His Bonnie Highland Temptation (The Clan Sinclair Book 2)

by Celeste Barclay

  Callum slipped his good arm under Siùsan and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder. He stroked her back and hair. Soon he felt her breath slow and deepen.

  I must give her a choice. I cannae keep her from her family, but what if she goes and doesnae want to come back? What if they welcome her better than I did, and she feels more at home there? I dinna think I could leave without her again. Just the four days without her, not kenning where she was, was torture. I dinna think I could bear kenning where she is and kenning she doesnae want me anymore.

  Tormented by a possible future he did not want to imagine, Callum finally fell into a restless sleep.

  ~~~

  Callum awoke to a soft warm body next to him. He was disoriented for a moment was filled with dread that he would find Elizabeth or some other woman next to him. As he came more fully awake, he caught the lilac scent that only belonged to one woman he knew. He also realized that his shoulder was screaming with pain. It was stiff and sore from sleeping on the ground. However, the ache seemed to lesson when he looked down to see Siùsan curled around him like a kitten. He gently kissed her forehead and whispered to her.

  “Leannan, wake up. It’s morning, and we must break camp.” He shook her shoulder slightly. He was rewarded when she stretched her entire body pressed against him. She slowly opened her eyes. Her sleepy gaze was the most seductive look he had ever seen.

  “Is it really morning? I havenae slept that well in ages. Not a single nightmare.” She snapped her mouth shut. She had just shared more than she intended.

  Callum shifted to get a better look at her. They were forehead to forehead, nose to nose, and lips to lips. He would have kissed her if he were not so curious.

  “Ye have nightmares?” he asked softly.

  “On occasion,” she answered evasively.

  “Siùsan, we will be sharing a bed from now on. If ye have nightmares, I will ken. I amnae a deep sleeper. I would rather ye tell me, so I can be prepared, and I can help ye.” He pressed a soft kiss to her nose and then her lips. She attempted to deepen it. Callum pulled back and chuckled at her little growl. “I’d like to think that was because ye cannae resist me, but I believe it was to avoid telling me more.”

  She had the good graces to look caught in a trap of her own making. She lowered her head. Callum waited. He did not wish to rush her. She took a deep breath before proceeding.

  “They always begin the same. The woman who raised me for the first ten summers of ma life told me the tale of ma birth and ma mother’s death. It always begins with the scene as it was described to me, but it isnae ma birth that I witness, only ma mother’s death. In the dream, I am always ten summers. I watch as ma father runs to her and pulls her lifeless body into his arms. Lady Elizabeth is there laughing at the sight ma parents made. She spots me and comes over. I want to ask her what had happened. She grabs me by ma hair and drags me over. She points and says, ‘See what ye have done. Ye did this. Ye ruined everyone’s life. If only ye’d die too.’ Ma father looks up with such rage. I think he’s going to defend me but instead he bellows, ‘Ye killed ma wife. Ye murdered her. It’ll be by ma hand that ye die.’ I always wake up as he lurches towards me.”

  Callum gently used his forefinger and thumb to lift her chin. Tears streamed down her cheeks

  “Ye ken it’s only a dream, dinna ye? Ye ken ye were never responsible for yer mother’s death.”

  Siùsan nodded, but it was clearly halfhearted.

  “I ken I couldnae really have done it, but ma father’s abandonment and obvious hatred makes it hard to overlook the connection.”

  “Yer father is a bluidy fool. If ever I meet him, I’ll be hard pressed to nae break his cowardly neck.”

  “Cowardly? He hasnae been a coward.”

