Epilogue
Four Months Later
Katherine giggled as Liam spun her. The music swelled, louder than the crowd around them. Her dress, a faithful recreation of the gown the pirates had ruined, flared around her ankles.
“And ye said ye didnae think ye’d be able to dance in this,” Liam said, pulling her against his chest, his mouth against the shell of her ear.
“If it were only me, I wouldnae,” Katherine retorted, letting him lead her in a tight circle, carefully avoiding the other couples swaying next to them. “I’m only as good as me partner.”
“Ach, but I could say the same thing,” he countered with a chuckle.
They’d finally found the time to reorganize the ceilidh to celebrate their wedding. It didn’t matter to Katherine that they had been married for nearly half a year. She couldn’t have imagined a better time for the gathering to be held.
“If ye are too sweet to me in front of our guests, ye may ruin yer reputation,” she teased, a flutter of laughter spilling from her lips when he spun her again.
Beside them, Agnes giggled. She was holding onto Elspeth’s hands tightly, letting the woman guide her through each of the steps.
When Katherine caught their eye, Elspeth spun Agnes in the same way that Liam had spun Katherine.
Their maneuver wasn’t quite as smooth, and the two stumbled.
Agnes scoffed, but she was still wearing a wide grin, not caring that the two weren’t as skilled as Liam and Katherine.
“To hell with me reputation,” he said, his eyes never leaving Katherine’s face.
“Makin’ ye laugh, seein’ yer smile, that’s far more important to me than me reputation.
” He leaned in close again, his mouth inches from hers.
“They can think what they want of me. Me enemies ken nae to underestimate me. Our people ken that I will protect them nae matter what.”
She huffed, an amused sound. Then, she closed the distance between them, giving him a fast, chaste peck. Pulling away, she raised an eyebrow at him, a playful challenge that she knew he would rise to.
“We will settle this when we leave the ceilidh,” he said, his voice dropping to a low, teasing tone that made her stomach swoop with excitement. “Now, I need a drink if I’m to continue to stay here and socialize. It is too early in the evenin’ for me to take ye away from the gatherin’.”
“I’ve been thinkin’ about a cool glass of punch,” Katherine hummed, letting him pull her off the dance floor and over to the table of refreshments. “I’ve nae had anythin’ quite as good as this.”
As a servant ladled out a cup of punch for her and poured a glass of whiskey for Liam, Cillian approached the two of them. When Liam turned toward him, he said, “Daenae tell me ye’re here to start givin’ toasts again.”
“Nay,” Cillian laughed, clapping his hand on Liam’s shoulder kindly. “But I am here to extend me congratulations.”
“Ye speak as if ye daenae see us every day,” Katherine said, sipping her drink and grinning at the way Liam rolled his shoulders to get Cillian’s hand off.
“Aye, but it is nae every day that we have all of our people and most of our allies here to celebrate,” Cillian said, gesturing at the crowd that was still dancing and laughing.
“It is a pity that Laird Bickerson couldnae make it,” Liam muttered, tapping his forefinger against the edge of his glass. “He has yet to organize another auction, and I ken that there are several women in the clan who are interested.”
“Of course, they are,” Cillian said sagely. “They see the two of ye and want it for themselves.”
“It is a pity indeed that he didnae come,” Katherine agreed, leaning against Liam’s side, absorbing the warmth radiating through his clothes.
“I would like to thank him. I am the happiest girl alive, and it is all because of that auction.” Her eyes darted to Elspeth, the woman who was quickly becoming her closest friend.
“And perhaps soon another girl will be just as lucky as I am.”
Cillian hummed, accepting the glass that Tilly handed him from the other side of the table.
As he took a sip, he said, “You’re right.
Perhaps there will be another lucky woman soon.
” He nodded toward the dance floor, catching Tilly’s eye.
“Ye’ve been workin’ too hard, ye should interrupt Lady Elspeth and Agnes before Lady Elspeth swings her around too quickly and takes out half the dance floor. ”
Tilly nodded, happily taking the opportunity to indulge in the festivities. Cillian raised his drink toward the two of them before he melted into the crowd to continue socializing.
“I am quite serious,” Katherine murmured, letting Liam guide her to a quiet part of the great hall. “We should send Elspeth to the next auction. She needs savin’ from that father of hers.”
She’d heard enough from her new friend to know that her situation was untenable. It hurt to know that someone close to her was dealing with such awful things at home. She was grateful for her position and for the authority to summon Elspeth to the castle.
“Aye, I ken,” Liam sighed, finishing half of his drink in one swallow.
“Her father may be a loyal clansman, but he is a horrible man to his family.” His eyes found Elspeth, watching as she passed Agnes off to Tilly.
“Though, perhaps we should send her directly to Laird Bickerson. He is in search of an obedient wife.” His gaze flicked to Katherine then back to Elspeth.
“Though I have a feelin’ she may be even more stubborn than ye. ”
Katherine laughed, resting her cheek against Liam’s bicep. “Aye. I think ye may be correct.”
* * *
“I cannae keep dancin’ any longer,” Katherine said, leaning heavily against Liam’s chest. “And I’m nae sure I’d like to entertain the guests either.”
“If ye’d still like to stay, I can ensure nay one bothers ye,” he offered though he wanted nothing more than to take her to their quarters and strip her layers of clothing away.
