Page 41 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

EPILOGUE

L ucas had never wanted a wedding to end so much. Normally, weddings were times of merriment and joy, and drinking and feasting. It was a usual thing for people to enjoy them, especially Nan. Lucas had never been fond of them, too many people, too much joy, but in that moment, he wanted a wedding to end more than ever. Only this time, it was his.

It had taken him nearly a week to fully recover from those two wounds that he’d been given in the battle with the foolish, power-hungry Webster, and he would have a pair of scars to go with them. But now he was ready, ready to start his new life with his wife, and to bed her posthaste.

His grandmother had been especially forceful during his recovery that he wait until after the wedding to do the deed, claiming it was for his benefit.

“Ye must be well, completely well afore ye can dae yer duty, Lad,” she told him on numerous occasions with a wicked gleam in his eye.

So, he and Caitlin had to keep their distance, no matter how hard he tried to get her alone once his arm was feeling better. Caitlin seemed to be in on it too, grinning widely whenever Nan caught them kissing or trying to head to the gardens on their own.

And now he was here, wedding the woman of his dreams, and the minister would not stop talking. Minister MacMillan was always a pompous bastard, and as Lucas looked into Caitlin’s eyes, holding her hands, he hoped he wasn’t showing her just how angry he was at the minister for keeping them hostage.

“We never thought the Laird would wed, but here we are,” Minister MacMillan said, eliciting a laugh from the crowd.

When he lifted a brow at Caitlin, she smirked back at him. She’d refused to wear her spectacles for the wedding and instead donned a crown of flowers which was braided into her lovely golden hair. Her gown was a light green color, and it fit her perfectly. He tried to keep his eyes on hers, but every so often, they would dip down, desperate to catch a glimpse of her curves to fuel his already wild imagination.

The vows were gone through, and Lucas tried not to sound impatient as he repeated them.

“Dae ye take this man tae be yer lawfully wedded husband?” Minister MacMillan asked Caitlin.

“Aye, I dae,” she said, a smiling covering her face.

“And dae ye take this woman tae be yer lawfully wedded wife?” the minister said, and Lucas grit his teeth.

“Aye, I dae.”

“Put the man out of his misery, Minister! Can ye nae see he is eager tae have it all done with?” Archie called, and everyone in the church burst into loud laughter, easing the strain from Lucas’ shoulders a bit.

Caitlin started laughing too, a light happy sound that he’d started to hear more often of late.

“Very well then,” the minister said with a grin. “I now pronounce ye husband and wife. Go in grace. Ye may kiss yer bride, Me Laird,” he said, stepping back as Lucas pulled Caitlin close to him.

He wanted to do more than give her just a chaste kiss, but as their lips met, and he gripped her waist to bring her closer, he could feel the eyes of the clan on him, and so he reluctantly pulled back, trying not to grimace as they turned to face everyone.

Caitlin took his arm as everyone stood and clapped for them. The church was filled to the brim, and there were more outside, waiting to celebrate as the Laird and his new Lady stepped out into the sunshine.

Once they did, seeing the crowd surrounding them, he pulled Caitlin close and whispered, “How long dae we have to be with everyone?”

She chuckled as he lifted her onto his horse, waiting just outside for them. “Nae yet. We have to celebrate a little while.”

The revelers followed behind them on horses and in wagons, and Lucas knew his castle would be filled for days with people who were eager to celebrate his nuptials and congratulate him on his new wedded bliss.

If only I could get to me bloody wedded bliss.

The castle had been transformed. Nan had worked hard to make sure the main hall was decorated with the most beautiful flowers. When they entered, his nose was hit with an array of wonderful fragrances, that made it seem like they were in the castle gardens. He noticed that there were roses everywhere his eyes looked, and he pulled Caitlin close, smelling the very same scent in her hair.

McDougall colors graced the walls, matching the sash crossing Caitlin’s gown. “‘Tis beautiful,” Caitlin said, on a breath, looking around.

She’d donned her spectacles then, to be able to take it all in. “What a wonder she has wrought.”

“I had help,” Nan said, coming up to greet them, Paige and Sarah at her sides.

“It is perfect, Nan,” Lucas said, throwing her a smile, despite his eagerness to be alone with his wife.

“Enjoy yerself this eve,” she said, winking at them both, and Lucas caught a blush in his wife’s cheeks.

His wife. Never in all his life did he think he’d say those words. Did he ever think that he would take a woman to be with him, share his life, share his name, and live with him in a home so full of angry, dark memories.

