Rowan turned his steed and brought his horse to a trot motioning for him to follow. Lachlan signaled the other two to keep moving with the wagon and followed the male into the forest. His cousin dismounted and waited for him to near. Not sure what to expect, Lachlan closed the distance between them.
The hit came so hard and unexpected that Lachlan did not know it happened until he lay on his back and stared up at the treetops. His jaw pulsed in pain and he reached up and cupped it. "What the devil are you doing?"
"For betraying our future laird." Rowan placed his fists on his hips and nodded. "There, that should cure ye of any self-reproach."
His cousin then extended his hand and helped Lachlan to his feet. This time Lachlan kept his fists up in case Rowan swung again. He didn't. Instead Rowan walked to the horse and took the skin back out and took a drink. Taller and broader than him, the normally silent man studied him, the grey gaze unnerving. "Don't back down, Lachlan. I've seen the way you look at each other. It's uncommon to have that."
He mounted his horse and guided it back towards the others. "Come now, we can't let our guard down, we near Campbell lands."
Lachlan watched the horseman make his way through the trees. The pain he'd seen in Rowan's eyes told more than the words. He wondered who'd broken his cousin's heart.
The weary travelers arrived at a village inn. With another day’s ride before they would reach the McDougall keep, they stopped to allow Claire to rest and bathe before arriving at their final destination.
The innkeeper ensured they filled their stomachs and provided them with excellent ale. Glad for a soft bed to lie in, Lachlan made his way up the stairs after a hearty meal of mutton and potatoes.
He stopped at Claire's doorway and knocked. Her servant cracked the door and peered up at him. "Lady Claire is bathing, Laird."
"Tell her I wish to speak to her. I am next door." After Maggie nodded, he left and went to his chamber.
Nerves tangled in his stomach with the ale and mutton and Lachlan huffed in disgust at the adolescent display. Tomorrow he'd face not only Ian, but also his father.
He'd take full responsibility and admit to what happened between him and Claire. And he'd accept whatever consequences they threw at him without complaint. Once that was done, he hoped to convince them to allow him to marry Claire in Ian's stead.
What if his request was denied? Could he stand to see her married to Ian? Nay, he'd never allow it. But first he'd speak with Claire about it. No bedding, no touching with her. He would just speak.
The knock on the door announced Claire's arrival. He opened it and once again his stomach pitched.
She threw herself on him before the door was fully open. Her plush lips offered up to him, soft curves pressed close. "I've missed you, Lachlan."
Her breathless confession stole all of his resolve. The offered prize sealed it away.
With a moan of relief he took her mouth pleased at her similar response. Her hands slid up his arms and wrapped around his neck leaving her body open for him to explore.
And discover, he did. The plump orbs of her breasts overfilled his palms, with gentle squeezes and circling of her tips with his thumbs, he brought her to tremble.
"Take your clothes off for me, Claire," he asked, the words hoarse with want. "I need you."
"You first," came the coy reply.
Although reluctant to release her, Lachlan pushed away from her and began to untie the ties of his tunic, before lifting it up over his head. His eyes locked on hers, his hands went to the breeches next.
Nothing short of death could pull Claire's eyes from the feast of flesh before her. Lachlan's skin already glistened with perspiration brought from their kiss. His hand trembled slightly as he made quick work at the fastenings at his waist. He pushed the clothes away.
Heat...no, fire in the gaze that met hers, his hand sliding down his stomach to between his legs. A sharp inhale lifted his sculpted chest when he took the jutting length in hand. "’Tis obvious how much I hunger for you, lass." He released it and lifted his eyes to hers. "Now you."
Her mouth went dry in anticipation, as she loosened the stays at her waist and pushed the dress from her shoulders. Lachlan lowered to sit on the bed not taking his eyes from her. He looked at her as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world and she felt as such at his reaction when she removed her shift.
Lachlan's breath hitched, and lips parted while his eyes roamed her body.
She moved to stand between his legs, and his hands encircled her waist. Her back arched when his mouth met with her skin, kissing a path from one hip across to the other.
His fingers moved between her legs slipping into her already wet core and she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out. Tremors coursed down her legs when he began to lick a path down to meet his hand. He stopped and looked up to her. "I am going to lay back, come up on your knees until you are directly over my face."
