He chuckled. “The same. It has only been a few hours since our arrival.”
Ainslee did not remember any of it, and she was disappointed that she had not seen Morea or Arran’s brothers.
“Why didn’t ye wake me?”
Arran shook his head. “Ye were unconscious, lass. There was no waking ye from that.”
Oh, well that explained it. Ainslee walked over to where he was sitting, and he placed his arms around her waist, pressing his face into her stomach.
“I didnae know wot tae do when I found ye in his camp,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I wanted tae rescue ye, but when ye started sparring with him, I thought I would go insane.”
Ainslee placed her hand on his thick hair, running her fingers through it lightly. “It was the same way I felt aboot ye fighting him, Arran.”
He shuddered, his large shoulders moving with the effort. “All mah life I have protected this clan. I tried tae be someone that mah da would be proud of if he still walked this earth. I tried tae be someone that mah brothers would want tae look up tae.” He then lifted his head, meeting her eyes. “But now I only want tae be the man that ye love, lass.”
Ainslee’s heart caught in her throat. His expression was so earnest, so tender. “I love ye Arran,” she whispered, emotion choking her words. “I love ye so much.”
He exhaled harshly and crushed her to him once more. “I love ye, lass. I didnae tell ye before, but I’m telling ye now. I dinnae want tae have a life without ye in it.”
Tears spilled over her cheeks as Ainslee basked in his love. It was the only thing she wanted to have in her life—someone who loved her and who she could love in return.
Now she had someone she could spend her life with.
Arran pulled away and stood, leaning down to press his lips against hers. Ainslee moaned as he swept her away with his kiss, feeling the love pouring through his touch to her.
When he broke the kiss, they were both breathing heavily. “I need ye,” he said, framing her face with his hands. “Let me love ye.”
“Aye,” she breathed, wanting nothing more than to have her husband’s hands on her.
Arran smiled at her tenderly before leading her to their bed and pulling her on top of him. “Tell me again,” he whispered.
She gave him her own tender smile. “I love ye.” She would say those words until her last dying breath.
He made quick work of her nightgown, and she groaned as he cupped her breasts, reverently touching them as if he had not done so before. “Ye are lovely,” he whispered, his thumbs brushing her nipples. “I am a lucky Scot indeed.”
“Arran,” she said, her hands pushing up his tunic and touching his bare chest. Her body felt as if it was on fire, only for him. “Please.”
He chuckled as one hand drifted down until he was delving into the curls at the apex of her thighs, touching the part that ached for him and him alone. Ainslee arched against his touch, clenching her legs against his as the pressure started to build low in her belly.
“That’s it, lass,” Arran urged, his movements becoming faster. “Let go for me.”
She cried out, her body shuddering as she reached the pleasure he had been seeking with his fingers. Gone was the worry about if they would have another tomorrow, a future that would bring them so much joy.
Ainslee knew without a doubt that they would have a future, one they had both dreamed of, that would be filled with warmth and laughter.
Collapsing against his chest, Ainslee fought to catch her breath, Arran’s fingers trailing down her back lightly.
“Are ye alright?” he asked a moment later.
“Aye.”
Arran groaned as he rolled her over, his hands working at the laces of his breeks. Ainslee did not even hide her gaze as his swollen member appeared a moment later, her body reacting to the need of having him deep inside her.
“Please,” she whispered, grasping at his body. “Love me, Arran.”
“Always,” he said as he pushed into her. Ainslee cried out, feeling her soul click into place with their joining. The other times, there hadn’t been the words of love between them, but now that there were, what they were doing had another meaning to her.
Together they moved in unison with each other, never breaking eye contact, and when she found her pleasure once more, Arran joined in, his cries mingling with hers.
