Ceann turned from the door. “Then what do you suggest?”
Ethan gave him a quelling look and went calmly up to the door. “Iona! Ceann is here and he wishes to speak with Ella.”
The door opened a crack, and Iona peered out. “Aye?Is he here to fix the mess he’s made then?”
Ceann groaned and ran his hands through his hair. ‘Mess’ was an understatement, if he’d ever heard one.
“Aye.”
The door opened, and Iona stepped aside. Ethan gave him a little shove forward, with a whisperedgood luck.As Ceann went in, Iona stepped outside with Ethan, closing the door firmly behind her. Ethan grinned at her. “Do you think that’s wise, to leave them alone in there together? I fear Ceann might be seriously injured, or worse.”
Iona laughed. “And if he is, he will take his punishment, and gladly, I’m sure.Don’t worry; all will be well in the end.”
Ceann leaned against the closed door, staring at Ella, who looked back at him from where she stood across the room. She was even more beautiful than he had remembered, and he wanted more than anything to rush forward and hold her in his arms; but he dared not.
He took a step forward, then paused. Now that he had found her, he didn’t know what to say to her. Words just didn’t seem like enough. “Ella, I… I’m so sorry.”
She nodded. “I know.”
Ceann felt the spark of hope begin to grow. Maybe she didn’t hate him as much as he’d feared.
He took another tentative step toward her, but she held up her hand, stopping him. “I have to know, Ceann, why you’re here.”
“Why I’m here?” he asked, incredulous. “God Ella, how can you ask that! I never should have sent you away! I was blinded by my own insecurity and pain, and I couldn’t see what was right before me. I saw deception where there was none. I’m sorry, Ella,mo cridhe. I would do anything to make it up to you.”
Ella shook her head slightly. “What I mean, is, who did you come for, me, or your babe? Would you have come after me at all if there were no child?”
“Aye… I want our child, of course I do, but it nearly killed me to let you go. I lost my mind for awhile; I left, wandered for days. If I’d have thought to bring any whiskey with me, I would have drowned myself in drink, because I couldn’t bear to think of the rest of my life without you in it, Ella, even though at the time I thought I was doing the honorable thing. I have truly never felt such pain, nor do I ever wish to again. When I finally came back, and Maggie told me, I…damn… I’m not doing a very good job of this.”
Ella turned back to face the window. She knew he was a proud man, a chief, a warrior, and it could not be easy for him to come to her like this. He looked, in fact, more distraught than she could have imagined.And he hadn’t been sleeping well, either, if the dark smudges under his blue-green eyes were any indication. She knew, in truth had known all along, that she could not keep herself from him. She was bound to him by something that defied explanation, something that was greater than each of them alone, and even now she could feel the irresistible pull of him from across the room, trying to draw her closer. But she had a lot of pride too, and the wound he had inflicted on her heart was one from which she hadn’t expected to recover.
He turned to the side and began to pace, shoving his hands through his thick sable hair.It fell back in wild disarray around his shoulders. She watched him for a moment, marveling that such a man could belong to her. For he did belong to her. She took in his handsome face with its wide, sensuous mouth and strong, masculine jaw. Then her eyes lowered to the hard, muscular lines of his body, his broad chest and strong, lean legs. And beneath his kilt… her breath hitched.
When he turned around again, she took a step closer, her arms crossed and her chin tilted up proudly.He dared not even breathe, but his eyes beseeched her. “Ella, you are my heart, and I will not lose you. Not ever or for any reason.” He took the last few steps to where she stood. Taking a deep breath he put his hand gently on her stomach. “Is it really true? The child is… mine?” He still could not quite believe it, not after so long thinking it impossible.
“Aye, you will have a son, or so Ethan says.” The joy she saw on his face made tears sting the back of her eyes. That she could be the one to give him such a gift…
Ceann saw her unshed tears, and reached to wipe one away as it escaped and rolled down her cheek. As overjoyed as he was, he knew he could not expect her to feel the same about the bairn. “I’m so sorry Ella.”He whispered.“I know this wasn’t… expected. I truly didn’t think… I mean I never would have… had I known…”
“I know. I wanted… I wanted, too.”
He pulled her into his arms then, holding her close, breathing in her scent. His love, his mate.“We’ll be wed right away. I should have wed you months ago, it was what I truly wanted, but I thought…”
She would wed him, there was never any question. But she would not give in so easily. “You thought I was a spy. I understand why Ceann, I do. But I don’t know; I need more time to think. If I decide to wed you…”
His face grew more intense, his eyes burning with a fierce possession. “But you have no choice. Iwillhave you”, he said in an urgent whisper.“You are mine and mine alone, now and forever. Now that I have you back, I will never let you go again.Never!” He leaned down and claimed her mouth, savagely, letting her feel the force of the emotion behind his words.
She pushed against him, breaking off the kiss. “It’s too sudden, I need time to think about everything…”
“And I need to make you mine… now. I won’t wait any longer. My child will have a name.”
Ella glared at him. “It is all about the child! I knew it! It’s not me you want; it’s your precious heir!” Though she sensed that she wasmore than likely being unreasonable, she could not hold back the anger and hurt she had been living with these past weeks. It had to come out or it would sit like a weight in her gut, always between them.
He looked completely bewildered at her outburst. “No, I want the child with all my heart, but I want you too. I mean, I want you more…”
Ella hit him in the chest. “Aghhh! I’m staying here for now Ceann. I need more time.”
He pressed his lips in a tight line and shook his head. “No, you’re coming with me. I’ll not lose you again. Ican’tlose you again.”
