“‘Tis all right, Maddie. I will wait until you are ready,” he said quietly.
“I do not understand. What do you mean?” she cried. “Ready for what?” She swiped at her tears.
“I will help you get past this. When you are ready, I want you to come back and sit with me. I will wait for as long as it takes. I will not touch you again until you desire my touch.”
She saw no anger in his face, no condemnation, just a serene sense of control. He turned his head and gazed at the fire burning in the hearth.
Maddie gulped. Was it possible? Was he truly this patient and calm? She glanced at him again, wanting to convince herself that he was not angry or disgusted. She smoothed her gown in place and played with her hair, trying to rearrange it. Her breathing slowly returned to normal. Perhaps he truly did wish to help her, to be there for her. She moved over to the window, folded the fur back, and peeked out over the moonlit fields. Several minutes passed. I can do this. I would much rather be in his arms than over here by the window alone. He did not hurt me, she reminded herself. She turned enough to watch him over her shoulder. He still had not moved. Collecting her strength, she closed her eyes and turned to face him, willing herself to trust this man fully and without restraint.
She inched over to the hearth and stood in front of where he sat with his elbows resting on his knees. Leaning back in his chair, he studied her.
Her hands tugged at the folds of her gown, and the fire in the hearth warmed her back as she steeled her reserve. I can do this. She sighed as she realized how much she wanted this. A slow blush crept across her face as her eyes met his.
“I would like to come back now if you will still have me, Alex.” There was no threat in his eyes.
“Whenever you are ready, lass.” A soft smile crept across his face.
She eased over to him, and he reached up to her. She grasped his hand in hers and settled on his lap again, careful not to disturb his bandage.
“Am I hurting your leg, Alex?”
“Nay, lass, you are not hurting me. Your touch is as light as a feather. You will not hurt my leg.” He kissed her forehead and brushed back the soft tendrils of her hair. “You have to learn to trust me. I am not like those despicable men. I may get very loud with my bluster, but I will never raise a hand to you in anger. Can you believe me?”
Maddie’s nodded and offered him a tentative smile. In her heart, she knew it was true. She had known it for some time.
“What do you want, Maddie?”
She peered up at him through her lashes. “You, Alex, I want you.”
“Then I am yours. Touch me.” His eyes darkened, imploring her to move.
She touched his rough beard, then ran her thumb along his lower lip. The way he gazed at her immediately sent another wave of warmth through her body. “Touch me again, Alex. Please?” she whispered.
“I want you to try something, lass. Will you do something for me?” he asked.
She nodded her head.
“Do you trust me not to hurt you?”
She nodded again and chewed on her lower lip.
“Then close your eyes for me. I am going to touch you, and if you want me to stop, just ask me.”
She closed her eyes with determination and lifted her chin.
“Maddie, you are so precious to me, do you believe that?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Let me show you how precious you are to me. I am going to touch your ankle, but I will not hurt you.”
She nodded her head, still squeezing her eyes shut. Alex’s hand touched her ankle.
“I am going to move my hand up your leg a little.” He moved his fingers up to her calf and rubbed his hand lightly up and down her lower leg. “How does it feel? Does it feel nice? I want my touch to feel nice to you. Tell me how it feels.”
She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding it. “It feels good, Alex. I like it,” she whispered as she wrapped her hands around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.
She peeked up at him and caught his smile before closing her eyes again. “Good, lass. I am going to move my hand up. Do you still trust me?” He moved his hand up to her knee and caressed the sensitive skin behind it.
Maddie nodded again. She wiggled in his lap a little. Alex groaned but continued to caress her leg. Her breath came a little faster. “Yes, Alex, I like it when you touch me.”
He moved his hand up above her knee. “This is the last move I will make, Maddie. I am going a little higher. Do you still trust me?” His hand was nearly at the top of her thigh, but she did not move.
She nodded against his shoulder. His warm skin felt wonderful against hers, but she made a move to push his hand away out of embarrassment. At the last moment, she stopped herself. His hand caressed her leg back and forth, brushing over the top of her thigh. His thumb rubbed a path down the inside of her thigh. Her fingers dug into his shoulder, her eyes still closed.
“Alex,” she whispered. What was happening to her? Her belly was full of butterflies again. She kept her eyes closed, rejoicing in the sensation of his caresses. There was a burning at the juncture of her legs that she didn’t understand, but she did not want him to stop. She reflexively moved her thighs apart, then gasped when she realized what she had done. Her head jerked up as her eyes flew open in shame.
Alex ran his calloused thumb down her cheek and over her neck. “It’s all right, lass. People who are to be married touch each other. It is supposed to be wonderful. You are supposed to enjoy it. Relax.” He kissed her lightly on her lips, tugging her lip out before he ran his tongue over it.
“Touch me, lass. I want to feel your touch,” he whispered in her ear.
Maddie reached for the hard planes of his chest and ran her fingers down through his coarse hairs to his abdomen and back up again. She brushed his nipples lightly—which made her jump—but she did not hesitate before reaching down to touch him again. She liked the feel of his skin. A dark line trailed down his abdomen and disappeared inside his plaid.
