“I ken.” Seamus offered nothing more as he watched the man, who would soon be his equal.
“I still wish to ask, but I’m nae so convinced as I was an hour ago that ye might say aye.”
“Give it six moons. If I have nay trouble with ye, I will consider it.”
“Thank ye. Please excuse me, I have—” Coll waved to the open space at the end of the bailey, “—a task.” With a heavy sigh and his head hanging, he walked away. His voice carried as he ordered carpenters to come forth.
“Do ye wish to stay and witness it?” Saoirse asked Magnus.
“Nay. I trust Hamish to see it done. I want us away from here. But I also ken ye arenae up to the ride back to Eilean Donan. Ye need a bed and sleep.”
“Grandda and the others still need to deal with Laird Mackintosh and Laird Donald. I dinna think they’ll settle that within the next few minutes. Wiley, Kirk, and Ric need tending to. I’d feel better checking on everyone else. I dinna see aught serious on ye. I suppose we’ll spend the night here.”
“Aye. I dinna think there’s another choice because I dinna want ye sleeping on the ground. Ye have a healthy constitution, but ye arenae accustomed to this physical rigor. I worry aboot ye,mo chridhe.”
“I’m nay the only one who needs rest. Ye fought a battle and rode for hours after. Let me see to everyone, then I just wish to retire with ye somewhere and shut the door. I dinna want to think aboot all that ma mind still needs to work out. Macrae wishing revenge against ye for him getting Louisa with child and having to marry her. Louisa’s bitterness aboot being married to the Macrae, and her plot to marry Coll. She would have likely trapped him just as she tried to trap ye. Harold was supposed to see the Macrae dead and instead took me, Wiley, Kirk, and Ric. It’s too much and making ma head ache.”
“Let’s have everyone go inside where ye can assess them. I’ll arrange for a bath and a chamber.”
“Thank ye.”
An hour and a half later, Saoirse and Magnus retired to a chamber. There’d been cuts and scratches for her to clean and bandage, but blessedly, no one needed stitches. She couldn’t fathom how it was possible, but then Magnus reminded her of how her family fights. They finished their bath and moved before the fire. Magnus ran a comb through Saoirse’s wet hair before she spun to face him.
He set aside the comb as his hands caressed her shoulders and along her chest until he cupped her breasts. He kissed each nipple before she leaned forward to snare his lips in a passionate kiss that deepened as she moved to straddle him. She pressed against his chest until he laid back. His arm wrapped around her upper back as his other hand rested heavily on her buttocks. His fingers dipped between her thighs, her dew coating them.
Magnus rolled them until Saoirse was on her back, and he could suckle her breasts. She wrapped her hand around his cock and stroked until it may as well have been a piece of steel in her hand. His forefinger and middle finger rubbed her pearl until her hips moved of their own volition.
“I’m going to make love to ye until we canna keep our eyes open.”
“I confess that may nae be vera long, but I look forward to every moment. I need ye inside me, Magnus. I dinna want it slow and gentle. I want to celebrate we’re alive and well. They hurt neither of us, and we’ll be free of this threat come morning. I want to revel in the feel of ye and ken that I dinna have to fear ye dying.”
Saoirse opened her legs, and Magnus shifted between them. He guided the tip of his rod through her netherlips, coating the head before pressing it into her sheath. Her hips tilted to accept him as he thrust into his bride. Their moves were determined and forceful as they reveled in their physical and emotional delight that they reunited and were, as they should be, in love and making love.
“I want to watch ye climax, Saoirse. I want to feel yer bliss as ye hold me within ye.”
“I want to bring ye the same pleasure ye bring me. I want to share everything with ye, Magnus, including ecstasy.”
They relished the moment they both felt the euphoria wash over them, clinging to each other and crying out one another’s name. They didn’t stop until Saoirse crested once more. They rolled over again, settling on their sides, with Saoirse’s leg draped over Magnus’s hip. He rocked within her, his rod remaining erect for a few more moments. They moved to the bed, and it wasn’t long after that they drifted to sleep in one another’s embrace. It was a different type of bliss, but one they welcomed.
* * *
Morning arrived with thunderstorms, which matched Louisa, Harold, Richmond and Artair’s expressions, but no one cared but them. Saoirse remained at Magnus’s side as they watched the quartet ascend the gallows’ stairs. She turned away as the four bodies dropped, dangled, and jerked. But it was over as quickly as it started. She felt bad for Coll, who was left to sort out the wake of destruction his father and stepmother created. The lairds from the five allied clans decided to bring Laird Mackintosh and Laird Donald back to Eilean Donan, where they would collect their surviving clansmen and return home. Before leaving Dingwall and the Macraes, both disgraced lairds signed a truce with the Mackenzies and Rosses. Liam, Tristan, and Hamish signed as witnesses.
The large party rode away before midmorning, leaving the foul weather behind them. They rode throughout the day, but they agreed to stop for the night rather than further exhaust themselves and their mounts. They were not in the same hurry as when they traveled the other direction. Eilean Donan, on its tidal island at the confluence of Loch Long, Loch Alsh, and Loch Duich, was a welcome sight to everyone. Caroline, Lachlan, and Callen greeted them as they arrived.
Caroline flew down the keep’s steps and launched herself into Seamus’s arms. He chuckled as he held his wife. She cupped his face and kissed him soundly. It appeared that a few days in Saoirse and Magnus’s company helped ease her reservations about public displays of affection. None of the Mackenzies took note. Apparently, propriety had only mattered to the couple.
The extended family moved inside, grateful for the servants who buzzed about with food and drink. Unlike at the Dunbeath, there was no collection of bathtubs, so it forced the men to take turns. The younger generation opted to forego hot water and went to the lochs. Magnus and Saoirse removed themselves to the garden until it was their turn to bathe.
“This is lovely,” Saoirse said as she leaned forward to sniff a patch of lavender.
“It is.” Magnus wasn’t looking at the flora. Saoirse sensed as much and wiggled her hips. He pounced. “Dinna tempt me, wee one.”
“Or what? I think I should tempt ye as ye tempt me. Why do ye think I had to walk away?” Saoirse giggled as he kissed her neck and walked her backwards to the shady corner where they wouldn’t be easily spied by anyone walking by.
“Uncle Magnus! Auntie Sersie!”
They groaned but plastered smiles on their faces as their nephew bounced toward them. Magnus lifted him and tucked him against his hip. Henry leaned toward Saoirse and kissed her cheek.
