Page 44 of The Highlander’s Gypsy Temptation

All he was going to do from this point on would be what his heart desired. He was done putting pressure on himself to be someone he was not even so sure he had ever been. The only thing he knew with any measure of certainty was that he would spend the rest of his mortal life with Idalia.

Idalia stirred and wrapped an arm around his neck, then opened her eyes slowly. She found Bran watching her and gave him a puzzled look. Bran smiled at her, and she smiled back. All he could think of was how beautiful she looked in the golden light of the torch on the wall.

“Should I be worried?” Idalia asked, shifting her weight until she felt comfortable.

“Ye should nae,” Bran replied and kissed her forehead. “Someone had tae watch ye as ye got yer beauty sleep.”

Idalia chuckled and shook her head. “Thanks are in order, I suppose?”

“Something like that,” Bran said. He sighed deeply and looked at her seriously. “Listen, Idalia. I am so sorry. Ye have been right the whole time. I dinnae ken why it took me so long tae realize, but I dae ken now. I can never dae without ye. I made a terrible mistake when I gave up on ye… on us. And I’m deeply regretting all I have done.”

Idalia leaned back in the bed and frowned in confusion. “What?”

“Aye,” Bran said as he pulled her closer to him. “I was wrong. I should nae have told ye that things would nae work out between us. I definitely had nae business sayin’ that tae the council, nor suggesting tae them that ye marry my brother.” Bran reached out to Idalia and grabbed her hand in both of his, kissing it gently. “I ken now that I would die if I spent a day without ye.”

Bran could see the hope burning in her eyes as they shimmered with tears. He felt like an idiot all over again. How could he have been so blind not to see how much she wanted him? Why had he insisted on pushing her away? What sort of man did that, especially to the woman he loved? She had always had eyes for him. All she had wanted was him, and all he had done was hurt her and cause her pain.

“I’ve come tae a decision,” Bran continued. “I have decided tae inform the council that I will be the one tae marry ye tomorrow, nae Andrew.”

Idalia’s eyes lit up immediately and tears cascaded from them as she smiled joyously. Bran watched her reaction and wondered how he could have lived the rest of his life without those beautiful eyes.

“Instead of Andrew, it shall be me ye meet on the altar,” Bran said. “We shall have a short ceremony first, just tae ensure August Raymond can never again take ye as his wife. However, I would like us tae have a big wedding after we save Mahala.”

“I don’t know what to say Bran,” Idalia said, the tears kept pouring.

“Ye dinnae have tae say anything, Idalia,” Bran replied, wiping her tears gently. “Ye should go tae bed kenning that everything is right in the world.”

She nodded and lay on his chest, and Bran put a protective arm across her waist. He sighed deeply and listened to Idalia sleeping. He had a big day ahead of him, and he was sure there were challenges that awaited his sudden change of heart. He didn’t care. Nothing they said or did mattered. Only Idalia did.

Feeling exhausted, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to go to sleep believing that everything, truly, was right in the world.

* * *

Bran stirred from his sleep, his eyes closed as he stretched his arms out. He felt relaxed and strangely invigorated, a feeling he hardly remembered. His hands met with restraint, and he frowned in confusion, wondering what was going on.

Recollections of the night before filled his mind as he remembered all that had happened. He grinned in the knowledge that he was in Idalia’s room. He turned to her, watching her body bathed in the glow of the moonlight. This was the most comfortable sleep he’d had in a long time. The room was cast into darkness save for the moonlight, as the torch had blown out during the night.

Bran had always been astonished by her striking features and the fire in her, but now that she lay naked, his words failed him in describing her beauty. He traced the curves of her hips with gentle fingers, careful to not wake her from her sleep. His eyes appreciated the plumpness of her round, firm bottom. Surely, there was not a woman more alluring than the one whose bed he currently shared.

It pained Bran that it had taken him so long to come to her. He had been stupid to think he could ever live without her. Everything about her reeled him in, from her stubborn and willful ways to her selflessness and kindness. Every single moment they had shared had shown him why he needed to keep her by his side forever, yet he had allowed himself to be deceived by his false sense of pride.

He had thought trying to protect her from himself and his past crimes was the way to make sure she was happy, but now he knew better. He had hurt her for so long, and it had taken his brother being with her for him to finally see that he was willing to do anything necessary to be with her. She had shown him how much she wished to be with him.

Bran looked out the window at the still dark skies as he prayed for morning. He knew his announcement would come as no shock to anyone when he declared he wanted to be the one to marry her. He was certain they had all thought him stupid for denying it anyway. He was ready to face their knowing glances, snide remarks, and hidden smirks. He’d react the same way in their shoes, so who could blame them?

Although Bran could not be sure what it was that had woken him from his slumber, he was glad to be awake. He shouldn’t be found in her room, not since she was still Andrew’s betrothed.

He heaved a deep sigh as he started to get up. Despite his unwillingness to admit it, Andrew already knew Bran loved Idalia, and Bran knew that although his brother was willing to marry her, it was not for the sake of his own heart. It was because he cared for her enough to keep her out of August Raymond’s clutches. It would certainly not be too much trouble to get him to back down from the marriage.

Bran slipped out of bed carefully so as not to wake her. He walked around to her side of the bed and pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead, smiling when her nose creased, and she burrowed deeper into the pillow. He pulled on his trousers and searched around for his shirt before realizing that in his hurry to speak to her, he had not worn one. He wondered how that would seem if anyone were to see him coming out of her room and silently prayed no one would.

How could I have ever thought of parting with ye forever? It will nae be long before ye are mine, and I am yers.

Bran pulled the heavy door inward, wincing when it opened with a loud squeak. He peeked out and looked around before hurriedly stepping in the hallway. Bran closed the door behind him as silently as he could and walked off. It was not until he was away from her vicinity that he allowed himself to relax and take in the night air.

The cold chill kissed his skin in a gentle caress, and Bran looked up at the moon, letting out a deep sigh. Today was going to be a good day for him, filled with promises of happiness and longevity. He had never been keener about anything else, save for getting Mahala back, as he was about getting married to Idalia. The thought filled him with excitement as though he was back to being a young lad, happy after his first rendezvous with a woman. Only this time, it was not just any woman; it was the woman who made everything worthwhile to him. And when he got his daughter, they would be one happy family.

Bran turned around and began to head to his room, a spring in his step as he walked. As he moved, he suddenly sensed something was amiss and made to turn around, but it was too late. He was grabbed from behind, a hand placed firmly on his mouth to ensure he remained silent. Bran quickly regained himself from his panicked state. He tried to maneuver the situation and flip his assailant in front of him, so as to disarm him, when he felt a heavy punch in his belly. It caused him to keel over, partly in pain but more so from the surprise of it all.