Storm Trilogy

by Ria Cantrell

  As he turned her in his arms to kiss her, he saw tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. Concern instantly registered on his handsome face and he said, “Oh, my God, did I hurt ye? I keep forgetting ye’ are new to this and that ye’ are so very small.”

  She touched his face and whispered, “Ye’ didna’ hurt me.”

  As his lips wandered over her tears he asked, “What then, Brielle?”

  Tucking her face against his chest, she murmured, “I just love ye’ so much, Ruiri. I never dreamed it would be like this.”

  He fought the urge to smile because he did not want her to think he was making light of her profession. In fact, his heart seemed to swell in his chest with love for her, too. He kissed her brow, holding her solidly in his arms.

  “So, these are tears of love, then,” He teased gently. She nodded. Her lips wandered over the strong plains of his chest.

  “I love ye,’ Brielle. Dunna’ be ashamed of feeling that way.”

  “I just did not want you to see me cry. I dunna’ want you to think I am unhappy, when really I don’t think I have ever been happier in my entire life. The only person who ever loved me was my grandfather and now…there is you. Ye’ have cherished me, made me feel like I am valuable; like I am beautiful; like I finally belong somewhere and to someone. I had long resigned that my life was best spent alone and now, there is you.”

  Rory blinked at her hard felt emotions. Here she was saying he had given her back her dreams when it was she who had done the same for him.

  She held onto him, not wanting to let him go for even one second and she continued, “I fell in love with ye’ upon opening my eyes and seeing ye’ that day of the accident. I didna’ understand why I would fall in love, especially with a man I didn’t know, but it was beyond all reason. I never dreamed ye’ would love me too. When it seemed, you would not, I resigned my fate to loving you alone and was grateful for it. But then, ye’ came to love me, too. It was the greatest gift I could have asked for.”

  He stroked over her arms and he rested his chin against her hair. He felt that overflowing love spilling from his heart.

  “I know that yer’ brothers mistreated ye’ and I am so sorry for that. Ye’ are the most loving person I have ever known and ye’ deserved to be treated like a precious treasure. I only have one sister. You will meet her someday, and she will adore you. I love my sister deeply, and I canna’ imagine abusing her. It hurts my heart to think of their cruelness to ye’. But know this, Brielle. While I live, ye’ are mine and no more shall ye’ ever feel unloved. No harm shall ever come to ye’ by my hands. Not all men treat women like yer’ brothers have treated ye’. Ye’ are part of me, now. Ye’ will only know love in this house. Never will ye’ know violence against ye’ here.”

  He kissed her softly and he said, “Ye’ have my heart Gabrielle. Know that it is not lightly given. Now, in loving you, I know that without ye’, I will not be complete. I may live, but without ye’, I will die inside.”

  When he said her full name, it was like a term of endearment. It no longer sounded like the name he had spat in anger so many days ago. That all seemed to have faded into the past, as if it had never really happened at all.

  Nestling against him, she said, “Ruiri, this will sound strange, but that accident was the best thing that happened to me. If I had not been left to die on that road, I would have ne’er found ye’. Now, I too am complete.”

  As Rory held her in his arms, he felt sated, and--he felt happy. Truly happy! Like the comfort of un-tormented sleep, he could not remember when he had felt truly happy.

  After taking some time to grab a bite to eat, Rory lit a fire and told Brielle they would spend the night in the little cottage as it had grown late and would make no sense to travel back in the dark. The warmth of the fire took care of the chill in the cottage after the sun had set. They passed the night, talking, kissing and making love. Brielle was pretty certain she had never been this content in her entire life, either. She had found her true love. There was no longer clan division between them. It was as if their love could finally end that blood feud between their clans once and for all. They were one.

  Chapter Twenty

  Rory and Brielle made their way back to the keep by mid-morning of the next day. They were met with a very concerned looking Caleb.

  Rory teased, “Da, no need for worry. We weren’t far, we were just, ye’ know, seeing the village and such. I was with Brielle to keep her safe.”

  “I was not worried ye’ were not safe. T’is matters at hand that demand immediate resolve.”

