Once Upon a Christmas Wedding

by Scarlett Scott

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  Kiss Me, Macrae

  by Amy Sandas

  Chapter 1

  Inverness, Scotland

  December, 1823

  Miss Allegra Smithson, formerly of New York City, pulled her hooded, fur-lined cloak close around her body and tucked her chin to avoid a direct onslaught of freezing rain. Her boots made precarious contact with the icy ground as she rushed from her carriage to the shelter of a small Scottish inn.

  Pausing within the small vestibule, she stomped the numbness from her toes. Sounds of a great revelry overflowed from the inn’s common area.

  Her driver had explained the lodging was nearly full, with only one room still available to rent for the night, but he’d failed to mention there appeared to be some sort of celebration taking place at the inn this night.

  Allegra briefly considered continuing on to search for quieter accommodations. But it was already after midnight and the villages had become scarcer the farther north they went. Although some people seemed perfectly content to sleep in a swaying, bumping carriage as it rumbled over rugged country roads, she was not one of them.

  She required the comfort of a soft, warm bed. As tired as she was, it was doubtful even the raucous noise flowing from the room beyond would keep her awake.

  Stepping from the vestibule, she crossed into a large open space. It was immediately apparent that all the boisterous laughter and loud talk was coming from a relatively small group of men seated haphazardly around the large stone hearth at the far end of the common room. Dressed in the earthy tones and functional style of tradesmen and farmers, the men looked to have been celebrating for several hours judging by their loose manner and the many tankards littering their tables.

  One man, a short fellow with a balding head and rounded cheeks, hoisted himself up to stand on a chair that rocked precariously beneath his swaying form. Loudly clearing his throat, he waved his hands to gain the attention of those around him.

  Allegra continued toward the stairway at the far end of the room, hoping to pass by unseen.

  Her lodgings had been procured by her driver and her traveling trunk had been unloaded before she’d left the carriage. A fire was likely being lit in her room at that very moment. Soon, she’d climb between clean sheets and cozy woolen blankets to claim some much-needed slumber.

  “Now, now, everyone! Let’s take a wee moment to reflect on the joys of this gatherin’ as we express our gratitude toward the man who made it all possible, the man of the evenin’, and one o’ the best mates anyone could have. To Macrae!”

  Everyone shouted in response to the slightly slurred toast except one man who released a rich, rolling bellow of laughter. The sound was so deep it reverberated through Allegra’s chilled bones and stiff, tense muscles—warming her in an instant. Stunned by her reaction, she stopped to glance over her shoulder as a large man rose to his feet.

  Her breath caught at the sight of impossibly wide shoulders, a tousled shock of red-blond hair, and a full beard in a slightly darker shade. The Scotsman, who she guessed to be around thirty years of age, wore no coat and the sleeves of his simple linen shirt had been rolled back to reveal thick-muscled forearms and large hands.

  He gave another laugh as those closest to him clapped him hard on the back though he barely seemed to feel the hits that easily would have caused a lesser man to stumble.

  “Come now, gentlemen,” the large Scotsman said as he lifted a hand to settle the group. “It’s George here who’s celebratin’ his engagement to the fair Miss Winters. I simply provided a few rounds of ale tae assist in the revelry.”

  “Dinnae forget the whisky,” someone shouted from the group.

  The red-haired man winked. “A worthy Scotsman never forgets the whisky.”

  The comment prompted more shouting laughter and a few tables slaps.

  Allegra suddenly realized she was openly staring at the overgrown man with his heavily muscled physique, bright eyes, and wide grin. That her body was so oddly affected by the Scotsman’s voice only proved just how sleep deprived she was. A human body simply could not hum in harmony with a man’s laughter.

  She was being ridiculous and Allegra Smithson was rarely ever that.

  Gathering herself, she strode across the hall and rushed up the stairs. A good night’s sleep would see her returned to rights prior to her arrival at the Earl of Darrow’s estate. Her driver had assured they’d reach their destination sometime tomorrow afternoon.

