by Temple Hogan
“Send him away,” she prayed silently.
But Callum led the man into the great hall and ordered food and drink be brought. The two men settled before the great fireplace. The Campbell men sat at the long table where servants hastened to bring food and drink. Lilli hid in the curve of the spiral stairs and listened.
“What brings you so far north?” Callum asked, taking the cups of wine from the servant and passing one to his guests.
“I’ve been in search of a woman and a child.”
“What is her name? Perhaps I may assist you.”
“I’m not sure of her name. She was a servant for a daughter of my neighbor, Lady Jane MacDougall.”
“Wouldn’t she be with Lady Jane then?” Callum asked, sipping his wine.
“Lady Jane is dead, and the woman is missing as is Lady Jane’s newborn child.” Archibald stretched his feet toward the fire. “She’s kidnapped the child, and we worry about its safety.”
“Would not Laird MacDougall be the one to search for his grandchild?” Callum asked.
“I’m afraid he’s unable to. He sustained a wound in battle, which has not yet healed. I swore I would find the child for him and the woman who’s taken it, of course.”
“Of course,” Callum nodded and turned to a servant. “Tell Lady MacAlister we have a guest and I request her presence.”
He turned back to Archibald.
“So what do you intend to do with the woman and child?” he asked mildly.
“Well, she will be punished, of course, probably hanged for her crime and as for the child,” he shrugged, “I hope it lives.”
“I see,” Callum said and rose as Lilli descended the stairs and joined them. “Ahh, here is my wife.”
“Lady MacAlister.” Archibald bowed over her hand. “It is a great honor to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Lilli said, inclining her head slightly. When she’d heard Callum summon her, her heart had beat frantically with terror, but soon her panic had subsided and she understood what he was doing. She must show courage and appear as the great lady of the new laird. Head high, she’d descended the stairs and faced her greatest enemy.
“Will you sup with us, Sir Archibald before continuing your journey?” She motioned to the head of the table where places had been set and even now servants were bringing platters of food.
“By God, I will,” Archibald said and followed her to his place.
Callum met Lilli’s gaze, and he smiled in approval. Food was served, and their guest ate heartily, with few manners and no conversation. When at last he pushed aside his plate and rubbed his belly, he laughed heartily.
“You remind me of all I’ve missed this past year, Lady MacAlister,” he said. “‘Tis time to put aside all that has past and take a wife for myself.”
“Have you anyone in mind?” Lilli queried.
“Aye, she’s a fine enough lass. No beauty, mind you, but she brings a dowry of land and riches unsurpassed by most.”
“Will she have you, Sir Archibald?” Lilli couldn’t help puncturing the pompous man’s show of ego.
“What? Of course, she will,” he said with some annoyance and rose. “I’m sorry to be off, but I must.”
“Of course, we understand.” The nursemaid appeared, carrying Rose in her arms. The baby was flushed from her nap and looked around the noisy hall with interest.
“Our daughter,” Callum said, and Lilli couldn’t resist taking her into her arms and turning to Archibald.
“Yes, yes, she’s a beauty,” he said impatiently, barely glancing at the child. “But no sons, MacAlister?”
“Not yet, but we’re working on it.”
“Good, good,” Archibald said, running from the hall.
His men followed immediately, and in no time, the hall was emptied. Smiling, Lilli sat at the table and fed Rose tidbits from her plate. Callum returned and swung the child into the air. Rose squealed with delight then he glanced at Lilli.
“Well, Lady MacAlister, I think we should retire to our chambers and work on a brother for this young lady.”
“Aye, I think you’re right, m’laird.” They climbed the stairs together.
“Lord Archibald seemed quite uninterested in Rose or in her mother,” Callum observed, smiling down at Lilli.
“Thank you, my love, for helping me face down my last enemy.”
“It had to be done,” he said, “or you’d spend the rest of your days worried about him. You’re safe, Lilli.”
“As you promised me I would be. Now, for some of your other promises.”
Callum laughed and handed Rose to her nursemaid, who whisked her off to the nursery. Callum swept Lilli up in his arms and kicked open the door to their chambers. Crossing to their bed, he tossed her onto the soft mattress and bent over her, his eyes smoldering with the fires of desire. Lilli raised her arms and welcomed him into her embrace.
“I must tell you, my husband, that you’ve already fulfilled one of your promises,” Lilli said, observing him with some amusement.
He paused with one leg half out of his brais and stood balancing himself, waiting.
“I already carry your child. Evina confirmed it this morning.”
“I wish I’d known that fact earlier,” he replied, shaking his leg free of his brais. “I would have informed Sir Archibald of that very fact.”
“I don’t think he really cared,” Lilli said. “He’s put aside his hatred for Edward and Jane and is even now galloping toward a new betrothed who will bring him the additional wealth he seeks.”
“Aye,” Callum said, approaching the bed. He was nude now and his lean body drew her attention. “If he only knew the real treasure is found with the woman you love. Come, wench, take off your clothes.”
“Aye, m’laird,” she said softly and slid off the edge of the bed, but he was there, his hands moving across her fastenings, pushing aside her clothes, caressing and touching every inch of exposed bare flesh.
“I’ll never get enough of you,” he said as if in wonder.
His gaze met hers, and her breath grew shallow.
“Nor I, you,” she said.
He swept her up in his arms and laid her on the bed, her hips resting on the edge then he knelt and kissed every place he’d touched. When her body was thrumming with need, he placed a pillow beneath her hips and spread her knees wide, placing her legs over his shoulders as he pushed his hard cock deep inside her. Lilli gloried in the familiar feeling of his cock—the smooth, hot probing, the mounting passion that claimed her and left her speechless. With his weight supported on his muscular arms, he pounded against her, gaining more purchase with his feet planted on the floor. Waves of ecstasy washed across her, pushing her higher. Suddenly, he halted and stared down at her. Her body screamed for release.
“The baby?” he said, his face stricken with apprehension.
“Oh, you fool,” she said lovingly. “The baby’s fine. Get on with it.”
And he did.
About the Author
Temple Hogan is the author of over forty books, some hard cover, under the name of Peggy Hanchar and Peggy Roberts. She lives on an inland lake in Michigan with her husband, three cats and one naughty Shitz Tzu named Gizz. Her hobbies are cooking, gardening, acrylic painting and reading detective stories. She’s currently at work on her next book.
Temple loves to talk to her readers and can be found at TempleHogan.blogspot.com.
Also Available from
Resplendence Publishing
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The night went wild with the sounds of shattering glass, crushing metal and wood splintering into a million jagged pieces. Linc realized he taken a blow to his head. Something had hit him hard. He was bleeding, he thought, but the pain was already easing some. There wasn’t an inch of space and nothing he could do about it. Something held him in place. Hours later he awoke to find himself sprawled over the softest women. It took a moment before he remembered. She was that neat, little piece he’d been talking to seconds before the crash. Damn, if she didn’t smell and taste delicious. Could he be blamed for sampling a morsel of luscious woman? After all if she truly didn’t want it, wouldn’t she have stopped him?
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