Terri Brisbin Highlander Bundle

by TERRI BRISBIN

  ‘You have a bump,’ she said. ‘Here.’ She touched a spot that was sensitive, but another part of him reacted.

  When she leaned down and touched her mouth where her fingers had been, his body shook. But, after the revelations of last night and the shocks of this one, he would not touch her until she gave him permission to do so. If it killed him, he would not touch her first. Her soft strokes stopped then and he waited for one...two...three seconds before lifting his head to look at her face.

  ‘I thought I’d lost you tonight, Rob.’ Her voice whispered over him, gently moving the air between their faces. ‘I know that we will separate when this ends, but I do not want you to die. Not for me and not because of me.’

  ‘I will find a way through this, Lilidh. Fear not,’ he said, reaching up to touch her face.

  ‘Will you?’ she asked. She lowered her head down until their mouths nearly touched and stopped. Her breath was hot against his face. ‘Until then, will you be mine?’

  Of all the things he thought she’d say or want, that was not one of them. He expected her to ask him to leave her alone, not to—to want him.

  ‘If you’ll have me?’

  ‘I will,’ she said, just before placing her lips on his in a kiss that made his heart weep. Afraid to move for fear she would stop, he remained there, under her touch, under her mouth, letting her lead him in this new dance of theirs.

  She kissed his mouth lightly, feathering one after the another, along his chin and on to his neck. Then when he was fighting to keep his hands off her, she returned to his mouth and touched her tongue to his lips. He opened to her and tasted her as she dipped into his mouth, seeking his tongue. Her hair fell around them, moving each time she did, skimming their skin with its silky length. Rob twisted it around his hand and held it.

  The moment when he lost control was when Lilidh reached down and touched his erection. Wrapping her soft fingers around him, she began to caress and stroke and his body burned hotter with each moment of contact. He reached out to touch her, drawing patterns on her belly.

  ‘Take it off,’ he said, tugging on the shift she wore.

  ‘No, Rob.’ She worried her lower lip with her teeth and began to step away.

  ‘Take it off, Lilidh. I would see all of you. Now.’

  Her body shivered when he spoke, but then fear settled in her gaze and he thought she would refuse him. The fear of someone seeing her leg held her back from enjoying the physical side of marriage. Bold in every other way, she let this control her and so she let her father use it to control her life.

  It ended now.

  Rob slid his fingers under the edge of the fabric and he pulled her to stand between his legs with it. He had ignored, or avoided, touching the injured skin when he’d loved her last night, but he would not this night. He closed his hand and used the back of it to slide along her leg, over her knee and towards the worst of the damage.

  She leaned away the slightest bit, as though thinking about moving out of his grasp, but then she stopped. He could not even hear her breathing now. His hand reached the first area of scarred skin, the surface marbled with grooves. Her hand touched his, but he moved it away and went back to exploring her body.

  He lifted the shift and she pulled it off over her head, tossing it aside and leaving herself completely exposed to him.

  God, she was a beauty!

  And she was his now.

  He let go of his restraint and leaned towards her, his mouth touching and tasting her. He did not avoid the damaged skin or muscle, but instead began there, kissing and stroking it as he did every other place he could reach. Tempted to stand, he remained seated, for it gave him the perfect access to her. When he felt Lilidh begin to tremble, he slid his hands between her legs.

  The puzzled look on her face told him she had no idea of how to seek pleasure in this position. Her body was ready enough that he would not hurt her by entering her this way.

  ‘Ride me, Lilidh,’ he said, guiding her forwards until she stood straddling his legs with his arousal waiting below her. A smile lit up her features for a moment when she understood, but was quickly replaced by the look of determination he knew well. Then, with his hands on her hips, he supported her as she tilted down and took him inside her.

  The groan could have been his or hers, he knew and cared not, the exquisite torment of her sheathing him replacing any thoughts. Like sliding into a glove made for him, he inched upwards slowly, claiming her once more. Once seated completely within her, he waited as she became accustomed to his length.