  “Aye, he has. A real mon would have stepped up and cared for his bairn. He would have cherished ye and loved ye. He would have appreciated that he still had a small part of yer mama with him. Ma sister, Mairghread, has ma mama’s eyes and spirit. Never once has ma da scorned or shunned her. He hasnae ever really recovered from Mama’s death, but he doesnae refuse Mairghread because she reminds him on his one great love. Yer father and mother kenned the risk of her riding horseback when she was that far along. The jostling of such a ride probably contributed to her early labor. If yer father cared so damned much, he would have made her ride in a wagon. Instead, he prioritized speed over her safety. He was too cowardly to stand up to his own father. He let himself be bullied over and over. That’s how he ended up shackled to Elizabeth. That’s why he let her mistreat ye for so many years and let another woman raise ye for almost half yer life. Siùsan, I would never put ye at risk like that, and I would never forsake ye like that by abandoning our child. I may not have been responsible enough to properly care for ye the last few weeks, but I will spend the rest of time atoning for it.” He finally stopped for a breadth. He saw Siùsan’s awestruck expression. “I love ye.”

  Callum found himself on his back with his bride half sprawled across him covering his face with kisses. She finally came to his mouth and kissed him fiercely. He had already been hard merely from her proximity now he throbbed. He probably would have taken her right then and there if the sound of coughs and cleared throats had not finally permeated. It must have registered for Siùsan at the same time because she pulled back and looked around her. Her swollen lips would have declared to all that she had just been thoroughly kissed, even if they had not had witnesses. She scrambled to her feet and mumbled something about preparing her horse. She unceremoniously yanked her saddle out from under Callum’s head and scurried over to the horses. When she was out of earshot, the jibes and randy comments began. Callum adjusted the plaid he wore and moved his sporran to hide his extremely obvious and prominent arousal. When he believed he was decent enough, he drew back the plaid they had shared. Never had he been so glad for his and his brothers’ height and the extra yards of material it necessitated.

  “Seems yer wee bonnie bride doesnae dislike ye so much anymore.”

  “Och, she maynae like him but she seems to love his twig and berries.”

  “Are ye ballocks blue yet?”

  “Do ye think she’ll make as much racket tonight as she did last night?”

  The last comment made everyone go silent. It was one thing to tease a man about his prowess, but it was entirely another to make reference to a man’s wife and what they actually did when they were meant to be alone.

  Callum swung around and stepped forward. It was a fairly young guardsman, Gavin, who had made the comment. Callum grabbed him by the collar of his leine and lifted him off his feet.

  “That is ma wife and the new lady of our clan that ye speak of. If I hear anything about her and what we do as a wedded couple come out of yer mouth, I will cut off yer tongue and shove it up yer arse.” If he had had two good arms, he would have punched him. He felt a tiny hand on his arm. He looked down to see Siùsan there. He calmed immediately.

  “Be kind, Callum. He is only jealous. He wishes he had yer prowess with women. The word in the kitchens is that he’s all bluster but nae blade.” She let her hand hang limp from her wrist. She went up on her tiptoes and whispered loudly, “his twig is a sapling and his berries arenae ripe yet.”

  The men were utterly stunned. She looked around and worried that she had gone too far. She was just starting to blush when the group burst into stomach clenching laughter. She swore she saw tears falling from some eyes and others held their bellies as they doubled over.

  Tavish came up and kissed her on the cheek and then clapped Callum on the back. “And ye were worried that she was easily offended.” Tavish looked over at her, “ye give as good as ye get. Welcome to the family, lass.”

  The men eventually collected themselves and broke down camp. Even Gavin had eventually laughed. He was not particularly put out by Siùsan’s comments as they all knew they were not true. He was more afraid of angering Callum again. Callum was well known for his fierceness on the
battlefield, but it had been a near murderous rage when he protected his wife.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Callum moved over to Siùsan who was about to mount her horse. He saw her grimace as she lifted one foot into the stirrup. He had already taken her to the stream where she had been able to soak her nether region and they had both been able to bathe. Callum had seen her virgin’s blood on him. He realized he would have accepted Siùsan even if she had not been a virgin, but he could not tamper down his sense of pride that he had been the first and only one to be with her. He wished he could have offered her the same.

  Now, though, he regretted immensely that he had taken her three times the night before, roughly and so close together. He saw her wince as she pulled herself up and began to lift her leg to throw it astride. He wrapped his good arm around her waist and hauled her back. He cursed his useless arm as his attempt at chivalry was not starting very gracefully.