He knew that she’d planned this meticulously. She’d been looking forward to the ceilidh since the cuts on her neck and chest had healed. He wouldn’t allow himself to be the reason for stopping her fun.
“Ye’re truly gettin’ far too warm with me,” she said, giving him the private smile she reserved for him and him alone. “Ye really daenae care about yer reputation anymore, do ye?”
“If ye think that I am too warm for ye now,” he said, lazily spinning them to the edge of the dance floor, his lips next to her ear, “ye have nay idea what I have planned for ye.”
“Is that so?” she replied breathlessly, a shudder of pure want running through her.
“Aye,” he said, slipping them through the doors without alerting any of the guests. “I’ll show ye just how much warmer I can get.”
“I didnae wish our guests farewell,” Katherine protested weakly though she didn’t sound all that upset.
“I’m only takin’ ye to me study,” he said conversationally. “Ye can say farewell to everyone when we’re finished.”
They didn’t exchange another word. Even after he kicked the door shut behind the two of them, they didn’t speak. They didn’t need to, not when their mouths met, initiating the private conversation that belonged to only them.
He wasted no time in walking her back toward his desk, grabbing onto her hips and perching her on the edge.
As his tongue probed against her mouth, she spread her legs, letting him push up the hem of her dress.
When his fingertips ghosted over the smooth, milky skin of her upper thighs, she threw her head back, covering her mouth with her hand.
“They arenae goin’ to hear ye,” Liam said, continuing to reveal more and more of her legs. “Be as loud as ye please. The music will cover any noises ye make.”
“Ye are incorrigible,” she teased, gasping loudly as he dragged his fingertips through the wetness between her legs.
“I prefer if ye call me insatiable,” he retorted as his digits entered her. Twisting his fingers in the way that he knew drove her crazy, he rasped, “But I daenae want ye holdin’ back on anyone’s account.”
“Then I daenae want ye holdin’ back, either,” Katherine said, the words an undeniable challenge.
A growl tore from his throat as he kissed her again. He removed his hand, unfastened his kilt, and let it fall to the floor. His cock sprang free, already straining and longing for Katherine’s body.
He stepped forward into the space between her legs that he’d carved out.
His mouth never left hers, not even as he pressed the swollen head of his cock against her entrance.
She was the one who broke away, resting her forehead against his and looking down between them as she took in long gulps of air.
As he pressed into her wet heat, he groaned, feral and hungry. She felt divine, better than anything he’d ever felt. It was nearly enough to pull him under each time they were joined.
“Liam,” she whimpered against his lips, her legs closing around his hips and pulling him even closer. “More.”
“Ye truly love to challenge me,” he moaned as he began the steady roll of his hips.
“I just love ye,” she said, the words sweet as honey coming out of her lips.
He couldn’t stop himself then. His pace grew faster, the angle changing slightly to hit the bundle of nerves inside her. It was as much about bringing her to the brink of pleasure as it was about chasing his own orgasm.
“I love ye too, Katherine,” he said, trailing kisses from her mouth down to her jaw. “I love ye more than I could ever possibly say.”
It seemed as though his confession had stolen her ability to speak. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and she tilted her head to the side, giving him more access to the smooth expanse of sensitive skin. He took what she’d offered greedily.
As he continued thrusting into her, feeling the approach of her climax, he kissed her pulse point. A shudder went through her entire body, prompting him to nip at the same spot. Her reaction was instantaneous.
Every single muscle she had tensed. She tightened around him as her climax slammed into her. One of her hands flew up to the back of his neck, her fingers digging into his skin in a show of her own possessiveness.
Her touch, the way she pulsed against his length, and the sound that she was making pushed him over the edge. His teeth nipped at the skin she was offering. As her voice climbed in volume, he filled her with his release, laying claim on her from the inside out.
He rode out the waves of their climaxes, kissing her again. It was imprecise, another point of connection as their worlds imploded and rebuilt around them. As the intense pleasure waned, he made the kiss firmer.
She responded in kind, her fingers threading through the hair at the nape of his neck. It seemed that no matter how many times he kissed her, it still felt like the first time. She gave herself over to him completely, and it was a gift that he would never take for granted nor turn away again.
When they parted, he rested his forehead against hers, both of them breathing heavily. His eyes closed, he muttered, “Ye are the most extraordinary lass I’ve ever met, Katherine.”
She giggled, her arms tightening around his neck. For a long moment, she was completely speechless. Then, she sighed and said, “I was expectin’ ye to call me incorrigible.”
“Ach, we both are incorrigible,” he said with a chuckle, reluctantly pulling out of her. As he adjusted her gown, returning her modesty, he said, “Now, perhaps we should bid our guests a good night before we retire?”
“Would it be rude of me if I say that I didnae think goin’ back into the great hall was necessary?” she asked, sleepy and soft. “I think I may just like to go to our bed.”
“It isnae rude,” Liam said, picking up his kilt and refastening it around his hips. “I imagine most of our guests are already too intoxicated to realize that we’ve disappeared. And, if they havenae, I daenae think they’ll hold it against me for takin’ me wife somewhere more private.”
“Incorrigible,” she giggled again, letting him help her to her feet.
“Aye, all on account of ye.”
The End?