In the Warrior’s Bed

by Mary Wine

  This was where the men held their meetings. It was a place the women of Sterling didn’t venture unless invited. Hard decisions were made here, many times ruthless ones. A plain wood table sat near the far wall with benches and chairs gathered around it. Brodick McJames sat there with Cullen and their cousin Druce. Bronwyn stared at the laird of White Tower. She hadn’t seen the man since riding away toward Sterling on the day of her wedding.

  All three men stopped talking when they saw her. Their attention lingered on her as the captain led her toward them. A tingle went down her neck and the final few paces felt excessively long.

  “Yer brothers have proposed coming to visit ye.” Brodick McJames spoke quietly, his tone betraying his apprehension.

  Surprise held her silent. Cullen aimed a hard stare at her.

  “They claim that yer father was the one who wanted to keep our clans fighting.”

  “That is true enough.” She had listened to her father curse the name McJames her entire life.

  Brodick frowned. “True that only yer father wanted strife?”

  She suddenly felt stretched between the two clans. Born McQuade but wed to a McJames. Cullen didn’t care for her silence.

  “Are yer brothers honorable men, Bronwyn?”

  The question hung over her. Cullen watched her with suspicion, once more rubbing her temper. Once again she was McQuade and he McJames. But there was still a hope burning in her heart that they didn’t have to be separated by the names they were born with. It flickered deep inside her, refusing to die under the suspicious gazes slicing into her, last night’s memory rising up to defend him in the face of her temper. Besides, they had faced her father over drawn swords. Truly, she could not blame them for being suspicious when those same men asked to enter their home.

  “My brother Keir is an honorable man. That is all I can tell ye for sure. Liam and Sodac were ever my father’s sons. I dinna know them well.”

  The three men relaxed slightly and looked at one another. The earl nodded toward her. “Thank ye.”

  It was a dismissal. Bronwyn lowered herself before leaving. Before she rose, Cullen aimed his attention at her. His expression was a stone mask, concealing his feelings from her. But there was a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes that sent a ripple of apprehension down her back. He would use her against her clan; she saw the truth of it reflected in his eyes.

  Turning her back on him, she strode out of the room. The captain and his men stayed behind, conversation resuming as she left. She found herself alone for the first time in a week.

  And clothed.

  Temptation needled her but she was torn.

  Liam and Sodac had never been kind to her. Their ugly accusations rose from her memory on that first day she had met Cullen. Returning to their judgment seemed a rather poor choice.

  Staying just might be a poor idea as well. The clang of the blacksmiths told her where the stable was. She moved toward a doorway and caught sight of a man working glowing red iron on an anvil. A young stable lad held a horse nearby. The doors here were kept wide open during the day. It gave her a perfect opportunity to step into the yard. Plenty of people were moving around; she might slip away without notice.

  But tears stung her eyes as she looked at the open gates. She actually backed away because it hurt to think of leaving.

  She ran into a hard body.

  A soft cry bounced off the wall, her body fighting against the arms that enclosed her.

  “Shh, lass. Easy now.”

  A sob passed her lips. Relief surged through her thickly, so that she turned and hit him for frightening her so.

  “Ye brute.”

  He hugged her close, trapping her arms against his chest. Raising her chin, she glared at him, but ended up feeling the tears ease from her eyes when she looked into his gaze. Approval shone there. So bright it sent more tears onto her cheeks. Cullen brushed them away with gentle hands.

  “I had to follow ye, lass.” His voice was rough with emotion. “But I dinna mean to frighten ye.”

  “I told ye before, Cullen McJames, I am no afraid of ye.”

  His expression softened. He stroked the side of her face with a warm hand, sending little prickles of delight through her. “Why aren’t ye, Bronwyn? I’ve done more than enough to earn yer fear.”

  She pushed against his chest, but he didn’t release her. “I just don’t. My father hated ye enough, don’t ye think? Do ye enjoy knowing there are people who dislike ye?”

  “I enjoy knowing that ye do not dislike me. That ye are nae afraid of me in spite of having good reason to be.”

