Given to the Highlander (Highlander Bride Series Book 1)

by Veronica Touse

  “Aye, too bad for ye. Ah think ye would have enjoyed it.” He had a wicked grin on his face that promised a night of adventure.

  “Oidche, ah promised myself to ye and that means all of me. Ah knew coming here what that meant and ah will do what ye ask me to do. Ah don’t want ye to think that ah expect anything less.”

  Oidche stood up from cleaning the horse’s hooves and closed the distance between the two of them. He grabbed her hips and pulled her close to him. His lips were close enough to her ear that when they moved, she felt them brush against her skin, gently. His whisper sounded almost like the purr of a cat. “Soon, ye will ask me to bed ye. Ye won’t be able to stand not being with me.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “Ye’ll beg me to take you.” With that his tongue swept across the tip of her ear and his teeth grazed the sensitive skin.

  A shudder tore through Malmuira that felt both like pleasure and fear. A strange combination that she hadn’t felt before. She couldn’t see herself ever begging a man to bed her. The moment was over before she knew it and he was back to tending his horse. She marched off in the direction of the keep, determined not to let him see how he made her feel.

  Supper was held in the hall where they had dined to break their fast. Oidche’s father sat at the head of the table again. Malmuira sat next to her husband, quietly observing everything going on around her. She wasn’t much for talking loudly in public, preferring to observe everyone around her.

  “Malmuira, tell us about yerself,” Oidche’s father said boisterously.

  She put her food down, took a drink of water and thought of what to say. “Ah like to ride horses, paint and sew. Ah’m fair at dice e’en though ah probably shouldn’t be, and ah enjoy a nice whiskey.”

  “M’lad you have one hell of a bride,” Oidche’s father said, raising his mug in salute. All the other men at the table raised their glasses, as well. A couple of the women at the end of the table who were sitting near each other, put their faces behind their hands and started whispering to one another. Malmuira had no doubt they were whispering about how improper it was for her to admit to such things.

  Malmuira wasn’t going to say anything else, but Oidche turned to his father and said none too quietly, “She beat me at a race today from the loch, on horseback.”

  His father’s jaw couldn’t have fallen open any further than it did. All the other men stared at each other in shock. “Ah’m sure you gave her a head start, lad.”

  “Nah, she beat me fair and square. Had time to unsaddle her horse before ah got back to the barn even.”

  “Ah’ve never seen anyone outrace you. Ye’re the best horseman ah’ve seen.”

  “Well, you haven’t seen her. She’s much better than me.”

  By that time, Malmuira wanted to melt into a puddle on the floor. Her face felt hot and she wished to get out of the center of attention. She couldn’t understand why he was bragging about her when he had lost the race.

  “Ah’d like to see this myself,” his father requested.

  “Oidche’s gone soft.” The man who spoke was burly, with a thick beard and a scar down the side of his face. “Bet this lass can’t prance a pony across a flower-strewn meadow.” The tone he used was insulting.

  Malmuira wanted to hide her hands in her face, but knew that would receive even more scoffing. She kept her face straight even though she could feel how hot her face was and knew it resembled an apple in fall.

  Oidche didn’t miss a beat. “Perhaps ah have gone soft. Ah’d bet yer best saddle that she can outrace ye tomorrow.”

  The man with the beard laughed a hearty laugh. “Ye’re on, Oidche.”

  Making plans for her was one thing, but betting on her was completely different. She was overwhelmed. “’Scuse me.” She stood, as did a few of the men, and she walked with dignity out of the room. Once the door shut behind her she sprinted up the stairs and ran straight to her room. Mae was nowhere in sight, not expecting her to be back so soon, so Malmuira fell on her bed, weeping openly.

  A few moments passed before she heard the door open. “Come back later, Mae,” she said without looking. She didn’t hear the door open again, however, so she pulled the blanket off of her face and was surprised to see Oidche, removing his boots in the chair by the fire.

  “What are ye doing here?” Malmuira asked, rubbing her eyes dry and sniffing.

  “Ah’m headed to bed of course.”

  “Why did ye bet that ah could beat that man?” Malmuira asked, anger leaking into her voice.

