So close was he to bursting with the joy of finally possessing Caitrin, Jamie could scarce control himself. He’d loved her for years. This moment had been delayed too long, but it was finally here. Her demand, her welcome, tasted sweeter than anything he could remember in his life. As he stilled to give her time to adjust to his body within hers, he marveled at the fate that had brought them back together. At how this woman fought to make him hers. As he longed to make her his.
At her whispered, “Now, Jamie,” he withdrew a bit and pushed back in, each time making the stroke longer until he set the rhythm that would drive him to heights, and bring Caitrin with him. Fire spread from his cock to his belly, pulling his balls up tight and tensing every muscle in his body. “I canna wait, lass. I want ye too much.”
“Then take me, Jamie. I want ye, even more.”
His release staggered him, lasting far longer than he was accustomed to. At its end, he rolled to his side, pulling Caitrin with him, still deep within her, and wrapped her in his arms. “Ach, lass, I’ve waited a lifetime for ye.”
“I doubt that,” Caitrin told him with a giggle as she shifted the leg wrapped over him and kicked him in the ass with her heel. “Though I have, for ye.”
Jamie kissed her, savoring the taste of her lips. “And ye have proof, aye,” he teased, thinking of the blood likely on her thighs, and the uncomfortable ride ahead. “But it doesna matter. I would have ye to wife, nay matter yer history, nor mine.”
“So ye shall, if we both survive the MacGregor.”
He winced, wishing she had not mentioned that name. “We shall.” Reluctantly, he withdrew from her and propped his head on his hand while he stroked her cheek with the other. “But we’ll no’ do that staying here much longer. When ye are ready, we’ll go on our way.”
She slid her leg off his hip and pushed down her skirt. “There wouldna be a handy stream nearby, would there?”
He shook his head. “Nay, but I have water.”
Caitrin sat up and retied her bodice. Jamie lifted a hand to her breast and stroked over and under it. “Beautiful, even when hidden.”
She snorted and pushed aside his hand. “Water, if ye will.” She glanced down and winced. “Ye’ll be needing a rinse, as well.”
He nodded. “Virgin’s blood. Aye.” He rolled to his feet, holding his trews up with one hand, and pulled a flask from his pack. He dampened the corner of his shirt, and then he offered the water to her, and cleaned up as best he could. The sight of Caitrin dabbing at the blood on her inner thighs had him hardening again in his hand. He tucked away his wayward cock and rearranged his clothes. She did not need a repeat this soon. Between his size and riding a horse for another hour, she would not thank him.
In moments, she sighed and stood, then bent to roll up the soiled end of the plaid. “There’s nay sense advertising what we just did,” Caitrin said with a grin.
Jamie rolled the rest of it to fit and replaced it behind his saddle. “I have already spoken to yer da. I’ll make this official as soon as I can.” But when? And what would be the consequence for Lathan? Well, it was too late to worry about that, not that it would make any difference. He loved Caitrin and would marry her.
Caitrin nodded. “I believe ye.” Her quiet confidence steadied him.
“But for now, I must keep ye out of MacGregor’s clutches. Let’s go.”
He helped Caitrin take her seat. Her slight hesitation as she settled herself told him she suffered at least some discomfort. “Would ye rather ride with me?”
“Nay, I’ll be fine.” But she winced as she said it, leaning forward to pick up the reins. “If we’re to arrive before nightfall, we’d best be on our way.”
They made the rest of the trip in silence, riding gently to spare Caitrin as much discomfort as possible. As long as they encountered no one, Jamie would gladly keep the easy pace, though he still fretted at being away from enough men to protect her. Fortunately, they crossed paths with no one and arrived at Fletcher’s cousin’s croft well before dark.
“Ye dinna remember me, I’m sure,” Rabbie told Caitrin as he led her toward the croft. “Ye were little more than a bairn the one time yer parents came this way.”
Jamie would have loved to hear the rest of that story, but the horses needed attention, and he needed to talk to his men.
“All’s quiet,” Kyle assured him as they brushed the animals down and settled them for the night in the cousin’s rough barn.
“For now,” Jamie warned. “I want ye three, Will, and Malcolm’s men to bed down in here when no’ on watch. Keep each mount’s tack handy in case we need to ride quickly.”
“Do ye think we will?”
“I canna ken. Between Fletcher’s, yers, and our trails, MacGregor’s men will be led on a merry chase across the countryside. Mayhap they’ll never arrive here—at least, no’ until we’re long gone.”
“How long do ye plan to stay?”
“Ye ken we thought we’d be leaving Caitrin here and returning to MacGregor as if naught was amiss. But with all of us, and Lady MacGregor and Fletcher gone from the keep, we havena any reason to return, and many reasons to avoid it.”
“As many as MacGregor has men, aye.”
“Aye.” Jamie set aside the curry comb he’d been using on a tangle in Caitrin’s mount’s mane and rubbed the beast’s shoulder. “We’ll leave in the morning for the Aerie.”
