He caressed her cheek. “As I love ye, mo stor.”
Overwhelming emotion moved her head forward. Their kiss turned passionate, and Katie’s hands wove into his hair. Their kiss continued until James moved underneath her. Katie’s leg felt it then.
“I’m sorry.”
He laughed. “I will always be patient with ye, always place yer well-being above all else. I made that promise to ye but I am no saint, lass. I canna help my body’s urges and responses to yer beauty, but my mind can control how it is addressed.”
She kissed his chin. “I promise ye that I will try until we can.”
His kissed her lips. “I’ve told ye, mo stòr, that I will never force ye, and that if that day never comes, I will still be here with ye. Ye are the gift, my love. All else ye endow me with is an additional boon.”
She kissed his lips and rested her head on his chest. Slowly, her breathing grew even, and he knew she’d fallen asleep.
James kissed the top of her head and settled back. The feel of her body on him kept his manhood aroused. As the night continued, it relaxed, allowing James to sleep.
One thought remained in his head as his eyes closed from looking at the stars- he’d never gone to sleep happier.
He had his beloved in his arms.
Chapter Eighteen
Days later, they’d settled onto a remote area of Menzies land, where to her surprise, was a small waterfall that emptied into a large body of water, with a river leading the moving water away.
“James…”
Katie had stopped urging her horse forward when she saw the site.
“D’ye like it?”
Katie turned her astonished eyes to him. “This is beautiful.”
His smile was wide. “I knew ye’d like it, lass. We doona ever venture here, other than for an occasional guard watch, for our main lands yield an abundance of crops for us.”
When they had arrived, James had set out to build a shelter for them. Fortunately, there’d been thick, tall trees where he attached broken leafy branches with rope. He’d explained that the leaves would protect them should it rain. It had been a few days since, and they’d settled into a pattern.
Katie sat at the bank, sewing pieces of plaid together, and avidly watching James, who was in the water catching fish.
“Missed that one?”
His hair was wet and loose around his shoulders. He laughed and looked up at her from where his gaze was fixated on the water, his head remaining downcast.
Katie noticed that he’d been laughing more as of late, as if by leaving his position as the laird’s son, he’d been given a reprieve from obligations that made his demeanor serious.
Katie’s eyes traveled down to his chest where his skin glistened from droplets of water in the sun. She’d never seen James unclothed in any way. The first time had been when they had first arrived to this part of his land. He’d taken off his shirt, and was left with just his kilt, as he was now.
He had muscles like the Highlands had hills. The man had honed an incredible body of muscles and brawn that she’d never seen before him.
The fluttering in Katie’s stomach hadn’t ceased since.
Was it passion?
Attraction?
She wanted to kiss him, and do more?
Katie wanted to be kissed by this man.
And loved.
In every way.
“I never miss, lass.”
She laughed. “Cocky.”
His grin was wider. “Aye. That I am.”
By the time she’d sewn two pieces of plaid together and was filling them with feathers, leaves, and flower petals, James had caught two fish.
“That looks like it will be comfortable for ye.”
She smiled up at him. “It isna for me.”
His eyebrows lifted. “For me?”
She stood up and walk towards him. “Aye. Why are ye surprised?”
“‘Tis nay often that anyone gives me or makes me things, lass, unless I need them and request them, such as clothing.”
Inches away, she looked up at him. On her tiptoes, she rose up and kissed his lips. “Ye need to expect it from me. I am yer wife, now, and I will care for ye, husband.”
A wide grin spread across his cheeks. “I believe that I’ll like that verra much.”
He moved forward and kissed her softly. The yearning was rising in him, and it took a great deal more than he’d believed it would, to control himself. The cadence of his heart thumped with the urge to make her fully his.
But he would not until she wanted to.
And he did not know if she ever would, but he didn’t care.
He was married to the woman who’d made his heart and soul awake.
He pulled away slowly. “I will start a fire and roast the fish. Sound appetizing?”
Her smile was warm. “My husband cooks for me? That, itself, is appetizing. Especially when ye only wear a kilt.”
James threw his head back and barked with laughter.
“Ahh, lass. What ye say…”
She kissed him again before turning to close the opening of the makeshift pillow.
That evening, they sat before the fire as they finished their meal. When he caught her smiling at him, he returned it.
“What has ye in good humor?”
“How could I be anything but with ye? But…I was just thinking that it was the best fish I’d ever eaten.”
He laughed. “I told ye…I have many aptitudes.”
“And obviously one of them is modesty, too.”
Throwing back his head, his laugh was guttural.
“Ye know, ye have the best laugh.”
“Do I?”
She nodded.
“Must be ye who brings it out of me, lass.”
She smirked at him but then grew serious. “Didna ye have the lasses at yer heels, James? I canna fathom why ye chose me from the endless lasses who line the walkway to yer keep.”
