Page 35 of Joanna's Highlander (Highland Protector 2)

Staring straight ahead, Grant relived the time, narrating in heartbreaking detail all that had happened. Joanna remained silent as he spoke, her eyes wide and reflecting his pain. The goddesses’ refusal of his and Leannan’s troth. Their blessing withheld by the Heartstone. The invasion of the murderous Northmen. Yet, Dwyn had assured him that while Grant’s union with Leannan had not been sanctioned, neither the goddesses nor the Heartstone wouldha sacrificed her and the child to the brutality of the Northmen. If Leannan had but remained hidden, the other druid clans wouldha helped her survive once the carnage ended.

“She refused t’listen,” he repeated, locking his gaze with Joanna’s. “Why the hell would she no’ listen?”

“I don’t know.” Joanna barely shook her head. “I just don’t know.” She squeezed his arm and did her best to smile, her pale, chapped lips quivering at the corners. “All I know for certain is that the Heartstone scares the living shit out of me and I don’t ever want to go around that thing again. Deal?”

“But ye believe me now?” Dare he hope she’d accepted the truths she’d seen with her own eyes? Dare he believe that she’d accept him for what he was? “Ye believe all I have told ye? And ye accept it? Ye willna run to get away from me?”

The dubious look that suddenly appeared on Joanna’s face made his blood run cold.

“Joanna?” He needed her to answer him so badly, he’d surely go mad if she didna speak soon and seal his fate—one way or another. “Lass…please.”

Her sudden tired, tender look and soft smile enabled him to breathe again. “I’m not going to lie to you. I so need some time to digest all of…whatever this is or was.” She pulled back the bedsheets and patted the bed beside her. “But I’m not gonna run—as long as you get in here and hold me.”

Grant stood and stripped off his clothes and boots before she could change her mind. He eased into the bed beside her, gently scooped her into his arms, and cradled her against his chest.

“I’ll hold ye forever, lass.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and closed his eyes, breathing in the reassurance of her sweet warmth melting into him.

Joanna snuggled tighter against him until he could almost feel her smile against his chest. “Forever and ever?” she asked, nuzzling her cheek more comfortably into the dip of his shoulder.

“ ’Til eternity ends,” he whispered against her skin.And longer,he silently added to himself.

“I need you, Grant.” She spoke so softly he barely heard the words. ’Twas more like he felt them against his skin. “That Heartstone nightmaretripwas too real. It’s stuck on replay in my head. I need you to make me forget it for a while.”

A warm wetness seeped onto his chest. Tears. Joanna was crying.

Ever so slowly, he slid out from under her, settled her back onto the pillows, and propped up on his elbow beside her. He gently cupped the curve of her jaw in his palm and wiped away the trail of her tears with his thumb. “Dinna cry, m’love. ’Tis all in the past. Over and done. I swear it.”

He leaned forward and nuzzled a slow, sweet kiss across her softly trembling mouth. “We’re safe now. The both of us. Here in each other’s arms.”

Joanna reached up and stroked his face, brushing her fingers into his hairline at the temple. “I thought I’d lost you.” She stared at him a long moment. Not blinking. Maybe not even breathing. “I’ve never felt that kind of pain before. Dark. Empty. Hopeless.” Renewed tears welled in the outer corners of her eyes, overflowed, and trickled down into her hair. “Make me forget it, Grant. I don’t want to feel anything but you.”

“But yer weak, love.”

“I need you. Please.”

“Aye, m’dear heart. Aye.”

Grant slid his arms under her shoulders and covered her mouth with his. He tightened his hold as he carefully settled over her, then slowly slid inside her.Must be gentle. She’s still weak.Her wet heat pulled him in, welcomed him, made him clench and grind to bury himself deeper.

She wrapped her legs around him, arched into him as her hands trailed up and down his back. Never once did they break the kiss, the precious connection, as they slowly moved in tandem, bodies intertwined.

Each time he pulled out, Joanna ground her body upward, her hands squeezing and pulling to hurry him back inside harder and faster. Grant slowly rocked into her, trying to be gentle but shuddering with the need to possess her completely and hear her cry out in pleasure. He finally broke the kiss and firmly planted his hands above her shoulders. She was close. He could tell by the way she trembled, the way her wet heat quivered and sucked him back in, demanding more with every stroke.

“Make me forget, Grant,” she panted out as she bucked beneath him. “Love me now.”

Grant couldna speak. All he could do was obey. He hammered hard and fast, rocking the bed back against the wall, the rhythmic thud echoing across the room. Joanna arched, clenched his arms, and screamed out something he didna quite hear since he was too busy roaring out a release of his own.

Her legs still wrapped around him and still buried to the hilt, Grant rolled to the side and held her tight. Sheepishly, he rained kisses across her closed eyes as he realized his cock was already growing hard again inside her. “I fear I’ll have t’put m’clothes back on t’keep from lovin’ ye again.”

Joanna didn’t answer, just pulled away the slightest bit, turned in his arms, and backed up, nuzzling her ass against his waiting erection. She reached back, grabbed one of his arms, and clamped it across her breasts. “As long as you keep doing all the work and I keep reaping all the benefits, you’re not getting out of this bed ’til morning.”

Burying his cock back where it belonged, Grant pulled Joanna back against him and set to nibbling her shoulder while tickling the sweet button of her lady parts that he’d be tasting later to make her scream again. “Aye, lass. ’Tis a deal. Lie back against me and enjoy.” And then he decided to prove he could rock the bed from side to side just as fine as he’d pounded the headboard against the wall.

Chapter 17

“Hush your mouth, young lady, and breath normally, please.” Dr. Lester Farthingham rudely pressed the cold stethoscope harder against her chest. “I can’t hear a durn thing when you’re talkin’, so hush it!”

Joanna grit her teeth and crossed her eyes at Lucia and Tyler. Seven-year-old Tyler giggled and snorted out loud until Lucia shook him by the shoulder and fixed him with the type of warning look that only a mother can give. “Go downstairs and ask Esme if she needs your help with the icing bowl. I think she finished the cupcakes for you to take to school tomorrow.”

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