  “I cannae bear the idea of ye being apart from me. Ye ride with me, wife,” he announced loudly. To Siùsan, he leaned forward and whispered, “I ken ye’re sore, and it’s ma fault. Ye will ride in front of me so ye dinna have to be astride.”

  “But how will ye manage with me in the way and only one hand?”

  “Ye let me worry about that. Ye cannae ride sidesaddle safely on yers and we have much ground to cover.” She nodded her head slowly and Callum realized it was the first actual mention of their journey. They had not discussed their destination before this.

  “Will ye come back to Sinclair lands with me for now?”

  “For now?” Siùsan’s face flooded with several emotions in quick succession, confusion, fear, and hurt. “Are ye going to send me away?” she whispered.

  “What? Nay! How could ye think that?”

  “Ye said ‘for now.’ That means it’s temporary.” She looked at their feet.

  “I meant until we can restock our supplies and we can dump Gunn in our dungeon. Then I’ll take ye to yer family as ye wanted.”

  Tears threatened and Callum was truly mystified.

  “Did ye just decide this or have ye been planning this since ye learned where I was headed? Why handfast with me? Was it just to bed me?” Siùsan thought she was going to be sick.

  “Siùsan, ye arenae making any sense. I thought ye would want to visit yer kin still. I would not have us take such a journey without more supplies.”

  “Visit?” she squeaked.

  “Aye. What did ye--” Callum broke off when it crossed his mind what she must have been thinking. He was not sure if he should be angry or hurt that she would doubt him so soon. They had not even reached her family yet. He once again saw tears threatening.

  “I thought ye’d changed yer mind, regretted marrying me. I thought ye were sending me away. I thought ye didna want me anymore.” Callum’s bad temper faded away when he saw just how frightened she was that he was rejecting her. He paused to think before he reacted. He tried to see what could make Siùsan respond in such a manner, and it dawned on him. He was finally coming to understand the depths of her insecurity and the damage that years of being ignored had done. He cupped her cheek and kissed her ever so gently.

  “I willna ever send ye away. Ye promised yerself to me and now ye are stuck with me.”

  She smiled, and he swallowed. He was going to admit his own fear to try to ease hers. “Mo chridhe, I fear it is ye who willna want me any longer once ye are with yer kin.”

  “Oh Callum, they may be ma kin and I do want to get to ken them, but I told ye yesterday, ye’re ma home. With ye is where I will always be.”

  “I love ye, little one.”

  “I love ye, ma braw one.”

  Callum took Siùsan’s hand and kissed it then led her to his Deamhan. He helped her up and then pulled himself up behind her. He helped her find a comfortable position. He almost groaned aloud when she settled the soft side of her bottom against his groin. Since he could not properly hold onto her, she twisted to wrap her arms around him. To avoid his sling, she leaned back slightly. It pressed her breasts together only deepening her ample cleavage. Callum’s mouth watered with his desire to feast on the warm, supple flesh.

  “Hold on, love.” He spurred his horse on and she tightened her hold slightly.

  They rode in silence for a little while as they both took in the scenery. It was a bit different from her journey out. This time, they were taking the most direct route. Siùsan watched the ground be eaten up by the horse’s galloping hooves. Her mind wandered to what life would be like once they returned to the keep.

  Is Elizabeth really going to give up that easily? Will she actually leave with grace? I sincerely doubt it. I dinna think she has any grace to begin with. What should I do if she willna leave be? I want to trust Callum, and he has proven himself these last weeks, but she is such temptation. Am I really enough?

  Siùsan’s stomach clenched as her mind ran away with itself.

  Callum sensed when Siùsan was no longer just watching the trees go by. The tension she was radiating off her petite frame was almost palpable. He tried to think what could cause her mood to shift so suddenly. He had felt her hold on him slacken and then release him. He looked down over her shoulder and saw her holding the edge of the plaid that had been his not so long ago. One hand clutched it almost possessively as though she was worried someone would snatch it away from her. The other hand ran the hem through her fingers. He could tell that she was not giving much thought to her actions. Her mind was too busy ticking over on something that was troubling her.

  “What’s amiss?” Callum murmured softly.

  “What? Oh, naught,” she answered distractedly.

