“It is wondrously soft.”
Ian leaned over her and spread her hair out like a fan around her shoulders. He took one of her curls and traced her nose, her eyes, and her cheeks. Leaning back, he let his eyes travel over her. “I would like to blindfold you, sweet Katie. Do you mind? I will use my fur glove and ostrich feather to please you. The blindfold will block out all distractions. What say you?”
Katie grinned. “Why not,” she agreed.
He wrapped the soft silk around her eyes blinding her. “I am putting on the fur glove,” he told her. “I have the feather in my other hand. Relax and find pleasure in each new sensation.” He began a torturous slow path over her shoulders, arms, hands, and then moved to her torso. Ian hovered over her breasts so that only the fur tips caressed her willing flesh. The teasing touch moved to the juncture of her thighs. Katie took a deep breath and spread her legs. He ran it over her inner thighs. “You find this pleasing.”
“Aye,” she whispered, not wanting to break the spell he cast upon her.
“There is more.” She felt the feather stroke her nipple. It was different, but equally pleasing. With his tender tools, Ian did a fiery dance over every bit of her. Katie found she held her breath waiting for the next amorous touch of fur or feather. After a while, she gasped her delight each time he found a particularly sensitive site. This encouraged him to linger longer in those areas.
“Ian, you torture me with your slow play,” she moaned.
“Fair lady, I am far from done.” He removed her blindfold, dropped the feather, and pulled off the glove. “I would do something more.” He dipped his finger into the bowl. “Honey,” he said. “Care for a taste.”
She took his finger in her mouth and sucked it off. He drew it away from her. “Enough of that for now,” he said. Sampling the sweet liquid again, he painted a trail across her breasts.
“Ian,” she murmured knowing what would come next. Katie inhaled sharply when he tasted the sweet treat.
Ian laughed and leaned back. “Fair Katie, you never disappoint.” He procured more of the honey and traced the golden liquid down across her abdomen. She trembled when he licked it off. The next sample went lower then Ian bent over her and tasted the sweet delight.
Katie lost all control during his tender ministry. Her need for him became so keen she begged to feel his steel shaft inside her. Ian heeded her pleas and came into her hard. She gasped as he began to move. With each powerful thrust, her craving raged further out of control. Katie rose to meet him taking him deeper.
Ian rolled them over as one. Arching back, Katie took control. She rode him in a frantic rhythm until they both erupted into the paradise of fulfilled desire. Their naked bodies tumbled restlessly in the sheep skins as all boundaries fell away. She was his wife now. Their union blessed by the church. They were one. Neither could get enough of the other. Through the long night, they brought each other new levels of pleasure with sweet tastings and searing touches. Their lovemaking went on for hours. Each time he took her, she knew a different kind of heaven.
At last, they snuggled tight together and found sleep.
Epilogue
Rapping sharply on the door to her father’s chamber, Katie tapped her foot restlessly.
“Come,” his voice sounded.
She entered the chamber. Her father recovered under Asilinn’s care. The whole room changed since he regained his position as head of the Blackburn Clan. The corner formerly reserved for Sorcha’s potions now served as his work area. A large desk and comfortable chair brought in and set near the hearth served him well. He sat there now looking over some parchments on his desk.
He looked up at her as she entered. “I have no news of Robert’s campaign into England. We must assume your husband fights on for his king.”
“I am not here for battle tales though Ian’s safety weighs heavily on my mind,” Katie said. She glared at her father. “How could you? You didna even give us a chance to say goodbye to Brianna.”
“I expected you to object,” he said. Brian Blackburn leaned back in his chair. “Katie, I ken you dinna understand what I have done, but Brianna will have a chance for a new start with the MacLeods.”
“I ken exactly what you have done,” Katie fumed. “You gave my sister to the old MacLeod laird. You uprooted her from her family. She will be alone in a time when she needs us.”
Bowing his head, Brian sighed. “Brianna agreed to go,” he said quietly. “It is for the best.”
“Is the old goat going to marry her?”
“Nay, Katie, he took her to marry his son. He has promised she will be wed as soon as she arrives.” He arched his brow. “If she carries Rannoch’s child, his son wilna abandon her. She will have a good life.”
“Why would his son agree to such an arrangement?”
“The son is a bastard himself, but one that his father recognizes.” Brian shrugged. “Laird MacLeod and his wife had no children. His dalliance with one of the servants in the keep produced a son.”
“Brianna deserves better, Father. I dinna understand.” Katie groaned. “She is our blood no matter how Rannoch deceived her. Why couldn’t you find her a husband here instead of with one of the clans of the Western Isles?”
Brian snorted. “You dinna understand the way of the world, Katie. In a distant place, Brianna has a chance of putting all this behind her. Fine lairds and their heirs dinna want a spoiled bride that may have another man’s baby in her belly.”
“Why couldn’t she just stay here? We dinna ken if Rannoch even took her.”
“He had time. You and Ian found them naked in the bed. I try to find a place for her where none of this will haunt her. Besides, you and Ian will leave for Cairngorm Castle when he returns.”
Pacing the floor, Katie tossed her head. “I would go after them and get Brianna back.”