  “Ye have never hurt me…” Her words were soft and almost too quiet to hear.

  A satisfied smile appeared on his lips. She stared at it because she had pleased him. Knowing it, sent a shaft of deep satisfaction through her. He reached out and stroked a hand across her cheek.

  “Trust is nae something I could ever take from ye, Bronwyn. It’s a gift and one I truly value.”

  He’d earned it…

  Her trust. There had been plenty of times when he could have used his strength to force her into yielding. That was the truest test of honor. Cullen had prevailed, proving himself a man worthy of respect.

  “Even with my father dead, I doubt this marriage will bring ye much gain.” Bronwyn heard the disappointment in her own voice. “I am sorry for that.”

  “I’m not.” Firm conviction coated his voice. “I wanted ye the first time I met ye.”

  “But that is no what ye should marry for.”

  His lips curled up into a broader smile. “Is that sweet affection I hear in yer words?”

  “No. I just understand that ye will be disappointed. My elder brothers are very much like my father.”

  Cullen raised a single finger. “But why do ye care if I’m nae happy?”

  Uncertainty held her silent.

  She wasn’t sure.

  Wasn’t sure why it pleased her to know that he thought she harbored affection for him. Only that her heart was full of happiness for the first time in what felt like years.

  There was activity outside in the yard. The blacksmith halted his work and she heard men running. Cullen sighed, his arms tightening momentarily.

  “We’ll have to discuss our trust issues later. Yer brothers are here.”

  “Now?” He held her in spite of her squirming. His keen eyes watching her.

  “Aye, they sent the message from outside the gates. I must admit it was surprising to see McQuade retainers in the light of day on McJames land.”

  “As am I…” She spoke without thinking. But his eyes brightened and it was a sight that warmed her heart. She couldn’t say just why, only that earning his approval made her happy. He was not a man who gave it out; it had to be earned.

  But as soon as it appeared, it vanished. Cullen frowned, his expression becoming guarded once more. His arms opened.

  “I suppose I’d be a true blackguard to be angry over your joy at knowing yer family is here.”

  But he was, there was no mistaking it in his voice. She chewed on her lower lip debating her next words. It was the truth that she did not trust Liam or Sodac. Cullen was allowing them into Sterling because of her. Responsibility weighed her shoulders down. A captive wouldn’t have cared about what befell those who imprisoned her.

  The weight bearing down on her shoulders was unmistakable.

  “Keir.” Her voice was choppy. “I only miss Keir. He is a good man, Cullen. I swear that.”

  Cullen’s face tightened. “Only the one, ye say?”

  Let her father haunt her, she would not lie just because Cullen was a McJames. He was a good man who deserved honesty.

  “Keir will keep his word. If he gives it, he keeps it.”

  The bells began ringing, alerting every person at Sterling of the approaching threat. Cullen stiffened. In a swift motion he drew her back against his body, his mouth claiming hers in a searing kiss that was hot and needy. Her hands slipped up his chest to his
neck to hold him, her lips moving in unison with his. She forgot about everything except the man holding her. In his embrace there was pleasure and security without the harsh, cutting edge of reality.

  Someone cleared their throat loudly. Cullen lifted his head, a scowl on his face.

  “So sorry to interrupt ye.”

  Brodick McJames didn’t sound repentant. Not a bit. He smirked at his brother but offered her a kind smile. “Sorry, lass, I’m just repaying me brother for a bit of teasing he put me through with my own bride.”

  “Damn poor time for ye to recall that.”

  “I’m thinking it’s a fine time considering we’ve got McQuades riding through our gate. We’d best get out there and set an example for the men or we’ll find our wives needing permission to visit us in prison when Jamie clamps us in irons for allowing a melee.”

  Bronwyn turned to look out the doorway. Liam, Sodac, and Keir sat atop their horses in the middle of the yard. It felt almost like a dream but they were there as sure as she was in Cullen’s arms.

  Her siblings stared at her, the open doorway making it simple for them to see her. Liam and Sodac scowled at her. Keir’s face was unreadable.

