by Riley Moreno
Ilisa turned to Lachlan, who seemed overcome by what Angus had just said.
‘Laird of Cawdor,’ Ilisa breathed, ‘My laird of Cawdor!’
Lachlan walked up to Angus and took him by the shoulders. ‘What are you doing cousin? Why would you leave your home and homeland?’
‘Because I don’t deserve to be here, Lachlan. I am a coward. Do you know why Cawdor Castle is untouched? Why it still stands today while Campbell Castle was razed to the ground?’
‘Why?’ Lachlan asked, afraid of what the answer would be.
‘Because I betrayed my people by siding with the redcoats. I did not join the cause of the Jacobites. I did not fight. I came out of this war unscathed, because while you were on a battlefield, I was sitting amidst my heraldry and tapestry and exquisite furnishings, and dining on venison and cranachan. And I despise myself.’
Lachlan shook Angus. ‘Grow up Angus! You always were one to be dramatic. And you always shirked your duties. But running away is no way to gain redemption. Stay here and prove your worth to our people.’
Angus shook his head. ‘No, I cannot. You see, there are Jacobites who, like you, survived that final battle and are screaming for my blood and the blood of other highlanders who did not go against the redcoats. I will be dragged over the moors and my blood spilt in the most violent of ways if I don’t escape while I can.’
‘So you’re running away?’ Lachlan said bitterly, ‘And betraying us all again?’
‘No. I’m running away because I was always scared to fight.’ He leaned toward Lachlan and whispered in his ear. ‘I was always envious of you cousin. You were the brave one and me the fool. I’m sorry. The castle is yours, but I apologize for what is about to happen now.’
Lachlan heard Ilisa scream as the soldiers burst through the door. ‘If you thought the war was over after Culloden, think again,’ Angus said and ran through the open door. There were redcoats pouring into the doorway, but the clansmen present at the banquet were armed and furious at the way Angus had tricked them. They drew their swords and fought back valiantly. Lachlan shouted to Ilisa to run, but she was rooted to the spot, waiting for the first redcoat to fall. When he did, she took the pistol from his hand and poured all her fury out in a series of well aimed shots. The swords of the angry highlanders this time were more than a match for the guns of the redcoats, and the King’s soldiers were driven from the hallways of Cawdor and their blood spilled on the moor.
‘And what a banquet that was!’ Ilisa exclaimed when they were safely back in Innis Castle.
‘I always knew Angus was a coward and a shame to the Campbell name.’
‘How did he get to be laird?’
‘Only because his father died quite early in life and he acquired the title.’
‘I’m horrified at his treachery,’ Ilisa said. ‘How could he betray his own clansmen and his family?’
‘This war is not over,’ Lachlan said, his hand on his sword, as if expecting soldiers to attack them at any moment.
‘Will it ever be?’ Ilisa asked anxiously, ‘because I do not want our bairn to grow up in such violent circumstances.’
‘Many a bairn has grown up in …’ Lachlan started to say and then stopped and looked at Ilisa.
‘You enjoyed the fact that my breasts are fuller, but you didn’t ask why,’ Ilisa said.
‘Are you with child, Ilisa?’
‘Yes my dear Lachlan, I am!’ Her eyes filled with tears, ‘And I do not want our bairn to be born into a world where we sleep with our hands on our swords and are attacked at any time by clansman and redcoat alike.’
‘But that is our world, my love, and we have survived it despite all the dangers. In fact it has made us who we are. It has made us strong and proud and invincible.’
‘I am emotional,’ Ilisa said, ‘perhaps because of my condition. Oh Lachlan, tell me our child will have a wonderful life.’
‘Well, he will grow up to be laird of Cawdor, and will have his mother’s beautiful eyes and hair – at least I hope so – but beyond that, I cannot say what his future will be Ilisa.’
She fell asleep in Lachlan’s arms and as she slept Lachlan ran his lips over her belly, just beginning to swell. She moaned softly and nestled closer against him and he bent down to kiss her. She was half asleep as he made love to her – softly and gently this time, as if mindful of the child she was carrying in her belly – but she cried out his name at her point of rapture and he smiled as he always did and drew her closer against him, noting how perfectly her body meshed with his.
As dawn broke Lachlan watched the first rays of light kiss Ilisa’s naked body and he kissed each of her breasts in turn, teasing her nipples to wake her, and kissing and nuzzling her neck in the way that always aroused her passion. She felt his manhood between her thighs, coaxing her to open herself to him and she wound her legs about his hips and drew him inside of her, now fully awake.
‘My body is more sensitive,’ she said breathlessly as Lachlan sat up and pulled her up onto his rigid member. She was facing him with her turgid breasts within inches of his worshipping lips. She rode him, cradled within his muscled thighs. ‘I can’t get enough of you,’ Lachlan groaned, pulling her down over him and rolling her under him. They dozed off again and awoke to the sound of pounding on their bedroom door. Lachlan sprang up and reached for his sword, ready to strike as the door flew open. Ilisa awoke too and pulled the sheets over her nakedness, fearful again. As the person in the doorway came into focus, Ilisa gasped and Lachlan exclaimed.