  Caleb did not want to trouble the couple who had so recently found happiness in each other. He had no choice but to disclose the events of the past day.

  “One of the rival clans to the north has begun raiding again. Yer’ brothers are riding out before first light to put an end to it.”

  Rory glanced over at Brielle, whose face had turned ashen. They both were thinking the same thing, to be certain.

  “It is not my brothers, is it, Caleb?”

  “Oh nay, Lass, nay. T’is the MacDougals again. I had thought all that was finished since Jamie….” Caleb left the rest unspoken. Jamie’s wife was of MacDougal lineage, but she had been far removed from the raiding. Since he had married Sinead, it seemed the MacDougals left them in peace. Now it was starting up again. Damn it, first the Campbells now he bloody MacDougals!

  Rory could see Brielle breathe a sigh of relief. He breathed it too, as well, silently thanking Fate that their newly found love would not be shattered with Campbell raiders causing trouble. Rory listened to what his father had to say, and then turning to Brielle, he said, “I will need to go with them, Brielle.”

  She stammered, “H-How long will ye’ be away?” She did not want to be apart from him so soon.

  “A few days, love, hopefully not more than that.”

  Brielle nodded and whispered, “Oh.”

  Rory tipped her head up to his and he said, “Look at me, please, Sweetheart.” Her eyes rose to his and he said, “Ye' are not to worry.”

  “But Rory, we told Father Duncan that….”

  Understanding passed in Rory’s eyes. How could he have been so thoughtless? Of course she was already planning their formal wedding in her mind.

  “Oh, aye, our wedding…Sweetheart I promise to marry ye' as soon as I get back. I always keep my word. In the mean-time, enjoy planning the wedding. Be a happy bride. Morag will help ye' and the time will pass quickly. And when I return, love, I will make good that promise and marry you before the eyes of God and the rest of this clan.”

  Rory did not want to make a bungle of their wedding, knowing how much it meant to his Brielle to be bound finally to a man she actually loved. He vowed to take extra means to make the day romantic and wonderful for her. He leaned close to her and kissed her and whispered, “I must do this, Brielle. Ye’ understand, don’t ye?”

  With a deep sigh she said resolutely, “Aye, t’is what men do.”

  Kissing her again, he said, “Ye’ are an angel.”

  She gave him a sideways glance and said, “I dinna’ say I liked it. But in loving ye’, I have to love the total man and that means loving the warrior, too.”

  “I dunna’ like it much either, but our livestock feeds our people. We canna’ risk losing even one sheep or one cow.”

  She sighed again, knowing that much was true. She said, “I do know. And I do understand. Our clans are not so different in that regard.”

  Rory drew her into his arms and he held her tightly.

  He said, “Ye’ are part of this clan, now, Brielle. These are yer’ people as much as they are mine.”

  With her head lowered again, she whispered, “It’s just that I have only had two nights in yer’ arms. I dunna’ want to sleep without you.”

  Rory smiled at her and he whispered, “Ye’ can always imagine the things I did that ye’ enjoyed so much.”

  Caleb saw color rising in Brielle’s face. Clearing his thro
at he said, “Alright Ruiri. T'is enough. Ye' are embarrassing the girl.”

  “Oh, I am not, Da, she knows I am only playing.”

  Rory kissed the side of Brielle's face and said, “She will get used to my ways.” She met his eyes and nodded, but she wasn’t smiling. Rory held her against himself and he said, “Ye’ will be alright.”

  She felt the sting of tears forming behind her eyes. She would not cry. She was his woman now; a warrior’s woman, the woman of the Wolf of the Highland. It was what he was destined to do. She took a cleansing breath and forced the tears to resist falling.

  Rory stopped teasing her and he said, “I am sorry, love. Ye’ know I dunna’ wish to leave you, Aye? Look, I will ready now so we can have a few hours to ourselves before I go.”

  Brielle, nodded and turned, feeling her heart shatter in her chest. She took another deep breath and decided to help the women prepare provisions for their men. He was her man now and she would join in the preparations as the others did for their men.

  As Rory turned to leave the room, he saw her head was down and he could swear he saw the glint of tears clinging to her long lashes. Those damned unshed tears! They tore his heart every time.