He grew equally as serious. “The true question here, lass, is why ye think that my choosing ye was a compromise, and nay my first desire in wife? Aye, lasses attempted to gain my attentions, but none were ye. None of them made my heart constrict at the thought of harm coming to them. None of them made my soul call out with the desire to unite with them. None of them packed a meal for a man they’d known for barely a moment. None of them were ye, lass. Ye are nay my first choice, second, or last. Ye are my only choice. I want no other.”
Katie moved over to him, and settled herself on his lap.
“May I sit here?”
James moved forward to inhale her scent. “Aye, lass. Would be a pleasure.”
She snuggled her nose into his neck, and turned around to look at the fire. His arms wrapped around her and they sat in silence, her head resting under his chin. Katie sighed and turned her head slightly, resting it more comfortably against him.
“I never thought I would be able to touch or be as close to a man as I am with ye.”
Her next sigh was sleepy. “Falling asleep in yer arms, James, is Heaven. I feel warm…safe…protected…” She inhaled. “Loved.”
“It is equally pleasurable for me, mo stòr, holding ye. I love ye.”
“Love…ye…Sweet…James…”
She fell asleep in his arms as he held her staring at the fire. He didn’t know how long they’d be there while their families engaged in war. Until the war ended, James was happy here with her and providing for her, on his land.
Chapter Nineteen
A few days later, they were sitting by the fire having consumed their nightly meal.
“What d’ye think is happening?”
James shrugged motioning her to sit in front of him. He encircled her waist with his arms as they did nearly every night since arriving.
“I would imagine Da is attempting to discover who’s giving aid to Kerr. He will make an additional attempt to reason with the bastard before hell and war befalls the Highland clans.”
She looked back at
him, and her eyes reflected guilt. He moved her more fully towards him so that she could look into his eyes.
“Mayhap we shouldna have married. Mayhap ‘twas nay wise or good.”
He kissed her lips.
“Mo stòr, in one manner or another, ye would’ve been my wife. The only manner ye wouldna have been my wife, is if ye had refused.”
He looked at her, all sense of humor and ease gone from his features, replaced by a fierce determination lighting his yellow gaze.
“Ye agreed, and to me, ‘tis all that is of import. If anyone attempts to take ye from me, and Kerr has threatened by words and impending action,” he paused, framing her face, “killing him and his men would be the least of their fears.”
She exhaled as he kissed her forehead.
“Marrying ye was the easiest and best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve nay regrets, and tell ye fully without doubt, that I never will.”
She reached up and rested a palm on his cheek. They kissed slowly at first and grew more impassioned.
“I would like to…”
She let her words fall away as she stared at him.
“Are ye certain?”
“I love ye. I want to know ye in every manner.”
“Aye, lass. But only if ye can. Only do so because ye want to.”
She nodded and whispered. “I do.”
He kissed her as he slowly lowered her onto her back. He cautiously hovered over, not fully applying his weight over her. Katie noticed the care he was taking and smiled.
“Thank ye. I’m well, though.”
He lowered his body but only some. He weighed three times her weight and he would crush her.
Katie nuzzled his cheek and he moved his head to kiss her. Slowly, their kiss grew more impassioned. James planted his hands on either side of her head and Katie opened her eyes.
He felt the difference in her immediately. She was no longer soft and pliable. She’d stiffened her body and her eyes shone with a mixture of hesitance and fear.
James tore himself away from her and sat on his heels, panting.
When he saw her tears, that completed the jab through his heart, her distress serving as the knife.
“I apologize.”
Her words were wavering, and her lips trembled.
James sat and motioned her to him. She quickly went to him and he enveloped her, kissing her head.
“I’m so angry!” Her voice shook. “It’s not fair! I just want to be with my husband. They’ve taken too much from me.”
Katie’s breathing became erratic. She couldn’t calm herself. James grabbed her hand and placed it over his heart.
“Ye feel that, lass?”
She nodded.
“Breathe with me.”
He slowly breathed in and out, and she mirrored his inhalations and exhalations.
“Feel my heart?”
She nodded again.
“It beats for ye, mo stòr. Always and forever. This is but a pebble in the path of our lives together that stretches far ahead. We will overcome this, and we shall do so together. There isna a hurry. I’ll always be here with ye.”
Her hands rose to the side of his head and weaved into the hair that was secured at his neck. She rested her forehead on his chin as she focused on her breathing. James passed his hand over her head and through her hair. Slowly, her breathing calmed, and she looked up at him.
“Ye are a wonder, my heart.” Her thumb caressed his cheek. “Ye’ve the patience of a saint. Ye are so tender with me.”
He laughed. “Me? Patient? Only with ye, my love.”
She ran her nose along his chin and rested her head on his chest.
“Yer beating heart calms me. ‘Tis the most beautiful sound appreciated by my ears.”
They sat in silence, content simply to be in the other’s presence. Once they grew sleepy, they settled down together in each other’s arms.
Katie fell asleep listening to the sound of the heart of the man who loved her.
Chapter Twenty
“Ye’re quite adept at hunting.”
James nodded as he honed the point of a stick, making it into a spear as the rabbit they were going to have for dinner roasted on the spit over the fire. They’d been slowly getting settled into their new temporary life.
