Page 40 of Love Me Forever (Highland Duo #2)

S trangers passing by or seeking shelter in the village were carefully watched, and no stranger was allowed anywhere near the keep. Everyone in the clan remained

watchful and cautious, having been alerted to the fact that Brianna was in danger.

Brianna found that the Campbell clan well protected their own. They were fiercely loyal, but then, so was the Cameron clan. Arran had been loyal to no one but himself and greed.

She appreciated the clan’s protection, but after a week of constantly being followed around by two or more men and several of the clan’s women joining her for a stroll, or her husband forever being at her side, she began to feel imprisoned.

She ached for her freedom, but she understood the necessity of her guards. That, however, did not mean she was always patient.

“I do not want to do any stitching right now, Delia,” Brianna said a little snappishly.

Delia paid her no heed. “It will be good for you to join a few of the village women and stitch. Stitching always clears the head.”

Brianna was curt. “My head is clear.”

Royce listened from where he sat at a table in the great hall with John and William.

Delia continued to pay her no mind. “We will all have freshly brewed cider and honey cakes.”

“I am not hungry,” Brianna said, and though she was not tired, it seemed a good excuse to get away from everyone. “I feel the need for a nap.”

“I will settle you,” Delia said, ready to tend Brianna’s every need, though actually her intentions were to protect.

“Nay!” Brianna heard her own harshness but did not care. She wanted simply to be left alone. “I do not need settling.”

Her abruptness did not upset Delia. “As you wish.”

Royce admired and was grateful for Delia’s patience. He understood how confined his wife felt and how her usual pleasant nature had sorely been tested of late.

Brianna went to leave the hall when she suddenly stopped, turned, and walked up to her husband. William and John looked as though they were ready to flee as she approached, but one look from Royce warned them against it.

“Do you think Ian may have run into trouble along the road?” she asked with concern.

“It is possible, though your brother is wise and would be prepared for anything,” Royce said, hoping to reassure her.

She was not reassured. “Perhaps you should send some of your men out to see if my brother is close by.”

Royce did not doubt Ian’s skills and knew her suggestion was unnecessary, but he also knew that his wife was irritated and that nothing at this point would please her. He hoped to handle her with a gentle hand.

“If he does not arrive within the next day or two, I will consider it.”

“He could be in trouble this very moment, and you intend to wait a day or two?” Her voice rose with each word.

It was possible her own accident haunted her thoughts, and she worried over her brother. But somehow he doubted that; she was simply agitated by her condition and confinement. He reminded himself to have patience, as he had been reminding himself for the last two days.

“Your brother is a skillful warrior.”

“He can still get hurt.”

William and John inched closer to the edge of their seats, each prepared to run if necessary.

“True,” Royce said calmly. “But I am certain he brought enough men with him on the journey.”

“It does not always matter how many men fight.” She slammed her hands on her hips, ready for battle. “It did not with you.”

Delia cringed. John shook his head, and William’s youthful eyes widened in surprise.

Royce took a solid breath. He told himself that this woman standing before him was overwrought with worry and had a right to be, that somewhere inside of her was the pleasant and lovely woman he had fallen in love with and that soon she would make an appearance and spare them this skirmish.

“Need I remind you that I won the battle, as I am sure that your brother would if faced with a similar circumstance?”

“I do not wish to see my brother suffer needlessly.”

“He is not.” Royce tried very hard not to raise his voice, but his patience was fast slipping away.

“You do not know that. I want a troop of men sent out in search of him.”

“It is not necessary.”

She was adamant in her demand. “I say it is and Ian is my brother; therefore, it is my decision.”

He could not help but chuckle—not a wise reaction.

“You will not laugh at me; you will do as I say.” She all but stamped her foot in anger.

Silence filled the great hall and not a movement was made. All waited for Royce’s reaction.

He stood slowly in front of his wife. “You do not command this clan. I do. And while I understand your concern, I tell you there is nothing for you to fear. Your brother will arrive soon without mishap.”

“You will not do this for me?”

“It is not necessary.”

“I feel it is,” she insisted.

“I know it is not.”

She looked at him with fiery blue eyes, but it was the hint of a tear in the corner of her eye that caught him off guard. He stepped forward.

She stepped away from him.

“Brianna,” he said softly.

“You are cruel!” she shouted at him and fled the hall.

Royce followed, leaving a relieved William and John to themselves.

With her extra burden she was not as quick on her feet as she once was, and that only caused her more upset and caused her to try harder, tiring herself with each step she climbed.

“Brianna, slow down!” Royce called out.

It was meant with concern, but it sounded like an order Brianna intended to ignore. She kept climbing.

“Brianna.”

He warned her with a shout of her name, and she grew even more determined to have her way, as foolish as it was. Besides, was she not good at being foolish?

She was not far from the top of the stairs and thought victory close at hand when she heard his footsteps rushing up the stairs.

Instincts would tell her to run, but she knew that was an unwise choice, she would never outrun him, and besides, her legs began to ache.

She decided to stop, turn, and face him.

“Do not dare touch me!”

He stopped abruptly, never having heard those words from her.

The words surprised her as well, for there was not a time she did not wish him to touch her. She enjoyed his touch. It was gentle and caring and ever so pleasing. He never raised an angry hand to her or caused her pain with his touch; he only gave her pleasure.

She was being irrational and temperamental. She was striking out at him, for she had no control of the situation, no control of her life, and the thought terrified her.

