by C. A. Szarek
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried. Alasdair swallowed. Twice.
“What’s wrong, my love?” she whispered, nestling close. Her bare skin heated him and quickened his heart.
Alasdair’s hand shook when he covered her belly with a flat palm. Her skin was smooth. Taut and supple.
Her hazel eyes bored into him when their gazes met. She smiled, and laid her hand over his.
He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even muster the strength to say there was nothing wrong. It’d never been so right for him. For them.
So he lifted her, carried her to the bed and followed her down, careful not to crush her—and their child—with his full weight. “Elissa,” he breathed against her mouth as he dipped down again to taste her lips again.
She slid her hands into his hair and returned his kiss, moaning as it became heated, hungry and frantic. She widened her thighs and opened for him there, too. Alasdair slid more fully into the cradle of her body, his cock pulsing when the golden curls between her legs caressed his swollen tip. He wanted to slide into her tight heat, claim her. But not yet. He kissed his way down her neck and across her collarbone.
Elissa whimpered and arched into him, requesting more attention to her breasts, which he was happy to give. Alasdair ran the flat of his tongue around the curve of her breast before suckling her nipple and teasing her tight areola, watching her harden even more. She panted his name as he did the same to the other.
He could taste salty sweat on her skin. He couldn’t get enough of her. As she writhed beneath him, the candlelight caught the sheen of her skin from the moisture of his licks.
Alasdair continue downward, until he dragged kisses on her lower belly, pausing to lavish caresses and over the place where his child grew. Lying prone, the slight curve couldn’t be seen. It didn’t matter. He knew what grew inside, a piece of them both he already loved more than his own life.
She whimpered, tilting her hips, begging without words for what he already intended.
He inhaled deeply and honeyed arousal filled his nostrils, his lungs. He couldn’t get enough. Alasdair dipped his head down and licked the knot of flesh at the top of her sex.
Elissa screamed and pulled the hair her hands were already buried in. “Alasdair,” she breathed, tossing her head back on her pillow.
His cock was so hard it bounced against his thigh as he adjusted his position so he could hunker down and really taste her. He’d make her come a few times before he joined their bodies. Then, when he was deep inside her, making her his again, he’d make her come again.
Alasdair’s scalp stung as she tugged his hair when he sucked her into his mouth, but he didn’t care if she yanked him bald. Not as her essence coated his tongue and he savored her.
Her hips lifted from the bed, her back curved, and Elissa clutched his shoulders, but he didn’t stop. He needed more. He couldn’t stop until he’d devoured all of her.
Moisture flooded his mouth and Elissa screamed. She was close. Oh so close.
Alasdair slid two fingers inside her, swirling his tongue around her swollen nub. Her core clutched at him, soft hot walls pulsing as he moved in and out of her.
His love wiggled and wobbled, rocking back and forth until he had to hold her down.
Orgasm crested when he touched the certain spot deep inside. She shattered and tossed her head back, her glorious flaxen locks spread wide, and her eyes crushed shut.
So beautiful in her passion it stole his breath.
He didn’t stop his ministrations until she came in his mouth again. By then, Elissa panted so hard, and grabbed at him until her nails scored his shoulders. Alasdair didn’t give a damn if she made him bleed, not when she was looking at him like that.
“Come inside me. I need you,” Elissa pleaded, trying to pull him up her splayed body. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, her hands shaky, but he didn’t make her wait.
He rose above her, kissing her deeply as he settled his pelvis against hers. Alasdair made him look at her when he parted their mouths. “I love you.”
She smiled, her expression hazy and passionate. “I love you, too.”
“I’m going to take you. Show you you’re mine.”
“I’ve always been yours, Sir Alasdair Kearney.”
His heart thundered as he thrust forward, filling her completely with one hard stroke. They both gasped. Their gazes collided. Held. He froze above her, mentally and physically processing how he felt inside her. Loved. Completed. Wet. Hot. Her sex gripped him like his favorite pair of riding gloves.
