Cullen waited, wanting to be certain there wasn’t a breath left in the evil man, and before leaving the room he gave one last look behind him. “It is done, Alaina. Our son is free.”
“You’re not getting out of this bed,” Cullen ordered, shaking his finger at his wife in frustration.
“If it was because you intended to make love to me all night, I wouldn’t argue with you, but everyone is on deck watching the shores of our homeland fade away. I wish to do the same.”
“You are bruised and battered, exhausted and—”
“Aching to see Scotland one last time,” she insisted, throwing the blanket off her.
Cullen tucked the blanket back. “You need to rest.”
“I have the whole sea voyage to rest,” she said, exasperated.
Cullen sat on the bed, nudging her legs over to make room. “You’ve been beaten and dragged, kicked and punched—”
Sara placed a finger to his lips. “It’s over. I’m safe.”
Cullen pressed his cheek to hers and spoke of his fears, wanting her to hear, to know how he truly felt about her. “I was afraid I’d lose you. I was afraid you thought I wouldn’t come for you. I was afraid I’d be too late. I was afraid you’d never hear me say I love you.”
Sara rubbed her cheek against his. “I admit I didn’t think you’d rescue me, and I never expected to hear you declare that you love me.”
“I would rescue you from the depths of Hell.” He kissed her cheek, wishing he could taste her lips, but her wound was too tender to disturb.
“Why? Do you think you’ll have to?” she teased.
“Come to think of it,” he grinned, “I doubt the devil would welcome you.”
She poked his chest. “I’d set him straight.”
“Like you did me,” he said softly.
“You didn’t need to be set straight. You’re a good man.”
“I was a blind man, blind of the heart, and you taught me how to see again, how to feel, how to love without guilt.”
Sara grew teary-eyed and shook her head. “You taught yourself. I simply gave you the impetus to do so.”
He felt the overwhelming need to hear himself claim his love for his beautiful wife. “I love you, Sara,” he stated. “I love you so very much.”
She beamed with joy. “I’ll never grow tired of hearing you tell me so, and I’ll never grow tired of saying it myself. I love you, Cullen, more than you will ever know. I love you.”
He hugged her gently, not wanting to disturb her bruises and cause her pain.
“Now can we go on deck?” she whispered in his ear.
He pulled away from her. “You are persistent.”
“Which is why we married in the first place,” she reminded him with a grin. “You know I was relieved when you agreed to my proposal but surprised that you did.”
He stood and reached for the dark green velvet robe at the foot of the bed. “Why?”
“I thought you’d protest more and I’d have to convince you.”
“You convinced me well enough from the start,” he said, holding the robe for her to slip into.
Sara hurried out of bed and into the robe, Cullen fastening the belt around her waist. She turned around in his arms. “I was determined.”
Cullen laughed. “You’re always determined, and glad I am of it. Thanks to you, I have a wonderful, beautiful wife and a loving mother for my son.”
Sara hugged her husband tight, though winced loudly.
“Damn, you should be in bed,” he scolded, stepping away from her. “One touch and you’re in pain.”
“First we go topside,” she insisted, linking her arm with his.
He walked with her to the door.
“Then we return to the cabin and you make me forget all about my pain.”
Cullen grinned and shook his head. “You’ll not feel an ounce of pain by the time I’m through with you.”
“Promise?” she whispered
He nuzzled her ear and whispered, “I promise.”
“Then let’s hurry,” she said with a tug. “I just realized there’s something I cherish much more than bidding Scotland farewell.”
About the Author
Part of the fun in writing, DONNA FLETCHER admits, is doing the research. Getting lost in 1514 proved exciting, and learning about pirates and the high seas thrilled and surprised her. But it is with her characters she has the most fun. She loves giving life to fresh characters and feels their excitement as they face the pleasures and pitfalls of falling in love.
Donna’s own adventures have taken her to England, Ireland, and Scotland. She has walked the fi elds where battles were fought centuries ago, toured haunted castles, stood where beheadings were commonplace, explored the mystic mounds of long ago, and collected a plethora of memories and research that will live long in her heart and mind. She also loves exploring and photographing old abandoned homes, and she often takes long walks in the woods with camera in hand. She feels her life is rich and full, having three terrifi c sons, two fantastic daughters-in-law, an endless supply of friends, a loving dog, and a crazy, black, one-eyed cat named Bear.
Donna loves hearing from her readers. Please visit her at www.donnafl etcher.com.
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Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
THE HIGHLANDER’S BRIDE. Copyright © 2007 by Donna Fletcher. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub © Edition MAY 2007 ISBN: 9780061746772
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