He made no move to touch her, though her words wounded. He understood her anger, and he only wished to ease her worry. At the moment the best way was to allow her to have her way and remind her...

“I love you, Brianna.”

Her bottom lip quivered and she fought to control her emotions. She acted a fool and now she felt foolish.

Words failed her but Royce did not.

“I want to love you, Brianna.” He reached out his hand. “I want to take away your hurt and fear. Let me love you.”

Guilt assaulted her. “You are too good to me. I do not deserve you.”

“You deserve much more, and I will strive to see that you get it.”

She shook her head, and he approached, slowly reaching the step beneath the one she stood on.

“Do not think of what life was; think of what it will be between you and me.”

She held her tears, refusing to cry. She had shed too many senseless tears. “That is the problem. I fear there will be nothing between us because I foolishly wed a madman. Now he will punish me as he always did, and I will be denied my love for you.”

Royce took the last step to stand beside her. “Nay, you will not be denied my love, nor will I be denied yours. We are meant to be together and we will be.”

He had reassured her many times, and he would reassure her as many times as necessary. She needed to hear him repeat it over and over and over, and he would do so if it made her realize that it was the truth. They would be together; nothing would stand in their way.

She rested her head on his chest, needing to hear the steady beat of his heart. “I have strength, so why, then, do I fear this?”

“In battle no one knows for certain who the victor will be. We pray for the strength to face our adversary and the courage to accept the outcome. You fear the outcome.”

“And rightfully so,” she said, her blue eyes focused on him. “I cannot be certain of the outcome.”

“The outcome is you and I together forever. It is the road in between we must travel that presents the difficulties. If we travel it together with confidence, then the journey will be less hazardous.”

She stared at him for a moment. “Now I know why you are a legend. You are wise beyond your years. You understand what most do not, and you accept what must be done and do it without doubt or fear.”

He smiled and looked as though he was about to laugh.

“And,” —she gave his hard chest a thump and a smiled— “you find humor in it all.”

“When all else fails, a smile is your best weapon.”

Her smile grew. “Then we are well armed.”

He leaned down and nuzzled her neck. “Now that you feel secure, will you let me love you?”

She loved when he teased her neck. It sent the shivers racing through her before igniting her passion. “Do you need to ask?”

“You seem to have little choice of late. At least in this the choice can be yours.”

Her laughter was a soft ripple that echoed along the stone staircase. “The choice is that I always want you.”

“This is good, for I feel the same of you.” He scooped her up into his arms.

“I grow too heavy for you to carry.” She protested with another laugh.

“Do not insult me. You weighed little before, and the babe adds little to you.”

“You do not think me unattractive?”

He stopped for a moment before entering their bedchamber. “What nonsense is that? I think you beautiful.”

“But I have grown?—”

He interrupted her as he kicked the door shut. “More beautiful.”

She giggled. “I do not care that you are blind.”

“I can see perfectly well, and I will see your beautiful body perfectly naked very soon.”

With her stomach ever expanding, she had of late attempted to avoid being naked in front of him. He of course had dissuaded her attempts and made her feel more secure with her appearance. He was an unselfish man and an unselfish lover.

It never took them long to undress, both of them always eager to touch and taste each other, though this time Royce took charge, showering her with such ardent attention that she melted to his intimate touch.

He had a way with his hands that surprised Brianna, for who would think that a fierce warrior whose rough hands caused such destruction in battle could touch with gentleness and sensitivity?

He lay beside her on the bed, his hard body warm and her soft body cool to the touch, but not for long.

“I love the feel of you,” he said, his fingers tracing a delicate path over her chest and around her breasts. “Your skin is rose petal soft and smells just as sweet.”

She sighed, his grazing fingers warming her flesh and spiking her passion, and his thoughtful words touching her heart.

“You are a tender warrior.”

He placed a finger to her lips. “Shhh—someone will hear you, and my secret will be out.”

His hand returned to working its magic and she whispered, “Your secret is safe with me.”

“I know that.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “That is why I confide in you, for I know without a doubt that I can trust you.”

Trust.

She had longed for it and had finally found it and so she said the few words that meant so much to her. “I love you with all my heart.”

“I know.” He smiled and stole a quick kiss. “Since I tell you every day of my love for you, now let me show you how much I love you.”

She giggled softly and shivered with anticipation.

“You respond like a woman in love, and that makes me want you even more.”

“Then let us not waste a moment. Let us love now.”

“Aye, I do not want to waste a moment. I wish us to take our time and enjoy the pleasure of loving.”

She sighed at the thought, for they often took their time making love, and it was precious memories she had of those times and anticipation of the times they had yet to share.

Her sighs turned to soft moans, his fingers tracing delicate circles over her warming flesh. Her body responded, squirming to inch closer to his touch, yet he kept it faint and teasing.

His fingers traveled down her body, lingering over her rounded stomach, and then lightly touching her moist heat. His lips descended over one hard nipple and nipped at the tender bud while his fingers brought her intimate pleasure.

Her moans turned to groans, and her body moved in a frantic rhythm. She grabbed at his muscled arm and squeezed tightly.

“Please,” she said, “I do so want you.”

He kissed her like a man ready to explode, and she in turn reached down and grabbed hold of him.

“Now,” she demanded.

“Aye, now,” he agreed.

He moved between her legs, ready to satisfy them both, when a pounding shook the door.

Delia announced with a strong voice, “Ian of the clan Cameron has arrived.”