Chapter Four #2
“My heart.”
Callen continued to walk as they kissed once more.
If their situation weren’t so dire, she would’ve begged him to stop so they could do more than kiss.
At least, she told herself she’d be brave enough to do that.
From the way Callen’s hands continued to knead her backside, she figured he wouldn’t deny her.
She tucked her chin and rested her forehead against his shoulder to stifle her moan.
She was sore from so many days in the saddle, and his hands worked magic to ease her discomfort.
“Elsie?”
“I’m all right. I’m just not used to so much time riding. I’m a wee stiff.”
“I can think of something else that’s stiff, lass. And I hope one day, when ye’re ma wife, ye’ll spend plenty of time riding.”
Elspeth gasped before sounding strangled as she tried not to giggle. “Is that so?”
“Aye.”
“And when might I become your wife, so I can get my first riding lesson?”
“If yer father wouldnae murder me before yer eyes, I’d ask ye to handfast with me right now.”
Elspeth froze, and Callen feared he’d said the wrong thing.
He nearly lost his footing when she swooped in for a kiss he was entirely unprepared for.
She rocked against his length as she practically devoured him.
One of Callen’s hands released her backside and withdrew from beneath her kirtle.
He skimmed it up her ribs until he could cup her breast. He’d kept his past explorations light and quick, not wanting to scare her when they’d traded heated but brief kisses.
Now he squeezed and brushed his thumb over her pebbled nipple.
“If you asked me, Callen, I’d say yes. Right here, right now.”
They were nearly to the rescuers’ camp, and Callen knew the patrols would soon spot them. Regretfully, he placed her back on her feet. He hated pulling away from her, but they were running out of time. They’d only had a few minutes of privacy, and it would end the moment they stepped into camp.
“I dinna want to rush this, but yer da willna let ye come near me. I dinna think he’d accept ma suit if I asked to wed ye. We havenae been getting along.”
“Why not?”
“I havenae had much patience for him, and he doesnae approve of me.”
“I’m going to marry you, Callen, whether it’s a handfast or in a kirk. I refuse to live without you. I know my father wants the best for me, but he’s wrong if he doesn’t think that’s you.”
Callen took both of her hands in his as he turned his head from left to right, listening for anyone who might find them. “Elsie, will ye marry me?”
“I told you I would.”
“I dinna mean in the future. I mean will ye to be ma betrothed before we walk into that camp?”
“Yes. I’d rather be your wife.”
Callen looked around them again. “I told ye I dinna want to rush this, Elsie. I want ye to have a proper wedding or at least exchange vows when we can see each other properly.”
“And I don’t want to go another day without knowing home is Dunrobin with you. We can visit Redheugh before we go north, but I don’t want to get there and have my father lock me away from you.”
“We almost came to blows once. I willna strike yer father, and I definitely willna draw ma sword or dirk against him. But yer home is Dunrobin regardless of whether we handfast now or wed in a kirk in three sennights.” Thinking they might have to wait for a priest to read the banns nearly brought him to his knees.
“Please, Callen.”
“They’ll ken we havenae consummated our handfast.”
“We tell them we made our promises before this happened. That we were going to announce it at the end of the visit because we didn’t want to cause trouble.”
“And if they have a midwife examine ye?”
“If they think we’re already wedded and bedded, then we’ll have time to slip away on our way back to Mangerton.”
“Ye wish for yer father, ma father, ma brothers, Laird Armstrong, his sons, Laird Johnstone, and all our guards to ken I’m making love to ma wife behind some boulder each night?”
Elspeth shrugged. “It’s not as though those men haven’t done the same with their wives.
I’ve heard aboot how your parents are. You’ve told me.
I know how my parents are. I’ve heard aboot Laird and Lady Armstrong, and I assume Laird Johnstone and Lady Johnstone are much the same. It would hardly shock them.”
“Yer father’s more likely to lop off ma cods than let me take ye somewhere private. Besides, we’re already risking far too much standing here talking. We willna be away from camp again, Elsie. I willna risk aught happening to ye. I willna let anyone steal ye from me.”
“Then don’t argue with me.” Elspeth grinned and bounced on her toes to kiss his neck.
“Ye’re really sure, mo ghaol?”
“Completely.” She prayed he’d agree.
“Elspeth Louise Elliot, I pledge ma life, ma love, ma honor, and ma name to ye. I pledge it today and every day for the rest of ma life. This vow isnae for a year and a day. It’s until ma last breath.
I will give ye the first bite of ma food and first sip of ma drink.
Ye will be the first and last thought on ma mind.
I will spend ma life dedicated to ye and any bairns we should share.
Ye will have ma loyalty until the end. I love ye. ”
“Callen Hamish Sutherland, I pledge all that I have and all that I am to you. I will be your partner in life and one day leading our people. I will be the ear that always listens and the arms that are always open. I will stand beside you when you need to lean on me, and I will stand behind you when you need me to follow. I will stand before you when you need my protection. I may not be as braw as you, but I’m just as fierce.
There’s naught I wouldn’t do for you and our children that I pray we one day share.
You will have my loyalty until the end. I love you. ”
The couple stared at one another before Callen once again lifted Elspeth off her feet, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
This kiss was achingly tender. Passion still crackled between them with the ferocity of a lightning storm, but the love they shared warmed them like a fire on the coldest Highland night.
“Ye pledged to protect me, lass. Will ye save me from yer da? I hear him coming.”