  ‘Put your hands on my shoulders,’ he instructed.

  Now the true pleasure could begin.

  Lilidh did as he said and held on to his shoulders. Running her hands on the muscles, she enjoyed the strength she felt. Each time she caressed him, his hard flesh inside of her would shudder. Then her body would answer by tightening around him. Such a wondrous thing! She tried not to tense up when his hands moved to her thighs and one rested on the scarred skin where the horse’s hoof had torn into her leg.

  ‘Worry not, love,’ he whispered as though he could read her thoughts and fears. ‘Move like this.’ His body arched beneath her, driving him further inside and making her gasp. She felt every inch of him there.

  With her feet on the floor and her hands on his shoulders, she could push her body along his thighs and control his depth and, as her body blossomed with heat during each movement, the pleasure. She let her head fall back as she concentrated on how to move. Then, at some point, she forgot it all and just moved.

  His mouth on her breasts intensified the throbbing between her legs. When he sucked on the sensitive nipple of one, she moaned out in pleasure. He thrust his hips, aiding in her movements until she could only feel...everything! Her skin burned, her body ached and needed more, more of him, more friction inside, more...

  When Rob moved to torture the other nipple, cupping his hands under her breasts and flicking his thumbs across the tightened tips, it was like there was a rope connecting all the aroused places inside of her to every other place in her body. His thumb teased the tip and she felt the pull of it throughout her. When he took the nipple inside between his teeth, she screamed out. Her body trembled and shook, the tension building and burning through her.

  He laughed against her skin and she shuddered.

  The touch of his hand, sliding down over her and searching between her legs, surprised her. He put his other hand behind her head and pulled her mouth to his. Then, he tormented her, his tongue deep in her mouth while his fingers searched and teased. The feel of him inside and out, moving deeper and faster, excited her even more. But the moment when he found some small spot with his finger and touched it, caressing it and pressing against it, tore all reason from her.

  Her body careened out of control and she moaned against his mouth as the pleasure peaked and exploded in her. Her muscles clenched around his flesh until she felt his release within her. Rob became relentless then, until Lilidh could not do a thing. How many times had she cried his name? How many times had her body reached that peak and fallen over? She knew not.

  Exhausted, she fell against him and felt his arms surround her, holding her close as his heart and breathing returned to its normal pace. Hers? Hers might have stopped altogether for all she knew. Minutes passed but she could not move away from him. Her legs would not obey her commands and the rest of her was held captive by the blissful lethargy that filled her blood now.

  * * *

  Some time later, the chill air in the chamber on her still-sweaty skin reminded her of her nakedness and

  her position on his legs. He gradually eased out of her and she felt empty again. Embarrassed now by her lack of reserve, she thought about what she should say to him.

  What did a well-born, well-raised noblewoman say to her lover after such a display of unashamed lust?

  He kissed the top of her head and then rubbed her back in a soothing motion. ‘Did that hurt?’ he asked quietly.

&nbs
p; ‘No,’ she said, lifting herself off his chest and meeting his gaze. ‘Not my leg.’

  ‘Was it too much too soon after...?’ His eyes searched her face. ‘After the first time.’

  She stroked his face and kissed him. ‘No. It was...wondrous.’ That was the only word she could think of.

  ‘Yes,’ he said, kissing her back. ‘Wondrous.’

  ‘And now?’ she finally asked, uncertain about what to do next.

  ‘Now, I carry you to that bed and we get under the warm covers,’ he said. ‘It is getting cold in here.’

  Rob rose to his feet without moving her and then lifted her into his arms. He laughed as he tossed her on the bed and pulled the covers down. Soon they were lying in his bed with his arms around her. At first, touching skin to skin seemed very strange, but his warmth and the easy way he touched her soothed any misgivings she might have.

