Page 33 of His Secret Highland Bride

“Yes. That is how it is done. What you experienced was the prelude.”

Her eyes went wide. “There’s more? More than what I have already experienced?”

“More of the same. Only better.”

“Better?” She shook her head. “I’m not sure how anything could be better than that.” She tilted her head. “Though I’d certainly be willing to try.”

She reached for him, and he went willingly into her arms, placing kisses everywhere his lips touched her skin and making her giggle in certain areas. When he was poised at her warm entrance, he kissed her slower, more tenderly.

“This first time might cause a bit of pain. I’m sorry for it. I can only promise to be quick about it and then make it up to you.”

She nodded and squeezed his shoulders as if she was bracing herself for attack. He hoped it wouldn’t be as bad as that. He was eager to push his way into her body but just as unwilling to hurt this trusting lass who had given him patience and understanding when he needed it most. He kissed her slowly until her breathing came as quick as his own and she was as aroused as she had been earlier.

She made a soft sound of encouragement, and her legs tightened around his hips, pulling him in. He didn’t need any more of a welcome than that. He pressed forward and held when she gasped and hissed in a breath. He fought his body’s impulse to move until she relaxed and met his eyes, silently telling him she was well enough to continue. She even graced him with her beautiful smile when he moved out and back in.

“Has the pain gone?” When she nodded, it was as if she’d given him permission to let loose his reins. He clasped her closer as he moved in and out of her body, claiming her as his own, until he thrust into her one last time and gave in to his release.

He collapsed next to her, waiting for the guilt, the sense of wrongness he’d expected to feel when he finally took this step with Lindsay. But it didn’t come. She’d wanted them to feel good, and he had. It was clear from the smile on her face that she had as well.

He hadn’t allowed himself to think of his times with Maria. Hadn’t allowed memories of her when he was with Lindsay. They were so different, there was nothing to compare. And he wouldn’t do either of them the disservice of attempting to.

He’d loved Maria dearly, but it was time for him to move on. He’d never forget her, but now he realized he didn’t have to forget Maria to have a future with Lindsay.

He hoped that would always be the case.

Chapter Thirteen

Lindsay’s body was tired and sore from being with Shane multiple times the night before as well as the three nights before that, but as early-morning light came through the window, she couldn’t deny she wanted him yet again.

She worried that perhaps something had broken inside of her. That all she could think of was being naked with her husband in the bed they shared. But as he kissed her neck and caressed her hip, she found she didn’t mind at all.

If she was to spend the rest of her days just like this, she would gladly embrace her future.

She never wanted to leave his side. She still worried about her fate, as she had before—as far as what might happen when her father arrived and she was not waiting at the castle to wed the laird—but as for that, she’d come up with a plan.

Or rather no plan at all. She would stay right where she was as Shane’s wife. She hadn’t written back to her father to tell him of her nuptials. Lindsay Wallace was no more. When her father showed up at the castle, the MacPherson laird would report she’d never arrived. Any investigation at the village would yield the news that Randall MacPherson had moved on, and as for his niece… It would be an easy thing to simply disappear. At least until the laird married someone else and she was safe.

The plan wasn’t perfect, nor was it without a fair amount of guilt, but it would allow her to keep her husband.

Now that her husband was fully awake, he pulled her on top of him and smiled up at her as his hands on her hips encouraged her movements.

She found she enjoyed this position. Actually, she enjoyed every position so far, but perhaps this one a little more because she was in control and there was nothing more beautiful in the world than seeing the look on Shane’s face when he begged her to move faster. She’d never thought she would hold enough power to make such a formidable man beg. But she loved it.

His body pressed up from the bed to get deeper, something she wanted as much as he. He called out her name seconds before he stilled and the warmth from his body pulsed into hers, tipping her over the edge into her own pleasure.

A few moments later, she opened her eyes to see she had collapsed on Shane’s chest and his warm arms had wrapped around her body. From the direction of the light, she realized it must have been longer than a few moments. Only the dog snuffling at the door roused her enough to get up. If Tre wasn’t let in, she’d start barking, and that would wake her sleeping husband.

“Shh,” she told the little dog as she pulled on her new gown and went about starting the fire to make everyone their morning meal. “Let us check the snares while he rests.”

Outside, she breathed in the cooler morning air and smiled up at the sunshine coming through the trees, casting everything in a greenish tint. Had the world always looked so lovely and she hadn’t noticed? She hummed as she walked along the path behind the cottage. As was normal, Tre ran off to do her own investigating.

Not paying attention, she paused when she saw she’d come across the stone bearing Maria’s name. Beloved wife and friend. The first night they’d lain together, she’d wondered if Shane had been in pain. She’d asked, and he’d simply smiled at her and said he was fine. She’d searched his eyes for any sign he was keeping the truth from her but found only joy where guilt and pain had been.

She’d never wish for him to forget Maria, but Lindsay was glad he’d found happiness. She was lost in her thoughts until she heard the low timber of voices close by. Her first instinct was to seek out the visitors and greet them, but she kept quiet as she moved behind a tree.

“I was sure I’d seen her go this way. I’m telling you, it’s the same lass we caught a few weeks ago.”

“The one ye let get away.”