Page 39 of A Wife for the Highland Villain (Breaking the Highland Rules #3)

A few hours later, Lily stepped out of Clara’s cottage and looked up at the sky. It was darkening with each passing second. She knew it was only a matter of time before the sky became completely dark.

“I will return tomorrow to check upon yer son, and Timothy. Please try to rest as well, Clara. The birth of a bairn isnae easy,” she called to Clara.

Clara wrung her hands, her tired face brightening with gratitude. “I cannae imagine what we would have done without ye, M’Lady. Ye are the reason me husband will get to see his son grow up. I cannae thank ye enough.”

Lily gave her a faint smile. “‘Tis the least I could do. Yer husband is a very brave man.”

Clara’s lips trembled, and she nodded. “That he is.”

Lily smiled warmly. “I must go now. Daenae forget to rest. Tis the only way ye can care for yer family.”

As she closed the door behind her and walked away, the air was cool, tinged with sea salt. Lily turned and went still. Alasdair was leaning against a tree not far off, his arms crossed, watching her.

She rolled her eyes. “Did ye wait for me here?”

Alasdair shrugged, a half-smile playing on his lips. “One cannae be too careful.”

Lily smirked. “Right. This doesnae have anything to do with ye trying to get back into me good graces after ye tried to send me away?”

He pushed off the tree and stepped closer. One of his hands stayed tucked behind his back. “I thought I was already in yer good graces.”

Lily raised her eyebrows. “Perhaps. But it’s still fun to bring it up once in a while.”

He leaned in, lowering his voice. “And I’ll keep apologizing until ye nay longer have to.”

Lily narrowed her eyes at him. “That’ll take a really long time, Alasdair. Are ye ready for that?”

His gaze held hers. “Aye. I’ll apologize for all of eternity if I must.”

A laugh escaped her lips, light and unexpected. He reached out his free hand and guided her toward the horse waiting nearby.

She stopped short, staring at the beast. “We arenae going to the castle?”

“Nae yet,” Alasdair said, straightening. “There’s something I need to show ye first.”

He offered his hand, lifting her into the saddle before climbing up behind her. His chest brushed her back as he gathered the reins, the warmth of him seeping into her. They rode in silence, the horse’s hooves thudding against the packed earth.

Lily watched the passing trees, the fading light dancing between the branches. After a long while, she spoke, “I want to move Timothy, Clara, and their son to the castle. The baby should receive the best care, and his parents should have everything she needs.”

Alasdair nodded without hesitation. “Ye’re Lady MacRay. Whatever ye say goes.”

She turned her head slightly, surprised. “Thank ye.”

He smiled faintly. “Ye’ve nay need to thank me.”

They rode on until the trees thinned and the roar of waves drifted to her ears.

Alasdair pulled on the reins and stopped the horse. “We’re here.”

Lily blinked, turning to look.

The beach stretched wide before them, empty and endless. The tide rolled in and out, the air tinged with salt.

Her breath caught. “The beach…”

“Aye,” Alasdair said quietly. “I promised ye the beach. Now, we’re here.”

Lily turned to him, awe in her eyes. “Ye ken what? The overcompensation is working.”

He grinned, sliding down from the saddle. Reaching behind, he pulled out a rolled mat and a small basket.

Lily frowned. “When did ye get these?”

He smirked. “I sent word to Daisy to help.”

Lily’s eyebrows rose. “Daisy?”

“Aye. I only asked for the mat but she brought fruits, too. She insisted they would make the whole thing seem less… piratical.” His grin widened at her bewildered look.

The sand was soft beneath her feet as she walked. She’d missed this, missed the sea since she’d shut it away with all memories of Alasdair.

When they got to a clear area on the beach, he laid out the mat and waited for her to sit down. Then, he sat beside her.

Lily let out a slow breath. “I might just get the hang of being Lady MacRay, after all.”

Alasdair leaned closer, his eyes warm. “Somehow, I daenae doubt it.”

Her lips curved, her heart racing as his hand brushed hers. He tilted his head, closing the gap between them. And then, with the susurrus of the waves in the background, he kissed her.

. Their lips remained interlocked, almost like they couldn't get enough of one another. Lily's hand roamed Alasdair's skin through his shirt and the scent of his skin sent her body completely ablaze.

He held the back of her head, kissing her deeper, his tongue pushing against hers. Lily clutched his shoulders, dragging him closer until their chests were skintight against each other.

He pulled away and stared at her, nothing but desire behind those eyes of his.

Then slowly, he pushed down. Her breasts slipped free, and he lowered his mouth against it, sucking and grazing until she gasped.

His teeth sent shivers down her skin, leaving a sharp sting before he moved to the other side.

She felt her body arch into him, her nails cracking down his back.

“Alasdair—” she managed a gasp before even words began to fail her.

His hand moved lower, shoving her skirts up to her waist. His fingers found her, sliding slow, then pressing inside.

She gripped at the mat beneath her, her breath breaking apart in short sounds.

He increased the pace until soon, her hips rose from the ground, the wind blowing gently against her back.

She pulled at his shirt, yanking it over his head and her hands spread over his chest, then down his stomach, before she wrapped her fingers around him.

He groaned at her touch and his hips pushed into her grip.

After a while, he turned her onto her back and pushed her thighs apart.

For a moment, he stared at her, his chest rising fast. Then without speaking, he drove into her with one hard thrust.

Lily cried out, and her nails pushed into his shoulders. He went slow at first, then the pace grew more brutal. His hips slammed hard into hers, each thrust deeper than the last. She wrapped her legs around him, locking him in place and taking him whole.

The mat shifted on the sand beneath them and she moaned against his ear, her hands clawing down his back until lines of red marked his skin.

His breath came hot against her neck. He drove faster and harder, pinning her hips so she couldn’t move too much.

She didn't stop him. The thought of submitting fully to him, of letting her body match his thrust pushed her into an even thicker frenzy.

The pressure built sharp and fast, breaking over her in a rush.

She cried out, her back arching as she clenched tight around him.

He didn’t stop. He kept pounding into her through the shake of her climax until his own release caught him. With a final deep drive, he grew still inside her, his body locking before he dropped heavily onto her chest.

They lay there, until the sky was completely dark, breathing hard, sweat cooling against the sea breeze. The stars came out above them, clear against the dark sky and still, neither of them moved an inch.

Lily ran her hand down his back, fingers tracing the marks she’d left. “Does it get better than this?”

Alasdair turned his head, kissed her jaw once, slow and firm. “When I find an answer, ye’ll be the first to ken.”

Lily smiled. “I love ye, husband.”

Alasdair grinned. “I thought ye’d never admit it, wife .”

“Dinnae ruin the mood!” She laughed as he kissed her softly on the lips.

“I love ye too, wife . Always have, always will.”