Page 41 of A Plaid Case of Loving Ye
“Aye, and he was a slick bastard.” He didn’t bother to keep the admiration for a fellow warrior from his tone. “I was lucky to just lose an eye and naught else.”
“Well, I’m glad ye healed so well, otherwise I might no’ have met ye.” She released a lusty yawn and pressed her cheek to his shoulder. As her eyes closed trustingly, her lips curled.
The simple comment—and the implication she would’ve been sad not to have met him—warmed his chest in a dangerous way. Loving Nicola Oliphant, if she didn’t return his feelings, would result in heartache.
‘Twas torture, to hold her thus. The motion of the horse had her sweet backside rubbing against his frontside, and he could do naught. She trusted him in sleep—
She trusted ye today.
Aye, he couldn’t deny that. Today she’d kissed him, and no one could claim ‘twas because he was a patient who needed help.
But he had no time to contemplate that conundrum. He needed to focus on the journey and the dangers that might be lurking.
That night the three of them took shelter at a manor house which belonged to a friend of his father’s. The man was overjoyed to host them and gave them a lovely room.
He assumed Nicola was Ramsay’s wife, and they did naught to convince him otherwise. ‘Twas safer this way.
But it meant another night of holding her, her arse snug against his aching cock, the bairn nearby. Once, in the middle of the night, she rolled over and threw her thigh across his. Her pelvis cradled his erection, and his arms went around her before he realized it hadn’t been an invitation.
She was still asleep, and he figured he deserved sainthood.
Gritting his teeth, he laid there staring at the dark bed curtains, thankful they were at least safe from bandits here.
Because, were they attacked, Ramsay—pinned beneath the woman he loved—would be fooking useless.
Aye, ‘twas high time to accept the truth: he was in love with Lady Nicola Who-cares-what-her-clan-name-was, and he was acting like an imbecile, what with the fretting over her feelings for him.
Well, tomorrow he’d be home. He’d hug his parents and give his brothers shite, and allow his youngest sisters’ nursemaids to fuss over wee Relic.
And then, once he knew they were safe, he’d find a way to get Nicola alone and figure out exactly what she wanted from their future. Because after that kiss in the clearing, ‘twas obvious she wasn’t quite as unaffected as he’d thought.
Their arrival at his home was anticlimactic.
Aye, there were plenty of people who recognized him in the village and offered praise and prayers for his safe return, but Ramsay didn’t stop, and thus beat the rumors to the keep. The wall gate was wide open—the McIlvains had few enemies—and as always, the courtyard was chaotic.
How could itnotbe chaotic, with so many children?
Mother was standing on the front steps, haranguing the triplets and two mud-covered mounds which looked like they might be Thelma and Louise. Her finger was waggling and her mouth moving when she glanced up and saw him. And froze.
He saw the exact moment she recognized him and was grinning as he swung out of the saddle.
“Ramsay!” she screamed, lifting her skirts and barreling down the steps toward him. “Ramsay!”
He caught her in his arms, but she was still too large for him to lift. “Hello Mother. I’m home.”
She replied, but since she had his face between her palms and was planting kisses all over him, ‘twas difficult to understand. “Lad, ye’re—Oh, we prayed—Thank Christ ye’re—Hugh! Dinnae track mud in my hall!”
Laughing out loud now, Ramsay caught her hands and hugged her, then set her aside. “Mother, I have much to tell ye. But for now…”
As she wiped her tears, he turned and took Relic down from Nicola. When he turned back to his mother, he was grinning. “This is my son, Mother. His name is Relic.”
And his mother’s reaction was worth it. Her mouth dropped open, she slapped her own cheeks, and then shrieked, a shrill scream that likely broke glass and caused earwax to melt.
“A grandbairn?” Her hand dropped to her belly. “They’ll grow up together!”
Good Christ, she was pregnantagain? Ramsay was past shock, and merely rolled his eyes as she reached for Relic. For his part, the laddie didn’t seem to mind being cooed at by this new stranger, and in fact did his best to pull off her nose.
Beaming, Mother bounced the bairn against her shoulder as she turned to Nicola, who was sitting serenely atop her horse. Ramsay doubted anyone else could see the way she was gripping her hands together as betraying her nervousness.