  “Because ye can, of course,” he responded. It sounded like he was surprised she didn’t understand him.

  “But what if I can’t?” She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs.

  Oidche sat down on the bed next to her, his hand propping him up. “Of course ye can. Ye beat me, didn’t ye?”

  “Aye, but ye let me beat ye.”

  “Ye think ah would give up ten minutes with ye?”

  “Ah dunno.”

  Oidche leaned close to Malmuira; his warm breath tickled her ear as he spoke. “Ah wouldn’t give it up for anything. Ah thought I would win again. If that were the case ah would have you naked in my bed, tasting every inch of ye.”

  A shudder tore through Malmuira as she pictured what that would feel like. Oidche leaned down and gently kissed her neck, tracing his tongue across her skin and along the line of her collar bone. She tried not to respond, but she felt her heart beating faster and her breathing catch in her throat.

  “Ah’d show ye ecstasy ye hadn’t dreamed of, then sleep naked with ye until the sun came up.” He kissed and nibbled on the skin just under her jaw before kissing her cheek then her mouth. His tongue pressed against her lips. He licked and caressed them until they parted. Hungrily, he kissed her with increasing passion. Her breath came in gasps and a small moan escaped her lips.

  She grabbed onto his shoulders and pulled him against her. His hands roamed down her arms and settled between her legs. He massaged her through the thin cotton. Another moan left her mouth and she realized that she wasn’t resisting anymore. He pulled away from her, moving himself to the other side of the bed and wrapped up in the blanket.

  “Why did ye stop?” She asked him, with frustration mounting.

  “Not till ye beg me,” he said quietly.

  This man was a mystery to her and quite unlike any man she had ever heard of. The tales she heard from her friends were nothing like what she had seen so far with Oidche. Maybe there was a chance she could be happy in her new home.

  Chapter 4

  The sun rose too early for Malmuira the next morning. She stumbled out of bed, vaguely aware of Oidche still sleeping there. She had to find Mae. She needed to speak to someone, clear her head. Knowing her room was somewhere near the servants’ quarters downstairs but not which door was hers, Malmuira walked around for a while, trying to find an indication that her maidservant lived inside.

  “Who’re ye looking for?” A voice boomed behind her, which made her jump into the air.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle ye. Who’re ye looking for?”

  It was Kyle, the man that worked in the galley. His gentle eyes were fixed on Malmuira while his hands were busy polishing a spoon with a rag.

  “Ah’m looking for me maidservant, Mae.”

  “Aye, ah remember her. Lass with the yellow hair, righ’? Ah’ll show ye to her room.”

  “Thank ye.”

  “What did ye think of the berry pie ah made yesterday?”

  She followed close on his heels. “It was lovely.”

  “Here ye go.” They stopped in front of a door that Malmuira had already passed three times.

  “Ah never would have found it without ye.”

  She knocked on the door gently and it opened almost immediately. Mae was already dressed and ready for the day.

  “Mal, ah didn’t expect ye down here. What can ah do for ye?”

  Malmuira pushed past her into her room and Mae sh
ut the door behind her.

  “Ah need to talk to ye.”

  “Alrigh’. But what’s got ye so upset?”

  “Ah’m not upset, really. Just confused.”

  “Of course, ye know ye can always talk to me.”

  “It’s Oidche. There’s something strange, but ah want ye to promise not to reveal it to anyone.”

  Mae nodded and sat down in a chair. Malmuira sat on the small bed across from Mae.

  “It’s just that we haven’t really lain together, ya know. As husband and wife.”

  Mae’s eyes got big. “Really? Why? Ah heard before we came that he laid with lots of maidens before ye.”

  “’Tis what ah heard as well. But ah have to explain. See, the night of the wedding, ah was so nervous, ah was shaking like a leaf. Remember? Ah told ye about it?” She paused in her retelling, gauging how Mae was taking her story. Mae was listening raptly and nodding.

  “Well, what ah didn’t tell ye was that he said he wouldn’t bed me till ah begged him.”

  Mae giggled behind her hand.

  “Don’ laugh at me,” Malmuira complained.

  “Ah’m not laughing at ye. Ah’m laughing cause ah think ye’ll be begging him soon.”