  “I detest yer ruthlessness, Cullen, ’tis a fact I do.”

  He didn’t release her quickly. The arms holding her against him remained firmly around her waist until she looked back into his eyes. Determination burned there, so bright it could have blinded her.

  “Be that as it is, Bronwyn, but ye are my wife.”

  And he intended to make sure her clan knew it. She should have blushed. The few McQuade men with her brothers frowned deeply at her but her face didn’t heat.

  She pushed away from Cullen but couldn’t escape the reason she wasn’t blushing. It was simple, she wasn’t ashamed. Her craving for him overwhelmed her sense of clan loyalty.

  But he was her husband, too.

  Keir swung off his horse first, giving up the position of height. It was a gesture of trust, one the McJames retainers watching him didn’t miss. There was a ripple of approval from the McJames men as Keir walked through to reach her. Tension was thick between the men behind her and her brother. Keir paused at the bottom of the steps, sweeping her with his eyes. With a nod he climbed up until he was facing off with Cullen and Brodick.

  A hard hand grasped her wrist, keeping her beside Cullen. Short of jerking against his hold, she was stuck in place.

  “It looks like marriage agrees with ye.” Keir sounded tired. More so than she could ever recall.

  “It does.” Cullen answered too quickly and far too boastfully for her taste. Her brother frowned.

  “I’ll hear that from my sister if ye don’t mind.”

  “I mind.”

  “Enough.” She jerked on her arm and stumbled between the two men before they too got to quarreling. “This marriage is meant to end the fighting so don’t ye two go picking at one another and quarrelling.”

  Keir stared at her, one dark eyebrow twitching up. He suddenly smirked at Cullen. “Well now, it’s good to know ye aren’t cowering at his feet.” Keir’s face darkened. “I’d have to quarrel over that.”

  There was silence for a moment before Cullen spoke.

  “Is that a fact, McQuade?”

  “It is, McJames. My sister is a McQuade and I couldna have her acting like anything else.”

  Cullen nodded. “I can live with that.”

  Keir grunted. Brodick and Cullen both seemed to understand what the single sound meant. Bronwyn stared out at her other brothers. Liam and Sodac had still not given up their horses. Liam noticed her attention first and his lip curled in disgust. A tingle of foreboding went down her back.

  She trusted Keir, only Keir.

  Chapter Twelve

  Something wasn’t right.

  Cullen snorted at his own thoughts.

  McQuade’s sons sat at his father’s high table and all he could think was that something wasn’t right?

  He’d watched McJames women mourning husbands and sons that his guests had run through. There was an uneasy quiet in the hall while supper was set out. Even the maids set their platters down carefully. He was gaining a new respect for his king. Dining with one’s enemies was a task that took a lot more skill than he’d given it credit for.

  But his wife had spoken truthfully about one thing. Her brother Keir was different than his older brothers. As the night progressed, he found himself thinking it was a pity that Keir wasn’t the elder. The man was not like his father. That was not to say the man liked him. Keir sent him more than one hard glance.

  “Enough.” Keir pushed his chair back and stood. “I’m going to have a word with my sister. Alone.”

  He shot Cullen a look that dared him to refuse. Cullen stood up, but Bronwyn pushed away from the table.

  “We can go to the chapel.”

  Cullen nodded but kept his attention on Keir. He couldn’t deny her the chance to talk with her brother but dread twisted through him. She brushed past him and he caught her hand. She raised her eyes to stare at him.

  “Ye shall have to trust me, Cullen.”

  He didn’t want to.

  Bronwyn saw it in his eyes. Anguish filled her. There would always be a part of him that refused to trust her, trust her father’s blood. It was so unfair, but at the same time the very reason why he had stolen her.

  Cullen followed her and Keir. The sounds of supper faded behind them until the only thing she heard was her own steps on the stone floor. Her heart accelerated, beating faster the closer they drew to the chapel.

  She would have to make a choice.