  * * *

  Lilidh did not know when she fell into sleep’s grasp, but she knew when she awoke. Lying on her side, his hand caressed her breast, tickling and teasing it gently. His mouth kissed her ear and his breath sent shivers of heat through her body. When her body arched against him, he slipped his hand further down.

  He hardened between their bodies as he stroked her. Without a word, he eased her hips back towards him and slid between her thighs. This time he built the need within her slowly and quietly until she shattered under his touch and his possession.

  * * *

  Lilidh lost count of the times and the ways in which they joined through that night, but when dawn’s light shone through the windows of his bedchamber she knew one thing.

  Though she might leave here and return to Lairig Dubh, her heart would always remain with Rob. For in that night filled with pleasure and passion, he’d made her feel whole again for the first time since her body had been torn apart.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The next two days passed by quickly for Rob—he barely stopped in one place for more than a few minutes. Tasks awaited him around every corner.

  The meeting with the elders went well. Though they would not relent and release Lilidh as he wanted them to do, he did gain their support for him to handle the coming negotiations with the MacLeries. Even

  Murtagh begrudgingly accepted his plan to get out of this peacefully.

  Symon seemed genuinely stunned by news of the attack when he returned to Keppoch Keep with Dougal and the others and Rob could discover no link between Symon and the stranger. Still, with his suspicions growing, Rob thought it best to set some watchers on Symon over the next few days. Choosing a few trustworthy men, he ordered them to keep watch over what his cousin did and with whom he met.

  One decision he’d made was that he would not sign the official betrothal contract with Tyra. No matter what breach existed between his line and Symon’s, marriage to Tyra would not heal it. The thought of marrying once Lilidh left his life for good held little appeal to him.

  Tensions ran high as the days passed with the pending arrival of the MacLeries and possibly war at their gates. Fights broke out among some of the farmers and warriors. Supplies went missing.

  His only respite was with Lilidh.

  After that night, she held nothing back from him. Never seemed uncomfortable with him, in bed or out. They would lose themselves in their growing passion as soon as one touched the other and hours passed spent wrapped around each other in his bed.

  He began to take his evening meal with her in his chambers so they could discuss his plans to deal with her family...and his. She’d organised all the letters between her father and his and now there seemed a pattern to them. Though he remembered nothing that could have caused it, other than his own immaturity, clearly some deep, personal insult had happened between his father and Connor.

  Had youthful stupidity really caused the rift between them? And how could he, or could he, solve this puzzle before Connor arrived?

  * * *

  Just before full dark, two nights later, the MacLeries arrived on his land and set up camp. He stopped counting the fires of the encampment when he reached two score. They approached no further and made no attempt to send word or greeting to him, but their appearance and numbers terrified those within the walls.

  No one slept that night.

  Lilidh had stood watching at the window for hours before he coaxed her to bed. Once in his arms, she had become like a wild thing, loving him with a desperation he’d never seen before.

  * * *

  When morning and the call came, she sat with haunted eyes and watched him leave the bedchamber.

  The Beast of the Highlands had come calling at

  Keppoch Keep—and God help them all.

  * * *

  Rob emptied the hall of everyone and only permitted a few of the elders, Dougal, Symon—now tanist and heir if Rob died or did not produce a son—Tyra and several guards to remain. He gave explicit instructions on what he expected to happen and what he expected of them. Dougal left to give the oath of truce so that the MacLeries could enter under the promise of hospitality.

  With the rest seated behind him, Rob stood and waited for them to enter and the real battle to begin. The sounded of their approach echoed ahead of them into the hall. The nervous whispers behind him ceased as they entered and approached.

  A huge man led the way in and Rob would have recognised Rurik Erengilsson anywhere. At a half more than six feet tall and still carrying the weight and muscles of his youth, the half-Norse, half-Scottish leader of all MacLerie warriors had lost nothing with age. Rob could feel every bruise the man had ever given him in training and knew him to be a deadly adversary. Rurik stopped and stepped aside as the negotiator walked forwards.

  Duncan MacLerie knew how to bargain and would wrestle the best terms in any treaty for the MacLeries.