But whenever Caitlin was there, she filled it with sunshine and joy. As he thought, she took his hand and led him to the head table. People were filing in, taking their seats as food began to be served. Cups of ale were passed down as well as bottles of wine. Plates were filled high, and laughter and merriment filled the hall.

Even though he wanted to whisk Caitlin upstairs, he sat for a minute with his hand in hers looking out over the happy hall. He had always avoided such gatherings as much as he could for they only seemed to reflect a happiness he could never find. But now that he did, they were not so bad anymore. In fact, he might even enjoy himself that evening. He knew he would enjoy himself.

Slowly, he stood, taking his cup of ale with him. Raising an hand, he quieted the crowd, and everyone turned his way to listen.

“Clan McDougall and those who have come from Clan MacGregor, it is an honor to stand before ye all today.” He looked down at Caitlin with a smile. “I am glad that I have been so fortunate as to marry such a woman as this. Caitlin MacLennan is now Lady McDougall, and she will be a force at me side. For too long this clan leader has been shrouded in darkness. And with me faither and grandfaither, they ruled by force and violence. I hope that after the recent battle, we willnae see violence again. That we willnae use it to gain our own selfish ends.” He felt Caitlin’s hand reach for his again, and he squeezed it. “Raise yer glasses to the new Lady McDougall.”

A cry rose up from the crowd as everyone lifted their tankards and cups, cheering for Caitlin, drinking to her good health.

“Enjoy yer evenin’!” he cried out, and he motioned to the musicians to begin.

As he sat down again, Caitlin leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Ye were perfect,” she said.

He put his cheek against hers, whispering in her ear, “Nay, ye are perfect. Now,” he added, taking her hand and drawing it to his lips, “I think we need to leave.”

Caitlin couldn’t hide her smile when her husband pulled away to look at her, his eyes full of both affection and a now familiar heat. He’d been looking at her this way ever since they’d met but even more lately since Lottie had been attempting to keep them apart.

“Ye must let him heal, Lass,” Lottie had kept saying. “But also, make him suffer a little bit for it,” she’d added with a wink. “He has been a bit of a rogue in the past years, always findin’ it easy with the lassies, but now, he wants it more than ever because he loves ye. It will be all the better when the wedding day comes.”

She’d agreed, even though her desire had begun to grow a bit unruly in the past week, but she would do anything to allow Lucas to heal properly. Every day, she thanked God that he’d been returned to her. That he hadn’t died, pale on the bed, leaving her once again in a world of loneliness.

“All right,” she said, standing. “We can leave now.”

“Thank God,” he said, his eyes wide and eager.

Since they’d shared their love, he’d turned into a man even the servants did not recognize. Smiling, laughing, making jokes, always being cheerful and amiable. The dark shadows were gone from his expression, and Caitlin was glad that they both could start on a new life. Hand in hand, they left the main hall out a side door as the dancing began, and once the doors were closed and the sounds dimmed, Lucas pulled her into an alcove, pressing her up against the back wall.

His mouth locked with hers in a searing kiss, and she responded immediately, pressing her body against his as their mouths opened to one another.

“God, I have never wanted someone so much,” he whispered in her ear as he feathered kisses down her neck. “I will never be satisfied, Sunshine,” he said, making her heart swell with happiness.

“Then what are we daein’ down here?” she said with a chuckle. “Take me upstairs.”

“I thought ye would never ask,” he said, grabbing her hand and hurrying up the stairs with her laughing after him.

Inside his chamber, he kissed her again, working at the clasp on his tartan as he kicked the door shut behind him. Caitlin pulled at her own tartan, desperate now to be free of the clothes she’d so lovingly chosen that morning.

With a growl of need, Lucas shed his coat and shirt, turning Caitlin around to work at the ties of her bodice.

“Women wear too many bloody clothes,” he said darkly, and Caitlin bit at her lip to contain her smile.

As he freed her from her bodice and skirts, Caitlin turned around to face the mountain of a man she had married. He was half clad now, and soon his boots and kilt were gone as well. She sucked in a breath, still amazed at the sight of him.

She reached out to spread her hands over his skin, but he shook his head. “Take off yer shift and stays, Lass,” he said in a commanding tone, sending a tingle of excitement down her spine.

She did as he asked, and then when she stood again, his eyes took on such a look of wonder, she could feel tears well in her own eyes.

“I never thought to thank God for anythin’, Sunshine,” he said as he approached slowly, his hands reaching out for her waist. “But I thank God for ye. Every moment.” Then his eyes took on a glinting mischief. “And who would have thought I would have such a bonny wife?”

