Claimed by a Laird

by Glenn, Laura

  Standing, he grabbed her by the waist. The rigid tip of his cock pressed against her and wedged between her swollen folds. She moaned and arched her back as he drove into her. The weighty fullness of him sent hot, satisfying vibrations through her core.

  He fell onto his palms on either side of her, pulling out and shoving his shaft back into her. She lifted her hips, meeting his thrusts halfway as he stretched her wide. She smoothed her hands up and down his strained arms, marveling in the fluid texture of his sun-kissed skin. He towered over her magnificently, every muscle from his shoulders to his abdomen flexing and straining as he slid himself in and out. She wrapped her legs around his waist, desperate to drive him deeper.

  Groaning, he leaned down, hungrily covering her mouth with his and forcing his tongue between her lips. She slanted her mouth, matching his tongue-play as her nipples throbbed against the hair on his chest.

  He pulled his lips from hers and reached between their joined bodies. Her eyes fluttered closed in complete surrender as his thumb found her clit, rubbing it in quick, rhythmic circles.

  Sparks of electricity seemed to fly around her, prickling her skin as his cock, so hot and smooth, pulsated as Galen embedded his entire length inside her and then stopped. Her pussy contracted around him, sucking him deeper. With one tap on her clit, a wild, wet thrumming ripped through her core and tore her breath from her chest.

  He wrapped his arms around her, clutching her to his chest, and rocked his hips, pounding into her over and over. Then he froze, groaning her name against her ear, as his hot seed shot into her.

  They clung to one another, hearts pounding in unison as they struggled to regain their breath. Galen withdrew his cock and reached above her head to pull the blanket down. He scooped her up and deposited her in the middle of the bed and slid in next to her. Drawing her against him, he arranged the blanket over her shoulders and pressed his lips against her neck before laying his head next to hers.

  Anna sighed in contentment, cradling his hand against her chest and allowed her eyes to close.

  The man meant to make her his wife.

  Her eyes flew open and she struggled to extricate herself from under his arm. Finally freeing herself, she turned to face him and found his eyes closed.

  “Galen?” She gently shook his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to wake you but—”

  His sigh was loud enough to wake the dead. “Woman, we have had a long day. Go to sleep.”

  She bristled at his tone, hating it when he referred to her as “woman” since it always seemed to mean he was irritated with her. Undeterred, she shook him again. “No, this is important.”

  He opened his eyes and yawned. “What is it?”

  “It’s about this whole marriage thing.” Anna hesitated, afraid of what his reaction might be, and instead twisted the blanket between her fingers.

  “What about it?”

  She shook her head, turning her attention to the fire. “I can’t marry you.”

  Galen shifted next to her and ran his hand up her thigh. “You are not married to another.”

  “I know,” she replied, attempting to prevent herself from melting into the comforting warmth of his touch.

  She inhaled deeply, her stomach churning as the memories of her first marriage intruded her thoughts once again. Galen had been right. The fact she was a Campbell would have eventually slipped out once her guard was down. If she didn’t tell him about James Gowrie, then someday she would mention it in passing and all hell would break loose.

  Who was she kidding? All hell would break loose now.

  “What is it that has you worrying now, Annie?”

  His voice was so soothing, so gentle it warmed her heart. What if he never spoke to her that way again? She clenched her teeth in determination. No, she had to tell him. No more secrets.

  “I’m afraid you’ll hate me,” she admitted in a cracked whisper.

  Galen sat up and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “I could never hate you.”

  His sentiment was sweet, but it did little to ease her fears. She bowed her head, closing her eyes to prepare for the onslaught of his anger. “About ten years ago, I was married to a man with the last name of Gowrie.”

  His hand fell from her face a split second before the mattress shifted. Anna bit her bottom lip and drew her knees to her chest, her arms encircling and clasping them tightly as he drew open the furs shielding the window and stared into the night. Unable to read his facial expression in the dim light, her head fell forward and she closed her eyes once again, leaning her forehead against her knees.

