Chapter 30
“Why are ye still weeping, Keira?” Grannie Ava laughed from the settee she had commandeered in Ruarid’s chambers.
They had all gathered without any prior plans to check up on his well-being and had found themselves sharing late-night tea as Keira wept over her father’s injuries.
They had assured her in turns that he was alright, but the lass was scarred by the violence she had seen, and Violet couldn’t help but understand her predicament.
She, too, had been thoroughly shaken by the ordeal and wondered how she would sleep with the image of Lord Westall choking on his own blood branded behind her eyes.
The man they had all come to see was sitting, despite all their protests that he should be in bed, on one end of another settee with Violet at the other end and Keira in the middle, weeping.
“Me da was hurt,” Keira sobbed, “and that bad man almost killed Violet as well.”
Ruaridh took her into his arms and kissed her hair. The scene was soft and stirred a warmth in Violet’s heart.
“Me lovely lass,” he said, patting her hair. “I am well, and me injury was a mere scratch. I ken ye’re frightened, but ye must put today behind ye. I have put that bad man in a place where he can never hurt us again.”
“Indeed,” Violet piped up, coming to their side. “He won’t hurt us again, Keira. We are safe now.”
Ruaridh gave her a look that was heavy with emotion and stole her breath, but she forced her gaze back to the girl, who was now looking at her with watery eyes.
“Come, Keira,” Grannie Ava said. “Ye can stay with me tonight.”
The girl nodded and went into her grandmother’s arms.
“I will help her get some sleep,” Grannie Ava added. “You, too, should get some sleep.”
Violet nodded and rose to her feet as she watched them leave. Her heart rate quickened when Grannie Ava sent her a wink before closing the door behind her, and her face flamed, wondering what the woman was trying to imply.
Now alone with Ruaridh, her heart thudded, but she swallowed her fear and turned to him. The faster she escaped, the better.
“I bid you a good night as well, Ruaridh,” she offered.
But as she turned to leave, he stilled her with a hand on her arm.
Eyes wide, she turned to him, swallowing past the lump in her throat. The air between them was charged dangerously with a maelstrom of emotions and unspoken words, and Violet couldn’t trust herself not to say anything untoward.
“Please stay,” he murmured. “I would like to speak with ye.”
She nodded and took a seat beside him.
She didn’t know what he wished to say, and the anxiety from earlier rose tenfold.
“I—” “My—” they said simultaneously, then laughed.
“Ye can go first,” he offered with an easy smile
She nodded.
“I wanted to say that my father has decided to return to England to help explain this situation so that we do not face any repercussions,” she began, not meeting his eyes.
“I was worried about how this ordeal would affect the clan, but his words comforted me, and I just wanted to tell you so you could rest easy.”
He was silent for a moment, which caused her to risk a glance at him. There was a look of relief on his face, and his shoulders had relaxed, which made her realize he had been thinking about it as well.
“I must admit I am comforted by yer words, Violet,” he said softly. “I had been worried about what killing that bastard would mean for the clan, but I am thankful for yer faither.”
“Indeed,” she sighed. “He surprised me. I was thinking of going myself, but—”
He took her hands in his own, cutting her off. “Ye wanted to leave?” he asked, looking worried.
She nodded again. “I wanted to go and explain your innocence so the clan would be spared from war.”
The fear she had had earlier and the relief her father’s words brought caused tears to well up in her eyes again.
“I am so sorry, Ruaridh,” she croaked. “I have done nothing but cause ye trouble.”
“Daenae say that, Violet,” he said fiercely. “Ye have done more than that.”
She looked up to find him grinning brightly, and knew he was trying to joke. She laughed despite herself, slapping his chest.
“You tease me.”
“Aye, but ‘tis the truth I speak,” he countered. “Ye have indeed caused me trouble since I met ye, but I wouldnae have it any other way.”
Her eyes widened at his confession.
“When I saw his hands on ye today, I admit I have never felt fear like I did at that moment,” he continued. “Because ye have come to mean more to me than I would have thought possible, and failing to protect ye would have killed me.”
Violet blinked, unable to believe her ears. The day had started off with her wondering if perhaps she had misinterpreted all the moments they had shared, but his words now confused her.
“What are you trying to say, Ruaridh?” she asked, needing to hear the words from him.