She shrieked as he leaned down to grasp her buttocks, pulling her up so that she had to wrap her legs around him. With her arms around his neck, she kissed him, and he led them to the bed. His tongue was warm, insistent, full of drugging need. It had been so long since she wanted to do this, but it felt right to have waited.

Leaning over the bed, he gingerly laid her down and then his mouth was everywhere. Down the line of her jaw, down her neck, between her breasts. He kneaded one, then the other, placing loving kisses atop each pink peak. Then his mouth moved down, and spreading her legs, he kissed her there, his tongue reaching out to taste her.

He was gentle at first, and instantly, wetness spread between her thighs, gaining an appreciative groan from him. But she wanted more. Grasping at his shoulders, she pulled him up to her.

“I want ye. All of ye.”

He looked down, putting a rough hand to her face. “And I ye, but I’ll have to apologize. It will be quick the first time. I have waited too long, but then I will make it very good, indeed, Love.”

She nodded, her body tense with anticipation. “Daenae dae anythin’ that hurts ye,” she said with concern, feeling the bandage on his arm.

He laughed. “I will dae anythin’ to give ye pleasure, Sunshine.”

He settled between her thighs where she was already wet and waiting for him. His length, large and thick, touched against her, and she looked down at where they were to join, nervous but excited.

“It will hurt a bit at first,” he said, pressing her thighs part as he slid inside, bit by bit.

A gasp stole her breath at the first feel of his intrusion. He was big , and her body, unused to such penetration, tightened at first.

“Are ye well?” he asked, and she nodded, lifting her hips, silently begging for more.

He pushed in further, and despite the resistance her body gave, it did not hurt. It was only different. With one more rough push, Lucas was fully inside, and she rose up, gasping anew at the pressure and feel of him inside her. They stayed like that for a little while, her eyes looking into his, so full of love.

“I have ye, Lass,” he said. “Hold onto me. Ye will never be alone again.”

Kissing him, she let a soft moan escape her as Lucas began to move, pulling away and then pressing in again. Her body had now relaxed, slowly accepting him, and another moan burst out of her as it changed from mere fullness and pressure to exquisite pleasure.

He broke their kiss, as he lifted up a bit, focusing on the movement between them. She looked down, watching in amazement as his slim hips thrust into her, her thighs wrapped around him, pulling him deeper. The muscles of his abdomen worked as his hips moved faster and faster. Caitlin’s head lay back when Lucas lifted her hips, adjusting the angle, and he found a place impossibly deeper, stroking against it, making fire all over her skin.

Eyes snapped shut, she reveled in the rhythm they’d found together, her body knowing the way through instinct. She arched up as pleasure began to thread through her very bones. Lucas leaned over her kissing her eye lids, her lips, whispering Gaelic words she did not understand but felt loving and warm.

Her hands moved to his shoulders as the pleasure grew, threatening to take over like it had so many times before. She whispered his name, and in her ear, he said, “Let it come, Lass. Come for me.”

His hips gained a frenzied rhythm, sending her over the edge with a scream. As her limbs trembled around his hips, Lucas kept moving, thrusting into her again and again until he too cried out, tensing above her and then leaning over her. She felt him thicken inside her as he spilled into her, bathing her womb with his seed. She wrapped her boneless arms around him with a smile.

“Christ,” he said, still laying over her, and she chuckled.

“Aye, I have never felt pleasure like that before.”

“Ye will stroke me ego too much if ye say things like that, Sunshine,” he replied, pulling out of her to lay at her side.

“I am happy to dae that,” she said, curling against him.

“Later, I will take me time with ye,” he said sleepily, kissing the top of her head.

“I look forward to it.” She teased a finger down the side of his lean, muscled body, amazed that together, their bodies could create such a thing.

It was like magic. “I think ye have put a spell on me,” she said softly, and heard Lucas’ chuckle in response.

“I have thought that since the moment I first laid eyes on ye. A faery, I thought ye were, come to bring me out of me misery.”

Her hand touched his jaw, brushing against the rough beard under her fingertips. Their eyes met, and she laid a soft kiss on his lips.

“It is ye who have saved me from misery, Lucas. I am only glad I could dae the same.”

“What a life we will lead, Wife. I have never seen marital happiness before, but here it is, right in me very arms.”

“Aye,” she said, snuggling closer. “And hopefully I daenae need to leave them for a few hours at least.”

Laughing, he pulled her closer, snuggling into her neck. “Days, Lass. I mean to keep ye here for days.”

The End?