Page 33 of Love Me Forever (Highland Duo #2)

M oira cringed at her outburst, recalling how the same was done to her. Anne had then been the culprit, and now it was she.

Ian laughed, slipping his arm around his wife. “A memory recalled,” he teased and kissed her cheek.

Anne sympathized with Moira, knowing how she felt, though her concern at the time was for Moira, and she understood that Moira felt the same protectiveness toward Brianna.

Blair found delight in it all and grinned.

Royce and Brianna remained silent;

their eyes fixed on each other.

Royce spoke first. “You are sure?”

“Aye, I am sure your babe nestles comfortably inside me.”

“When?” Royce asked anxiously.

“When the summer is near to ending.”

Ian attempted to usher everyone out of the room so that his sister and Royce could have privacy.

But before he could, Royce turned to him. “We wed tomorrow.”

It was Moira and Anne who objected.

“Not enough time to prepare,” Moira insisted.

“Her dress is not complete,” Anne added.

“What dress?” Brianna asked, surprised.

“It was to be a surprise,” Anne said.

Brianna laughed. “It is.”

‘Tomorrow,” Royce repeated.

Ian took charge. “I think three days’ time would give sufficient preparation time and be suitable for all.” He waited for objections. Most important, he waited for his sister to object; if she did not wish this, he would not grant permission.

Brianna smiled at her brother and rested her head on Royce’s shoulder with a yawn.

Ian knew that his sister was satisfied, and it was obvious she was tired and wished time alone with her future husband.

Moira realized the same. “There is much to be done; we’d better get started now.”

They hurried to the door, Moira and Anne already making plans.

Ian stopped and looked back to Royce. “We will talk tomorrow.”

“As you wish,” he said, giving him due respect. “I am happy for you, little sister, and pleased that I will be an uncle,” Ian offered with a smile.

“I am pleased you are my brother and have such patience with me. Thank you, Ian.”

Ian nodded and looked to Royce. “Protect her well.”

“You have my word on it.”

“Then I have no need for worry.” Ian closed the door behind him, giving them their privacy.

Royce carried her to the bed and placed her down carefully, then sat down beside her. His hand went to rest on her stomach. “You feel well?”

“Aye, though I eat much too much, grow tired too often, and cry much too easily.”

“Eat as much as you want, rest as much as you want, and cry as much as you want, it matters not to me. What matters is that you are well and happy.”

“I could not believe it at first,” she confided in him. “It took me time and being sick in the morning to completely accept the fact that I was with child. I had so wanted a child but had convinced myself that it would never be.”

“Your husband is the one who had you convinced, and as you see, he was wrong.” His hand rubbed her stomach.

“Our child rests comfortably, and there will be more to follow.”

She laughed. “I have yet to give you one and you ask for more?”

“We are in love and enjoy loving. How can there not be more children?”

She sighed, reaching out to rest a hand on his. “You are right. We love often and I do not want that to end, I want us to always love as we do.”

He caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss on her palm. “We shall. That is why I have no doubt other children will follow this one.”

She yawned again.

“You should rest,” he said with concern.

She shook her head. “I am hungry.”

Royce looked at the table where the bread and cheese lay. “Is that all you wish, bread and cheese? Or shall I get you more?”

She slipped her hand from his and began to rub his chest. “It is not food I hunger for.”

He attempted to control his desire—after all, she was tired—but it did not help with the way her hand drifted down lower and lower along his body. “You need rest.”

Her laughter was soft and teasing. “I need you.”

He liked her aggressiveness. “You have grown bold.”

“I have grown wise.” Her hand settled over him, and she lightly squeezed the hard length of him.

He could not prevent the moan that escaped his lips. He had been too long without her, and he desired her as much as she did him, and that thought ignited his passion even more.

“I have learned that to deny myself what I truly desire is foolish. I have denied for too long my desire for you, and now that we will be husband and wife, there is no reason for me to deny myself or you any longer. I have the right to want you.”

“Aye, you have that right and you should enjoy that right.” He moaned again, for she squeezed him just a little harder and it felt good, very good.

“It has been too long and I feel much too needy, but somehow it does not matter. All that matters is that we make love.”

“Much too long,” he said. “And if you continue to touch me that way, it will be much too short a time we spend together.”

She giggled. “I enjoy touching you.”

“And I enjoy touching you.”

“Then can we not touch together?”

