He kissed her then, soft and sweet. Then he kissed her cheeks and her chin and her eyes and then her mouth again.
‘Say it again, I beg you,’ he pleaded.
‘God forgive me, I love you, Aidan MacLerie.’ He shook his head.
‘Just the words, Cat. Just the words.’
‘I love you.’
‘And I love you, Catriona.’
The world tilted then for her. Words she’d never believed she would say to a man, she’d said to him. After so many years of pain and suffering and loneliness, he’d given her pleasure and passion, a time to heal and a chance at a new life. Now, he returned his love to her.
‘Do not think of what we will face, Cat,’ he said, kissing her again. ‘Think only of my love for you and we will find a way through it all.’
He followed his promise with a string of unending kisses that left her breathless. Then Aidan eased them back onto his bed and he held her close to him. Some time passed and she tried to empty her thoughts of all the worries she had over the end of what they had now.
‘Stay with me, Cat. Stay with me this night.’
His words echoed into the silence of the chamber and into her heart. She wanted to refuse—she should refuse. Her heart decided the matter then. If she would need to give him up and walk away in just a few months, she would enjoy every moment that they did share. She would make enough memories that she could live on them for the rest of her lonely life.
Cat turned in his arms to face him, decision made.
‘Love me, Aidan. Just love me.’
And he did, drawing out each touch, every movement, until she lost herself to him. Undressing her with his hands and mouth and teeth and tongue, he drove her to the edge of need and madness for him. He moved between her legs and gazed into her eyes as he entered her. Her body accepted the length of him, fitting around him until she could not remember being a separate body from his.
This time when flesh filled flesh, there was no beginning or ending to either of them. Joined in the most intimate way, she let him in and accepted that love made this time different from all that had come before. Release came slowly, their bodies melded and she felt every contraction and shudder of his through her.
The tears surprised her. She did not think they were tears of sadness for she did not feel sad then. Catriona felt....
Complete.
Healed.
Fulfilled.
Strong enough now to leave him when the time came.
* * *
It was the darkest, quietest part of the night when he finally slept next to her. Their fingers entwined, his body tucked tightly behind hers, his arm draped over her, keeping her there. Their hearts beat at the same pace; their breaths matched the other’s.
And in that dark, quiet time and place, she decided to stay with him until his parents returned. Then, things would spiral out of her control or his and she would need to leave. Catriona would claim these next days as hers.
And she did.
* * *
Though she had left the keep to go and collect some clothes from the house, she remained with him. She would not sit with him at the high table, but she ate her meals in the hall from a seat much closer than the first night.
She discovered that she liked his friends, especially Dougal, Rurik’s son. They mourned the loss of their companion, but seemed to accept her company now.
During the days, she tried to keep herself busy and useful in the keep. The servants accepted her help, she knew some of the women from the village, and things went smoothly. She was careful not to overstep or make decisions that were not hers. Cat did not want it reported to the laird or the lady that she had assumed a position she did not have.
And the nights...the nights were filled with love.
* * *
