Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“Iam glad to be here,” Arianna said softly.
The familiar stone walls of Castle McGuire rose before them once more, steady and unyielding against the sky, and Arianna felt something within her settle at the sight.
As they crossed the threshold and stepped into the warmth of the great hall, she drew in a quiet breath, her shoulders easing in a way they had not since she had fled. Ian remained at her side, his presence a constant now rather than a question.
When they reached the privacy of their chamber, she turned to him, a small, genuine smile touching her lips. “We are home, finally,” she said.
Ian stilled at her words, something shifting in his expression. “Aye?” he replied, his voice quieter than usual. “I am glad to hear ye call it that… home.”
Arianna studied him for a moment, noting the hesitation that lingered beneath his calm. “It is me home,” she said gently, her gaze steady.
Ian nodded once, though his expression grew more serious as he took a step closer. “We are home, and now that we are there is something I must say.”
She waited.
“The carriage… before,” he said, “That is, after what happened in the carriage that one day, I shouldnae have pulled away from ye as I did.”
Arianna blinked, surprised, her brows drawing together faintly. “I must admit,” she said slowly, “I thought I had done something wrong.”
At that, Ian’s head snapped toward her. “Nae,” he said firmly.
“Ye did nothing wrong. It was me,” he continued.
“I thought… I thought ye would rather be with anyone but me.” He glanced away briefly, as though the words themselves were difficult to speak.
“I look like a beast,” he added, almost under his breath.
“And I feared I had acted inappropriately… like…well, like a beast.”
Arianna stared at him, incredulity flashing across her face.
“A beast?” she repeated, her voice rising slightly. “Ian, I agreed to everything that happened in that carriage.” She stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. “Ye shouldnae make such assumptions on yer own. Why do ye think such a thing of yerself?” she asked.
There was a pause before he answered.
“Me father,” Ian said at last, his voice low and rough. “He was a cruel man.” His hand lifted briefly, brushing near his eye before falling again. “He’s the one who took me eye. I always thought… in time, I would become like him.”
Arianna’s breath caught, and anger flared within her. “Then he was a monster,” she said fiercely. “And ye are nothing like him.”
Ian stilled.
“I do not see a beast when I look at ye,” she continued, her voice steady despite the emotion beneath it. “Nor do I believe ye could ever become one.”
The conviction in her words struck him more deeply than he expected.
He exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “I ken I was behaving foolishly,” he admitted, stepping closer still.
The space between them narrowed until there was little left at all.
“I feared I would lose control,” he said quietly. “That I would want more than ye were ready to give… and so I kept me distance.”
Arianna held his gaze, her heart steady. “That is for me to decide,” she said softly. “And I do want more,” she added, her voice quiet but certain. “I am ready… to be yer wife in truth.”
The words hung between them. For a heartbeat, Ian did not move, then he reached for her, his hands firm but careful as they found her waist, drawing her close.
He kissed her. It was not hesitant, nor uncertain, but filled with everything he had held back: relief, longing, and a fierce, unspoken devotion.
Arianna responded without pause, her hands rising to his shoulders as she leaned into him, meeting him with equal warmth.
Ian pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against hers, his breath uneven. “Ye’ve nay idea what ye’ve given me,” he murmured.
Arianna smiled softly, her hand lifting to brush against his cheek. “I think I do,” she replied.
This time, when he kissed her again, there was no doubt, no fear, and no distance left between them.
Ian’s hands trembled slightly as they rose to the fastening of her gown, his gaze searching hers for any hesitation. “Tell me to stop, and I will,” he murmured, his voice rough with restraint.
Arianna shook her head, her fingers already working at the ties of his tunic. “Daenae stop,” she whispered. “Not now.”
The fabric of her gown loosened beneath his touch, the heavy wool slipping from her shoulders inch by inch as his hands followed its path. His fingertips brushed her skin, warm and reverent, as though committing every inch of her to memory.
Arianna drew in a soft breath, her body awakening beneath the simple graze of his touch, her hands sliding beneath his tunic to feel the heat of him.
“Ian…” she breathed, his name little more than a plea.
He exhaled sharply as her fingers traced along his chest, the strength of him rising and falling beneath her touch.
“Ye undo me with but a touch,” he said quietly.
She smiled faintly, though her breath came quicker now. “Then ye ken how I feel,” she replied, her hands moving to push the fabric from his shoulders.
His tunic fell away, followed by his kilt and the rest of his garments, piece by piece, until nothing stood between them but the soft flicker of firelight.
Ian’s hands returned to her, gentler now, guiding the last of her undergarments from her frame as though each movement mattered.
The air felt warmer, charged, as his hands settled at her waist, then moved upward, tracing the curve of her arms with aching care.
Arianna shivered, though not from cold, as her hands came to rest against his shoulders, holding him close.
“I have thought of this,” he admitted, his voice low against her lips. “More than I should.”
“And I,” she answered softly.
He kissed her again, slower this time, deeper, his hands rising to cradle her milky breasts.
Arianna leaned into him, her arms wrapping around him as she felt the steady beat of his heart against her own. His touch moved along her back, her shoulders, her arms, each caress deliberate, each one sending warmth through her like fire.
“I am here,” she whispered against his mouth. “And I am yers.”
There was no rush, no urgency beyond the quiet pull drawing them closer still.
They moved together as though learning one another anew, hands exploring with tenderness, holding, tracing, anchoring.
And in that closeness, in the soft murmurs and shared breath, Arianna felt her world narrow to him alone, safe, wanted, and wholly alive in his arms.
