“Dinna say such a thing, wife, for what if we’ve made a sweet bairn together? A sister or brother for Sorcha—”
“How will she ever know if I’m forced to return to Éire? Never to see you again! Never to hold you again or kiss you—”
Cameron’s mouth upon hers silenced her, Aislinn kissing him back with such aching despair that he groaned against her lips—vowing to himself that he would die before ever allowing such a thing to happen.Aye, he would protect her to his last breath!
Shaking with emotion, Cameron lifted her bodily and pressed her against the rock wall… one hand supporting her while the other slid beneath her tunic to yank her trousers to below her hips.
Aislinn grasping wildly at his tunic to pull the front of his garment up as well, Cameron driving himself into her as she moaned against his mouth.
Her arms flying around him to clasp his shoulders. Her fingers digging into his back while he thrust deeply inside her, Cameron never lifting his mouth from hers.
Her anguish now his anguish… though deep in his heart as he spilled himself into her, Aislinn crying out his name with her own shuddering release… Cameron felt a glimmer of hope that God would somehow protect them, too.
Chapter 23
“Cameron!”
Aislinn heard Conall’s voice before she saw him—but from Cameron’s low curse, he must have seen his brother right away as Conall ran toward them across the bailey.
A windswept bailey noisy with commotion that grew eerily silent but for the whinnying of horses when she and Cameron rode through the gates of Dumbarton Castle.
The muddy expanse leading to the fortress built at the base of a towering rock was packed with men and horses, too, and Cameron had seemed certain that King Robert’s forces were on alert for an imminent attack from King Edward.
That is, until he recognized some of the faces surrounding them, Cameron sounding startled as he reined in his horse and murmured to her, “Those are Gabriel’s men—och, and that group over there, Rory Campbell’s men.”
“Rory Campbell?”
“Aye, the chieftain of Clan Campbell, my cousin.”
Cameron didn’t have a chance to say more as Conall reached them, a strange mix of gladness and apprehension on his face as he glanced from Aislinn to his elder brother.
“Och, man, you couldna have arrived at a more contentious moment! I had tae step outside for some air, the rancor got so thick—and here you are! The both of you!”
Aislinn could feel tension growing in Cameron as he scowled at Conall and dismounted, and then reached up to lift her to the ground.
“The king gave me three days tae bring her back tae Dumbarton, did he not? You heard what the messenger said when last I saw you.”
“Aye, brother, but you said your plan was tae head north when you found Aislinn—”
“What does it matter? We’re here now—but why areyouhere, Conall? By God, did you leave anyone in command of the fortress?”
Aislinn saw Conall stiffen as if affronted, though he kept his voice steady.
“Aye, Finlay’s there, and Alun’s in command at MacLachlan Castle. We came here tae plead for you, Cameron. Myself, Gabriel, and Magdalene—and they’re in the great hall at this very moment, making an appeal tae King Robert that he allow you and Aislinn tae wed!”
Aislinn gaped at Conall, a giggle escaping her before she could clap her hand over her mouth, though she knew the situation wasn’t humorous at all.
At once she felt Cameron’s hand at her waist and he gave a short laugh, too, while Conall looked from her flushed face to Cameron… his eyes widening with understanding.
“Are you wed, then?” Now Conall laughed as Aislinn smiled at Cameron, her face burning even hotter. “Och, what am I asking? Look at the two of you… as sick in love as any I’ve seen. Forgive me, brother. I should have given my support instead of railing at you like a fool, but I feared for you—aye, still do! Lord Butler is inside—”
“No, I don’t want to see him!” Aislinn blurted out, reaching for Cameron’s hand to entwine her fingers tightly with his. All humor had fled, replaced only by dread as she met his darkened gaze. “What are we to do?”
“Face him. Let’s have this thing done.”
Cameron sounded so grim that she shivered, as much that her clothes were still wet from the rain that had thankfully stopped, as that she feared for him, too.
“Conall, will you spare her your breacan? We got caught in the storm.”
