Page 51

The combined wedding joining the sisters of the laird of MacLaren and those formerly of the McColl was joyful and attended by many.

The women were lovely and the men stood proudly in the dark blue and green plaid kilts of the Chattan.

There was no doubt to the enthusiasm of any of the four who stood before the family and guests speaking of their vows.

"You are now each of you, husband and wife. You may now kiss your brides!"

The cheers rang out as the couples enthusiastically complied. Gwyn felt the heavy beat of her heart as she grasped tightly of her new husband. Slowly, she was released to be embraced by first her parents and then the rest of the well-wishers of her clan.

This day was so disconcerting and yet so sweet for Gwyn.

As her new husband carried her across the threshold to her room on that eve they had wed, she attempted to push from her mind what would happen upon the morrow.

She knew that early the next morn, both Iver and Donnan would leave and return to complete their duty to the Chattan.

Gwyn gazed upon the face of the one who had graced her dreams for these last several months.

Even before he had entered her life, she had hoped and she had prayed she would have the chance at a bit of happiness of her own.

Never before had she truly believed her wish would come true.

But as he brought his lips down tenderly to hers all rational thoughts disappeared from her mind as she relished in the beauty of this moment.

"Thank you, Iver."

"Whatever for, my lady? Or should I now say, wife?"

Gwyn smiled warmly before she spoke.

"Thank you for fighting to stay alive and making me the happiest woman alive."

There was a gentleness to his kiss and when he laid her upon the bed, there was a tenderness to his touch.

As he slowly removed all of Gwyn's clothing, as each piece of her skin was revealed, he lovingly touched of her.

He then unhurriedly kissed of her all the while honoring all that was now his.

He next stood and disrobed himself. He did not rush and he relished in the fact his new wife was watching him every single moment. Not once did she remove her eyes from his body.

"Now join me, Highlander, and tease me no more!"

Iver laid his own unclothed body next to his wife's as he took her breast within his hand.

Gently, he leaned over her and took the peak within his mouth.

Almost instantly, he felt her arch her back and a low moan escaped her lips.

When she placed her fingers within his hair, he knew he was lost to her.

"Oh, Iver, yes!"

Gwyn's breath became almost erratic as her husband took control of her body.

Very few thoughts were rational as the pleasures he provided flowed through her mind.

While her breast was still within his mouth, Iver moved his hand slowly down over her stomach and down between her thighs where he touched of her.

Almost immediately, her breath drew in heavily as she persuaded herself to think of only this moment.

She would not think of the morrow, but only this day…

this eve, when she had him within her arms. His tender ministrations brought her passions to life and her body responded with abandon.

On and on he moved his hand over her nub, exploring and teasing, giving her more pleasure than she had ever deemed possible. And when she neared that edge and finally exploded within his hands, she knew there was no one else in this world for her.

When he finally moved over her to claim her body, Iver took her tenderly and slowly. He kissed her deeply as he brought them together and made them one. Slowly, he built their pleasures, restoring Gwyn's fire as it smoldered hotter than ever.

"Oh, Iver, this is so…so…so-"

He chuckled deeply knowing neither did he have the right words to describe what he was feeling.

Slowly, he moved his had down the side of her where he eventually was able to grasp of her bottom all the while loving her.

When she moved her knee upwards, this brought them closer together as he was able to fill her more completely.

Expertly, he moved his hips over hers, leaving nothing but ecstasy in his wake.

It was not long and their bodies began to tremble as they exploded together as one. Just as it always should have been.

"My Gwyn, my lady, my wife!"

Together they rocked as their bodies strained in release over and over again. They were reeling and floating while only for the moment, making the pressures of the entire world around them completely fade away. They were together. They were one. This is all that mattered to both of them.

For a long while, they spoke no words as Gwyn lay within Iver's arms. Her heart was breaking knowing what was yet to come, but it was joyous at the same time.

As the emotions raged within her body, so did her desires.

She wanted desperately for him to know how she loved him and would treasure him always.

Gwyn brought her hand to Iver's stomach as she began to gently touch of his skin.

Slowly, she moved her fingers to the raised scar gracing a large portion of his side.

Tenderly, she moved her fingers over it, consciously feeling the pain of his injury and remembering the devastation of what she had deemed as his loss.

Her heart nearly cried out in its grief for what had nearly transpired, but as quickly as there was pain, Gwyn replaced those thoughts with thankfulness for the gift she had been granted.

They were given the chance for them to speak all that had been left unspoken.

"How this must have brought such tremendous pain!"

While her heart began to beat faster for the thrill of the moment, she then moved her lips to replace her fingers as she kissed of his scar tenderly.

When she had lovingly honored the last of his injury, she moved upwards and onto his muscled chest as she began to taste of his sweetness.

Slowly, Gwyn pushed herself up on her knees as she straddled his body while she continued her kisses upon his heated skin.

She trailed her lips up over his neck as she brushed her full breasts over his chest. By the time she moved her lips upwards and captured his within her own, she had built her heat to a near frenzy.

Gwyn hungrily drew from Iver as she continued to tantalizingly move her body over his.

The peaks of her breasts were rigid as she dragged them enticingly over Iver's chest all the while the warmth spread throughout her core.

As she took hungrily from him, she felt the heat of his body each place their skin converged.

She felt as he grasped her hips within his large hands and settled her down upon his need allowing the emotions she held inside to suddenly burst.

Gwyn moved over his body heatedly as he guided her hips with his powerful hands.

As the pleasure for this man's presence and the pain of his impending departure flashed through her mind, she felt the tears of her agony building fervently and begging for release.

As she gave to her husband all that she had, she knew she was taking from him and desperately trying to impress upon her heart his love and his devotion to be held until they could be together again.

As the height of their passions exploded and the physical needs of their bodies had been completely fulfilled, the torment rang out in Gwyn's heart.

As she laid breathing heavily upon Iver's chest, the tears of her pain emerged and were finally released.

She shuddered in her ecstasy as she trembled in her misery.

Iver loved this woman he held within his arms more fiercely then he ever dreamed possible. And when she cried within his arms it was nearly his undoing. He knew he felt the pain as relentlessly as had she. On the morrow he would be gone to fulfill his duty to his people.

His people. Iver understood he had been born a McColl but his destiny was to be of the Chattan. And to lead. If he knew nothing else about his fate, it was this. Or he knew he would die trying to claim all for his uncle.

But as he thought of his life before the Chattan he realized this woman who he held within his arms had never been a part of his plan.

Never had he dreamed he would find such happiness and contentment with anyone.

He was having a difficult time in reconciling within his mind that he must leave her yet again, but he knew in his heart what was right.

Iver reasoned it could not have been mere chance the Laird Errol had chosen him to be his heir.

Nor had it been anything other than true destiny that had sent his Gwyn to the Chattan.

Iver was certain it was the God above who had sanctioned these paths and they were truly meant to be together.

Now he just had to fight to win back the holdings and convince his new people he would be worthy of their trust so that some day, he could bring Gwyn there to be by his side.

He also knew his Lady Gwyn was strong and would make him proud.

Iver was thankful she could show to him what he meant to her by allowing her tears to fall and her obvious misery to show in his presence.

In his mind, it did not make her weak. It showed she cared for him deeply and was unwavering in her stance.

Iver held his wife tightly within his arms. Eventually, he kissed away all of Gwyn's tears as he loved her completely and passionately all throughout the night.