Page 52 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

“I cannae dae it, Benedict. I have tae marry yer braither.”

“Nae. Ye dinnae,” Benedict said, with evident agitation in his voice.

“I have nae choice. ‘Tis the only way tae protect me clan,” Evelyn retorted.

Benedict jumped from the bench, before turning to face her. “Nay, Evelyn,” he barked, shaking his head. “Ye cannae live yer life fer everyone else. Ye are a strong and determined woman with a heart o’ gold, but ye put everyone and everything ‘afore yersel’. ‘Afore us. Does what we have mean naething tae ye at all?”

“O’ course it does,” she cried, feeling the agonizing pain pinch her throat as her emotion built. “But it doesnae take away from the fact that I have tae marry a laird fer the alliance tae be put intae place.”

“An alliance can be agreed if we marry too, I am sure. I cannae believe ye have changed yer mind on this. Can ye nae see what ye mean tae me? Can ye nae see that I want tae be with ye fer the rest o’ yer life?”

Evelyn’s heart was already broken, but the pain of losing him was now overwhelming. She didn’t want to spend another minute without him by her side. As the tears threatened, she tried to battle them, but she knew she would lose that fight. The pain was devastating, and the desolation readied itself to crash down on her soul.

“I cannae let me braither marry the woman I love,” Benedict said, pacing back and forth. “I just cannae dae it. How can ye even think about marrying him?”

“I’ve already told ye. I have nae choice!” Evelyn retorted, the tears welling in her eyes.

“Ye are going tae sentence us both tae a life o’ misery. A life where I’ll have tae look upon ye every day, kenning I can never be with ye. Kenning I can never hold ye or touch ye. I ken ye dinnae want that, Evelyn. I ken it in me heart,” he thumped his chest with his fist, “that this isnae what ye want.”

Of course, it wasn’t what she wanted, but what else was she supposed to do? The safety of her entire clan rested upon her shoulders. It was too much to ask, and yet, her father was asking it anyway. The arranged marriage had been bad enough at the beginning, when she had no connection to any other.

Benedict dropped to his knees in front of her, and searching her face, he gazed up at her. “I love ye, Evelyn. Ye ken that by now. Dae ye nae love me?”

Tears now trickled down Evelyn’s cheeks, and she could barely speak. If she told him how she felt, their situation was only going to be harder. And yet, she couldn’t hold it in.

“I dae love ye,” she whispered through her tears. “I dae, with all me heart.”

Benedict gently took hold of her cheeks and kissed the tears that trickled down them. “I’m nae going tae leave ye, Evelyn,” he breathed. “Whatever happens, I promise yer clan will be safe. I’ll make sure o’ it. But I need ye. I need ye by me side.”

He then lowered his lips to hers and kissed her tenderly. Evelyn responded, and throwing her arms around his neck, kissed him back with all the fervor her heart felt in that moment. She loved him, she could never deny that. How they were going to be together, she didn’t know. She just knew, like Benedict, that she could not live without him.

Scooping his arms under her legs, Benedict lifted her from the bench, and with little effort at all, carried her a few feet away, beneath a nearby oak tree. He gently lowered her onto the grass, and then lay down beside her.

“I cannae lose ye,” he whispered, kissing her neck. He repeated the same phrase, the sound of his agony evident in his tone as his lips traveled down her throat.

Evelyn felt him tugging at the string of her blouse, and a second later, she felt his fingers caress her breasts. Gasping as the pleasure shot through her body, she arched her back, pushing herself into his touch.

He found the pert nipples that ached for his caress, and as he caught them between his fingertips, she cried out.

His lips then enveloped her nipple, while his hands travelled down her body and pulled at her frock. She knew what he wanted, and reaching down and grabbing the other side, she pulled her dress up around her knees.

Parting her legs for him, she felt his gentle caress travelling up her thigh. He traced slow circles that made her ache for him even more, and writhing around as the passion between them built, he finally found the moist apex of her thighs.

With his tongue still lashing her nipple, he rubbed the tiny nub that sparked so much pleasure through her body.

“Oh. Oh,” she cried.

“I love ye, Evelyn. I want tae spend the rest o’ me life pleasing ye,” he growled, as his fingers moved faster and faster.

She grabbed his tunic, writhing beneath his rhythm, feeling herself climbing, higher and higher. Her whole body felt like it was floating as she climbed nearer and nearer to that place of delightful bliss. A place no other had ever taken her. A place she only ever wanted to go with Benedict.

Panting and tensing, she arched her back as the tension grew. She was so very close. So close.

“Oh, aye,” she cried, desperate to feel the crashing explosion that would send her over the edge.

With his fingers moving on the perfect spot, ecstasy flooded through her entire body. “Oh me God,” she squealed.

Every part of her spasmed as the ripples of delight washed over her. Even as the waves of pleasure continued, Benedict positioned himself over the top of her, and as she gazed up at him with all the love she felt, she opened herself wider to welcome him in.

Gently, he entered her, and the pleasure began again as he slowly moved back and forth. She felt herself stretch for him, surrounding him with her warmth and softness.

He looked down at her adoringly, his face a picture of euphoric pleasure. And then Evelyn found herself climbing again. As Benedict moved faster, she climbed higher. She watched his face redden as he, too, climbed with her. They were lost in this moment, in perfect rhythm with each other in all things. This was how she wanted it to be. Them together forever, lost in each other’s love.

Benedict thrust his hips faster and deeper, and as Evelyn felt herself tightening once more, she grabbed his arms and held on tight. They were to soar into the heavens together, and as she reached the cusp of pleasure, her eyes widened, she held her breath, and suddenly, she squealed at the feeling.

A second later, Benedict roared as he emptied himself into her. He stilled, his whole body shaking as he hung there above her. And for that moment in time, their eyes locked, their bodies entwined, wrapped in the soft warmth of their love. She knew she could never be with any other man for the rest of her life.