“Precious, look at me,” Alex said.
She raised her eyes to gaze at him and saw the desire in his eyes. Blushing to her core, she realized how special she felt at this moment.
“This is how it should be between a husband and wife, Maddie. Touching and caressing should feel wonderful. You should trust me not to hurt you. It is about giving pleasure and receiving pleasure. It is about wanting to take care of the person you care about.” He removed his hand from her leg and reached up to brush a lock of hair behind her ear. “We will do this together, sweeting. Do you believe me?”
“Yes.” She leaned forward and Alex took possession of her mouth. The kiss was demanding. He angled his mouth over hers, hungrily thrusting his tongue to mate with hers. He stopped abruptly, cradled her head in his hands, and leaned in and touched his forehead to hers, letting out his breath with a sigh.
Wrapping his hands around her waist, he set her apart from him before standing on his good leg. “And now, before you make me completely lose my wits, we must stop.” She stared at him with a dazed expression on her face.
“But we still have one more thing we need to decide, my lady,” he said as he helped her straighten her skirts and her hair. “We need to decide when our wedding will take place.”
“Oh, Alex, I need to make my dress and plan the feast. I don’t know how long that will take,” she explained.
“You are not going to make me wait too long, are you?” Alex’s eyebrows rose.
Maddie blushed when she glanced up at him. “I do not want to wait either,” she confessed.
“Alice and Brenna can help you with your dress and the planning, can they no’?”
“Certainly, they will. It is Brenna’s kitchen, my lord.”
“Soon to be yours,” he added with a smile.
Maddie scowled as she thought about it. She had not realized she would be assuming the position of mistress of the keep. “Oh, Alex, I hope Brenna won’t mind.”<
br />
“I think Brenna will be relieved. Mayhap we can think of Brenna getting betrothed. ‘Tis time for her, I think.” He paused in thought. “I think a fortnight should be enough time, don’t you?”
“Oh, my goodness, that is not much time! Perhaps I should get started.”
He pulled her back into an embrace. “Nay, Maddie, to bed with you. It has been a tiring day.” He kissed her briefly and opened the door. Brodie was asleep on the floor. They stepped over him so Alex could escort Maddie to her chamber. When they reached her door, she turned back to him and he ravished her mouth again.
She stepped inside with a blush and a smile, rubbing her fingers over her lips, remembering how good Alex tasted. For the first time in a long while, she found herself looking forward to what the future held in store.
RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER
CHAPTER TWENTY
Maddie tossed and turned through most of the night, kept awake by the thoughts of all that needed to be done in preparation for her wedding. She found herself torn between fear and elation. Would she be able to be a true wife to Alex? Would he have enough patience for her?
Yet she also rejoiced at the thought of being a true part of his family, of this loving, happy clan who all cherished one another. She hoped her new family would help fill the gap left behind by the loss of her mother and father. Often times, she sensed her mother’s loving spirit lingering near her. Intuition told her that both her ma and da approved of her newfound love.
She rushed through her ablutions so she could find Brenna and discuss the big event. It was late, so she guessed Alex was probably already in the lists with his men even though he belonged in bed. What would happen to Kenneth? She cringed at the thought of Alex killing him in cold blood. Even though she hated her brother, she didn’t want Alex killing him over her. Now that Niles was dead, would Kenneth be willing to agree to her marriage to Alex? She had never understood the agreement between the Comming and her stepbrother, so she was not sure what Kenneth had hoped to gain from her betrothal.
As she reached for the door of her chamber, a loud bellow from below shook the walls. Was that Alex? She opened her door and rushed to the balcony, cringing as soon as she peeked over the railing. Alex stood toe-to-toe with Robbie, both of them clearly angry, and Brodie was directly behind Robbie.
“What do you mean Kenneth escaped, brother? Why was I not told this when it happened?” Alex raged in his brother’s face.
Maddie’s knees quaked as she held the railing to keep steady. Had she heard correctly? Kenneth had escaped?
“You were a bit incapacitated, Laird!” Robbie retorted.
“I was not incapacitated. You could have told me when it was discovered!” Alex’s fury radiated from every pore of his body.
“Since you were flat on your arse with your arms around a lass, I did not think you would answer!”
Robbie and Alex stood nose to nose with their fists clenched. Neither man gave an inch.
A quiet fury emanated from her betrothed. “What exactly are you implying?”
Madeline crept down the stairs silently.
Robbie sighed and lowered his voice. “He escaped around the time Niles was killed. There was a throng of people out of control after the sword fight. By the time Angus got everyone settled down, Kenneth was nowhere to be seen.”
“Why did you no’ go after him then? You are next in charge if I cannot speak.”
“I was busy bringing my bull-headed brother up to his chamber. Next time, I will leave you on the ground,” Robbie spat.
Both brothers continued to stare at each other. Neither moved.
“I will have both you and Brodie flogged for losing my prisoner. You were in charge. You should have prevented it from happening.”
“My hands were full. My laird didn’t give me any warning that he was about to kill a man in front of the entire clan.” Robbie gave Alex a scathing look before whispering, “If those are your wishes, Laird, let me locate the whip for you. I would prefer for you to do the task.”
