Epilogue #2
Halvard rose and drew Elsie close to his side, his arm firm and protective about her shoulders.
“I am glad I was able tae be here,” he said, his voice earnest, “nae only tae see ye wed, Laird Kenneth, but tae stand with ye against the madness that has stalked ye fer far too long.”
Kenneth stood as well, his expression solemn but grateful.
“I thank ye,” he replied. “Fer all ye’ve done fer the MacDonalds, and fer meself and Lady Selene. I am proud tae call ye braither, and I look forward tae the alliance between our clans.”
At last, Selene slipped her hand into Kenneth’s and leaned closer, her voice soft, her eyes alight with mischief and affection.
“I wish to retire to our chamber, husband,” she said, the promise in her smile unmistakable. “After all – it is our wedding night.”
Kenneth’s answering smile held a promise all its own as he led her from the room.
The instant the door to their chamber closed behind them he seized her in his arms and, without further ado, carried her giggling across the room to lay her unceremoniously on the soft feather mattress among the furs and woolen blankets.
He leaned over her, his eyes on fire. “At last, ye’re mine, and I can love ye as ye wish.”
She smiled up at him, “And I can love you as you wish also, Laird Kenneth, it is not only ye who has lust in your heart.”
He clasped her to his heart and rolled her over so that she lay atop him, her heart pounding, her senses filled with his aroma of whisky and wool and that other undefinable scent that belonged to Kenneth alone.
He pulled her head down for a wild kiss, filled with the passion and the desperate, pent-up longing they’d shared for too long. She lost herself in the feel of his lips on hers, the thrust of her tongue and the low, guttural sounds he made deep in his throat.
She stretched her length on his, luxuriating in the sensation of her breasts pressed to his chest and their hearts beating in time. His shaft hardened beneath her and she shifted her hips, pressing herself to him. She moaned as they at last drew back.
“I couldnae wait another day.” His voice was hoarse, rough with desire. “I wanted tae wed ye at once.”
She grinned and rolled to lie beside him, knowing without being told that Father Mulcahy had never been called away to Ireland. This was something she’d have out with him. One day.
“I want ye naked. Now.”
She sat up so he could untie the laces and pull her dress over her head. She wore no stays under her gown, only a silk chemise and a petticoat, which was quickly removed from her body.
He ran his fingers over the silk chemise, cupping her breasts, brushing her nipples with his thumbs so that they puckered and grew hard beneath his touch.
She gasped and lay back. Pulling aside the chemise he suckled on the delicate, sensitive nubs, nipping and licking.
Heated sensations of pleasure rushed through her, coming to rest between her thighs at her core.
“Oh God, Kenneth, dinnae stop. I want ye tae keep doing that to me.” She arched her back as he tugged with his teeth. She groaned. Loudly.
“Take off yer shirt. I must feel your skin against mine.” Her fingers were busy with the laces on his linen shirt.
He raised his arms and she tugged it off, casting it aside.
She reached for his buckle and after a moment’s hasty fumble it was undone.
His kilt unraveled, and joined his shirt somewhere on the floor.
Then he was naked, his body gleaming in the firelight. She drew breath, lost in the fervor of passion for that man who was her husband.
He ripped the delicate silk of the chemise, so that there was nothing between their nakedness as she twined her arms at his neck and he pulled her to him.
“Lass, I want ye so badly me shaft is near turning tae steel.”
She made a sound that came from somewhere deep in her throat and gripped his shaft, astonished again by the weight and girth of it.
He groaned as his fingers strayed from her breast to the curls between her thighs. She was slick and wet as his finger slid between her folds and entered her.
“Lass, I cannae wait tae have ye. It has been too long.”
She bucked under his hand. This was no time for tender, slow, lovemaking, but for wild, passionate coupling.
“Please…” was all she could manage, but he got her meaning.
She drew up her knees opening herself to him, her hands on his shoulders, her hips moving of their own volition. Scrunching her eyes, she bit down on her lower lip as he placed his tip at her entrance. She wrapped him with her knees and took him inside.
He grunted, thrusting hard, and she rose, meeting him thrust for thrust, strange sounds issuing from her as the stormy waves slowly built.
Her nails dug hard into his shoulders, her teeth savaged her lower lip, but still they thrust higher, finding a wild, untamed rhythm as the waves took her, drowning her, robbing her breath, causing her to scream his name as white-hot spasms of deep pleasure took her to another realm.
But Kenneth was with her, roaring her name, his hips thrusting as his body jerked and convulsed.
Their ragged breathing gradually slowed as they lay tangled together, utterly spent and utterly blissful.
She laughed, filling the air with uncontainable peals of ecstatic laughter.
He rose on one elbow and looked deep into her eyes.
“I am so happy,” she said.
His laughter joined with hers.
The wedding is the beginning of Kenneth & Selene’s happily ever after. But there’s more… Read the Extended Epilogue to uncover the royal demand that threatens Kenneth’s family once more.