  Will ye’ sleep alone, Ruiri, or will another warm yer’ bed?

  Rory stopped in his tracks and turned back to her. It still astounded him that he could hear her thoughts so clearly. Taking her in his arms he put his mouth against her ear.

  “Nay, Lass. Ye’ are the only woman for me, now.”

  Realizing he heard her heart, Brielle was comforted and her resolve was strengthened. She thanked Rory for his words. He had indeed, heard her thoughts plainly.

  He said out loud, “I love ye’, lass. I wouldna’ hurt ye’ like that.” He kissed her again and said, “I will meet you in our chambers later.”

  And then, as quickly as he had become her lover, he turned to ready himself to address the raiders; once again a warrior; the Highland Wolf; the lover tamped down and hidden. This was her warrior and loving him meant accepting that part of him, too.

  It was much later in the night when Rory made his way back to his chambers. He found Brielle asleep under thick furs. He took a moment to gaze at her and he felt his heart thump hard beneath the thick muscles of his chest. The realization that she was his woman hit him like a punch. She was his!

  She looked like a sleeping angel, as the sable silk of her hair, draped over one arm and blended in with the fur tucked beneath her chin. She had her hand daintily laid beneath her cheek and he thought he could look at her sleeping like that forever. Her sooty lashes rested on the rise of her cheeks and her lips were parted slightly in sleep. After undressing, he slid into bed beside her. He hated to wake her, but he wanted to feel her love to hold him through his time away from her. He eased his hand over her shoulder. He smiled to himself. She had come to bed naked.

  He kissed her ear and said, “Sweetheart, I want to love ye’.”

  As soft as a sigh, she said, “Ruiri…love me.”

  He could tell she was still mostly asleep and he felt a little guilty for waking her, but he needed her and that quelled the remorse for the moment.

  He laughed and said, “Soon.”

  His voice held the promise of passion and erotic love to soon follow.

  “I need to kiss ye’ first, Brielle.”

  Brielle turned in his arms, feeling his warmth behind her, sleepily coming awake at his touch. He pressed her back to his chest, stroking down her arms. He kissed her neck softly, moving his hands over her shoulders then gently circling around her waist. He nuzzled her neck, gently nibbling. He felt a shiver course through her. Gently taking an ear lobe between his teeth, he blew a soft waft of air against the delicate little shell. She moaned softly and it was sweet music to his ears. He carefully tilted her head back and he kissed her mouth.

  He loved kissing her. Her mouth was sweet, and even in this odd position, he was enjoying the kiss. She turned, put her arms around him and kissed him completely. He felt her hot little tongue flick against his own. She tasted of sweet spiced mead and he wanted to drink of it like nectar. She stretched against him and he felt her deliciously peaked breasts scrape against his chest. Feeling her nipples hardened against him sent fire through his loins. His hands moved up her sides to cup her breasts lovingly. He loved how they felt filling his hands with their soft warmth.

  “Brielle, ye’ are so beautiful,” he said gently rotating his hands against her, feeling her nipples like hard little pebbles, jut into his palms. Placing her hands on his chest, she leaned in to kiss him deeper this time. His tongue stroked against hers and Rory’s heart beat quickened, pounding against his ribcage.

  Brielle could feel that life force beating strongly and she placed a hand over his breast. She said, “Och, Ruiri, yer’ heart…I can feel it….”

  He smiled into her face and said, “Aye lassie…ye’ make it pound hard.”

  She kissed him and said, “Oh…and what else do I make hard?”

  He grinned down at her and said, “Brazen witch!”

  He took her hand and placed it against his thickening cock, showing her exactly what else. As her cool fingers flexed around it, she felt him jerk slightly. He moaned at her touch, saying her name.

  “Ah, yes, Warrior, I thought so. So big and hard indeed. I tried to wait for ye’, but it was so comfortable to be in your big bed, I fell asleep.”

  “I know, lass. There was much to do. I am sorry to have wakened you”

  “I am glad ye’ did. I wanted ye’ to. I have missed ye’.”

  Her hand squeezed around his shaft as if to emphasize her sentiment.