Emotion drove him forward. So much love it stole his ability to talk, to think, even though he’d wanted to tell her once more how he felt about her.
Elissa tugged him down, snaking her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his. “You don’t have to tell me, Alas. Show me how I belong to you, my love.” As if she’d read his mind.
He was lost then, giving her what she’d demanded, heart, body and soul. Alasdair couldn’t do anything else. Need took over, propelling him in and out of her again and again. He took her hard, falling deeper into her when Elissa wrapped her legs around his waist.
She matched his every stroke, every kiss, every caress. Their eyes stayed locked the whole time, amplifying the meaning of their lovemaking.
When they cascaded over the edge together, there was no urgency, only intense pleasure for them both, unlike anything he’d ever experienced. It was drawn out, cascading over him in waves. Elissa stiffened beneath him, holding him tight as her core milked him.
Alasdair’s whole body quivered. He pulled her closer and buried his face in her damp neck.
She caressed his back as climax receded and his vision cleared. They both panted, her breasts flat against his chest and the ability to think slowly returned.
When he tried to move off her, afraid he’d crush her, Elissa held him hard, fast.
“Don’t go,” she whispered in his ear.
“I’m not going anywhere, love.” He gently pulled from her body and rolled to his side, despite her protests. “I don’t want to hurt you.” He tucked her into his side. Alasdair stroked her cheeks to reassure her and kissed her tenderly.
She pushed into his mouth, deepening their kiss. It soon melted into something languorous and sweet as Elissa snuggled closer, sliding her leg between his. “I love you,” she breathed.
“I love you, too.” Alasdair smiled. “That was perfect.”
His love smiled back, cupping his face. “You’re perfect, but your beard is not. It’s scratchy. You should shave.” She grabbed fuzz on his cheek and tugged.
Alasdair chuckled. “You seemed to like the roughness against your inner thighs. You wiggled and begged for more.”
Elissa blushed to the tips of her ears and mock-glared. “It’s improper to speak of such things.”
He laughed again. “You’re shy, after what we’ve done?”
She averted her gaze, despite his intended tease.
“Elissa, look at me.” Seconds passed before she did so. Alasdair rested his hand against her crimson face, caressing her high cheekbone with his thumb. “Love, I don’t want you to be embarrassed with me. About anything.”
“I’m not. Really. It’s hard to…speak…of such things.”
Alasdair winked. “Then we shouldn’t do them. If you can’t discuss them.”
Her beautiful eyes narrowed and she slid her small hand around his wrist and squeezed. “That’s not going to work for me.”
“Oh?”
“I want you too badly.”
He leaned in and kissed her, fighting a teasing grin. “Good. Because I want you as badly.”
“Forever,” Elissa whispered. Her misty eyes made his heart skip.
“Aye, love. Forever.”
Epilogue
A baby’s cry made his heart and stomach jump at the same time.
Leargan grinned and slapped him on the back. “Congrats, man, you’re a father!”
He’d wanted to stay by her side, but his nerves
had affected hers, and her magic had started to react, so Morag had glared him from the large bedchamber that’d once belonged to her parents. Elissa had been able to control her pain and her magic after he’d hit the corridor.
His captain’s exclamation sank in, and Alasdair wobbled on his feet.
“Whoa, steady.” Amusement rippled through Bowen’s voice and a strong hand landed between his shoulder blades, and another seized his right biceps.
Dallon appeared on his left, looking ready to grab him if he did topple on his arse.
“Alas? Are you all right?” Leargan took a step closer, concern in his dark eyes. Lord Jorrin and Roduch stood close behind him, expressions mirroring the captain’s. But he couldn’t focus on his lord or his brothers.
Elissa.
He needed to see her. Now.
And their child.
He couldn’t muster an answer for Leargan, or any of his other fellow knights—or the duke—that’d made the journey to Castle Durroc from Greenwald Main.
Most of the guard was holding up walls in the corridor. He appreciated the support even if he couldn’t say so at the moment.
