Angus laughed and hugged her to him. “Ye mean have I grown horns? Or would ye rather I grew wings to fly ye away from here?” He kissed her slowly, softly, his lips lightly brushing hers.
His gentleness fed the elation bubbling in her blood.
“The only difference ye will see, my wife, is how much more ye ken I love ye. And how happy I am ye love me.”
“And while we wait, husband…” Shona loosened his belt and tugged his shirt upward, “I will learn to ken ye another way.” She lifted a hand and wiggled her fingers. “If that’s all right with ye.”
Angus’s growl was the last thing she heard before he pushed her down and stretched out beside her, then covered her face with his kisses.
* * *
Angus didn’t know which emotion ruled more strongly in him—relief Shona was truly recovering her sight, joy she had agreed to their marriage, or hunger for her. He’d nearly jumped out of his skin at the promise in her fingertips, waving before his face, then tugging at his clothes. But he was determined she would be the first to enjoy their lovemaking. She’d had more than enough trauma for one day. He would do all he could to make her forget and bring her the same sense of wonder she must have felt when she realized her sight was returning. He kissed every part of her he could reach—face, hands, throat. Then, frustrated by their clothing, he pulled her from the bed. Once he’d steadied her on her feet, he loosened her ties and his, and undressed them both as quickly as he was able.
“I wish I could see ye,” she complained.
He took her hand and lifted it to his chest.
“Ye can. Just as ye promised,” he reminded her. His blood started to sizzle as her hand traced the muscled ridges of his torso, his arms, his back. “Ye are so beautiful, Shona. I’m a lucky man to be able to see ye.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed and released him to attempt to cover herself. “I forgot. Close yer eyes!”
Chuckling, he pulled her hands away and dropped kisses on her knuckles. “Nay, wife. I will use my eyes, my hands, and my mouth to see ye. Ye are welcome to do the same, as ye are able.” With that, he bent to take her mouth, then traced down her body, pausing to suckle at each breast before kissing his way down her belly, intent on tasting her sweet essence.
Shona’s knees buckled. He picked her up and lay her on the bed, then returned to kissing her belly, her hipbones, and tracing a line with his tongue even lower. She raised up on her elbows. “Angus, what are ye doing? Ye canna…”
“I can. Let me, love. I promise ye have naught to fear.” He reached up and stroked her face.
She kissed his palm, smiled uncertainly, then flopped back with a sigh. “If I must…” Her smile soon turned to moans, her torso writhing and her hips bucking with each stroke of his tongue. In moments, she came apart.
“Are ye glad ye allowed me to continue?” he asked when her breathing steadied.
“I’m no’ certain. Perhaps if ye did that again…”
He chuckled. “I will, but there’s something else I wish to do first.” He settled between her thighs and let the broad head of his erection nudge her.
She tensed for a moment, then wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. “Aye,” she breathed. “I do, too.”
Angus’s pulse throbbed in his throat, his belly, and most certainly in his groin. He’d never been so close to tears while making love to a woman. But this woman, his Shona, was like no other. She meant everything to him, and her acceptance, her welcome, were so precious he had no words to explain the depth and breadth of his feelings. His love for her. Sighted or blind, able to move mountains with her hands or barely able to lift a trencher, she was his. Would always be his. He entered her slowly, lifting her legs to allow her feet to rest on the small of his back. She sighed and arched against him.
“Are ye well, love?”
“With ye? Here, like this? How could I be anything else?”
When he felt her barrier, he paused. “This will sting a bit,” he choked out around the lump in his throat.
“I dinna care.”
With one sure stroke, he broke through and filled her. She hissed and tensed around him.
“Ye didna lie,” she told him through clenched teeth.
He waited, willing to give her all the time it took to become accustomed to having him inside her, joined with her. Part of her.
Finally, she sighed and ran her hands down his back.
“Are ye ready for more? It willna hurt again.”
“Then, aye, husband, I am.”