  The thought brought a weighted sigh. After everything that had happened in the last year, she was ready for life to be a bit steadier and more uneventful…or at the very least a bit less challenging. Though Allegra was not the kind of woman to avoid challenges, even the most ambitious person needed a rest now and again.

  Her oldest and dearest friend, Susanna, the current Countess of Darrow, had assured Allegra that a visit to the Scottish Highlands would provide all the quietude she could desire.

  So far, that had not been the case. Being from New York, she was no stranger to winter storms. But she was a city girl and traveling along rustic roadways during bad weather was not her idea of serenity.

  At least her journey was nearly over. Just one more day.

  Allegra’s eyes struggled to retain focus as fatigue threatened to overwhelm her. She stumbled into her rented room and closed the door behind her. The fire in the grate filled the modest space with warmth and the large bed with turned down bedding was a simplistic yet inviting luxury after so many hours sitting upright in the jostling carriage.

  Allegra quickly removed her cloak, then sat on the edge of the bed to untie her boots. Anxious to shed the stiff traveling outfit in favor of something more comfortable, she set her chilled fingers to the long row of buttons running down the front of her gown.

  She glanced about for her trunk and saw it in a dark corner across the room. If her personal maid hadn’t abandoned her in Edinburgh—one of the many trials to plague her on this journey—everything would have been laid out for her. Lacking the strength or will to dig through the tightly packed clothing for a nightgown, she simply stripped down to her chemise and released the pins from her hair before falling back onto the bed with a sigh.

  Rolling to her side, she pulled the thick blankets up to her chin, tucked her hands beneath her cheek, and was deeply asleep within minutes.

  Chapter 2

  A low, growling rumble slowly pulled Allegra from the comfort and luxury of a dreamless sleep. Struggling to clarify what had awakened her, she tried to roll to her back.

  But she couldn’t.

  Something—no, someone—was in the way.

  A band of fear and shock wrapped sharply around her, abruptly halting any movement and stalling her breath while her heart rate leapt to a frantic pace.

  Despite the paralyzing tension that claimed her body, her mind was suddenly alert and agile as she acknowledged that the rumbling that had awakened her was a man’s snore. A man who was currently curled around her with his thighs tucked intimately behind hers, his solid chest pressed to her back, and one large hand cupped even more intimately over her breast.

  With a burst of energy breaking through her momentary inaction, Allegra’s muscles tensed to flee, but she made it no more than a few inches before getting tugged to an instant halt. Eyes wide with disbelief, she peeked swiftly over her shoulder to see almost the entire length of her hair trapped beneath the slumbering male’s impossibly wide shoulders.

  In the breath she took between acknowledging her unbelievable predicament and opening her mouth to cry out in distress, she realized that the man in her bed was the same red-haired Scot with the belly-tingling voice she’d spied in the common room the night before.

  Despite her scrambling, he continued to snore unaware. He’d likely be sleeping off the effects of his revelry for some time to come.

  A drunken state of confusion was probably what had brought him to her room in the first place.

  Al
though a hardy scream would bring people to her rescue, the discovery of a man in her bed—regardless of how he got there—would result in nothing but scandal. And that was something she’d had more than enough of lately.

  If she could just get away without waking him…

  Biting her lip, she took hold of her hair with both hands to give a hard pull.

  And gained not even the slightest bit of leeway.

  After a few more tries, while the large Scotsman remained utterly oblivious, Allegra’s frustration got the better of her and she might have accidentally—on purpose—jabbed an elbow into the man’s ribs on her next attempt to pull herself free.

  He gave a low, roughened growl that sounded more bear than man as his eyes cracked open from beneath a furrowed brow.

  Allegra suddenly found herself staring rather closely into the greenest eyes she’d ever seen. Even bleary from sleep and all the ale he’d obviously consumed the night before, his gaze was rich and verdant beyond anything she could come up with in comparison.