Once on his back, Lachlan guided her until she was positioned where he wanted. Hands on her hips, he held her in place while his mouth feasted on her. The sounds of his suckling soon disappeared as every one of her senses peeked and exploded. She fell over onto the bed, her sex completely on his mouth and still he continued until bringing a second wave of release.
Mewling sounds seeped and she recognized the voice as hers. Without her realizing it, he'd flipped her onto her back; Lachlan climbed over her and took her mouth. Frantic to join with him, she grabbed his bottom. Digging her fingernails into the taut firm muscle, she pulled him closer wrapping her legs around his slender hips at the same time.
More than ready for him, she was completely soaked in want and this time she didn't need time to adjust to his girth. He plunged into her with wild abandon and she urged him to continue. "More! More! Yes."
She slid her hands up his back and began to relax into the motion of lovemaking, the continuous rhythm of the sliding of his cock inside her. Their hard hot breathing and the joining of their bodies melded into a delicious experience.
Lachlan slid his hands under her and lifted her hips off the bed. "Place your legs over my shoulders."
She held onto the headboard rails and did as he asked. The reward was his cock deeper within her. The cords of his neck strained as he continued to drive, Lachlan's movements picking up the tempo. They locked gazes and Claire watched the captivating features tense and eyes glaze over as his heated seed spilled.
The moist skin of his back felt wonderful under her palms when she massaged it. "Lachlan, we are going to marry upon arrival at McDougall keep."
To his credit, he barely tensed and when his eyes met hers, his thoughts were well hidden.
Within moments, she was beside him and coverings lay over her. One arm around her, the other under his head, Lachlan frowned at the ceiling.
"I'd already planned to speak to my brother upon arriving," he started, and then turned to her. "A man is supposed to propose marriage, not the other way around, Claire. I was prepared to do so once I spoke to Ian and Da."
Claire sniffed. "I don't care what either of them say. I've made up my mind."
"Have you?" Lachlan's lips curved. "God save me if I ever make you cross with me."
"I would never harm you," she admitted. "Are you nervous?"
Grim eyes looked to her. "Aye. I betrayed my brother. I was wrong to take you. But I will do what is right, maintain our agreement with your clan."
Air left her. He planned to marry her out of honor. Did he consider her a duty and a burden? Would her presence constantly remind him of betraying his brother?
"What's wrong, Claire?" He must have perceived her apprehension.
"Nothing," she stuttered. "I should return to my chamber."
Lachlan took her mouth once again, but this time she only felt self-reproach.
Chapter 42
Pounding at the door broke through his slumber and instantly with sword in hand, Lachlan jumped from the bed when someone entered.
Rowan rushed in an
d looked from one corner of the room to the other. The large man paced to the small privy and looked in. "Is she here?"
"Who?" He blinked to clear his vision. "Who are you looking for?"
"The lass, Claire, she's gone."
"Impossible, she was in good spirits last time I...saw her."
"The lass has vanished, Lachlan," Rowan threw his pants at him. "One of the horses as well."
Dressing and mounting was a blur, Lachlan raced along with two of the guards in the direction the stable hand told them Claire had gone. She'd headed back the direction they'd come.
He went over their conversation the night before over and again and could not come up with what had brought her to leave.
Unless it was her plan all along to seduce him and allow for his guard to lower so she could escape.
His gut clenched. Had he been so wrong about her that she'd used him the entire time and he'd been too full of desire to see it?
"Over here?" One of the guards steered his horse through the trees. A scrap of clothing hung from a low tree branch. It was Claire's, the same dress she wore the day before.
Now moving at a slower pace, the men rode side by side to cover more ground and once again Lachlan recounted their night before. Each time his mind went to the beautiful vision of her bare beauty, he firmly steered it back to what they'd spoken of.
She'd alluded to marrying, demanded it actually. He'd agreed. He must, of course. After all, it was his duty... Oh. No. What he'd said after. He'd told her she was the cause of his betrayal. Claire had all but run from the room after that.
"I am a Fool!" he yelled and Rowan looked to him, his brows bunched.
"Aye, you are." The man agreed continuing forward.
"Shut up," he snapped.
