“Leona, I’d marry ye in a ditch if that’s what ye wanted.” He kissed her forehead. “As long as I get to call ye me wife, I daenae care where it happens.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “How did I get so lucky?”
“I’m the lucky one.” He pulled her close again. “I was drownin', and ye pulled me from the water.”
“Then we saved each other,” Leona whispered.
They fell into comfortable silence, holding each other.
“When should we have the ceremony?” Leona asked, eventually.
“Tomorrow.”
She laughed. “Murdock, there are preparations to be made.”
“Then as soon as we’re ready.” He tilted her face up to his. “I’ve already wasted too much time being afraid.”
“A couple of weeks, then.” Her eyes sparkled. “Can ye wait that long?”
“Barely.” He kissed her again, slow and deep. “But aye. For ye, I’ll wait.”
They lost themselves in each other again, hands roaming, mouths meeting, bodies moving together. It was different this time, less desperate, more playful. Learning each other, discovering what brought them pleasure.
And when they came together once more, when Leona cried out his name and he buried his face in her hair to muffle his grunt of completion, he knew with absolute certainty that he’d finally found home.
Not in a castle or a clan or a piece of land. But in her.
They were kissing lazily in satisfied exhaustion, when a knock sounded at the door.
“Leona?” Skye’s voice called, muffled but clearly impatient. “Are ye done talking yet? I’m hungry, and Nyx is demandin' dinner, and everyone keeps asking where Da is.”
Murdock bit back a laugh at Leona’s mortified expression. “We should probably…”
“Aye.” Leona sat up, pulling the sheet with her. “Just a moment, Skye!”
“Are ye gettin' dressed?” Skye asked with the blunt perception of a child. “Because it’s taking a very long time.”
Murdock couldn’t help it; he laughed, deep and genuine, the sound surprising them both.
When was the last time he’d laughed like that? Free and unguarded.
“Yer daughter is very perceptive,” Leona said, trying to glare at him but failing as her own lips twitched.
“She gets it from her maither,” Murdock said, then caught himself. “From Moira, I mean. She was always too clever for her own good.”
“It’s all right.” Leona touched his face gently. “Ye can talk about her. She was part of yer life. Part of what made Skye who she is.”
“Aye.” He caught her hand, kissing her palm. “But ye’re me future. Ye and Skye, both.”
“Leona!” Skye knocked again. “Nyx says she’s starvin'!”
“We’re comin'!” Leona called, scrambling for her clothes.
Murdock watched her dress with appreciation, earning himself a thrown stocking.
“Stop starin' and help me with the laces,” she demanded, turning her back to him.
Murdock rose from the bed, wrapping his own kilt before moving to help her. But instead of immediately tying the laces, he pressed a kiss to the back of her neck.
