Epilogue
“If ye ask me, ye’re makin’ a mistake.”
Theodore glared at the line of council members wondering which one had made the complaint. He wasn’t about to let any of them make such comments when Madison made her way down the aisle.
“Good thing I am nae,” Theodore clapped back, insuring that his tone remained stern.
The men at the front of the kirk dared not look at him as they passed to pay their respects.
Theodore scanned the crowd that had come to witness his marriage.
To his surprise, he spotted Laird McGowan in the crowd.
A small smile stretched across the laird’s lips as he nudged the woman to his side.
Theodore’s eyes widened. Sitting next to Lucas Gilmore was a stunning lass with a familiar face.
It took but a moment for Theodore to figure out where he had seen her before.
The fact Lucas had Flora sitting beside him was a miracle in itself.
The guilt that pounded against Theodore’s back relented.
At least he wasn’t the only one to fall for their guest. Seeing how happy she was beside him though made all the difference.
It was her choice to be next to him, he could see that.
And it was the very same choice he wanted for Madison.
“Me laird, ye might want to consider yer shirt, it looks as if ye could tuck it in a bit more,” Edith said as she came up to him to place a spring of heather to his tartan.
He flashed her a proud smile as she pinned the twig to his shoulder.
“I would say ye look handsome as ever, but ye might already ken that.”
“And are ye here to tell me I’ve made a mistake?
” Theodore asked as he arched an eyebrow.
It had seemed as if everyone had come up to him to give him a piece of their minds.
Yet, nothing they had to say so far could convince him to change his mind.
Madison was going to be his, that much was certain.
He’d given her his heart and there was nothing more to give.
“Now why would I do that when the lass was made for ye?” she answered with a wink. “There was a reason her path crossed yers. And here we are.”
“Aye, here we are, just as I said ye’d be,” Sister Marget’s voice carried over the soft chatter as everyone waited Madison’s arrival. Theodore turned to find the sister meandering down the side aisle. The playful smirk plastered on her spoke louder than words. “And what a turn out.”
“I have a bone to pick with ye,” Theodore said as she came around to pay her respects. She bowed low as her smile didn’t fade or shift.
“Oh? And what have I done to offend? From where I stand, I said she was to be married, and here we are,” the sister said as she rose and embraced Theodore. “Ye cannae get made at how things turned out. Yer timin’ will never be his timin’.”
Theodore didn’t know what to say, only that she was right.
He couldn’t be mad at how everything ironed itself out.
Madison had been returned to her family and they let her go.
He glanced to the group sitting on the left of the aisle.
It was Hallie’s sour expression as the music started that made him chuckle.
He turned his attention to the doors and held his breath. In just moments she’d enter and his world would change. The fact that he wasn’t scared astonished him. But knowing he was facing the world with the strongest woman he had ever met gave him the strength to stay rooted to the spot.
The crowd rose as the doors opened. Music filled the kirk as the children from the orphanage spilled into the kirk.
They raced and scattered down the aisle like little banshees.
And then she stepped into the kirk. Theodore’s chest tightened as he felt every beat of his heart against his chest. It was as if it were trying to break from the mortal cage that contained it.
She moved closer and all it took was a single gust of wind coming from the outside to carry her scent to him. Wildflowers mingled with heather as the world stopped. Madison was by far the most stunning thing he had ever scene.
“I think ye might have found an angel in the place of yer bride,” Boyd whispered into Theodore’s ear.
Theodore had completely forgotten anyone was even around him.
All he could focus on was the beauty before him.
She was stunning in the pale blue dress that hugged her hips.
Her dark hair was pinned to her head as if it were a tiara.
With her shoulders back, Madison entered like the Lady MacLeon, Theodore always knew was in her.
“Yer mouth is open,” Madison whispered to Theodore as she took her place next to him.
“I’m stunned,” he whispered as he took her hand to help her kneel. She took to the ground and bowed low. Theodore’s heart fluttered wildly at the sight of her bare neck. He dropped to his knees willfully as the Priest took his place to bless their union.
Madison’s body tingled as she followed Theodore down the corridor.
Their steps echoed and bounced off the stone walls.
She glanced up to find Theodore stealing looks at her.
She couldn’t help but wonder if he was just as nervous as she was.
Her body was eager, but it was her mind that was throwing her for a loop.
“Where are ye takin’ me?” she asked as they stopped at the door at the end of the hallway. Theodore’s smirk stretched into a smile.
