Errol’s hands grasping her hips with his every thrust as he groaned, too, more water spilling onto the floor from the wild intensity of their passion—until Tira braced her hands upon his chest and cried out at the height of her climax.
Her eyes tightly closed, her head thrown back as she felt Errol’s flesh throbbing inside her and a hot surge that made her cry out again—his own hoarse outcry ringing around them.
Tira could not say how long she remained collapsed atop him, his strong heartbeat drumming against her breast and her breathing gradually slowing.
His hands tenderly caressing her back until he cupped her bottom, his fingers splayed out and squeezing her as a husky chuckle broke from his throat.
“The water has grown cool…but I still burn for you, lass.”
She gasped when Errol rose suddenly from the tub, lifting her with him, her legs braced around his hips and their bodies still joined as he carried her dripping wet to the bed.
She clung to him still when he climbed onto the mattress and settled himself atop her, and she gasped anew when his body swelled hard inside her.
Then his mouth found hers and Tira thought no more, her arms flying around his damp shoulders to hold him tightly as he began to thrust again—his impassioned groans echoing around them.
Her body shaking, her own moans silenced by the intensity of his kiss as she climaxed again beneath him while she felt him shudder and press her down into the mattress…crying out her name.
Now it was Errol who lay collapsed upon her, though only a moment later he propped himself up onto his elbows to stare into her flushed face…Tira certain she had never felt her heart beating so rampantly.
Errol’s gaze so filled with love in the flickering light from a lantern placed near the bed as she stared up at him, too, truly amazed at how richly heaven had blessed her.
Her beloved husband returned safely to her side.
Their twins sleeping peacefully in the nursery…both Isobel and Monroe healthy and growing bigger—aye, Tira couldn’t wait until she and Errol could gaze upon them together.
Yet for now it was enough for her to simply look into his eyes as he gently smoothed a tendril of hair from her cheek, though his brow suddenly furrowed.
“Och, Tira…did I hurt you?”
“No, husband, no!” she murmured fervently, reaching up to caress his whiskered jaw as she laughed softly. “Well, mayhap a wee bit from the beard you seem tae be growing.”
“Then I’ll get up now tae shave it off, for I havna had my fill of you?—”
“Nor Iyou, so dinna dare tae leave me when you’ve only just returned home!” Tira lifted her head to kiss him so persuasively that he groaned and relaxed atop her…well, except for that part of him swelling again inside her, which made her drop back onto the pillow and stare at him in amazement.
Errol merely laughed and pressed his hips against hers, though he sobered as he looked into her eyes.
“Would it please you tae know I’m a baron now? A reward from King Robert for capturing an English lord, aye, a very rich one tae exchange for his wife’s release. I have lands now and a fortress in north Argyll?—”
“A home for us?” Tira broke in breathlessly, astonished by this news. Again, Errol pressed his hips to hers, and he chuckled at her soft gasp.
“Aye, for the bairns we have already and those tae come…if heaven so blesses us. We’ll pray that the king and his wife will be blessed as well with a future king tae protect Scotland’s freedom?—”
“Oh, Errol, will it be long before they’re reunited?” Her heart aching for the young queen who had been held prisoner for eight years, Tira felt encouraged when he shook his head and bent down to brush a kiss to her cheek.
“A few months, no more. Gavin and I would have remained with the king if he had need of us during the negotiations, but he ordered us home tae our families…aye, my beloved wife, tae you.”
Tira’s breath caught as Errol found her lips to kiss her with such tenderness, she could but sigh against his mouth.
Her heart drumming with joy.
Her arms entwining around his neck as she kissed him back with all the love she possessed for the courageous Highland warrior who had rescued her, wed her, and claimed her sweet bairns as his own.
Errol Sutherland…her hero.
CHAPTER 18
THE BORDER BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND, AUTUMN 1314