  Her stomach churned, her thoughts whirling with images of being tossed beyond the castle walls to make her own way alone in the world. Perhaps, if she could get back to Fannich and Graham Castle, the pendant might take her home.

  The mattress sank next to her and she jumped, biting back a yelp of surprise as Galen brushed the hair from her forehead and softly kissed her hairline.

  Hope sparked within her and she lifted her watery eyes to his, her heart compelling her to lay everything on the table. If this frightening warlord was willing to overlook her past connections to his enemies, then she would hide nothing else from him. She owed him that much. “I was young and stupid. And gullible. I believed everything he said…believed he loved me…but then he turned on me. He beat me when I would not leave my family to go home with him.”

  Galen’s eyes grew dark. “He was the one who hurt you? The man you did not wish to speak of the other day?”

  She nodded, eying him warily. “It only happened once, though.”

  “Were you badly injured?” His eyes narrowed and he searched her face as though he were looking for scars. “How did you stop him?”

  Bitter bile rose in her throat. God, how she hated thinking about that night. “My cousin and her boyfriend found us and he ran. I never saw him again.”

  “Is the man dead?” he asked, a possessive, desperate edge in his voice.

  “I don’t know. But the marriage was annulled, so it doesn’t really matter, right?” A cold shiver swept over her and she shrugged to convince both herself and him it did not matter.

  Galen’s hand slid down her hair and he twirled one of her curls between his fingers. The hopeful glint in his eyes faded as his stare fell to her pendant.

  Several moments passed until she could no longer deal with the anticipation. “Galen, say something, please.”

  He shook his head, his eyes not leaving the pendant. “It is the truth, lass, I am at a loss. I cannot do anything to right this for you. I cannot seek revenge against a man that does not yet exist.”

  She caressed his forearm. “I don’t need revenge.”

  “I do!” he nearly shouted, his muscles tensing beneath her fingertips.

  Anna jumped, her pulse pounding.

  He exhaled and shook his head, reaching for her hands. “If only I could wrap my hands around his neck.”

  “Galen, don’t,” she whispered, her heart contracting in pain.

  “I cannot help myself, lass. Another man dared to lay a hand on you and now I cannot move or speak in anger without you recoiling from me.” His voice was rough with outrage. “Every time it happens, I see the fear in your eyes. I feel your distrust.”

  Anna bowed her head, guilt descending upon her aching heart. She knew Galen would never harm her, but she could not help her instinctive reactions to his bursts of anger. His voice and body language were intimidating when he was in a good mood, let alone when something pissed him off.

  “Do you really think I would ever harm you?” he whispered, gripping her hands with a desperation that tugged at her heartstrings. “I want only to protect you, Annie. Certainly you can see that.”

  She nodded, lifting her eyes to his as tears welled in the corners. He was not looking at her face, however. Instead, he stared at the pendant lying against her chest.

  Galen grabbed it and yanked it off her neck in one quick movement. She yelped in surprise
, grasping her neck in vain.

  “You will no longer wear this,” he insisted as the chain dangled limply from his fingers. “I cannot protect you if this damnable thing can spirit you away from me without warning.” He rose from the bed and strode toward the fireplace mantle. He lifted the lid of a small, carved wooden chest and dropped the pendant inside before closing it.

  He approached the side of the bed and stared down at her for several moments. Her skin prickled under his scrutiny. “Is there anything else I should know, Anna? Anything at all?”

  She quickly shook her head, giving him a tentative smile. “I don’t think so.”

  He caught her chin, forcing her head all the way back and leaned over her, his lips only inches from hers. “Are you certain? Did you bear this Gowrie’s child?”

  Anna gasped in shock. “No, of course not.”

  “What about your mother?” he persisted, squeezing her jaw. “Is she a daughter of some damn English baron or even the King of England himself?”

  “Galen, you’re hurting me.” Her brow crinkled in irritation as she yanked on his arm.