“And risk Ian’s babe? I ken you are with child.” His face softened. “You are sick almost every morning. Sometimes you turn away at the first whiff of food. Tell me I am not right.”
Katie felt the color drain from her face. “Aye, Ian’s child grows inside me.”
“You and Brianna are much alike, born of fire and passion. You gave yourself to Ian before you wed and you are just lucky he is a man of honor and still wanted you for his wife. You would not be showing already if it were not so.”
Flushing, Katie sank into a chair beside her father. Running her hands across her stomach, she knew her father was right. She could feel her thickening waist and the small bump that indicated her fervent dreams of bearing Ian’s child were going to become reality. “Can others tell?”
“I dinna think so.” He smiled. “You must let your sister find her fate. She will be alright.”
“Will we ever see her again?”
“In time we shall arrange a visit and see how things have turned out. Until then, she is lost to us. We must have faith she will find happiness with this new start.”
Hot tears traced down Katie’s cheeks. “I am afraid for her,” she confessed.
“Tessa tells me all will be well. I hope she is right.”
Wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, Katie pulled herself up straight in the chair. “As much as I have doubted Tessa, I have seen the truth in her predictions. I shall pray this is true.”
“Go now and get some rest. I dinna want you so pale and out of sorts when Ian returns.”
Forcing a smile, Katie stood. She leaned down and kissed his cheek then left his chamber. Her father was right. She needed a good night’s rest. Heading for her chamber, she tried to be brave about Brianna’s fate.
Katie grinned when she entered the room. Maura had a hot bath prepared in Katie’s bathing chamber. Peeling off her clothes, she sank into the steaming lavender-scented water. Again, she ran her hand over her once flat belly feeling the growing roundness. A life grew inside her that was part of her and part of Ian. The thought filled her with joy, but her babe’s father fought with Robert the Bruce in England.
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br /> Tales of the battle at Byland had reached Duntaigh weeks ago and still no word came from Ian or Jared. From all accounts, Robert sent the Highlanders up a rocky cliff to surprise Edward’s troops from behind while earls Moray and Douglas led the frontal attack. They were victorious, but the Scottish army still searched for Edward hoping his capture would force recognition of Robert the Bruce as King of Scotland.
Katie had to put these thoughts aside for the good of her child. Leaning back against the tub, she let her eyes drift closed. Visions of Ian filled her head. She remembered their first kiss, the fateful day she gave herself to him, and reveled in his mastery over her body.
The creek of a door opening brought her out of her dream. Startled, Katie looked up and saw Ian coming toward her. “I thought you’d be asleep,” he said. “I even cleaned up down below so I wouldna wake you.”
“Husband, you ken full well you would wake me.” Smiling, she dangled her leg out of the tub. “You caught me in my bath.”
“I am a lucky man,” he said.
“That you are,” she agreed as she slowly stood up.
In a few quick strides, he reached her. Their lips met in a slow savoring kiss. “God how I missed you,” he murmured as he kissed her over and over. Finally, he pulled back and looked her up and down. “Love, how is it possible you grow even more radiant?” His hands ran down her slick, wet body. “Have you grown a little belly since last we met?”
“’Tis entirely your fault,” she teased. Putting her hand over his, she held it to the roundness of her stomach. “I carry your child,” she whispered.
Her husband had tears in his eyes. “Oh, Katie, you have made me the happiest man in all of Scotland.”
“I have never seen you cry.”
“Tears of joy,” he assured her. With a wicked grin, he lifted her out of the tub. “Let’s get to bed.”
“I am yours, Milord.”
“Always and forever,” he said as he captured her mouth with a kiss that wiped away all other thought.
Dear Reader,
If you liked CAPTIVE HIGHLANDER, look for the first three books from the series Highland Legends. These are: ENCHANTED LOVER, PHANTOM BRIDE, and FIRE ANGEL. Book five will be THE STRANGE TALE OF SAMANTHA RAVENWOOD in which Samantha tells you first hand all her darkest secrets. This book fills in a side of the story not told in FIRE ANGEL.
Subsequent Highland Legends books will include the stories of Conner MacLean, introduced in FIRE ANGEL, and the tales of all the Blackburn children who came to life in CAPTIVE HIGHLANDER. Although all books in the series stand alone, some characters repeat across the story lines.
In addition to the Highland Legends books, I will be releasing some mysteries with a romantic twist. VICTORIAN LACE, currently available, is the first of these.
Hope you enjoyed the read.
Connie
Website: http://www.conniescharon.com/home.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConnieCScharonAuthor
Other Books by this Author
Highland Legends Books
ENCHANTED LOVER
PHANTOM BRIDE
FIRE ANGEL
Mysteries
VICTORIAN LACE
DEDICATION
To Michael, Seth, Lisa, and Amelie, my family, without whom I could not enjoy life—I love you all. I am not sure there are any adequate words of thanks for my son, Seth Scharon, also an author, who is now of the age where he is giving me good advice. He shares his incredible skills and artistry to work with me on manuscript issues and book covers. In addition to designing the cover, Seth did multiple edits for me and made my work better with his insightful suggestions.
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