His actions were his response. He reluctantly eased her hand off him and began to disrobe. She joined him, shedding her garments as quickly as possible.

They stretched out beside each other on the bed and they began to touch.

His hands took pleasure in her breasts and she in his chest. Their touches were gentle caresses that left them wanting more. Their kisses were a blend of softness and eagerness, and when their hands drifted down to more intimate places; their kisses took on more passion.

Brianna felt free to feel as she wished and speak as she wished for the first time in her life. They had loved before, but now knowing they would be wed and spend the rest of their lives together because they both wished it gave her a sense of freedom she had never known.

And she loved the thought that she could be so free and safe with him.

“I want to taste you.”

He moaned at the image her remark produced. “And I you.”

“Is it possible we can do so at the same time?” she asked eagerly.

“Anything is possible if it is desired enough.”

“I desire you.” She kissed him like a lover in need.

When their lips parted, he moved down over her and positioned them so that they both could enjoy each other, but at first taste he knew they could not last long.

And it was with her pitiful moan and the rush of his name to her lips that he moved over her and entered her with a swiftness that surprised but satisfied them both.

He slipped his arm behind her back and brought her chest to his as he drove into her with strong, hard thrusts.

She clung to him, the feel of him sending her tumbling over the edge of sanity. She did not want him to stop; she wanted him to go on and on and on until he was left completely breathless.

And he did.

She cried out to him in the end, wave after wave of pleasure washing over them both, and she realized without a doubt that life would be nothing without him. They belonged together.

He took her in his arms and held her until their breathing slowed.

“Hungry or tired?” he asked, his breath a bit labored.

“Both.”

He heard the tiredness in her response. “Eat and then sleep?”

“Eat. I am famished.” The thought of food restored her energy.

“More than bread and cheese?”

“Much more,” she answered with a laugh.

“Then I will see to a feast.”

“Then you will truly be my hero.”

“You are to impress,” he said with a tender pat to her backside.

She yawned and stretched, moving away from him to roll on her stomach.

He leaned over her. “You are all right?”

“I feel wonderful. I had not thought that making love could be so grand. We must do it often.”

“As often as you like,” he assured her with several kisses to her shoulder. “Now I get you food.”

“Please,” she said, sounding as if she were starving.

He dressed and left the room, returning soon with a small feast.

She had slipped on a robe while he was gone and sat by the fire waiting.

Her thoughts had been happy ones. She had made a choice, a good choice, and was pleased with her decision.

Life would go on and for the better. She would allow herself to love and live as she had not done before, and she felt relieved, relieved that she had the strength not only to go on but to live a full and content life.

They talked and laughed as they ate and made plans for the future. They even discussed names for their child.

“If a boy I would like to name him after my father—Connor.”

“A strong name, I like it, but what if a daughter?”

He thought, knowing the name he wished, but feeling if he chose a son’s name, she had the right to choose a daughter’s name.

“Your grandmother, what was she called?”

“Breda,” he said softly.

“Then Breda it shall be,” she said, reaching for another piece of cheese and bread, the meat pie not filling enough.

He was speechless for a moment. “There is no name you wish to give a daughter? Your mother’s name?”

She shook her head, finishing the piece of cheese. “I think a daughter would do well with your grandmother’s name. She meant much to you, as would a daughter.”

He was about to kiss her in appreciation for her thoughtfulness and because he loved kissing her when she suddenly yawned.

“You should rest now,” he insisted, clearing away the tray of food on the bed.

“You will stay with me?” she asked, snuggling beneath the blankets and yawning again.

“Always,” he said, kissing her forehead, and then depositing the tray on the small table before climbing into bed and cuddling up against her. “I will always be with you, and I will forever keep you safe.”

“I am happy,” she said on a yawn. “Finally all is settled and we will live happily together.”

“For always and always,” he whispered in her ear.

“Always does exist, does it not?” she asked anxiously. “Nothing can rob us of this happiness, can it?”

“Nothing, I will not allow it.” He was adamant. “You and I are meant to be together. We will be husband and wife in a few short days. There is nothing that will stop us from wedding. Nothing.”

Brianna shivered. “I pray it is so.”

“It is so, worry not,” he said with a gentle squeeze.

“Now sleep and rest, for there is much for you to do before our wedding day.”

She moved as close as she could against him and attempted to still her fears. Rational or not, they haunted her, and she could not ignore them. And she silently prayed that all would be well.