  “Mae!” Malmuira exclaimed.

  “Mal, ah don’ know if you have noticed, but your husband is a very handsome man. And ah’ve heard from around the castle that he is good with the lasses.”

  “Ah’ve noticed. He also has an ego the size of Scotland.”

  “Can ye blame him?”

  “Ye’re incorrigible,” Malmuira accused.

  Mae only giggled more. Sighing and throwing a look of exasperation at Mae, Malmuira fell back on her mattress.

  “Least he didn’t force ye like poor Maizy’s husband.”

  “Aye,” Malmuira replied. She sat back up. “Maybe ah can convince him to take me back home, Mae. If he willingly gives me back, ah can stay with my family and the war will still be over.”

  “Ah dunno, this place ain’t so bad.”

  “Aye, but me faither and Siusan are not here.”

  “How would ye do it? Get him to send us home?”

  “Ah dunno as of yet, but ah can come up with something. Help me fix my hair, Mae. Ah have some work to do.”

  “We have some trade agreements to work out with yer faither at the keep, Malmuira. Ah’ll be gone a couple weeks. Ye can keep yerself busy around here, getting to know yer duties as me wife. Once ah return, ah’ll be sure to show you anything ye missed.” Oidche was sitting in a chair near the fireplace in her room. Malmuira sat in a chair next to him, working on a needlepoint she had begun a few days earlier.

  Oidche had moved all of his things into her room in the past two days and they were sleeping in the same bed every night. True to his word, Oidche hadn’t tried anything since. He held her hand frequently and kissed her lightly on the lips, but nothing more. Malmuira was beginning to wonder if he was actually attracted to her at all, or if this was going to be the norm for their marriage.

  She set her work down and looked up at him, hoping that she would be able to convince him to take her along. “Me faither is a fair man, but sometimes has a hard time with his pride. Ah think it would be best if ye took me with ye. Ah know how to talk to him.”

  “’Twould be best for ye to stay here. Trade agreements are no place for a woman,” Oidche said while he sipped his whiskey.

  Malmuira bristled at the response and the insinuation that she was less capable of speaking to her father than Oidche was. “Woman or not, ah have a way with speaking to me own faither. And ye’d do best to use me when it helped ye come out better for it.”

  Oidche paused and really looked at Malmuira. She could tell that his complete attention was on her. His eyes passed over her features and he looked contemplative before he spoke. “Aye, ah would be foolish not to use yer talents when ah can. Ah’ll take ye with me, but ye’ll have to keep up with my men. They’ll not be waiting around for a lass that can’t keep the pace.”

  “Ye know how ah ride. Ah’ll be leaving all the men in my dust.”

  He smiled and a twinkle appeared in his eyes. “Aye, ah’ll not be doubting that.”

  Her tense muscles relaxed and she sat back in her chair. Once they got there, she just needed to convince Oidche to leave her with her family. He had no use for her anyway. He was more than capable of finding company for his bed and she had little to offer as a wife.

  “We leave at dawn, Malmuira,” Oidche informed her.

  “Aye. Ah’ll be ready,” she responded.

  “Are ye looking forward to seeing yer family?” he asked her.

  “Aye. Mostly my sister, Siusan. She and ah were very close. Ah miss her something fierce.”

  Oidche reached across the space between them and took her hand in his. He stroked the side of her hand with his thumb, taking another sip of whiskey.

  “Care for a drink?” he asked her.

  “Aye, sounds good.”

  She grabbed a cup of whiskey he handed her and took a large drink of the liquid. It warmed her all the way down. It was a good batch, indeed. The peat and smoky taste rolled around her mouth, leaving her wanting more. The aftertaste was nutty and a bit peppery too. Perfect. Her father had taught her how to appreciate a good whiskey.

  “This is a fine whiskey.”

  “Aye, ‘tis the barrel your faither sent us. Ah cracked it open today. Ah wouldn’t expect you to appreciate it quite so much.”

  “Cause of my feminine nature?”

  “Aye.”

  She fumed silently for a moment, but she could hardly fault him for his opinion. It was not unusual. She had been told off many a time for the way she thought about women, more often when she spoke up to men about it. “Ye sure have a low view of women, Oidche.”

