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She smiled, wrapping her arms tightly about his neck as he swept her and the huge dress into his arms and carried her into the bedchamber.

In a matter of moments they were stripped naked and were on top of the cool linen sheets, their kisses hot and passionate as their hands roved eagerly about each other. William’s tongue was licking her, lapping every bit of skin he could find in his frantic hunt to taste every inch of her. She was responding to him recklessly, without reserve, loving his touch more and more with every stroke of his hand.

He tried to roll over on her but she put up her hands, instead, pushing him over on his back. He smiled at her through half-closed lids, reaching up to catch her lips once, twice, before she gently pushed him back down on the pillows. With a wicked little smile, she began to kiss and run her tongue over his warm, musky flesh.

“Oh, my Wolf,” she whispered seductively. “How I wish we could do this all day,” she said, running her tongue down his sternum, “every day,” she plunged her tongue into his navel and drew a groan from him, “and all night. I dream of yer body next to mine.”

He raised his head to watch as she ran her mouth over his groin, raking her fingers through the crisp black hair. Her long silky hair was spread erotically over her back and dripping onto his thighs, covering them both. He flinched with pure pleasure when her hot hands gently grasped his testicles, stroking his heavy organ sensually.

His anticipation was at a fevered pitch, watching and waiting for her wet mouth to come down on him. When the rapturous moment arrived, his head slammed down onto the pillow and his eyes rolled back into his head. He could not believe the unadulterated pleasure that surged through his veins.

Her tongue was teasing him into insanity. Her searing mouth plunged down on his again and again until he savagely pulled her up by her hair, flipped her onto her back, and drove into her so hard he rammed her head into the carved oaken headboard.

Jordan cried out with total ecstasy as he drove into her again and again, pounding her with the force of his thrusts until wave after wave of pleasure rolled through her, but still he was not finished. He was unstoppable, wanting his pleasure to last because somewhere in the back of his mind he was unsure when they would be together again. He wanted to remember this, to sustain him for the weeks and months to come.

To feel her throbbing heat surround him, pull at him, was sweetness unimaginable. When his climax finally came, he poured into her, imagining that his seed would find its mark and she would bear him a son. He so wanted a child that was a part of her, a part of him; to carry on his legend and blood.

Strange he should think of that now; an heir had never held much importance to him. But because it was Jordan, any child from her would be the greatest event of his life. And, God forbid, should he perish in the imminent wars that were coming, he wanted her to have something of him.

They lay together in the stillness of the night, clutching each other as their breathing slowed and their bodies cooled. Still half-aroused and buried in her, William felt her go limp and knew she had fallen asleep. He smiled; he knew how tired she was from the day. Closing his eyes, sleep claimed him as well.

*

The reply from Northwood reached Thomas near the deadline he had given the clans for his own response. Cord had ridden like the devil through the night to reach Langton and was near collapse by the time he spilled in through the gates.

Thomas held the missive bearing the earl’s seal for a while before opening it. It was as if staring at it long enough and hard enough would forcibly will the parchment to bear the answer he sought.

Nathaniel hovered over his shoulder while Matthew sat in a chair across the room, waiting patiently.

“Dammit, man, open it,” Nathaniel demanded eagerly. “We have no time to waste.”

Thomas sighed reluctantly before finally breaking the seal with his finger. Unrolling the missive, he read it all the way through without any reaction whatsoever.

Nathaniel was joined by Matthew in his hovering, both men watching their eldest brother’s face for any clue as to the content. But Thomas gave no outward clue, even as he lowered the vellum to his lap.

“Well?” Nathaniel blurted. “What does it say?”

Thomas looked tired suddenly. He set the message down on the table next to him and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“It says that we are going to war,” he replied softly.

“Damnable English,” Nathaniel exploded. “They’re betraying the treaty. I told ye they were not to be trusted.”

“Nay, Nathaniel, I dinna say we were going to war agin the English,” he said, looking at both of his brothers one at a time. “ ’Tis a blood war, lads. Northwood has agreed to support us. The only battle we’ll be fighting will be agin our clansmen when we inform them of our decision.”

Nathaniel looked taken aback. He stared at his brother a moment before turning away.

“Then the English have more honor than I gave them credit for,” Matthew said. “I dinna think they would do it.”

Thomas nodded faintly. “Lord, I wonder if Jordan had anything to do with this,” he murmured. “Is it possible that she has been accepted enough that she could convinced them to support us?”

Matthew shrugged. “Jordi is a sweet girl, but she is not a soldier,” he said. “I am sure the earl wouldna do anything he dinna want to, no matter what his betrothed said. No, I say he is being entirely honorable. Amazing for a Sassenach.”

Thomas stared at the paper on the table. “Then it seems the only thing to do is to send a missive to McKenna and prepare our troops,” he said.

No one wanted to retrieve the ink and parchment. They simply remained frozen where they were, their minds contemplating the enormity of the actions they were about to create. Dear God, they hoped the English weren’t lying or didn’t change their minds. Everything they were, everything they were about to do, was in Sassenach hands.

’Twas an appalling, frightening prospect.