“Ah.” At last his senses were returning. The floor, which for a moment had tilted dangerously, was now steady once more. He brought his other hand to her face and stared down into her eyes. “Why have you come, Meredith?”
“To invite you to a wedding.”
“A wedding?” His heart tumbled. His brows drew together in a frown.
“Aye.”
“Whose wedding?”
She smiled. “Mine.”
His frown became a scowl. She felt his battle for control as he dropped his hands to his sides, where they curled into fists. “You did not wait long to wed.”
“I have waited long enough.” When she saw the look of pain that crossed his features she could no longer carry on the charade. “Oh, Brice. If you could but see your face.” She reached up to touch him and the cape slid from her shoulders, revealing a white gossamer gown that skimmed her breasts and fell in soft folds to the tips of kid slippers.
His hands grasped her shoulders so tightly that she gasped. “You look,” he whispered, “as beautiful as you did on that morn when first I saw you in the cathedral.”
“This time,” she said, looking up at him with love shining in her eyes, “I dressed for you.”
“For me.” He allowed his gaze to travel slowly over her, devouring her.
And then he knew.
“You’ve come to stay?”
“Aye. If you’ll have me.”
“Oh, Meredith.” He drew her into the circle of his arms and kissed her with a savageness that left them both dazed and reeling.
He lifted his head and touched a fingertip to the tear that squeezed from her eye and coursed down her cheek. “Tears, firebrand?”
“I was so afraid, Brice.”
“Of what?”
“Afraid this was all a terrible mistake. Afraid that when I reached your beloved Highlands you would not want me.”
“Oh, my love. You are all I want.”
“Then why did you leave me without a word?”
“I had no right to ask you to give up your title, your power, your home, for me.”
Another tear spilled over, and then another while she wrapped her arms about his neck and clung to him. So Brenna had been right. She would be forever thankful to her sister for urging her to take the risk.
Against his throat she whispered, “You are all I want, Brice. Without you it is empty.”
“Oh, little firebrand.” He buried his lips in a tangle of her hair and crushed her to him. “What arrangements have you made for your clan?”
“Brenna will be the MacAlpin.” She smiled. “Without Gareth MacKenzie to divide them, the Borderers have united to stand against any English attack. Though I fear Brenna’s greatest challenge will not be with the English, but with our sister, Megan.”
Brice laughed. “Aye. The lass is like another I know.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“Be very careful, my lord. We are not yet wed.”
“Nay. But Angus and Mistress Snow are below stairs now planning their wedding. And if we are wise, we will ask to share their ceremony on the morrow.”
“Oh, Brice. Could we?” She caught his hand. “Let us go below and speak to them.”
She was surprised when he resisted. Before she could tug again on his hand he dragged her roughly against him and covered her lips with his. Instantly she felt the rush of desire that begged for release.
“We will talk with them later.” The words were ground against her lips.
They sank to their knees on the fur throw. His fingers moved to the buttons of her gown.
“My men...”
“Will be invited to a wedding on the morrow. But for tonight, my beloved, just let me love you.”
Love. “Oh, Brice,” she breathed against his lips. “I love you so.”
“And I love you, Meredith. So much.” His fingers began to weave their magic. His lips moved over her, igniting little fires wherever they touched. “Welcome home, little firebrand.”
Home. Aye. These Highlands were now home. This man, this Highland Barbarian, held her heart.
She felt a welling of so much love. A love that would endure even beyond this lifetime. A love to last an eternity.
The End
If you enjoyed Highland Barbarian, I would be honored if you would tell others by writing a review at Amazon. Click here to write a review.
Thank you!
Ruth Ryan Langan
Interested in reading another in Ruth’s exciting Highlander series? Please try:
Highland Heather
Brenna MacAlpin is leader of her clan, and a powerful woman in Scotland, but when she faces Morgan Grey, known throughout her land as The Queen's Savage, a fierce English warrior who rides in defense of his queen, she is willing to fight him to the death.
Morgan Grey is forced to act on his queen's scheme to unite the families through marriage, even though his unwilling partner would rather plant a knife in his back than give in to these unsettling feelings she is experiencing in his arms.
For more information visit www.RyanLangan.com
or go to Amazon to purchase.
The Highlander
Leonora Waltham is the key to saving Dillon Campbell's younger brothers. But when this giant Highland savage captures her, she proves to be his match in strength-of-will and cunning.
When the fine line between love and hate is crossed, who is the captor and who the captive?
For more information visit www.RyanLangan.com
or go to Amazon to purchase.
Highland Heaven
Shaw Campbell storms his enemy's camp to free his twin brother.
Merritt Lamont will use whatever means necessary to see to the safety of her clan. Though there have been few men she could trust, she sees something in the eyes of this Highlander that speaks to her troubled heart.
For more information visit www.RyanLangan.com
or go to Amazon to purchase.
Titles
by Ruth Ryan Langan
Historical Romance Classics
Now Available as EBooks:
Heart's Delight
Paradise Falls
Ashes of Dreams
Duchess of Fifth Avenue
Captive of Desire
Passage West
Nevada Nights
September’s Dream
The Heart’s Secret
Destiny’s Daughter
Exciting Highlander Series
Now Available as EBooks:
Highland Barbarian
Highland Heather
The Highlander
Highland Heaven
Visit Ruth's website at www.RyanLangan.com for more information and to purchase.
Ruth Ryan Langan
New York Times best-selling author Ruth Ryan Langan, who also writes under the pseudonym R. C. Ryan, is the author of over 100 novels, both contemporary romantic-suspense and historical adventure. Quite an accomplishment for this mother of five who, after her youngest child started school, gave herself the gift of an hour a day to follow her dream to become a published author.
Ruth has given dozens of radio, television and print interviews across the country and Canada, and has been quoted in such diverse publications as The Wall Street Journal and Cosmopolitan. Ruth has also been interviewed on CNN News, as well as Good Morning, America.
Connect with Ruth on her web site at www.RyanLangan.com. Visit Ruth on her Facebook Page.
Highland Barbarian (Highlander Series) Page 26