Ian guided her gently to sit upon the edge of the bed, his hands lingering at her waist as though reluctant to let her go entirely. The fire cast a warm glow across her skin, and for a moment, he simply looked at her, his expression softened by something deeper than desire alone.
“Ye’ve endured more than I care to think on,” he murmured, his voice low. “Let me ease some of it from ye.”
Arianna tilted her head slightly, watching him with quiet curiosity. “And how do ye intend to do that?” she asked.
Ian gave the faintest hint of a smile before kissing her breast. “Like this,” he moaned.
He pressed his lips carefully on her. His large fingers enveloped her mound. His thumb pressed lightly against her pink rosebud, working slow, deliberate circles that sent warmth spreading through her.
Arianna inhaled softly, her shoulders easing as the tension she had not realized she carried began to melt beneath his touch. “That feels… far too good,” she admitted, her voice almost a whisper.
Ian’s gaze flickered upward to meet hers. “Good,” he replied quietly, his fingers continuing their patient work. “Ye deserve as much.”
He traced kisses along her skin, his touch both firm and tender. Arianna watched him. “Ye fight like a warrior,” she said softly, “and yet ye touch me as though I might break.”
“I would rather break the world than harm ye,” Ian answered without hesitation.
He shifted then, lowering himself as his hands moved to her thighs, guiding them gently open.
“Tell me if it is too much,” he murmured, his voice quieter now.
Arianna nodded, though she already knew she would not stop him. His hand moved to her sweet center, caressing firm, and slow.
A soft sound escaped her before she could stop it.
Ian glanced up, a flicker of concern crossing his face. “Too much?” he asked.
“Nae,” she said quickly, her cheeks warming. “Daenae stop.”
His lips curved faintly at that, though his focus returned to his hand as he moved his thumb higher, careful, respectful, never rushing.
Arianna leaned back slightly, her eyes drifting closed as sensation spread through her, not sharp but deep and grounding. “I didnae realize how much I needed this,” she admitted.
“I ken how much I need it,” Ian said.
His hands moved with a steady rhythm, making round circles on her sensitive pearl.
There was a quiet pause before he shifted, his presence warm and close as his head came to rest lightly upon her thigh. Arianna’s breath slowed as she felt him there.
“May I?” he asked softly.
“Aye,” she whispered.
He kissed her folds, then moved his tongue on her pearl.
“Oh, oh Ian…” she moaned.
His tongue pressed gently, then more firmly as he worked along the pulsing sensations growing inside of her.
The heat of his touch seeped into her, unraveling the last of the tightness she had carried since the night she fled.
Arianna leaned into him without thinking, pushing her hands into his hair.
Her body responded to his care as much as her heart did.
Deep within her belly, the throbbing grew and moved along her entire body.
“Oh, I am losing meself” she whispered.
With that, her whole body shook as she released. Ian moaned in response. She lay back and allowed the delicious tremors to take hold.
“Watching ye in pleasure is me biggest thrill” Ian smirked as he pulled his over hers. He positioned himself between her thighs.
“Is it?” she smiled. “Then I hope to give ye many thrills.”
“I want ye, lass. Ye are the bonniest woman I have ever seen. I want ye to tell me once more that ye want me… want me inside ye,” Ian said.
“Ian…” she breathed, her voice filled with ecstasy. “I want to consummate this marriage. I want ye inside me. I love ye.”
The words seemed to still the very air. Ian froze.
For a long moment, he did not move, did not breathe. Arianna’s heart faltered at his silence, doubt flickering across her face.
“Ian?” she said softly, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.
“Say that again,” he murmured, his voice rough.
Arianna searched his face, then spoke once more, more certain this time. “I love ye.”
“I…” Ian exhaled sharply, his hand lifting to cradle her cheek. “I thought I would never hear those words spoken to me,” he admitted, his voice unsteady. His gaze searched hers, as though anchoring himself in the truth of what she had said.
Her worry softened into something gentler. “I do,” she said again.
Ian let out a breath that seemed to carry years of doubt with it. “Then hear me well,” he said, his voice deepening with quiet conviction. “I love ye, Arianna.”
Arianna’s lips parted slightly, relief and warmth flooding through her all at once.
He guided his hard staff into her. Arianna arched her back up, receiving him.
“Oh, lass. Ye feel heavenly. I never want to part,” he moaned as he moved his hips back and forth, gliding inside of her.
Her hands rose to rest against his chest as she felt the steady beat of his heart beneath her palms.
“Ye’ve undone me completely,” he murmured against her hair.
“Then we are even,” she replied with a soft moan.
His mouth covered hers in a hungry kiss, and passion took hold. Arianna opened her thighs wider as Ian moved faster and faster. She never knew it could feel like this. Having him inside of her made all of her senses heightened. She felt secure and desirable in the same instance.
Her fingers moved along the rigid muscles in his back. They traced the battle scars that made him a hard man.
She felt herself moving toward bliss as he pumped in short bursts of movements.
“Oh, Ian. Daenae stop, please” she whispered.
A quiver soared into elation as she released again. Her body shivered.
“Arianna, me wife. Ye are everythin',” Ian groaned.
With those words Ian's body tensed. He delivered his seed inside of her.
They remained locked together like that for a long moment, wrapped in one another, the fire crackling softly behind them. His hands moved once more, gentler now, tracing along her side in a slow, comforting rhythm.
Arianna closed her eyes, letting the warmth of him, of his words, settle deep within her. And for the first time, there was nothing left unspoken between them.