  And then he smiled. Sensual, masculine lips widened within a scruffy red beard and white teeth flashed. “Mornin’.”

  The stimulating timbre of his voice combined with the fact that he didn’t seem the least bit surprised to awake to her presence spurred Allegra back into action. Shoving both hands against his hard-muscled shoulder, she demanded, “Get off my hair, then get out of my room.”

  His eyes flickered at her words. He even lifted his head to glance around before dropping it back onto the pillow. Wiping a large hand over his face and beard, he muttered, “My room, lass.”

  “No. It’s mine. And I want you out. Now.” She accented the last word by giving another two-handed tug on her hair.

  Unfortunately, as she did so, he finally seemed to notice her predicament and graciously lifted his weight, which sent her rolling off the edge of the bed to land on the floor with an inelegant “oof.”

  Furious over the drunkard’s intrusion and the outright indignity of her situation, Allegra rose swiftly to her feet. Hands planted on her hips, she glared down at the man who lay sprawled in the bed with a noticeable lack of concern.

  And a very noticeable lack of clothing.

  Allegra’s belly clenched in shock as her heart stuttered.

  All that stark male nakedness was presently covered by only a small portion of the blanket draped over one leg and his groin. His skin was lightly freckled from head to toe and his thick arms and legs were covered by a dusting of reddish hair. His broad chest and rigid abdomen, however, were smooth and sculpted except for a thin line of hair that ran from his navel downward.

  She’d spent the night curled against the body of a naked man. A very large, very well-muscled body.

  Heat beyond embarrassment or frustration swirled deep in her center.

  Snapping her gaze back to his face, she was relieved to see he didn’t appear to have noticed her wayward perusal. “This is obviously my room,” she stated firmly and sharply. “If you don’t get out before someone discovers you here, there will be serious consequences.”

  “I hear ye. I might still be a wee bit off my head, but I can hear well enough,” he growled as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up only to drop his head into his hands with a heavy groan.

  Forcefully averting her gaze from the sight of his impressive body, she glanced toward the window. The light grey of the overcast sky suggested it was well into morning. “Come on. Get up,” she urged, turning back with a burst of panic. “Up. Up.”

  He lifted his head and gave her an odd look before his focus slid intently over her bristling form.

  Recalling that she was only slightly more clothed than he was, her skin ignited with tingling awareness. Her undergarment was not so thin as a summer chemise, which would have been practically transparent, but it was sleeveless and barely reached to mid-thigh.

  When he brought his gaze back to meet hers, something in his eyes triggered a delicious flutter low in her core. Then he smiled in a way that was both challenging and amused as he rose to his feet.

  As soon as she realized he wasn’t going to do anything to keep the blanket in place over his groin, Allegra spun around, but she was not quite quick enough. The stunning sight of his large, muscled body on full display was likely to be etched indelibly in her mind.

  “I cannot believe you just did that,” she gasped.

  His response was a throaty chuckle. “Just givin’ ye what ye demand, lass.”

  Allegra took a deep breath. Frustration mounted at his irreverent behavior as much as her wayward reaction to him. He clearly wasn’t taking this situation as seriously as it warranted.

  “What I demand is that you get dressed and get out,” she repeated in a desperate bid to rush him along.

  When only a hushed sound of movement answered her, she glanced over her shoulder, then froze in place when she discovered him standing right behind her. Though he’d pulled on his trousers, his torso remained bare. The sight of such a broad male chest so close had her body tightening as her heart skipped to a faster pace.

  Tipping her chin up to meet his gaze, she reluctantly acknowledged that his features were handsome in a rugged sort of way and possessed a boyishness when he smiled—as he did now. A flash of wicked delight ignited in his green eyes and caused her breath to restart on a swift inhale.

  But when he leaned forward, reaching past her body in a way that brought his face even with hers, her breath stalled completely.