  “Siùsan, it isnae naught. I can feel the tension in ye, and I can see how tightly yer hand is clenched. What’s amiss?”

  “I’m just trying to support more of ma own weight so I dinna hurt ye.”

  “Ma thanks but I dinna believe ye. Ye arenae a liar, so why are ye doing it now? I am yer husband now. Yer troubles are mine. Share them and perhaps I can ease them.”

  Siùsan looked up at him for so long that Callum was not sure she would answer. He was trying to decide between pressing her and giving up when she finally answered.

  “I dinna ken how well ye can withstand temptation. One moment Elizabeth was clearly coming from yer bed and the next ye’re pursuing me. What happens when ma novelty wears off? Do ye go back to Elizabeth? Do ye find someone else? If Elizabeth is the type ye choose, then I shall only disappoint ye.”

  Callum was truly insulted. Had they not had a conversation exactly like this before they mounted up? He felt his temper flair all over again but then remembered that it was seeing true fear of rejection in Siùsan’s eyes that had forced him to calm before. Callum now understood that even though she seemed to be a cheerful and happy woman most of the time, deep down she was wounded and vulnerable.

  “Ye really believe I’d be that quick to move on from ye? I havenae been in love before. I havenae ever considered wanting to spend ma life with any one woman before--”

  “Exactly,” Siùsan cut in. “What happens when ye realize ye mistook lust for love or ye realize being with the same woman isnae as exciting as ye thought?”

  He frowned and pursed his lips before answering.

  “What I was going to say was, since I havenae ever felt this way before, ye must be the right one because ye’re the only one to ever inspire those feelings. Ye fell asleep quickly last night,” he grinned with male pride, “but I didna. It wasnae ma shoulder paining me. Ma mind wouldnae quiet. Can ye guess what troubled me?”

  “Dealing with Sir James and the Gunns.”

  “Nay. I hadnae even thought of him. Try again.”

  “Traveling safely with me in tow.”

  “Nay. Try again.”

  “Ye shoulder nae healing properly.”

  “Nay. None of those. I told ye before I worry that once I take ye to meet the MacLeods, ye willna want to return with me. I worry that I willna be enough to make ye le
ave yer kin. So, do ye see? Our fears arenae all that different.”

  “We both doubt our own worth and fear that we willna be wanted or needed anymore,” Siùsan murmured.

  “Aye. Ye have the right of it. I dinna ken what the future holds for us, but I do ken I wouldnae stray from any wife. I willna stray from ye. I have pledged maself to ye before God. I willna break a sacrament.”

  “Just as ye have pledged yerself to me, I made the same pledge before God. I do wish to meet ma mother’s clan, but I already told ye that home is with ye.”

  “Even if they welcome ye and ask ye to stay?”

  “Even if women throw themselves at ye and ye face temptation?”

  “Fair enough. I suppose ye are stuck with me for I amnae going anywhere. Ye have me for life.”

  “I couldnae want aught more.”

  They kissed softly and Siùsan rested her head against Callum’s chest. The steady rhythm of his heart and the horse lulled her to sleep. Callum looked down at his sleeping wife and rested his cheek against her hair.

  I willna, nay couldnae, ever find another woman worth giving ye up for.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The group of warriors, Sinclair brothers, and Siùsan arrived in the bailey at dusk on their third day of travel. They were all hot, sweaty, and tired. While Callum and Siùsan were able to slip away for a short time each night, it was nothing as vigorous as the night they handfasted. As a result, Siùsan felt up to riding her own horse by the latter half of the second day. Callum missed the special torture of having his wife’s soft bottom nestled against his groin. Just before descending the last hill on their approach to the keep, Callum plucked Siùsan from her saddle and pulled her astride in front of him. He groaned as another surge of desire swept through him with Siùsan seated in a new position. Siùsan had peered over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

  In response, Callum explained, “not only do I long to touch ye and have missed ye in ma arms, I would have the clan ken ye’re ma wife now. And by choice. I offer ye the full protection of ma name and our positions within the clan.” Siùsan simply nodded her head and faced forward.