Page 70 of A Bride for the Kilted Beast

“Watch it, Wife! If ye dinnae mind, I’d like tae get there alive,” he joked, and they all joined in the laughter.

EPILOGUE

“Naething’s changed, ’tis still exactly the same as the day I was kidnapped!” Lillie exclaimed when she led Diarmaid inside her chambers shortly after arriving back at Castle MacDonald. She looked around in amazement. “Och, Diarmaid, it feels so wonderful tae be home!”

She hugged him around the waist, seeking comfort. His arms encircled her, as if he sensed the whirl of emotions she was experiencing.

“Aye, lass, I can see it all over yer face,” Diarmaid said gently, holding her close and kissing her hair.

“But ’tis a bit overwhelming,” she admitted. “I feel like I could cry, but happy tears if ye ken what I mean? I’m happy tae be safe, and I’m happy tae be back home with me family.” She looked up at him. “But I’m even happier to be back here with ye. I love ye, Diarmaid!”

“I love ye too, me bonny lass, more than ye’ll ever ken. I hated meself for puttin’ ye in such danger, makin’ ye believe I’d betrayed ye like that. I dinnae think I’ll ever be able tae put intae words how sorry I am .”

She put a finger to his lips. “Hush, ye dinnae have tae keep sayin’ ye’re sorry. I told ye, I forgive ye fer everything. I ken why ye had tae dae it. ’Twas the only way ye had any chance of getting’ Maddison back and savin’ me from having tae marry that Odhrán Lennox as well.”

“Even so, it was a terrible gamble tae have tae take,” he said, his voice still regretful.

“Ye had nae choice. Ye had tae take the chance tae destroy Lennox once and fer all, fer the sake of all yer family, and that includes me, yer wife. Ye saw what he was plannin’. But next time, tell me what ye’re plannin’, will ye?”

“There’ll nae be a next time, Lillie. Thank ye fer understandin’, but I feel like yer makin’ excuses fer me.”

She shook her head vigorously. “Nay, extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary actions. Me faither told me that. Now, I ken what he meant. D’ye want tae ken what I really think?”

“Aye, of course,” Diarmaid said, smiling down at her.

“I think it was fate that ye bought me at that auction. Fate wanted us tae meet and fall in love, so we could be together, and ye and Ciarán could finally have a way tae defeat Lennox and get Maddison back safely. So, ye see, although it was terrible tae think ye’d betrayed me and frightening at times, I cannae regret a thing!”

Diarmaid let out a deep breath and held her tighter, gazing into her eyes in a way that made her heart glow.

“I dinnae ken what I’ve done tae deserve ye, Lillie,” he said a raspy voice, “But I thank the Lord for sendin’ ye tae me. I promise I’ll keep ye safe forever and will spend every day tryin’ tae make ye happy.”

Their lips met then in a passionate kiss, which was only interrupted when servants knocked on the door to let them know the hot water had arrived for them to wash off the dirt of the road, and the vestiges of the events of the day.

With the tub filled and the servants gone, they eagerly resumed their kissing. Laughter bubbled from their lips as they attempted to maintain their kiss while undressing each other. Once they were both naked, Lillie curled against Diarmaid’s chest as he picked her up and lifted her into the brimming tub of steaming water.

He then picked up the soap and proceeded to wash every inch of her with great deliberation, humming a little tune. Lillie leaned back against the rim of the tub, sighing with pleasure, her excitement building as Diarmaid’s soapy hands wandered over her skin. She had to laugh at the hungry look he gave her as he lingered on her breasts, soaping them thoroughly and tweaking their peaks until they were so hard, she gasped, her whole body lighting up in anticipation.

“I need ye tae stand up now,” he murmured, his voice cracking. She took his hand, and he helped her rise to her feet, her body tingling in anticipation of his touch. She shivered and had to steady herself, putting a hand on his shoulder when he briskly soaped his hands until they were covered with a rich lather, then applied them to her belly and her back with slow, deliberate attention.

Lillie could not prevent the moan that escaped her lips when his hands swooped lower. He gently lifted her thigh.

“Put yer foot up here,” he told her hoarsely, patting the rim of the tub. Lillie obeyed willingly, gripping his shoulder more tightly, fearing she might swoon and slip. Diarmaid lathered his hands again, grinning at her lasciviously as he resumed his humming. Lillie gasped, her core pulsing at the feel of his slippery fingers parting her legs.

With one hand, he soaped her behind, sliding his hands into her most intimate places with great concentration, scooping up water to wash away the lather before continuing his thorough exploration between her thighs, his fingers probing the folds of her sex and stroking the sensitive nub at its head, driving a moaning Lillie to such a fever pitch of desire to have him inside her, she could no longer resist.

She reached up, wound her arms around his neck, and, laughing, she pulled him into the tub with her, sending a tidal wave of water over the edge and onto the rug.

It took a few moments thrashing about for him to regain his composure, splashing water everywhere, accompanied by much mirth.

Lillie knelt up in the tub. “’Tis me turn tae wash ye now,” she told him, relishing the thought. She made a performance of groping in the water for the soap he had dropped, mischievously making sure her hands grazed his already hard manhood as she sought for it. He tried to grab at her, but she eluded him.

“Stay still,” she commanded, having finally retrieved the soap. Giggling, she pushed him back against the edge of the tub so that his muscular arms lay along the rim. Just looking at his magnificent physique made her feel weak at the knees. “Hmm, just tae think this is all mine, tae do with as I wish,” she teased him.

“Aye, ye’ll nae get rid o’ me now,” he affirmed with a devilish smile, his eyes feasting on her slick body. She knelt before him, taking great pleasure in running soapy palms across the broad, darkly furred expanse of his chest, taking care to wash beneath his arms, then leaning over him to tempt him playfully with her naked breasts as she washed his neck and ears. He pawed at her, but she slapped his hands away, chiding, “I’m nae done yet!”

She scooped up water to rinse away the soap before making him turn around so she could wash his back. The feel of his bulging muscles and his warm, smooth skin with its occasional battle scars excited her so much, she almost abandoned her task and threw herself upon him. But she resisted, for washing him was one of the most sensual, erotic experiences she had ever had with him, and she wanted to prolong it. Besides, tormenting him was fun.

“Time tae stand up,” she told him, and he did as he was told, his erect manhood standing out proudly from its nest of soft fur, enticing her. Unable to help herself, Lillie pressed her slick body to his as she worked up a lather and washed his lower back and behind, dwelling on the rock-like feel of his buttocks and thighs before soaping his legs and even between his toes.