Elissa had insisted his son’s birth take place in the castle she’d been born in. Despite his protests of traveling so late in pregnancy.
Lord Tristan had calmed him—but not enough. And with the healer’s reassurance that a carriage ride wouldn’t harm either wife or child, Alasdair had lost the argument. Besides, the healing lord was at his wife’s side with Greenwald’s headwoman and the headwoman of Castle Durroc, Phasia Uncel, the wife of the property’s longtime caretaker, Thomad.
The duchess had insisted upon coming, but she wasn’t in the room. She’d brought the ladies and half a dozen maids. They were all downstairs, organizing a meal for everyone in the great room.
Castle Durroc’s small staff hadn’t been expecting them, so they’d brought food, too, much to Phasia’s embarrassment. Lasses had come and gone from the lord and lady’s rooms, staff as well as both headwomen. For hours. The longer it’d taken, the more on edge Alasdair had been.
Mischief had been banned from the room, too, and paced the corridor right beside Alasdair, until he’d managed to coax the wolf to lie down. He’d stroked the silver beast’s soft fur. It’d calmed them both, for a time, but the normally happy wolf hadn’t wagged his tail once. He whined every time Elissa called out, agitating Alasdair all over.
But now…
His child was here.
The door opened, and he flushed from head to toe.
“You have a daughter, Sir Alasdair. A fine, healthy lass.” Morag had a small wiggly bundle tucked in her arms when she appeared under the fancy arched doorway. However, the soft white swaddling obscured his view.
“He’s a she?” Words tumbled from his mouth.
Chuckles surrounded him, but he ignored his brothers and rushed to Morag’s side. Stared down at the tiny thing against her generous bosom.
His eyes welled with tears and he didn’t even give a damn. Alasdair’s hands reached out, even though he was scared to death to look at her, let alone touch her. Hold her.
My tiny lass.
The dark blonde tuft of downy hair was what he saw first. The Blessed Spirit hadn’t given her much. What she had was sticking straight up.
He felt a tear roll down his cheek.
Mischief shot into the doorway as soon as the headwoman moved toward Alasdair, and for once, she didn’t stop to chide him.
Morag transferred the baby to his arms and took a step back as Alasdair settled her against his chest.
He studied her little face. Rosebud mouth, blinking blue eyes. Her cheeks were round and ruddy, but her skin was so flawless. New, like she was.
Perfect.
His breath caught.
“She’s mine.”
“I surely hope so.” The headwoman laughed and patted his stubbled cheek. “Go to your wife; she’s anxious to see you. You lot,” Morag addressed his brothers and the duke, “disperse. I’m sure we can find a meal in the hall. No doubt Lady Cera and my lasses have done us well.” She kept nagging the knights and Lord Jorrin—as she was prone to do—but her orders faded, male groans and bootsteps following.
The world narrowed as Alasdair couldn’t look away from his daughter.
Her expression was tight, as if she was irritated.
He lifted her, pressing a kiss to her tiny forehead and smiling when her little face relaxed. Beauty and innocence stole his heart. Just like her mother had.
Elissa flashed a tired smile when he carried their child to her. “Alas, are you crying, my love?” Her hand was on her bondmate’s large head as he sat plastered to the large bedframe, but she must’ve sent him a mental command, because the wolf soon settled by the hearth on a rug, in front of a warm fire. He didn’t look happy about it, though.
“Nay.” Alasdair tried to grunt, but couldn’t. “Perhaps,” he finally whispered.
“Come here.” She reached for him.
He took a seat on the bed next to her, but didn’t give the baby over just yet.
“My lady, do you need anything else?” Phasia politely interrupted.
“Nay, but thank you, Phasia,” Elissa said.
Alasdair inclined his head when she curtseyed, then his gaze found Lord Dagget, who was jotting his daughter’s birth record in the Durroc family ledger. “Lord Tristan.”
The healer smiled and set down the quill. “Aye?”
“Thank you. So much.”
The younger man crossed the room and nodded. “Delivering babes is always a happy part of my duties. You’re welcome, Alas.”