  Keir was going to ask her if she wanted to stay with Cullen. She knew it in her heart just as she knew that she was still torn. Doubts twisted through her but an ache began to burn in her chest. It increased with each step until all of the reasons she had for leaving became trivial matters.

  Every bride had to earn her husband’s trust…

  Every bride had preconceived ideas to overcome in her new home…

  Every bride longed for affection…

  She froze for a moment, her feet still while her mind admitted the greatest betrayal of her father’s ideals.

  She loved Cullen McJames.

  Oh, he infuriated her. He was a stubborn man who would send her temper flaring a thousand times in the years ahead, but she could not deny what she felt. It lived inside her. She had only loved two other people in her life but she knew what it felt like. She would never escape the emotion. She missed her mother every day but didn’t think of her father at all.

  That was love.

  She turned around, her skirts flaring up because she moved so quickly. Cullen and Keir jerked to a halt.

  “I am his wife.” She stared straight at her brother. “Make yer peace with him, Keir, he’s a good man. Just as I told him ye are.”

  She couldn’t decide which one was more shocked, Cullen or Keir. Their eyes widened and words failed both of them.

  “I’ll be in the chapel when ye two have finished.” She shot a look at Cullen. “But I will have yer trust to speak to my brother alone.”

  Bronwyn didn’t wait for Cullen to argue with her. She turned back around and entered the chapel. Candles lit the altar, even when everyone else was eating supper. The golden light was welcome. Walking toward it, she felt peace settle over her. She still worried, but resigned herself to her fate.

  She could no more leave Cullen than stop breathing. He had stolen her completely now.

  Even her heart.

  “My sister is right. I’ve words to have with ye.”

  Keir looked like the walls were pressing in on him. Cullen found himself feeling the same way. This was the only man Bronwyn loved and he was good and jealous of it.

  “By all means speak yer mind.”

  They moved through a door frame and into the yard. With the sun setting, no one took notice of them. Snow was piled up along the walls sending everyone inside for warmth.

  “Did ye rape her?
” Keir growled through his teeth. “I’m going to know, McJames. I swear to God I’ll carve yer cock off if ye raised yer fist against my sister. It’s nae her doing that my father was a greedy son of a bitch.”

  “And ye think I don’t know that?”

  “Ye stole her.” Keir blew out a snarl. “If ye raped her…”

  “I did not rape her. I did steal her against her will.”

  Keir shook, his body stiff with rage. Cullen stared at him without a hint of fear. “On my honor, I swear I seduced her, overwhelmed her, and took advantage of her innocence but I did not rape her.” He raised a single finger and pointed it at Bronwyn’s brother. “I also tried to marry her first.”

  “What do ye mean tried?”

  Cullen shrugged. “She refused to wed with me.”

  A suspicious glint entered Keir’s eyes. “Is that when ye overwhelmed her?”

  Cullen just couldn’t suppress the grin that curved his lips. He was too happy to know that Bronwyn was his to keep it hidden.

  “Since me cousin and Bishop Shaman caught us in bed the next morning, yer sister ended up marrying me in spite of our rather strained introduction. I dinna rape her. And yer free to go ask her that yerself.”

  Keir growled.

  His fist connected with Cullen’s jaw a second later. Cullen stumbled backward, snarling in return.

  “Since ye dinna rape her, I’m going to use my fists on ye instead of this.” Keir untied his sword and tossed it aside. “For seducing my sister before she agreed to marry ye, I’m going to turn that pretty-boy face black.”

  Cullen untied his sword and placed it against the wall. His grin returned.

  “That was a lucky shot, but now it’s my turn to return the favor for allowing yer bastard father to treat my wife like the lowest maid.”

  They circled each other, their large bodies smashing into each other with muffled grunts. The fight raged on without interference.

  Far from it. Liam watched for a moment from the doorway. Keir was falling into his plan perfectly. All he needed was a few minutes to deal with Bronwyn so that she might never threaten what was his. Sodac was keeping the earl busy, while he had made the clever excuse to use the privy. His father had been right. The McJames were idiots. Trusting fools.