“I daenae think ye’d want anyone watchin’ us, to prove we’ve consummate our marriage,” he answered plainly. Panic shot through her. She hadn’t thought of an audience coming to watch them. It wasn’t like they were royalty or anything. Noticing her stiffening, Theodore opened the door.
“I wasnae bein’ serious,” he answered to show her the side door that lead to a private balcony overlooking the sea.
Her heart skipped as the salty air swirled around her, pulling her back in time.
She turned to Theodore as if no time had passed between.
She didn’t want to think of the months she had spent pining over him to come for her. For now, all her dreams had come true.
“Do ye like it?” he asked as he closed the door behind him. He walked to her and curled his arms around her body. The heat from him was like a blanket she just wanted to snuggle deeper into.
“I like this,” she answered as she pulled his arms, trying to make his embrace tighter.
“Is that right?” he said as she felt him close to her. His hot breath tickled her neck as he leaned in to kiss her. “And what of this?”
She closed her eyes as his lips trailed down the length of her neck. Every nerve was on fire as his hands roamed freely over her body.
“I want ye, Madison. I want to lay ye down and explore every inch of ye from the inside out.” There was a hunger to his voice that made her body ache.
It was as if he was speaking directly to her soul.
She dared not turn him down, not when she craved the same thing.
She wanted his mouth on her again. To feel his tongue flicking over her tender flesh.
“Do ye want to stay out here? Or would ye like me to take ye inside?” Theodore asked as his hand cupped her breast. He pinched her nipple harder than she had expected. The sharp gasp for air excited him.
“I want ye,” she answered. “I daenae care where. I just only ever want ye.”
Theodore’s mouth was on her body, kissing and licking as he skillfully removed layer after layer.
The last thing to go was her shift. But even when he peeled the thin fabric off her, she didn’t feel the sting of the night air.
His arms curled around her, and pulled her to him, crushing her body to his.
“And do ye like this?” he asked as she realized how he engulfed her. Theodore was her protector and shield.
“Aye,” she answered as her gaze drifted from his face to his manhood. His penis throbbed against her thigh, as if pleading for a place to go. Madison didn’t need to be told what to do. She reached for it and started with a slow stroke. Her body tingled at the power she had in that single moment.
“Careful,” Theodore stated through gritted teeth. “Ye could very easily make so we never have children.”
“Well, that could be a good or bad thing,” she said. “Are children somethin’ ye want?”
“Depends,” Theodore answered as he pinched her nipple as a distraction. “Do ye want them? For I willnae be the one to carry them. That’ll be on ye. But I would love them.”
“Boy or girl?”
“Aye,” Theodore answered. “That doesnae matter. So long as they’re healthy and happy.”
“Then I should think twice of pullin’ this too hard,” she said with a smirk as her fingers eased around the shaft of his cock. His shoulders dropped with relief as his hand cupped over hers.
“Like this,” he instructed. Madison’s eyes widened as she watched her husband’s face contort with the different pleasures she gave him. But it wasn’t enough to watch, she wanted what he had.
“And how does this produce an heir?” Madison asked in confusion.
Theodore’s eyes opened as he grabbed her by the wrist and pinned her hands to his chest with one hand.
With his free hand, he picked her up as if she were nothing but a bag of grain.
She moaned as he pinned her against the wall of the castle.
“I cannae promise I’ll be gentle,” he whispered, his voice was hot against her skin as it was husky.
“Then daenae be,” she answered as he maneuvered her until her legs straddled his waist. He had her pinned with her back scraping against the stone wall.
Her eyes widened as she shifted his manhood and in a single thrust, entered her.
Madison’s eyes widened as the colors around her shattered into a different hue and color.
He was in her and filled her. The pressure, she could ignore, even the swelling and feeling of being too full. But the fact that it was Theodore who had become a part of her, who had fused his body to hers that made the moment special.
“I’ve got ye,” he said. “Ye can rest, I’ll nae move any more than this.”
“But I want ye to,” she answered as her hips moved ever so slightly.
It seemed to cause Theo to go deeper still.
Just how much further he would go into her, she didn’t know.
All she knew was that he was there with her.
That he was her rock now. She no longer was her own entity, but had fused into him.
“I love ye, Theodore,” Madison cooed as she drew her arms around his neck and held him close. “Daenae let me go.”
He pushed deeper still, surprising her how much pleasure she got from him pounding her into the wall.
“Never,” he replied. “Ye’re mine now. There’s nay escapin’ from me.”
The End?