“Aye. Father taught me long ago how to live off the land. I help the hunters in my clan on occasion.”
Katie watched his muscles play as he sharpened the end. His body was sheer perfection. She knew her eyes had wandered more and more over his body with each day that passed. That she felt free to do so, and not ashamed that her attention was focused on a man even this long after her rape, signaled to her how well she was recovering from it.
“D’ye wish to swim with me?”
Her eyes moved from his chest and abdomen to his eyes, which were alight with knowing humor, if his grin had anything to say about it.
They hadn’t entered the loch or its waterfall yet together.
“Is it nay cold?”
He shrugged and looked down, continuing to hone the point.
“I’ll keep ye warm.”
Moments after they finished eating, Katie was screaming and giggling as she entered the frigid water in one the chemises Maddie had gifted her. She was wading in the depths while James stood solid.
“Come, mo stòr.”
Not needing to be asked twice, she moved into his arms until her shaking and chattering teeth subsided.
It was a new feeling for her, since it was the first occasion that he hadn’t worn a léine when in his arms. The feel of his hard skin and muscle on her fingertips caused her to gasp.
He smiled down at her curiosity.
“Care to dip down in and wet yer hair?”
She moved back. “Surely ye jest. D’ye wish for me to freeze?”
He laughed against her, as she looked up from his embrace.
“Do I nay warm ye?”
“Aye, but why make it worse?”
He snorted. “I was thinking it would make it better. I’d hug ye more tightly.”
She slapped him and he caught her hand, bringing it to his mouth.
“I love ye, beauty. With all my heart.”
Her other hand moved a strand away from his face before both of her hands cupped his face.
“I love ye, my heart. With all that I am, and all that I will ever be.”
Their mouths joined as he moved them deeper into the loch. Katie didn’t notice until she felt the spray of the waterfall overhead. She gasped and shrieked, causing James to laugh. Katie slapped his chest, causing the water to slush in her face. She sputtered.
“James Rhiseart Menzies!”
His laugh continued. “My name has never sounded finer than when uttered from yer sweet lips.”
“James!”
“What is it, lass? ‘Tis a bit warm, aye?”
Her teeth began chattering and he moved them further behind the waterfall and hugged her tightly.
“I’ll keep ye warm, mo stòr.”
Katie clung to him until the warmth of his body eased the coldness of hers. Slowly, her body grew accustomed to the loch’s temperature.
“That was nay nice, James.”
She sighed her words into his chest and looked up at him.
His grin forced one out of her. “Nay harm done, lass.”
The twinkle in her eyes should have worried him, but he ignored it.
“Beautiful, aye?”
She looked around and gasped. A small grotto was behind them. The splashing water created the appearance of gleaming crystals in the rocks of the grotto. Moss covered some of the large stones here and there. The area was large enough for a few people to rest comfortably.
It took her breath away.
“Magical.”
He nodded. “Aye. ‘Tis a secret place only visited by the verra special few- the Menzies’ men and those who they love. Fiercely love. ‘Tis said to bring fertility, fortune, and felicity to men and women deeply in
love.”
“Truly?”
He leaned forth until their noses touched.
“Truly.”
Katie kissed him, her hands gliding into his hair. His arms brought her up so that they were at eye-level. Growing brave, she moved her mouth and trailed kisses down to his neck.
“Katie, mo stòr…”
One of his hands cupped the back of her neck while the other one stroked her back. Katie kissed around his jawline, laughing as she pulled back.
“What?” his face had a smile in reaction to her laughter.
“Yer growing beard. It tickles me.”
He rubbed his stubble against her cheeks. “Shall I remedy that by removing it?”
She rubbed her face against him in return. “Only if ye wish to. I love ye in any manners of appearance, James Rhiseart Menzies.”
“Ye’ve told me that before.” He nuzzled her cheek.
“‘Tis because it’s true.”
Katie began moving her hands over his wide shoulders and down his arms, feeling the massive powerful muscles underneath.
“Like?”
Her hazel eyes looked up at him, a smile spreading as she nodded. “I’ve been quite inquisitive about how ye’d feel with all of yer muscle and none of yer clothing.”
“And what have ye concluded?”
“It feels wonderful. Tight skin covering muscles as hard and as large as boulders. The strength in them must be amazingly powerful.”
Her touch was enflaming the fire that had ignited in him since he’d met her.
James moved them back towards the rocks that formed the grotto’s landing. His back against the formation, he brought her closer and resumed their kissing. James scattered kisses on her cheek and jaw, moving towards her neck. Katie closed her eyes, bringing her hands to the back of his head again. His lips trailed to her ear.
“D’ye wish to continue? Are ye well?”
She nodded and sighed. “Aye. James, ye make me feel good. I doona feel repulsion when ye touch me or kiss me.”
She gasped when he kissed her neck, slowly moving across to the other side. His tongue tasted her skin, and he nipped her playfully on the delicate and sensitive area below her ear. James heard her emit a sound between a gasped and a laugh.
The Highlander Who Loved Me (Heart of a Highlander Collection Book 4) Page 10