Page 65 of Bride of the Beastly Laird

When at long last their need to breathe again overtook them and they pulled apart, Arran propped himself on one elbow and fixed her with a steadfast, clear-eyed gaze.

“Now that we are free of Bairre Mackinnon and away from the castle and I have ye all tae mesel’ there’s something important I need tae talk about with ye.”

She looked up, his seriousness taking her by surprise.

“Surely we can forget about Bairre and his betrothal. At least just fer this one night. I ken our thoughts must turn his way. But nae tonight. Tonight, we are free of him for the first time.”

Arran looked at her, his lips quirking into a gentle smile. “Ye’re right lass, I dae wish tae speak with ye about yer betrothal. But what I wish tae discuss is the possibility of ye and me being betrothed. I wish tae marry ye darling. I ken we already talked about us being taegether forever a few days gone by, but I want ye te ken I truly mean it….”

The breath hitched in Dahlia’s throat at his words. “Marry me?”

“Of course. But if ye dinnae wish tae be married tae me…”

She laughed and gave him a gentle slap on his forearm. “Ye ken that tae be wed tae ye is but a lovely dream of mine.”

His eyes on her were serious. “I understand that the betrothal cannot be dissolved without the king’s or Bairre’s permission, but now that ye are far from the castle, is it nae possible that the betrothal willnae be upheld?”

“It isnae me that Bairre loves, but the thought of the lands and favor that will be granted him on our wedding day. I fear he willnae relinquish those readily, even though I am with ye and almost yer wife in our lovemaking.”

Arran nodded bleakly. “But if there were no other obstacles would ye wed me and be me bride?”

She threw her arms about his neck, tears springing into her eyes.

“There’s naught I would care fer more in all this world.”

He seized her in his arms and rolled with her under the blanket. As they kissed, she moaned in his mouth. “I am yers Arrran Mackinnon. There will never be another that I will love as I dae ye.”

With a sigh he stroked her face, caressing the arch of her neck with his fingers as they slid down to cup her breast.

“Ye are mine fer all time. I’ve dreamed of naught else since I first set me gaze on ye. The most beautiful lass I’d ever seen.”

She lay back, her hand toying with his rigid manhood, making him groan with the pleasure of it.

“I’ll nay be able tae wait fer ye if ye play with me like that. Me blood is running hot fer ye.”

With a chuckle she released his member and looked up at him, her eyes shining in the flickering candlelight.

“I dinnae wish ye tae wait, Arran me love. Me body is already on fire fer ye and I want ye. Now.”

She cried out as his hard shaft slid into her and raised her hips to meet his thrusts as their passion merged with the might of the storm and they lost themselves to ecstasy.

It was Dahlia who was awake first. She stretched and reached a hand to rouse Arran.

“’Tis morning, we must be up and moving.”

He gazed at her, her eyes still filled with sleep, her cheeks pink and round, her glorious hair tumbling in a tangle over her creamy soft shoulders.

She was irresistible, but as he leaned in to plant a row of kisses over her shoulders and down to her breast, she squirmed under him.

“Nay, me love. We mustnae tarry this morning.” A deep sigh escaped her lips. “We’ve a long ride ahead and there is nae time fer dalliance.” She reached for the clothing she’d discarded so casually the night before. She pulled the blouse and kirtle over her head and did up the row of buttons down the front of the dress.

Reluctantly Arran reached for his shirt and britches. “Ye’re right, there is nay time fer us tae pleasure each other.”

She laughed. “There will be many times tae come. After all, ye are me new fiancé, are ye nae?”

His heart gave a jolt as the reality of last night’s lovemaking came home to him. The woman he’d adored for years had finally agreed to be his bride. “Aye, ‘tis so. And I cannae wait fer the day when we shall be wed.”

“But first we must meet this day head on and continue our search fer yer maither.”

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