‘Aggie!’ Ilisa said, pulling the sheet more firmly around her and running to the door.
‘Oh lassie, I am so sorry for leaving you and going away!’
‘Where did you go?’
‘To tend to our clansmen fighting on the moors and then I was shot and injured too. I have been recuperating all this while, and as soon as I was healed I got word of where you and the laird were and I hurried home!’
‘Welcome back Aggie!’ Lachlan said.
‘Thank you my laird,’ Aggie replied happily. She looked keenly at Ilisa.
‘And when is the bairn due?’ she asked.
‘What? How do you know I am with child?’
‘I can see your face glowing like the sun. Maybe that’s what drew me back – well in time to help you look after your newborn.’
‘Oh Aggie, I am so glad you’re back,’ Ilisa said.
CHAPTER VIII
It was one of those rare days when the sun was high on the moors and Lachlan was admiring a new mare that he had bought.
‘It’s time!’ He heard Aggie shout and ran into the castle and up to the birthing chamber where Ilisa lay in labor.
‘Stay out my laird,’ Aggie said, pushing him out of the room and shutting the door, much to his annoyance.
‘What must I do while this goes on?’ Lachlan called through the closed door, ‘ I have heard birthing takes hours and sometimes days.’
‘Pace patiently outside,’ Aggie called back and Lachlan stiffened as he heard Ilisa cry out as the first great contraction seized her.
Lachlan began to pound on the door. ‘Let me in Aggie or I swear I will break down the door!’
‘Breathe!’ Lachlan could hear Aggie instructing Ilisa before she popped her head out of the door. ‘My laird, be patient please and do not pound on the door if you want your wife to give birth in peace.’
‘Ilisa!’ Lachlan called, ‘Ilisa!’ But all he got in answer was a huge cry of pain.
Lachlan put his fingers in his ears and paced faster still. Then he pounded on the door again. Aggie opened the door a crack. ‘My laird, if you do not stop pounding on the door I will have to call the guards to hold you fast. You are a grown man – a brave warrior – now be still for your wife’s sake.’
‘Aggie,’ Lachlan begged, ‘Tell me what is going on. I need to know.’
‘It is called birthing. That’s what is going on.’
‘Yes, but why is Ilisa screaming so?’
�
��She is bearing down, and I must go to her as your bairn seems in a hurry to be out.’
It was some hours later when Lachlan fell asleep in a chair outside the birthing chamber. He had heard Ilisa shouting out and groaning at intervals. He watched the midwife hurry into the room and then saw Aggie hurrying out of the room and rushing back with towels and hot water. She ignored him as she passed by, and he felt shut out from the entire process – as if he had had no part in it. He rose from the chair and pounded on the door again.
‘I tell you Aggie, you cannot leave me in the dark like this. You must tell me what is going on. Is Ilisa alright? I have a right to know, I do – it is my seed that grew that bairn you are hiding from me!’
The door swung open and Aggie stood there smiling. ‘And a fine seed it is! Will you stop carrying on so, my laird? You may come in now.’
‘About time Aggie! I tell you, you all cannot hide things from me. I asked how Ilisa was doing and my bairn…my bairn!’ Lachlan stopped in mid sentence and then his face broke into a radiant smile. ‘My bairn!’ he breathed ecstatically, looking down at the baby Ilisa held in her arms.
‘And who do we have here?’ Lachlan said, leaning down to get a closer look at his offspring.
‘Bruce Allister Campbell – laird of Cawdor Castle,’ Ilisa whispered.
‘Well, hello there Bruce my son,’ Lachlan said, taking the baby from Ilisa’s outstretched arms and holding him close.
‘There is no better way to seal my love for you than with a child,’ Lachlan said, looking adoringly at Bruce’s tiny hands and feet.
Outside a piper was playing and Aggie bustled out of the birthing chamber. ‘Now that my job is done and your wife is safe with the midwife, I am going down to the kitchens to arrange a celebratory feast,’ she told Lachlan.
THE END.
PREGNANT BY THE
ALPHA RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE
BWWM Pregnancy Romance
By: Riley Moreno
Chapter 1
“Mama, what is going on?’’ little 8 year old Fiona Blackstone, a cute chocolate dark skinned and brown eyed girl whispered, while looking at her mother who looked to be in total distress.
She also could not understand why her mother and father had quickly woken her up in the middle of the night and quickly snatched her up in a rush to get out of the house.
They had not even let her take Mr. Cuddles, her little brown teddy bear and also one of her best friends. And now he must be lonely thinking she had abandoned him in her room.
But why then had they brought her to this scary unfamiliar neighborhood, in front of some brick made house? And what had her dad gone inside there to do. As the strange questions rushed into her little head, her mother quickly spoke.
‘’Honey I want you to take this and keep it on you.’’ Sonia Blackstone, a beautiful light skinned woman and her loving mother then said softly while placing a red ruby heart pendant on her.
Just as the little girl curiously placed her little hand on the pretty necklace which now lay on her little chest, her mother gently closed her hand around hers.
