”

Her eyes widened as he made the hilltop their castle. With everything in place, Thomas reached for her to guide her into the spot next to him.

Astrid moved like mist and took her place beside him. She cupped his cheek in her hand and drew him to her.

“There’s nay one around for miles,” she whispered, her lips brushing against his jaw. “Nay one to interrupt us.”

It was all the invitation Thomas needed. He slipped his fingers through her hair and kissed her senseless as he lowered her to the blanket.

“Ye’ll tell me to stop if ye dinnae like anything,” he said as he looked deep into her eyes.

Astrid bobbed her head as his hand roamed over the swell of her breasts and down her ribs.

It was her dress he was after, the one thing that hindered his progress the most. How he despised clothing. If he had his way, he’d run about the castle in his birthday suit if it meant he could lie with his wife whenever he wanted.

Unfastening his breeches, Thomas moved between Astrid’s legs. As he entered her, a soft moan escaped her lips.

The soft morning light crowned their union in gold. With every caress and shared moment, Thomas found himself lost and found in Astrid’s embrace. As long as she held him together, he could do anything.