Page 41 of The Iron Highlander
She pulled him into her, her legs going around his hips, encouraging the laird. She felt it as he entered her, slowly at first, as he tried not to hurt her. He held her down and maintained eye contact with her as he slipped it in. Kate bit her lip, gasping as she felt every inch go all the way into her. He stopped for a moment, holding still as her warmth almost undid him. She reached up and grabbed his head in her hands and pulled him down, bringing his ear to her lips so she could speak to him.
“Reuben,” Kate whispered, “Make love to me.”
Reuben needed no further motivation. He began slowly, going back and forth. Kate felt it, a sensation different from the first, but one which she enjoyed just as well. Each stroke made her want him more, and she urged him to pick up the speed. He complied, heaving his hips back and forth as quickly as he could. Soon, he had lost all sense of control and he pinned Kate down with his arms, ploughing into her. He kissed her passionately, pumping back and forth as he felt his own body tense under the soft warmth of the woman.
Reuben paused for a moment, staring at her. Kate realized he had stopped and tried to gather her breath for a moment before she spoke, staring up at him, “What?”
“I love ye.”
Kate stared at him as well. She had not expected the man to say that to her, she had not expected him to express his emotions that way. But he had, right there, just as vulnerable as she was. When she had first arrived, she thought Reuben was a spoiled and cruel man who was responsible for the deaths of her parents.
But so much had changed since then. She had been saved by him, and had also saved him as well. They had spent time together, and now she knew who he was. He was a man who did whatever he could to keep his family together. He was a good man at heart, and that was what had drawn her to him, despite her reservations and initial thoughts about him. She could always tell Reuben was a good man. She smiled as the first glint of sunlight touched the window of the room they were in.
“I love ye too, Reuben, I love ye too.”
Reuben kissed her, and continued making love to her, holding her pert body underneath him. Kate bucked her hips as well, and Reuben stopped for a moment. She shoved his chest backwards, and dropped him down to the bed. Before he could speak, she straddled him, getting right on top of him and putting him inside of her. She moaned loudly as she grabbed his shoulders, looking down at him. She began moving up and down, taking the pace herself, and controlling the motion of the events.
She stared into his eyes, seeing just how close he was, and soon she knew she was ready as well. They both picked up the speed, with Kate bouncing her body against him even faster. Reuben reached up and grabbed her hair, pulling her down on top of him, pumping into her faster and faster, letting out moans and gasps as well, feeling himself get close to the edge. Kate and Reuben let out simultaneous moans and came together, holding each other tightly as their bodies spasmed and bucked. Reuben peppered her shoulders with kisses, holding her against his rapidly beating heart.
Everything had changed, Kate knew that it all had, and more than anything she knew it was for the better. She was going to remain with the man she had just made love to. She could not return to Max and remain sad the rest of her life. She was going to change that, she was going to do something.
Reuben had said he was going to get Lily back, and so Kate made the decision. She was going to go with him, and if it came down to it, she would be the one to put down Max Sweeney, and shewould take her place as head of the clan, as it was supposed to be.
Chapter 21
“We should seewhat food we have left, make the rations.” Reuben began, staring at Kate.
“Aye,” she replied. “With the fires taking out some of the grain, it would be best if we made rations for now, before the next harvest.”
Reuben and Kate walked out the room together as the morning came, joining the rest of the house to look at the castle walls. As expected, the fire had done a lot of damage to the walls outside, and the building would need a lot of work before it would be returned to its prestigious state. Reuben looked around at his servants and saw that they were all tired and weary from the long and stressful night of battling the flames and shuttling water to the house.
He walked to the front of the castle, clearing his throat so he would draw the attention of everyone around. Freya and Willow turned to look as well, turning away from Kate. Reuben stared atKate in the morning light for a few moments, and felt his heart skip a beat. He ran a hand through his hair, and within the smell of smoke and sweat, he still managed to catch the scent which had driven him mad for so long. The aroma of lavender which Kate wore had rubbed off on him, and he smiled.
“Last night, our home was attacked, and luckily, we were spared any deaths. There wasnae serious injuries that had come to anyone, and at the end of the night, we still have each other. But now, our home needs us. It has been burned and damaged by the flames, but the house of McDonald still stands, and as long as this castle stands, so do we. I know ye are tired, and have worked tirelessly to save our home, and so it is with a heavy heart that I plead with ye, to make one last pull with me.”
The silence of the estate was deafening. Reuben heard the sound of movement beside him and looked into the house to see his mother emerging, with a smile on her face as she stared at him, urging him to go on. Her smile told of all of the things she felt. Grear was proud of her son, and Reuben was proud to have her as his mother as well. She had supported him, and taught him well, and now he would have to take charge, leading with everything he had learned from the older woman.
“The kitchen has suffered terrible burns, and so have some of the rooms. These walls here have been blackened out by soot, and will need some cleaning. The fire did a lot of damage on the inside of the house, but together, it is nothing which we cannae handle. If we let this put us down, we will be spending another night outside, sleeping in these tents. But if we put our backs to it, we will be able to have our homes back to ourselves by the end of the day.” Reuben paused and looked at the faces of everyonewho listened, “And I personally promise, I will get revenge on the man responsible for this.”
The cheers were unexpected, but they put a smile on Reuben’s face. In a matter of moments, everyone got on the move, his speech inspiring them to do the work. He got together with Hudson and his mother as they planned the best way to get the house back in shape. One side of the corridor walls had to be knocked out entirely as the fire had damaged it badly. Hudson and Rueben grabbed hammers and got to work, breaking the wall down as the workers got the bricks to replace it.
Freya and Willow helped in the kitchen, moving out bad food, and burned-out utensils which were no longer useable. Kate helped on the outside, getting water for some of the servants who climbed ladders and began cleaning off the soot which stained the outer walls. The windows were changed, and in a few hours, the house was starting to look like a home once again. Freya brought in some of the flowers Reuben and Lily had been taking care of, using them to combat the smell of smoke that still lingered in the air.
“What do ye plan to do about Max?” Hudson asked as he gathered in the great hall, along with Reuben.
“In a moment,” Reuben replied, walking up to his mother who sat in the chair where she was the night before when the smoke had taken her out. She looked tired, and stared out the window, deep in thought. Reuben grabbed her hand and kissed it, looking at her face, “Maither, how are ye feeling?”
“I’m fine, Reuben. Ye have proved yerself a worthy leader of the clan today,” Grear said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Thank ye,” Reuben replied, “Ye were the best teacher.”
“But ye have to tell us what ye plan to do,” said Grear, turning in her seat as Hudson walked up beside him. “What do ye plan to do about Max Sweeney?”
“Aye, the man has lied about us, claiming ye killed Kate’s parents, and now he takes Lily and tries to burn down yer castle,” said Hudson.
They all turned as Kate walked in as well, smiling as she looked to Reuben. The laird smiled back before he turned to face his mother, who had caught the look on his face before he tried looking serious.
“My lady, how are ye feeling?” Kate asked, holding up some bread and wine in a small tray. “I have brought this for ye.”
