“Iam but trying to make myself believe ye are really here,” he replied.
“Climbinto this bed, my fine knight, and ye will soon see that I am verra much here.”She laughed when he scrambled in beside her. “Now, there is an eagerness anylass can appreciate. Howbeit, I was thinking that if we are to be wed, mayhapwe should practice a touch of celibacy.”
“AfterI have spent two long weeks without ye in my bed? I think not.”
“Noteven to make our wedding night a wee bit special?” She ran her feet up and downhis calves, enjoying the feel of the hard mucles and light coating of hairbeneath the soles of her feet.
“Iplan to have our wedding but moments after we pry a blessing out of yourobstinate brother, so our wedding night will be a little special. It will stillsing with the greed of a long absence.”
“Ifwe keep feeding our greed at the pace we are now, we may be too exhausted tofeed it some more on our wedding night.”
Hewrapped his arms around her, rolling so that she was lightly pinned beneathhim, and kissed her. “‘Twill take many a day for that to happen to me. Howbeit,if ye are not up to the challenge—“
Shelaughed as he cocked his left eyebrow in a silent gesture that dared her toaccept the gauntlet he had just tossed down. Sorcha cupped his face in herhands and kissed him, slowly, deeply, and hungrily. The way his breathing increasedrevealed how she could stir his passion. It was a heady knowledge, but she nowknew it could never serve as a replacement for the love she craved. For all ofits delight and mind-clouding strength, she always felt a hint of sadunfulfillment when the passion faded. She feared that that hint ofdissatisfaction would grow over the years, but had no idea of how she coulddispel it without Ruari’s love.
“Ruari,”she murmured, stretching with pleasure beneath his stroking hands. “Ye do kenthat I may ne’er be able to give you sons.”
Shewondered why she was about to list all that was wrong with selecting her as awife. Something compelled her to reiterate everything that made her such a poorchoice of wife. It was a moment before she realized that she wanted to hearRuari say in a clear voice how he truly regarded each one of the reasons he hadfirst refused to even consider her as a wife. She needed to be sure that hefelt no hesitation and had no regrets.
Hesmoothed his hand over her forehead, brushing aside a few stray wisps of hair. “Iwillnae say that I dinnae want a son. Every mon wants a son. Howbeit, if Godchooses to give us only daughters, I willnae grieve o’er it. There are a lot ofKerrs about. I have a veritable horde of male cousins. I hold no fear that myname will fade from the rolls.”
“Ihave no money.” Her voice shook faintly as he dampened the pulse point in herneck with gentle but heated kisses.
“Ihave enough, and ye have shown a true skill at gathering some coin when ye needit.” He grinned at her when she gave a soft cry of false outrage, swatted himon the arm, and then laughed.
“Ihave no lands.” She arched toward his mouth as he idly lathed the tips of herbreasts.
“Idinnae need any more land. I have so much I can give Beatham a piece and nevermiss it.”
“Yeare giving Beatham some land?” she asked, surprise briefly cutting through herown concerns and the haze of passion that was invading her mind.
BeforeRuari could tell her what he had done to ease the marriage of Beatham and Margaret,a loud rapping sounded at the door. “Go away,” he bellowed then grinned whenSorcha giggled.
“Weel,I am willing to leave ye be,” Rosse said, his voice surprisingly clear despitethe thickness of the door, as he yelled back, “but there is a laddie kicking atyour gates who willnae be, especially if he kens what ye are doing in there.”
“‘TisDougal,” cried Sorcha. “He is here much sooner than I thought he would be.”
“Whatis his temper?” Ruari asked.
“Ithink he would chew his way through the gates if he could,” replied Rosse.
“Oh,dear,” murmured Sorcha. “I can see that the journey here didnae soothe hisanger.”
Afteradmiring her small, firm breasts, the tips hard and inviting, Ruari sighed withregret that he could not immediately answer that invitation. “He willnae takeyou home this time, dearling.” He patted her on the hip then got up and startedto dress. “It may be a highly contentious meeting and persuading him to agreeto our marriage and the others may take a long time, but hewillagree.”
“Yesound so certain of that.” She hopped out of bed and began to dress.
“Iam. This time I hold ye secure within these walls. All he can do is bellow anddemand that I give ye back. When he tires of that or his voice wanes, we willsit down and talk sense to the youth.”
“Whatdo I do about the lad?” asked Rosse.
“Disarmhim and take him and one mon of his choosing into the great hall. I will meetwith him there. If he starts chewing on the table, throw some cold water onhim.”
Hecould hear Rosse’s laughter slowly fade as the man walked away. Ruari regrettedthe fact that Dougal Hay was so furious. It meant that it could take a longtime to get the man to give his blessings to the marriages, and those blessingsmight well be given only grudgingly. That would hurt Sorcha, Ruari was certainof it. Praying that he could get what he wanted without causing any riftbetween the siblings, Ruari turned to Sorcha who was just finishing a lightbraiding of her hair.
“Yedinnae have to face him if ye dinnae wish to,” he said.
“Nay,I will go. I went against his wishes, disobeyed him, and I cannae hide awaylike a bairn.” She shook her head as Ruari took her by the hand and started tolead her down to the great hall. “I dinnae want this trouble between us, but Icannae give him what he demands. That would leave me, Neil, and Margaret allterribly unhappy.”
