Clarissa spun around and clasped her brother in a tight hug. “Thank ye, brother.” She kissed him on the cheek before turning to Alexander.
He opened his arms, and without hesitation, she ran into them, her body molding to his in the perfect fit. He met Nicholas’s gaze. ‘Thank ye,’ he mouthed.
Nicholas gave him a curt nod before turning and stepping outside, Finlay on his heels.
“How about we go home?”
“To your home?”
“Nay, lass. Toourhome.”
“I like the sound of that.”
A smile on his face, he placed his hand at the small of her back and led her outside. “If ye like the sound of that, how do ye like the sound of Duchess of Argyll?”
She paused just outside the door and spun to him. “Are ye…” she let the question go unfinished, hanging in the air.
“Aye, I am.”
The smile on her face was bright enough to lighten the darkest of days. She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and hugging him close. “I love the sound of that.”
“Och, but lass?”
She pulled back to meet his gaze. “Aye?”
“Remind me ne’er to make ye mad.”
The sound of her laughter was music to his ears.
*
A few dayslater, Alexander oversaw the return of his flock. The Campbell sheep were back where they belonged—on his land, grazing in his fields.
Malcolm and Gunn had returned this afternoon to say that Kitt had secured travel back to the states. After delivering the news, his friends left to return to their homes. He couldn’t thank them both enough for all they had done to help. Alexander was curious about what type of legal troubles he had gotten himself into in the past. They were bad enough that he had already served time in prison. Whether that was here in Scotland or in the states, he had no idea. Most likely it was in the states. But none of that mattered now that Kitt was gone. He didn’t expect to ever lay eyes on the louse again.
“What are ye thinking about?” Clarissa came up from behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
He turned, kissing her forehead. “Nothing of importance now that ye are here.” Holding her close, with her head resting on his chest, warmth filled him.
“They look so happy,” she said, nodding towards the sheep. “’Tis as if they ken they are home.”
“Aye. I suppose they do in a sense. The land is familiar to them.”
“Hmm.”
Her sigh vibrated through him. Content filled him. He could stand here holding Clarissa in his arms for the rest of his days and he would want for naught. Everything he ever wished for was right here, with her arms looped around his waist.
She looked up at him, her chocolate brown eyes searching. “Ye seem quiet today. Is something amiss?”
“Nay,” he shook his head, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. “E’rything is perfect.”
Dipping his head, he captured her mouth in a searing kiss, and she melted in his arms. He lost himself in her kisses, but as his body roared to life, he longed for more. Hands roaming the length of her back, they settled on her buttocks, and he couldn’t stop the urge to pull her forward. To bring her against his hardened length.
His want for her was all consuming.
Clarissa broke the kiss and gazed at him with rounded eyes, but she didn’t back away from his touch. Nay, instead the wee minx gave him a devilish smile and pushed closer to him.
“Lass, ye are going to be the death of me.” He took a small step back, his body instantly missing the contact. “Ye brother will kill me if he sees this.”
