CHAPTER FIFTEEN
That night, when Readetook Blair to bed, they made love slowly, their hands touching, caressing, holding each other as they gave and took pleasure, a coupling that joined them as husband and wife. They stared into each other’s eyes as they found their moment, rising into their pleasure, and when Reade poured his hot seed deep inside her, he kissed her softly, sealing their new wedding vows with a pure kiss.
It wasn’t love — he hadn’t said the word, but what he was trying with her, it was close enough for now. Mayhap love would follow.
When he curled around her, his arm holding her protectively as they slept, it felt close enough to love to satisfy her.
She hadn’t told him that she loved him, either. Yet, that was more because Blair wasn’t sure she knew what love was. She knew how Reade made her feel, and she cared for him, wanted to protect him and his family, yet her heart had been shattered when he accused her of treason the night before. Did that mean she loved him?
Blair didn’t know.
When they woke early the following morn, he had offered to retrieve honey, oatcakes, and boiled eggs from the kitchens for them, but she refused. Her stomach was still unsettled from the previous day, and a platter of day-old fruit sat on the table. If her stomach calmed, she would nibble at that.
Reade kissed her lips before he sat up in the bed.
“Good morn to ye, my wife. I have work for my father this morn, but if ye need me to tarry, I’m certain he would understand my delay.”
She grinned at him and cupped his jaw, which was rough from days-old whiskers. He only shaved intermittently, and when his beard growth came in, it gave him a wild, dangerous look.
Could this be love? How her heart pulsed and burned in moments like this?
“Nay. See to your duties. I have to clean myself up and shake the mud and dirt from our clothes. They are a bit worse for wear from this rain, aye?”
The storm from the previous night had lessened to a steady morning drizzle, music to wake them.
Reade lifted his hand to cup her naked breast, thumbing the nipple until it grew taut and she gasped at the sensation. Then his hand drifted lower, slipping between her thighs, still sticky with his dried seed.
“Tonight, then? I’m willing to skip the evening meal for a more appetizing feast,” he teased with a green glint in his eye. Blair took the bait and lowered her eyelids as she rose up on her elbows. Then she tossed her hair back and spread her legs slightly. Reade groaned from deep in his chest.
“Dinna be late,” she taunted back.
Reade groaned again and twisted against her, crushing his lips to hers. “Och, ye make it difficult to leave the bed, wife. But I’ll return and I vow to ye, I’ll no’ be late.”
He stood quickly and stretched, giving her a fine view of his thick, stocky body — his rippling chest colored with a light smattering of hair, tight belly, half-rising cock, and hard, rounded arse. With his unruly hair and scruffy whiskers, he was the image of a Highland warrior.
HerHighland warrior. A fluttering thrill erupted in her chest at the thought, masking her churning belly.
Blair rolled to her side and watched him dress. He preened as he wrapped his plaid around his hips before he turned and flipped up the rear of the kilt to flash the white globes of his buttocks at her. She collapsed into the bedding with laughter.