He cupped her face in his hands, staring into her eyes intently. “I love ye, lass,” he confessed, “more than I could possibly hope to say.”
A lance shot through Violet’s heart, and her tears spilled over. She couldn’t help but kiss him, not knowing how else to show him how she felt.
When she pulled away, she couldn’t fight the smile that crossed her face. “I love you too, Ruaridh.”
Ruaridh kissed his lovely bride with all the emotion he could muster, hoping she could feel everything he felt and had been unable to sufficiently express with words. Then he deepened the kiss.
Now that he had expressed the depth of his feelings for her, he found himself feeling vulnerable as they kissed and could almost claim he could read her heart as well.
She moaned into his mouth, her hands coming to rest against his chest, and the heat of her seared him, his heart thudding an unsteady rhythm in his chest.
He had nearly lost her today, but she was here, safe and in his arms, and he had no intention of letting her go again.
His hands moved lower, and he leaned forward till he lay atop her on the settee. It was uncomfortable, but he didn’t want to move, didn’t want to break the moment.
Putting his weight on his hands, he kissed the side of her mouth, then her chin, and then kissed his way down her neck. Her hands slid into his hair, pulling as little gasps escaped her.
Pride swelled in his chest; his bride was responsive to his touch.
He kissed the swell of her breasts, but soon it wasn’t enough. He wanted to feel her, all of her, writhing beneath him as his lips and hands brought her pleasure.
So he lifted her, hands moving behind her back to undo her stays. She was still in the dress that had been ruined from the fight, but he intended to erase that memory from her mind.
Her hands fisted in his shirt, and he knew what she wanted. Breaking their kiss, he pulled back and took off his shirt, loving how her lips parted in clear admiration of his body.
He pulled her to her feet and helped her out of her garments with frenzied movements, then he lifted her and moved her to his large bed, which seemed to swallow her.
He climbed over her, kissing her smooth, supple flesh, showing special attention to her breasts. Her nails scratched his scalp as his hands stroked up and down her sides, spearing him with need.
His cock pulsed painfully, seeking release, but he wasn’t quick to bury himself in her warmth. Her cries were a sweet melody to his ears as he kissed down her stomach to her sex.
The scent of her arousal was heady, and he feasted on her, licking and tasting her till her breathless pants grew into cries that rent the air, announcing her release.
He gently kissed his way back up her body, intending to move off her, but she held him tightly to her.
“What are ye doing?” he asked.
“I do not want you to pull away from me, Ruaridh,” she breathed. “Make me yours.”
“But we arenae wed yet,” he reminded her. “I daenae want to dishonor ye.”
“It will dishonor me if you leave me tonight,” she said stubbornly.
He stiffened, unable to move, but when she kissed him, he knew he couldn’t resist her any longer.
He pushed off the bed to undress and then stalked back to her, watching as her eyes widened. He climbed over her slowly, putting his weight on his arms.
“Daenae fear, Violet,” he murmured. “It may hurt at first, but it will be pleasurable soon.”
She nodded but didn’t look any more assured by his words.
He kissed her then, in no hurry to claim her, slow and steady until he felt the tension leave her body. Then he notched himself against her warm sheath and gritted his teeth as he pushed the first inches inside her.
“I’m sorry, lass,” he groaned. “I will try nae to hurt ye.”
Her eyes were shut tightly, but she nodded, keeping her hands on his shoulders. When he was fully seated in her, the tight fit clawed at his restraint, but he kissed her instead, waiting until he felt her inner walls adjust to his size.
He kept his strokes slow and shallow until she began to pant, her nails digging into his skin.
“Please, Ruaridh,” she begged.
She didn’t need to speak further for him to know she wished for him to move deeper.
Ruaridh felt his release building, but he pushed it down to bring her pleasure. When her cries rang out, he was unable to stop himself from driving into her.
“Ye’re so beautiful,” he panted, the words pouring out of him the closer he got to his peak. “So perfect and wonderful.”
He moved his fingers between her legs to her nub, and it didn’t take long for her mouth to fall open in a soundless scream. Her inner walls convulsed, milking him, and it wasn’t long before he growled his release. It shot through him with such force that he couldn’t move.
Blinded by the pleasure, he could only keep himself from crushing her by leaning on his elbows.
When he could finally move, he rolled off her and pulled her into his chest, trying to catch his breath. Now that she was fully his, he would never let her go again.