  Years spent building a reputation as such, he’d also trained his stepdaughter and they had travelled extensively on the Earl of Douran’s business concerns. Rob had learned much from Duncan’s tutelage during his time being fostered in Lairig Dubh and facing this man on opposite sides of a dispute did not please him.

  Rob waited for Duncan to stand aside so he could greet Connor and take his measure, but when the man did move, a woman stood behind him, arms crossed and fire in her eyes.

  ‘Jocelyn MacCallum, Lady MacLerie, the Countess of Douran,’ Duncan said loudly. The gasps behind him let him know that they understood her position. Rob glanced back and motioned to them to rise in respect for the woman in their midst.

  ‘Lady MacLerie,’ he said, bowing to her. ‘I did not expect you.’ Jocelyn walked right up to him and glared at him. Barely reaching his chest, she did not let her lack of height stop her from trying to intimidate him.

  ‘You may have remembered your manners, Laird Matheson, but clearly you have lost your wits,’ she said before delivering a stinging slap to his face.

  Both Rurik and Duncan began to move in his direction, and hers, but he waved them off. Bowing once more to her, Rob understood the fear that lay deep in her eyes. She reacted as a mother whose bairn was in danger. He could and would excuse it, once. When she opened her mouth to speak, he decided he needed to take control over this and find out when Connor would arrive.

  ‘Lady MacLerie, you are overwrought from your journey and your worries about your daughter. I would remind you she is still in my custody.’

  ‘If you have harmed her—’ she began. Duncan furiously whispered her name and Rurik sighed and rolled his eyes, but she ignored them. ‘There is nothing and no one that will stop me from finding you, Rob Matheson, and making you regret what you’ve done.’

  ‘Laird Matheson,’ Duncan said in a calm voice. It felt very strange indeed to be called such by him. ‘Is it possible to allow Lady MacLerie to see to Lady

  MacGregor?’

  ‘Tomas,’ Rob called out without taking his gaze off Jocelyn. ‘Escort Lady MacLerie to see her daughter.’

  Since he had fully expected this situation, he’d already given
Tomas orders about the length of the visit and that, under no circumstances, should he leave them alone. Jocelyn took a step towards the other doorway in the hall, but Tomas pointed towards the stairs. She’d expected Lilidh to be in their dungeon?

  ‘She is being held in my chambers,’ he explained. The news did not go over well with any of them. Rob waited for Jocelyn to leave before asking the question he wanted answered most.

  ‘When does Connor arrive?’ he asked Duncan.

  The two MacLeries exchanged glances and then Duncan answered, ‘We represent the laird here. We negotiate in good faith in his name.’

  Rob’s temper flared at the insult. Connor had sent his men to deal with him and sort out the problem. He did not come himself. Once more, Rob was not worthy of the time or effort. Duncan must have seen his reaction in spite of his attempts to control it and keep his expression blank. The man was an expert in understanding people so it was probably as clear as if Rob had shouted it aloud.

  ‘Laird.’ Tyra’s voice broke into the conversation. He had not heard her approach and had forgotten to make her and the others known to the MacLeries. ‘May I offer some food and drink to our guests while you wait for Lady MacLerie’s return?’

  Rob nodded. Tyra motioned Duncan and Rurik forwards to the table that had been prepared for just this. When they were seated, Rob introduced each of his family and counsellors.

  * * *

  Once they had had a chance to partake, he dismissed everyone but Dougal, Symon and the elders.

  ‘I would speak plainly, Laird,’ Duncan began. ‘If you release the lady now, all of this is done. Connor will take no offence and you can go on your way.’

  ‘No offence?’ Symon asked. Rob glared at him, but it did not stop him. ‘We are offended that the laird himself did not answer our demands in person.’

  ‘The earl has many pressing duties, sir,’ Duncan replied in a low, respectful tone. ‘Since this is a personal issue and one of some delicacy, he thought it best—’