Alex nodded. “I would be glad to do the honors.”
A high-pitched scream wrenched through the air as wee Jennie tore across the room and latched onto both brothers, wrapping one arm around each brother’s knee. “No whipping, no whipping, no whipping!” She screamed and pummeled Alex’s legs in a frantic fury that sank right to Maddie’s gut.
Alex stepped back and picked up his sister. Maddie’s breath caught at the sight of the tiny fist striking her brother’s broad shoulders. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eye. “Jennie, I will not whip your brothers.” He sighed as he glanced at Robbie. “I am sorry, little squirrel, to have upset you so.”
Jennie was crying, so her words were choked out around sobs. “Say you are sorry to Robbie. Say you are sorry to Brodie. You promised Papa to love and take care of us all. You cannot whip us.” Hitching sobs continued to pour out of her. “Alex, you have to love Robbie and Brodie. You have to! You almost died, too, like Mama and Da. No one can leave. Promise me. If you whip them, they will leave. I want them to stay. Promise me!”
Alex turned to his brother. “Robbie knows I love you all. I just lost my temper. I am sorry, Robbie, for my threats. Can we sit down at the table, Jennie? We will sit with Robbie.” Alex motioned his brothers over to the table and waved the servants out. He lowered himself carefully, as Jennie’s arms were still wrapped tight around his neck, her face buried in his shoulder.
Madeline tiptoed over from the bottom of the stairway to stand beside Alex.
She whispered with her head down, barely audible. “He has escaped?”
“Aye, but we will find him,” he answered. Alex ran his hand over his face and sighed. “Robbie, tell me everything.”
Madeline attempted to take Jennie from Alex, but she would not budge. She popped her thumb in her mouth for a few seconds, then quickly withdrew it and buried her face in her brother’s chest. After her sobbing subsided, Alex motioned to Robbie.
Robbie began his story. “Angus had the grounds searched right away, but nothing turned up. When I found out last night, I took several men with me and searched the area. We found two of Kenneth’s guards—” he glanced quickly at Jennie, “—sleeping, but there was no sign of Kenneth. Some of his men must have been waiting for him. So many traveled here on horseback to see the fight that tracking was difficult. Most of Comming’s men were released. They chose not to return to his castle, so they all went off to different place. A few requested to swear fealty to you. I have them under guard until you decide what you want to do with them.”
“What about the guards who came with Kenneth?” Alex asked.
“I still have some of the MacDonald men under guard awaiting your decision.”
Brenna entered the great hall from outside and Jennie immediately hopped down and threw herself at her sister. Gathering the wee one in her arms, Brenna made her way to the table and sat.
“As long as we are all here—” Alex reached for Madeline’s hand, “—Maddie and I have an announcement to make, and I hope it will dry your tears, Jennie. Maddie has agreed to be my wife and we plan to marry in a fortnight.”
Jennie bounded out of Brenna’s lap. “Oh, Maddie, you will be my new sister. I am so happy!” She hugged her tight and then ran over to Alex and hugged him, too. “It does make me very happy, Alex. And can we have new bairns, too?”
“Slow down there, little squirrel, first we must marry. I hope someday we have bairns, but not quite yet.” He glanced over at Maddie, who could not help but blush a deep red for everyone.
Brenna stopped short and said, “Did you say a fortnight?”
Alex nodded. “Is that not acceptable, sister?”
“Oh, I think it is possible, but we will be very busy. We need to sew a dress for Maddie and plan a feast. We will also need to notify our neighbors. And what about the priest? We have to get in touch with Father MacGregor to see if he can be here by then.”
“Brenna, you and Maddie le
t me know what you need. I will plan to free up a portion of my men for extra hunting the week before the feast. If you need more lasses from the village to help out, then hire them. I will not have this put off. I have waited long enough for my bride.” He glanced at Maddie with yearning, and she blushed again. “I have the blushing bride, now let’s get whatever else is necessary.” He leaned over and kissed Maddie’s cheek before heading out the door.
Halfway to the door, Maddie called out, “Alex, what about Kenneth?”
“Maddie, you take care of the wedding, I will take care of your stepbrother. I will not allow him to interfere with our marriage.”
***
Once outside, Alex said to Robbie, “We need to send a messenger with an escort to the king. Plan on leaving in two days. ‘Tis important for him to hear our version of what happened with the Comming and Kenneth, and I must notify him of my plan to wed Madeline. I think he will approve, but I want to do things properly.
“I will have a list from Maddie or Brenna of anything else that is needed for the occasion. Check with me before the messengers leave. They may have invitations to deliver as well. Oh, and we will need to reach Father MacGregor. While you make the arrangements, Brodie and I will ride off in search for Kenneth.”
Several hours later, Alex returned to the keep in his chain mail to search for Maddie, but he did not have far to go. She was perched in her chair, diligently working on a project.
“Maddie, I am leaving shortly to search for Kenneth. I don’t know when I will return, but we should be gone no more than two days.”
She glanced up from her work and gave him a worried look. “I look forward to your safe return, Laird. Please be careful. I fear I will not sleep until you are home safe.” She rose and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.
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