“Even my aches and pains are at bay with ye in my arms.”
Breathless, she closed her eyes feeling overwhelmed at the sudden change in him. She shivered. He stilled.
“Dunna be afraid of me, Thomasina.” His large hand gently held her head against his chest. His words resonating through his body. “I’ll never allow ye to be hurt by anyone. Not even me.”
Niall and Lachlann came up behind.
“It looks as if we have a joining to see to.” Niall smiled at his sister. “I take it ye’ve agreed to marry the man and put him out of his misery?”
“Yea.” She pulled away and straightened her clothing.
“Good thing. The man was pining for ye something fierce.” Lachlann nodded his head as if assessing something’s worth. “Ye’ll be good together.”
“And what of Niall?” Thomasina wished she had not spoken the words as soon as they were out.
Sean held her close to his side. The tension in his body increased.
Niall jerked around to face her. “I will be fine. Dunna be worrying about me, little sister.”
“Aldred and me will lo—” Lachlann said.
“—be a royal pain in my arse as always. I will have my hands quite full. Ye’ll barely be missed.”
He cleared his throat and headed through the opening of the sad, little hut with clumps of missing thatch and a crooked door that did not shut all the way. Sean took her hand, keeping her back while the other two went inside.
“What is amiss?” she asked.
He pulled her close, behind the horses so that they were partially hidden from the others. His breath warm against her cheek. “I want to ken yer mine. I dunna want to wait.” His lips were firm against hers, persistent. Her body immediately responded. He pulled her in closer as if sensing it, his hands roaming her back to slide over her backside. He moaned into her mouth where his tongue sparred against her own.
“Thomasina?” Niall called from the doorway.
Sean released her, a smile on his face. “I’m here.” She called and smiled back.
“Are ye coming in?”
Sean gave her a quick kiss.
“I am seeing to my bag,” Sean spoke to her then answered in a louder voice, “we are coming anon.”
He untied the bag and opened it. She recognized the items from her earlier rummaging. When he pulled out the vellum, he paused. “I dinna ken this was meant for ye when I had it written but I offer it to ye with my whole heart, Thomasina.”
“What is it?”
“A marriage contract.”
Chapter 15
Sean took her hand and led her toward the house. Her grip tightened as they moved closer to the entrance. Her wide eyes spoke of the memories assailing her. The fear gripping her. He needed to re-focus her thoughts.
“Ye and yer brother were happy here sometimes?”
She turned to him as if she’d forgotten he was there then smiled. “Yea. We were. Sometimes.”
It was a small, one room building, dark and smelling of sheep and mold. Thomasina immediately saw to taking care of the rushes. Niall worked on starting a fire in the open hearth at the rear. Lachlann lit the candle on the trestle table centered in the middle of the room then went to the wooden plank partially hidden beneath. He lifted it up, revealing a hollowed out area in the earthen floor. First he withdrew a covered clay crock then a large, cloth-encased hunk of cheese and replaced the wooden door.
“I’m starving.” He broke off a piece of the cheese, popped it into his mouth, and turned to face Sean. “Do ye need a wedding feast?”
“It may be nice but not necessary. Unless Thomasina prefers it.” He spoke the words as she returned with thick, winter grass that she tossed about the floor to cover the hard-packed dirt.