They found her in a clearing, slumped over with face in her hands, the horse grazing not too far from her. Rowan and the other man pulled back and allowed Lachlan privacy to go to her.
He dismounted and neared, expecting to hear sobs or at least a sniffle. Instead, narrowed dry eyes met his and she huffed and got to her feet. "What do you want, McDougall?" Beneath the façade of anger, he saw a hint of hurt and sadness.
He approached her with care. Although not careful enough, because her boot connected with his leg and he almost fell to the ground in pain. Jumping about on one leg while grabbing at the aching shin, he somehow managed not to glare at her. "Claire, we must go. You are fully aware of the dangers of traipsing about alone."
"I am not going anywhere with you." She looked toward the horse, but did not move.
"I want to marry you," he began and the beautiful green eyes became slits. "Not because I find it a duty or out of honor. Although I assure you both of those have merit," he quickly added.
"Because it would be suitable punishment for betraying your brother then?" Her words were soft, very unlike her. She paced back and forth, her hand fisted at her sides.
"Nay. Because I cannot stand the idea of living without you." That apparently stunned her silent because her mouth formed a perfect 'O' and she froze.
Lachlan approached her and took her right hand then lowered onto one knee. "It would be an ultimate honor to be your husband, Lady Claire, to continue in our exploration of what we've only begun." Her lips curved. "Would you come with me to my home and to my bed as my wife?"
"Your bed will not be all our marriage will be about, you know," Claire declared and rolled her eyes. "But I will marry you, Lachlan McDougall." Lachlan landed on his back, the feisty lass over him, her mouth on his.
The party arrived at the McDougall keep at dusk, the setting sun colored the sky in fiery colors and Lachlan's stomach once again jerked. He looked to Claire and met her bold gaze and at once found he calmed.
They made their way into the courtyard and were greeted by not just Ian and their half-brother Aiden, but a diminutive woman who stood close to Ian's side.
The men exchanged greetings while both Claire and the woman, who he now recognized as Ailios Connery, eyed each other with caution.
Ian then looked from him to Claire who he pulled protectively to his side. "Lady Claire, how fare you?"
"I am well," Claire told him while eyeing the other woman.
"We must speak," both he and Ian uttered at once.
The brothers understood at the same time that both were in love with the women beside them.
"This is Ailios Connery." Ian placed a protective arm over the woman's shoulders. "Come inside to the study, brother, we must speak."
By Claire's expression, understanding dawned as well. She looked up at Ian and Lachlan took her hand in his as they followed the couple to their father's study."
A month later.
The enticing sight of Claire's full breasts bouncing with each shift of her hips while she straddled him mesmerized Lachlan. The combination of her parted lips and 'oh gods' as she rode him to her release, urged Lachlan to do so as well.
Lachlan lifted his hips in time with her lowering, meeting Claire pound for pound. The combination of her wet heat and her fingers circling his nipples finally drove him to lose control and he arched up spilling, her cries of completion filling him with warmth.
Claire cupped his face and looked down at him.
He frowned at her close regard. "Why do you look at me like that?"
"You're smiling more. It's nice to see you doing so."
"Aye, it's time to move on, Claire. Da's death has been hard on Ian and me, but thankfully we've both married woman we love. Your presence in my life has helped me through it.
“Our parents gifted us with the understanding of a loving marriage and both Ian and I will do our best to follow their footsteps."
Claire's hands tightened on his face and she peered down at him, her eyebrows raised. "Did you just say you loved me?"
"I've said it before."
"No, you have not." She slapped at his shoulder and frowned. When she attempted to lift off of him, he wrapped his arms around her and rolled her onto her back.
His hips surged forward, once again sliding deeply. "I love you, Claire McDougall." He moved out and once again pushed back in. "I love you, wife."
"Oh!" Claire moaned. "I need you to repeat it over and over until I believe it, because I have loved you since the day I first saw you in the stables."
And so he did.
The End.
About the Author
Hildie McQueen is my pseudonym. Writing is my dream come true. There is nothing I love more than bringing my characters and stories to life and sharing them with you. I live in a small town in Georgia with my husband and three unruly little dogs, Pepito, Lola and Pippa.
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Highlander's Kiss: The McDougalls, Books 1-3 Page 21