Page 52 of Highlander’s Dangerous Love

EPILOGUE

It was not quite the wedding that Gemma had envisioned, that much was for sure. In fact, there was hardly any wedding at all, just a ceremony in the kirk with a reverend, where they spoke their vows to each other. Captain Frazier had been a witness, as had Mrs. Gordon. Mr. Gordon had stayed behind at the homestead. Gemma would have liked her father to be there, but she understood. He’d arranged for Bryce to be her husband, not Colin. He was a kind man, but set in his ways. It wasn’t until he realized that Bryce had disappeared, and he’d heard word from the laird’s own mouth that Bryce had threatened Gemma that he relented.

That annoyed her to no end. Why must men listen to other men in order to be convinced of something? Why could they not believe the women in their lives, ones directly related to them?

Nonetheless, Gemma was simply happy to start a life with Colin and begin running her own household the way she wanted to. Her mother had taught her so much about running a home, and now it was time to put all that knowledge to use.

But first, it was time for a proper wedding night.

After the nice dinner had ended, Mrs. Gordon had given her daughter a wink and left. She and Captain Frazier were staying at Uncle Angus’s home, while Colin and Gemma stayed behind at the inn for some privacy.

It was not a bad room. Mrs. Gordon had paid for the best one they had. Gemma set down her bag and sat primly on the edge of the bed, hands folded neatly in her lap.

“What’s the matter?” Colin asked, sitting down next to her, a protective hand on her knee.

“I’m a bit nervous, I s’pose,” she confessed.

Colin wrinkled his brow.

“Nervous? ‘Tis nothin’ we havenae done before,” he said with a cheeky grin.

“Aye, but…’twas spontaneous. On the beach, in the moonlight. There were no expectations. ‘Twas just us.”

“Gemma, I dinnae expect anythin’ different of ye.”

“I ken, but…oh, never mind, I…’tis my own mind gettin’ me nervous.”

“My love, there is no pressure here. Just me. An’ all I want is ye. Just think about that, just ye an’ me. No one else. Aye?”

“Aye,” she agreed, feeling a little better.

“An’ if ye dinnae want tae do anythin’ just yet, that is fine. I am just glad we’re finally here together.”

“As am I. I dinnae think I’d ever get to see ye again, at least…not in a good way.”

“I would have gone, Gemma. If I’d kent that ye had the will tae travel tae this village, I would have gone.”

“But why?”

Colin covered her hand with his own, rubbing his thumb across it fondly.

“It woulda been unfair tae the both of us, tae be able tae see each other, but not have each other. Together, but out of reach.”

“I see. I guess that makes sense. I woulda been so sad if I’d come here an’ ye’d left, though. I dinnae ken what I woulda done.”

“Ye are a strong woman, Gemma,” Colin reassured her as he cupped her cheek with his hand. “Ye would have survived.”

“But I am glad I dinnae have tae,” she said.

“Aye,” he agreed, and before either of them could say anything else, they locked lips in a slow, passionate kiss. This was much more than the light and sweet ones they’d shared in the courtyard or in the corridor of the castle. This held the months of passion that had built up over his exile, and her desperation.

To say it was a clash of lips, tongues, and teeth would be an understatement. These were the primal urges of two people who had not been alone in a very long time.

“My darling,” he hissed gently as his teeth tugged on her bottom lip.

“Colin,” she breathed.

“May I have ye? Please?”