Alasdair set his daughter in his wife’s arms and stood, clasping Lord Tristan’s forearm. His throat was thick as the healer returned the gesture.
Everyone at Castle Aldern was as much his family as Elissa and their new daughter. Today—and what they’d all done for him and Elissa proved that. Why it’d taken him so long to realize it made him a fool. Especially after Lord Jorrin’s speech before he’d gone to Dalunas.
Lord Tristan’s hazel eyes were warm when their gazes locked. As if he could read Alasdair’s mind. “Well, I’ll leave you three to get acquainted.” He looked at Elissa. “You should be completely healed, but let me know if anything hurts. I don’t anticipate any issues.”
His wife nodded, and the healer slipped from the room. Phasia followed shortly, her arms full of supplies.
When Alasdair sat again, he was closer to his two lasses.
Elissa tilted her face up, asking for a kiss. He obliged, caressing her cheek as they parted.
“I love you,” Alasdair whispered.
“I love you, too. And I already love her more than anything.”
They looked down at their daughter. Together.
“Me, too.”
“All these months, I thought for sure she was a lad.”
He chuckled. “You could’ve let Lord Tristan tell you. I know he offered several times.”
She flashed a lopsided grin that washed away the fatigue on her beautiful face. “Nay. I was sure.”
“Ah. Now I get to say something I don’t often utter about you, love.”
Elissa arched an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“You were wrong.”
She giggled and looked down at the perfection between them. “I don’t care.”
“Neither do I.” He cupped the baby’s head, caressing her downy hair. “She looks so much like you, Elissa.”
“I see you in her face.”
Emotion caught in his throat. Love enveloped him. “My two lasses.”
Her smile was tender when their gazes brushed again, but neither could stop looking at their child. “What shall we call her?” Elissa broke the companionable silence.
“I don’t know. We only talked of lad’s names.”
“Well, we can’t call her Emery, as planned.”
“Or Exton.”
Elissa rolled her eyes. “How long are you going to rub it in?”
Alasdair chuckled. “As long as I can, love.” He leaned in and kissed the glare off of her face.
“That makes it better,” she whispered.
“Good, because there’s more where that came from.”
“Focus, Alas. Name your daughter.”
“Awfully domineering for someone who’s supposed to be exhausted from giving birth.”
“Lord Tristan healed me fully.”
“Fully, fully. As in…”
She smacked his chest, but giggled. “Of course you’re worried about making love already. My body can, aye. But a newborn lass will keep us tired, from what I hear.”
“As long as we’re together, I can handle anything.”
Elissa’s expression didn’t just soften. It melted, and her eyes went misty. Mischief whined but they both ignored him. “I love you, Alas.”
Alasdair cupped her face, wiping a tear away as soon as it formed. “I know. Forever.”
She grinned and glanced back down at their tiny lass. “Hmmm, my love, what’s your name?”
“Kenna. After my mother.” His voice cracked but he didn’t care. Alasdair looked at the love of his life, then at their daughter. “Her name is Kenna.”
“I love it.” She had tears streaming down her cheeks when they made eye-contact.
“Why’re you crying then?” He went for a tease, but his question was too thick.
“Happy tears.” Her magic rippled around them, but it was answered by more magic.
They looked at Kenna together, as a warm wind rippled through the air. “Was that…?”
“I think so.” Elissa’s tone held wonder.
“She’s like you, love.”
His wife nodded, her gorgeous hazel eyes wide. “I felt magic as she grew inside me, but she’s hours old, Alas. That was…”
“Powerful,” they said at the same time.
Elissa’s brow furrowed.
“Don’t worry, you’ll train her and I’ll protect her. My brothers and Lucan will protect her, too. No one like Drayton will even get close to her.”
Worry still creased her brow. Finally Elissa nodded and their collective gaze regarded tiny Kenna.
Elissa loved him. Trusted him to keep their child safe. Love welled up. “Thank you,” Alasdair whispered, cupping her face with one hand.