‘’Promise me honey, that you will always keep this with you. Never lose it.” her mother then said with a serious look on her face which meant business.
‘’I pinky promise, mama.’’ The little girl confidently said, hoping that would make her mother start smiling instead of looking so sad.
‘’Sonia, I have spoken with Edna and she will be well taken care of. Plus we better be quick as they are now close.’’ She then heard the deep voice of her father say as he came close to them. While she had her mother`s brown eyes, she had gotten her dark chocolate skin from her father Charles Blackstone.
Her mother then bursts into tears, enveloping her into her arms and quickly releasing her to stand up.
Her father then knelt before her and stared intensely at her with his serious dark teary eyes.
‘’Pumpkin, I want you to always remember that no matter what, we love you okay? And always be brave.’’ before the little girl could ask what was happening, her mother then pulled her father away while looking frantic.
‘’Charles lets go, they are coming!” her parents both now looking distraught then quickly kissed the little girl on the forehead and jumped into the car.
They then left, leaving the little black girl staring after them as the car moved away, causing her to scream for them to come back!
‘’Mama, Papa don’t leave me here!’’ she shouted with tears now flooding her face, even as the car was now at a far distance and they could not even hear her.
But the last thing she then spotted before closing her eyes in exhaustion and being carried away by her new care taker Edna, were large gigantic beasts.
Beasts with yellow eyes and white sharp fangs, hidden in the shadows and heading in the same direction as that of her parents...
“NOOOO!”
Fiona then found herself almost letting out a scream because of the dream but quickly opened her eyes after feeling something cold splash upon her.
“Fiona, Fiona! Are you awake?’’ she then heard a female voice shout, causing to quickly sit up on her bed, only to find herself dripping cold wet.
‘’Tracy! What the hell?’’ Fiona then said to her best friend and roommate, Tracy Thompson who was holding a bucket of water and looking guilty. They had been best friends since high school and even through college.
‘’Don’t blame me; this was the only way I could get you to wake up. It seems like you were stuck in that dream of yours where you usually wake up screaming.’’ Tracy then said to her, looking worried as Fiona had told her about this same dream she sometimes kept on having.
‘’Are you okay?’’ Tracy then continued upon seeing the sorrow which now filled Fiona`s face at the mention of that dream.
‘’Don’t worry Tracy, I will be fine.” Fiona then replied standing up and going to clean up in the bathroom.
Her hand then quickly closed around the red ruby heart pendant on her chest as she stared at it through the bathroom mirror.
She then realized that inside she was not okay as that dream was also a past memory which always reminded her of how her parents had left her at some orphanage to never come back.
Heck as a child, whenever she got adopted, she caused problems for whatever family dared take her away from the orphanage until they returned her back.
She was always a headstrong persevering child, hoping that if she stood or kept her eyes on the exact spot where her parents had left her at, they would one day come and get her only to be disappointed each time they didn’t.
She grew out of it when teenage years came but instead decided to try to find them or any family she had, maybe aunties or something. But her searches yielding no results only proved the harsh reality of how she was alone in the world with no family or relatives.
As for the beasts with the yellow eyes, to Fiona they could not have been real. Her counselor had even advised her that the beasts were just a figment of her child imagination but it still niggled her mind as to what where her parents running from?
Then there was Edna, who passed away a long time ago before she could ask the lady about what they had talked about with her dad. And as for the ruby pendant, she always had it on her and had never taken it off. It was the only thing she had from her parents.
And now after working part time jobs and paying for college and earning a degree, as a 22 year old, she was now struggling to find jobs. Luckily she had Tracy who was now working as a doctor and had offered to help Fiona with a place to stay as she tries to get employed.
Right now, she could not even count how many job interviews she had gone to and was always getting rejected. Apparently nowadays it was now all about connections, people hiring their friends and relatives instead of giving the job to some stranger black girl named Fiona Blackstone with no family.
But today, Fiona Blackstone had just had it! She was getting that Job and nothing or no one was going to stop h
er.
Fiona then thought to herself after bathing as she stood in front of the mirror, putting on her power suit and tying her long raven black hair into a neat bun.
But she felt a little conscious looking at her curvy hourglass body thinking why could she not have gotten the skinny model looking body that her best friend Tracy had?
As Fiona entered the kitchen after packing the papers and everything she needed for the interview, she then saw her best friend Tracy sitting on one of the kitchen chairs while eating breakfast.
She had also dressed and now wore her white coat on top and was getting ready to go to work. Although she and Tracy got along like sisters they were as different in appearance as Tracy was a colored of mixed race between a white mother and a black father and therefore had lighter skin.
Where Tracy sat, there was also a piece of paper on the table she was looking at and Fiona knew it was the Job Ad for the interview to which she was going to.
She had luckily found the piece of paper with the Ad in the nearby forest during a hike. And at that time, she had been depressed from not being able to find a job.
So it had been the best surprise ever to see a piece of paper lying by the ground near a tree with a Job advert from one of the best successful companies in the city. For her it meant fate was in her favor and this job was going to be hers.