  Confusion settled across Oidche’s features. “Ah dunno what you mean. My views on women aren’t any different than other men.”

  “And ye didn’t see anything wrong with that?” she responded with fire in her voice.

  “What am ah supposed to think? That women are equal to men? They are not. They are the weaker sex.” He stretched his feet out, seemingly unperturbed by the exchange.

  “Weaker sex?” she screeched. Her voice was much louder than she usually spoke. “The only thing weaker about women is their size. Ah can best ye in anything other than brute force. Ah can outthink or outride any man. And my appreciation for whiskey is much more refined than yers, ah bet.”

  With her outburst, Oidche jumped out of his seat. Malmuira followed suit, slamming her cup down on the table near them.

  “Ah’ll not be spoken to by my wife like that,” Oidche commanded, his voice low and menacing.

  “What’ll ye do about it?” she taunted. She swallowed a lump of fear that had found its way in her throat. She could think of many things Oidche could do about her back-talking him. None of them were pleasant.

  Oidche took two steps closer to her until he was so close she could feel the heat of his body emanating from him. She held her ground, but turned her eyes down.

  He grabbed her chin in his hand and turned her face up to look him in the eye. “Be careful, lass,” he said quietly. She held her breath while he spoke.

  “Ah deserve yer respect. Ah’ve been nothing but kind to ye.”

  She began to shake again. And a tear fell out of her eye. “Aye, ye’ve been good to me. Better’n ah thought ah deserved.”

  “Ye deserve it, but ye need to speak kindly to me. Ah’m yer husband.”

  With his other hand, he wiped the stray tear away, tracing its path down her cheek with the tip of his finger. She felt warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the whiskey, and suddenly his lips were pressed against hers.

  He pulled her up against him, holding her body tight to his. His hips pressed in to her. She drew in a breath and pulled away from him.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked her, a look of concern across his face.

  “No, nothing
wrong. Just confused. Ah didn’t know that ye were attracted to me.” She said the last bit quickly, embarrassment bubbling within her.

  A sly smile slid across his face and he pulled her in just a tad bit tighter. “Any doubts now?”

  “Ye’re an inveterate flirt, Oidche.”

  “And ye’re the most beautiful woman ah’ve met.” The sincerity that he spoke with was apparent and it warmed Malmuira.

  She kissed him lightly on the cheek in gratitude and sat back in her chair. He followed suit, picking up his cup again. “Why did ye think that ah wasn’t attracted to ye?”

  “Ye haven’t bedded me, and we’ve been married nigh on a week now.”

  “Ah told ye before, lass. Ah won’t be beddin’ ye before ye’re ready. Ah like my women to want me as much as ah want them. Ah’m not the type of man to bed a woman against her will.”

  She thought on that for a moment. Not many men would wait. “Ah wouldn’t be bothered by ye beddin’ me.”

  “Aye, but ye wouldn’t be craving it, now would ye?” he replied.

  “Ah guess ah’ve never really felt like that,” she replied.

  “Ye’ll feel it someday,” Oidche responded, finishing off his glass of whiskey.

  Malmuira was beginning to believe him. His kisses took her to places she had never been before. She shook her head, needing to focus on getting back home and staying there.

  That night, Malmuira tossed and turned in bed. At first she couldn’t sleep at all, but then, when she did, her dreams were fretful and full of sadness. She woke frequently through the night.

  “Mal… Mal, are ye okay?”

  She heard Oidche’s voice through a haze of sleep.

  “Aye, what’re ye talking for?”

  “Ye’re crying, Mal. Ye’re crying in yer sleep. Talking about Siusan.”

  She remembered her dream then. Siusan was hurt and she couldn’t get to her. It was awful. She felt herself crying again. “Ah miss her, Oidche.”

  His warm arms wrapped around her, and he pulled her into him. She faced his chest and felt the warmth of his body against hers and soon her fears eased. She leaned up towards where she thought his face was and brushed her cheek against his. His arms tightened around her body and she felt a heat race through her that she hadn’t ever felt before. Suddenly his lips were on hers.