Page 100 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
“I’ve been goin’ back to keep Helen and the others company. I tried to get her to come to our weddin’ or to come to the castle and meet ye, but she has bad preconceptions about the castle, and for good reason. She met me maither right after me faither kicked her out, and from what I understand now, me maither was not in good shape…”
Ciara sat stunned for a long moment, unsure what to say about any of it—his promises, his childhood, his mother. Her mind was working through everything he’d shared, and she knew it would take far longer than this conversation to comprehend all the implications of his past.
When she still didn’t reply, he added quietly, “All the ladies have been givin’ me advice about ye…”
Ciara blinked. “Why did ye need advice about me?”
He laughed darkly, like it was obvious.
“Magnus, why did ye need advice?”
It was this part of his story that she latched onto. Maybe it was the only part she felt comfortable questioning him on right now, or maybe she just really needed to know how he felt.
Later, she could mull over what it meant that his mother was forced to work at the brothel and that he was raised there.
She didn’t fault his mother for doing what she needed to do so that both of them could survive. By all accounts, it seemed Magnus grew up in a loving and supportive environment. But that didn’t mean there weren’t darker aspects. She was sure he had witnessed things far too harrowing when he was younger.
Maybe one day she would be able to ask him more about what it was like, but right now she wanted to talk aboutthem, about what all this meant for their relationship, moving forward.
“I wanted ye to be sure about me, and I needed their opinion on that. I didnae want to force ye like I was some sort of monster,” he growled.
Like his faither.
His mother’s story was one of many, apparently. That had been clear after talking to Susanna, and even Ewan. The horror Mangus’ mother had faced was not the only one of its kind. A young maid who worked at the castle, the former Laird, and in her case, a bastard son. Ciara’s heart broke for every woman the former Laird had tormented.
“Ye are nothin’ like him,” Ciara asserted fiercely. “Even when I thought ye were unfaithful, I never, ever thought that ye would take someone against their will.”
Magnus nodded once. “I ken that now. Between ye and everyone there, I ken. They made it painfully obvious what a dobber I was, but I wanted to woo ye.”
“Ye… wanted to woo me?” Magnus didn’t reply right away, choosing to avert his gaze, but she pressed again. “Ye wanted to woo me, Magnus?”
He just shook his head. “It doesnae matter anymore.”
“It does,” she insisted.
“Tell me why.”
Now it was Ciara’s turn to sigh. He had an explanation for why he was at the brothel tonight, and she believed him… but her heart was still so tender and bruised. He had remained faithful to her, but did that mean he felt the same way she did?
It was her turn to be vulnerable now, to give Magnus a truth in return for everything he’d shared tonight.
“It matters… it matters because I’ve wanted ye since I first saw ye…”
* * *
I’ve wanted ye…
Magnus would remember those words for the rest of his life. His heart was raw after sharing his story with her, and he feared what she might think of him now. But even after all of that, she still wanted him…
She had always wanted him.
He finally let himself fully believe those words, with no reservations. She was not feeling pressured or scared—she wanted him. And while he was sure that he would need reminding over the years, at that moment, he let himself soak in the knowledge that this marvelous woman before himwantedhim.
For one brief second, Magnus just stared at his wife in awe, taking in the emotion in her eyes.
They came together as one, their lips meeting once more. This kiss was different, though. It wasn’t some stolen moment at a party or relief at finding her safe, but it was a promise of more—of everything.
He cradled the back of her head in his hand as they kissed, cherishing her. She matched each movement of his lips, eagerly accepting everything he gave her.