  He released her, but not before he smothered her lips in a short, demanding kiss. Just as she responded, he pulled away.

  Breathless, Anna scrambled to one side of the bed as he flicked the blanket back and lay down beside her. When she did not immediately join him, he unceremoniously pulled her down, shoving her head onto his shoulder and arranging the blanket over her.

  He didn’t hate her. Lightness entered her heart and she smiled, kissing his jaw. It twitched and she couldn’t help but laugh at his show of annoyance.

  “Your mother was not a MacRae, was she?”

  She lifted her head and peered at Galen through the darkness. “Don’t tell me you’re feuding with yet another clan.”

  “No, I simply do not like them.”

  The corner of his mouth curved into a leisurely smile and she quickly kissed it before laying her head back on his shoulder. “Don’t get mad, but she was a Graham.”

  He grumbled and playfully smacked her backside. “You are making this difficult for me, lass.”

  Since his tone didn’t suggest he was angry, she was able to push aside her worries. She threw her leg across his thighs and rested her hand on his chest as she snuggled into the crook of his arm. As she was about to close her eyes, she remembered she had neglected to convince him she wasn’t about to marry anyone— including him.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but then something unfathomable from deep within her clamped it shut. Thoughts of Galen’s gentle touch and the heart-throbbing way he looked at her, James’ flash of violence and her self-imposed romantic isolation, came forward in her mind all at once and then slipped away.

  A weightiness crept into her eyelids and she yawned. She gave up attempting to pull the varying visions back together into a coherent narrative. There would be time enough to convince Galen tomorrow.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Be my wife, lass,” he whispered, lowering his lips to hers.

  She smiled, welcoming the kiss and sighing contentedly into his mouth as their lips met. He slid his arms around her waist and rolled onto his back in the tall grass, carrying her with him. She broke the kiss and sat up, straddling his waist.

  “Only if you love me.” She traced the smooth scar on his cheek with her index finger.

  His brow raised questioningly. “How can I love you if I do not even know who you are?”

  Her back stiffened and the light from the sun dimmed as dark clouds rolled across the sky. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Annie, wake up,” he snorted. “You are a Campbell.”

  She gasped, anger swelling in her chest. “So what?” she demanded, throwing her feet under her in an attempt to stand.

  He gripped her hips tightly, keeping her anchored against his pelvis. “So what? You are a Gowrie too. You think I can love something I hate? Wake up, Annie.”

  She shook her head, clawing at his fingers. “I am not a Gowrie!”

  “Annie, wake up,” a low, rough voice hummed in her ear.

  Torn into consciousness, Anna groaned and stretched her arms above her head, opening her eyes. It was still dark, but Galen’s face loomed over her.

  Her heart contracted and she momentarily lost the ability to breathe as she attempted to reconcile her dream’s imagery with the man leaning over her. As soon as Galen smiled, she exhaled in relief. She sleepily caressed his cheek with her palm and smiled as she closed her eyes once again.

  “Annie,” Galen repeated with a deep chuckle. “Open your eyes.”

  “Mmm, what is it?” She turned onto her side and shoved her bent arm underneath her head.

  “Lass, you have to wake up.” He rubbed her other arm. “You are needed in the village.”

  Her eyes flew open and she sat up, yawning. “What’s wrong?”

  “Catriona’s sister, Lizzie, is in labor. Catriona is downstairs, waiting to take you to her house.”

  She rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands. What on earth was he talking about?

  Her eyes snapped open in panic.

  “I am not that kind of nurse,” she protested, her stomach knotting. It had been years since she had done any work in obstetrics, and even then only because she was required to do so as part of her clinical rotations. “Don’t you have midwives or something here?”

  “The midwife is elderly and her hands are quite stiff. Her apprentice just married into another clan and no one has yet taken her place,” He brushed the hair away from her face. “Catriona thought you might be able to help, especially if things became difficult.”