  His bold gaze fell briefly to her lips and then her breasts before he gave her a quick wink. “I’ll be needin’ this.”

  He swept up his shirt from the chair beside her in one brawny hand. Without moving away, he lifted the shirt over his head, demonstrating a powerful movement of muscle in his arms and chest and abdomen. The display of so much masculine strength within intimate reach caused Allegra’s pulse to quicken as blood rushed swiftly through her veins, carrying the heat of unexpected—and thoroughly unwanted—desire to every corner of her being.

  When he reached for his coat, Allegra realized she could have stepped back at any point to give him more space. The boldness of his grin indicated he was equally aware of that fact.

  She was not typically so hotheaded…or hot-blooded. This man seemed to bring out the worst in her.

  “I’ll be on my way then.” The rich, rolling cadence of his burr suggested he was in no particular hurry.

  “Finally.”

  “Even though ’tis my room,” he added.

  Placing her hands flat against his solid chest, Allegra gave him a shove toward the door. “Get. Out.”

  He chuckled at her attempt to exert physical force, but gratefully, he did not resist.

  Before he got more than a step, however, Allegra realized her error and grasped his thick arm in both hands to pull him back. “No, no, no. Wait.” He couldn’t go out the door, where anyone could pass by and see him coming from her room.

  He looked down at her with an arch of surprise lifting one eyebrow. “Ye dinnae want me tae leave?”

  Allegra shook her head. “Of course I do, just not that way.” She rushed to the window and noted that it looked out over the mews behind the inn. It was early enough that no one appeared to be about just yet and, to her great relief, there was a comfortable-looking hedgerow growing right below the window and plenty of snow all about. Releasing the casement latch, she threw the window open to the chilled morning air and gave a studied glance down.

  Not too far a drop for a large man with a sturdy build.

  “Ye expect me tae jump oot the bloody window?”

  Oddly, the Scotsman didn’t sound the least bit offended as he came to stand beside her. In fact, he looked thoroughly amused.

  “It’s not terribly high,” she noted. “I doubt you’ll get hurt very badly. And most importantly, no one will see you.”

  He gave a harsh sigh as he leaned over the sill to view the drop for himself. Then he turned to her with a dubious expression. “Y
e’re lucky this isna the first window I’ve had tae leap from.”

  Any concern she might have had that he could actually get hurt was swept away by the roguish curve of his smile as he turned to sit on the window ledge and brace his back against the frame.

  “I suppose you often awake in a stranger’s room after a night of revelry,” she scoffed.

  “Never. And I’ve decided tae request a wee favor afore I leap tae my fate.” The rich baritone of his voice and the heat in his eyes made her bare toes curl.

  Doing her best to overcome her attraction to the man, she crossed her arms over her chest. “What is it then?”

  “Naught of great concern,” he replied. “Just a kiss.”

  Chapter 3

  “A kiss? Are you still drunk or half-mad as well? I’m not going to kiss you.”

  His full beard did little to disguise the sensual curve of his mouth as he grinned wider and cocked his head—eyes sparking with challenge. “Ye will if ye’re wantin’ me tae jump through this window.”

  Allegra narrowed her gaze, suddenly wondering why she didn’t feel more threatened by the man. She had never been one to frighten easily, but considering his size, there was every reason she should at least be wary of him.

  She swept her gaze over him in a thoughtful perusal. The breadth of his shoulders really was impossibly wide. His hands were large and his fingers long. Even sitting on the windowsill, he remained a couple inches taller than her as she stood before him.

  There had been plenty of opportunity for him to take advantage of their unexpected intimacy—both while they’d slept through the night and since they’d awakened. Aside from his brazen teasing and lack of urgency in removing himself from her room, he hadn’t done anything untoward or concerning.

  All he wanted was a kiss and then he’d be gone.

  At nearly twenty-seven years old, Allegra was no stranger to a man’s kiss. And truly, there was far less risk in agreeing to his terms than in refusing and delaying his departure.