  He groaned and said, “If ye’ keep that up, lass, I may lose control and dishonor myself.”

  She smiled seductively at him and said, “Mm, really? I think I should like to see that.”

  She kissed him deeply. He turned over her; his hand easing over her stomach. His mouth plundered her lips, hungry with desire. The kiss was almost bruising, but Brielle loved it. The stubble on his chin scratched below her lips and she welcomed the sensation, knowing that even in the morning upon his leaving, the memory of that kiss would linger with the sensation of it.

  Her hands moved across his broad back, feeling his muscles ripple beneath her fingers. She loved the feel of his masculine strength. This delicious, gorgeous man was hers. Her heart now fluttered as she was reminded of that fact. She arched up as she felt his hand lightly trailing over her belly. His touch was so light it almost tickled. With a firmer hand, he stilled her, gently pushing her hip down, as his mouth devoured hers.

  “I want ye’ so much, Brielle.”

  She moaned under his touches and said, “Aye, Ruiri. Make love to me now.”

  “Soon, my sweet. I need to taste ye’.”

  His hand moved lower and he dipped his middle finger between her legs.

  “Ooh lass, ye’ are very wet, again. It makes my mouth water. I must taste ye’.”

  Brielle felt a flutter in her heart at his profession and knowing he wanted to do that for her, made her feel a sense of excitement from even just hearing his words. He kissed down her neck, pausing just long enough to place little bites over the most sensitive spots.

  Even the “kissing” sounds against her skin enticed her as much as the feel of his lips. Then his teeth trailed lower, nipping against her collarbone. He carefully raised each breast to his mouth, drawing on each taut peak, till he felt her drenching that finger he had nestled between her thighs. She writhed against him, thrusting her breast deeper into his hungry mouth. He suckled and swirled his tongue around the now very sensitive tip. His other hand possessively cupped her mound, gently stroking over the now dampened curls.

  He murmured, “Ye’ respond so beautifully to me. I just love that, Brielle.”

  She could only sigh; loving how he touched her, loving the rich timber of his voice as he spoke to her and encouraged her passionate responses. Once again, he kissed down her body, passing his lips over he
r ribs, hip bone and belly. He felt her arching up, knowing she needed him to taste her. Rory could tell she was enflamed with desire and he wanted to slake her need; just not quite yet. Now was for savoring. He steadied her and began a tender sucking against the delicate flesh under the soft feminine swell of her belly, leaving a small mark there.

  He rubbed his thumb over the spot and said, “There, I have branded ye’.”

  She giggled because it had tickled a little and she leaned up on her elbows and looked at the mark. She smiled and said, “I shall have to do that to ye’ as well.”

  He flashed her that impish grin, which dripped of male sexuality and he said, “Hmm, Aye? I look forward to such a brand. Where will the lass be brandin’ me?” Her hand moved between them and stroked his hard length, as she smiled into his face with feigned innocence.

  “I think I should like to brand this, Ruiri.”

  “Careful, lass, I may just hold you to that promise. Now where was I…Hmmm yes, I was needing yer’ honeyed flavor on my tongue. Open yer’ legs a wee bit for me.”

  He smiled, knowing that she would be momentarily shocked at his statement. He watched blush creep up her chest to her cheeks, but she complied with his request, feeling that she had no restraint any longer. For all her shyness, she really enjoyed it and that fact enchanted Rory. His fingers slid gently into the soft delicate folds and he felt her gasp at his touch. Wanton little thing!

  He looked at her and said, “So beautiful…like petals of a flower.”

  He lowered his head and kissed just above where his fingers had opened her. She could feel his breath fan against her and she suddenly wanted more. Sensing her need, he gently touched her with a slow rotating massage, but then he touched her with his tongue. She cried out, telling him how good it felt and her voice faded to soft moans of pleasure. Rory loved to pleasure her and as her sweet wet heat touched his tongue, he also moaned. He loved to taste her. He loved the slightly tangy flavor of her on his tongue. As his onslaught continued, her hips began to move slowly. Oh, the way he touched her, she thought. Pleasure spiraled and pooled inside her. The more he stroked her with his tongue and fingers, the more she soaked him with her sensual juices.