“I dinna plan to stop.” Rab swept his forefinger along the crease where her thigh met her hip before running it through the dew gathered at her juncture. “This eve, it is ma finger. But once ye’re ma wife, it will be far more.”
“I want naught more than for that day to come.” Catherine murmured against his ear before nipping at his lobe. With a teasing growl, Rab pressed his finger into her entrance while his thumb sought her pearl. Catherine’s hips moved in time with Rab’s fingers. She bent her leg left, forcing Rab to shift more to his side. Her hand dove under his plaid, where she found what had intrigued her since she was four-and-ten. She’d wondered all those years ago what a man’s body was like beneath a plaid. It was soon after that she wondered about a specific man’s body.
As her hand wrapped around Rab’s length, he groaned, telling himself over and over not to thrust, not to be too eager. But Rab’s dreams had comprised this very moment too many times for him not to relish in it. When he’d been with Katherine, he’d always ensured it was dark, and he’d kept his eyes closed. He’d encouraged her to remain quiet, so he could concentrate on imagining he was with Catherine. Now he wanted to hear every sound, every breath Catherine took. He watched her intently as she moved toward her release. When her back arched and her body tensed, he was certain the blissful expression she wore was the most enticing he’d ever seen. Too wrapped up in the pleasure of watching Catherine, too consumed with the desire to join with her, he felt his own climax wash over him. He thought for a moment that it might embarrass him to spend in Catherine’s hand. However, it was something he had fantasized about for years, so he couldn’t find a moment of discomfort, only his own bliss to match hers.
Rab rolled over, bringing Catherine with him. They rested together as Rab pulled hay from Catherine’s hair. He kissed her crown over and over as her hand stroked his chest. “Kitty, the chamberlain told me the king intends to make me wait several more days for an audience. I hate leaving ye here alone, but I must ride back to Edinample. I canna put off ending things with Katherine. I also need to find a village where we can post the banns. Will ye promise me that ye will stay near Catriona the entire time I’m gone?”
“Aye. And while it likely willna please ye to hear this, Dominic and Emelie are coming to court. King Robert insisted a Campbell attend while the French delegation is here. From what I gather, Brodie can still barely say the Bruce’s name without turning scarlet. The mon holds a grudge.”
“Nay. I’m nae thrilled aboot that, but Dennis willna do aught if ye’re standing with Dom and Emelie. Between the Douglases and the Campbells at court, they’re likely better protection than I can ever be.”
“Dinna say that. I will never feel safer than I do with ye.” Catherine tightened the arm she now draped around Rab’s waist. “When will ye leave?”
“Before daybreak. If the weather holds, then we can be at Edinample by the following night. I’ll see Katherine, end it, and be back on ma horse within an hour.”
“Ye canna be serious that ye will ride that far, dump such news on a woman who likely believes ye really will marry her—or at least continue yer relationship even after ye marry, then ride off easy as ye please.”
“I have told her countless times that I will never marry her, and I’ve told her I will always be faithful to ma wife. In ma heart, I never ceased believing that would be ye. I will never stray from ye, Kitty. I’ve waited too damn long, wanted ye too damn much, ever to leave ye for another.”
“I ken, Rab. But be careful. A scorned woman is more dangerous than any armed warrior.”
“I’ll heed yer warning. I’d guess ye’ve seen more than one here at court.”
“So many I’ve lost count. It rarely ends well for the mon involved.”
“Will ye lie here with me for a little longer?”
“I’d lie here all night then hop on Bolt’s back behind ye if I could.”
“Ye’d ride in front.” Rab waggled his brow. “That way I can hold ye.”
“Then ye owe me a ride.” Catherine’s suggestive mien told Rab she wasn’t thinking about Bolt.
“Soon enough, Kitty.” They kissed before settling back into the companionable silence they enjoyed together. Neither dozed that night, both wanting to savor each minute together before Rab rode out the next morn.
Chapter 9
After two days of hard riding, Rab reined in Bolt at the edge of the forest that bordered the outskirts of Edinample’s village. He dismounted and handed his reins to David and studied the other men.
“I ken ye wish to visit yer families. If it wouldnae alert ma father, then I’d say make yer visit quick. But we all ken why he canna find out I’ve been here. I willna be long.” Rab nodded before jogging toward a croft set on the far side of the village. When he reached the croft’s door, he listened for a moment. When there was no noise, he knocked and entered.
“Rab.” Katherine MacLaren brushed strands of chestnut hair from her forehead as she wiped her hands clean of the dough she’d been kneading. “I hadn’t expected ye.”
Rab walked farther into the cottage but grasped Katherine’s forearms before she could wrap them around his neck.
“I’m only here to speak to ye.”
“Miss me that much? We dinna usually do much speaking,” Katherine purred. The sound irritated Rab in a way it never had. He didn’t want a reminder of what they used to do, either.
“Katherine, I came to tell ye that things must change between us.”
“What?” Katherine’s face dropped, and a hard edge entered her gaze. Rab recalled of what Catherine warned him. The woman in front of him was quickly becoming an angry, spurned former mistress. “Yer father has said naught aboot ye being betrothed.”
“Nor would he. Katherine, I just ken it isnae right to continue as we have. It’s nae fair to ye when ye’re young and should find a mon to settle down with.”
“I—I thought—”
“Katherine, I told ye from the start,” Rab interrupted. “I can never marry ye.”