  Anna’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why would she think that?”

  “Because of how you handled Adam’s injuries. You are the talk of the clan, you know.” He paused and placed his hands on either side of her face, forcing her to look him in the eye. “There will be other women there, but they need you for your healing skills and your strength.”

  Just because she could sew up a wound didn’t mean she could deliver a baby. Sure, she knew the basics, but what if something went wrong? What if the baby was breech? What if the mother didn’t dilate properly? What if the cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck? “I can’t,” she protested in a feeble whisper.

  “You can.” Galen tightened his hold on her face. “I know you can.”

  Strange, but his insistence comforted her. And she couldn’t very well refuse a plea for help. She would, however, have to make certain each of them, including Catriona, understood she was no expert in childbirth and her skills as a “healer” were quite limited in this case.

  “All right,” she conceded. She never had been able to turn down anyone asking for help. “I’ll go.”

  He kissed the top of her head and stood. Crossing his arms, he stood by as she jumped out of bed and scrambled for her clothes. As soon as she had successfully pulled everything on, he tied the shoulders of her overdress and made certain she had put on her shoes before heading out the door.

  He gave her an affectionate pat on the backside. “Good luck, Annie.”

  She jumped in surprise and his laughter bounced off the stone walls. She couldn’t help but smile. Giving him a quick peck on the cheek, she turned to rush down the hallway.

  Catriona paced back and forth in front of the cold hearth in the hall while a young man stood motionless nearby with a torch in hand. As soon as Anna descended the last two steps, Catriona rushed forward and threw her arms around Anna, squeezing tightly.

  Anna laughed in surprise, stumbling backward.

  “Oh, thank you, my lady! Lizzie is most worried and you will be such a comfort to her.”

  Anna’s stomach churned uneasily. “What is it? Has something gone wrong?”

  Catriona pulled away and shook her head. “No, not yet.”

  “What do you mean by that? Cat, you need to tell me what is worrying you. It might be important.”

  “Our mother died birthing me,”
she confessed in a whisper. “Lizzie was there and has always worried she would die too.”

  Anna tilted her head in sympathy, forcing a calm expression onto her face. It would do no one any good if she dwelled on the negative. She pushed aside all thoughts of what might have gone wrong for their mother that Lizzie may have inherited and straightened her shoulders, squeezing Catriona’s hand.

  “Worrying will do us no good,” Anna stated with a decisive nod.

  Catriona nodded as well and smiled weakly before turning to the young man behind them. “This is Lachlan, my brother-in-law’s younger brother.”

  The dark-haired man stepped forward and inclined his head. “My lady. I am glad to see you have recovered since the last time I saw you.”

  His smile, genuine and warm, reached his green eyes, triggering something from deep within her memory. “You were the one of the warriors who rode with Adam and Geoffrey to bring me here, right?”

  “Yes, that was I.”

  Anna reached out and pressed her hand onto his forearm. “Thank you for that.”

  His cheeks flushed and he chuckled uncomfortably. “It will be my pleasure to escort you to my brother’s home now. As long as my lady promises she will not curse at me about the length of the journey.”

  Anna’s mouth dropped open and she blushed. Just how much of a bitch had she been? “Oh, I am so sorry, Lachlan! Did I really do that?”

  “Once or twice,” he replied with a grin. “Now, if you will follow me.”

  Catriona giggled as Lachlan turned to leave. The two women followed him out of the keep and through the silent courtyard. The darkness enveloped her all at once and Anna couldn’t help but peer around nervously, convinced she would stumble over something at any moment. No wonder someone in the future invented streetlights. She’d had no idea just how dark the night could actually be.

  Anna stuck closely behind Lachlan and a small white-washed home with a thatched roof and windows aglow with candlelight came into view. As they approached, the front door flew open and a dark-haired man with a grimly set mouth stopped short as his weary eyes landed first on Lachlan then on Anna. His features relaxed in relief and he shut the door behind him.