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Niall leaned back and rested on his knees, pulling Moira with him. He gestured for her to turn around and began to unlace her dress. One by one, the threads were pulled away until her skin was freed and her dress slipped away like a whisper in the night. Niall placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her neck.

Moira leaned back, sinking into him. He turned her around and placed her trembling hands on his shirt, helping her pull it off. She revealed a slender body, toned in all the right places. As her fingers ran down his flesh, she noticed how warm it was, how inviting it was, and knew she had found a second home.

As she pulled away his final garment, her mouth dropped open at his manhood. There was something alluring about it, something that seemed forbidden and shameful, and yet seemed so right and natural as well. Her hand reached out to touch it and when her fingers caressed the soft tip, he moaned. His hand ran from her waist across to her own intimate area, the damp delta in between her thighs that burned as it had never burned before. They kissed again, coming together in a sensual blend of lust and desire. Her body fit perfectly into his. His hands moved like an expert’s as she tried her best to keep up.

The uncertainty and the unknown of the situation didn’t matter. Her body was driven by instinct, and that was all she needed. As her hands moved down to the thick thatch of hair at the base of his manhood, she took delight in the way his body shuddered. While she toyed with him and got used to the mysteries of his body, his fingers explored her.

It was strange at first, to feel the curling motion reaching deep inside her, but she quickly grew used to it as the pleasure surged within, flowing like a tempestuous river. Her eyelids fluttered as she arched her back, glad for his arm that wrapped around her waist as otherwise, she would have fallen. Her mind grew hazy, and as his fingers moved inside her, she could well have believed that magic existed.

Their kisses grew deeper and more fervent. He kissed her neck and chest and breasts, while she traced a line along his collarbone with her lips. She breathed in all of his masculine essence and clung to him, never wanting to let her go. It was magical and fantastic, and she couldn’t believe that she had ever had any doubts about marrying him.

He was a dream come true and all her fears were eradicated by this intimate fire. He may not have felt exactly the same way as she did, but that didn’t truly matter. She could still feel his desire, and if it wasn’t true love, he felt then it was at least something similar, and that would be enough for her.

Niall pulled his arm away and she fell back, laughing at the unexpected motion. The bed enveloped her, and she looked up at Niall with doe eyes. He positioned himself over her, never taking his gaze away. He kissed her deeply as she felt his body moving over her, his hard arousal getting ever nearer, until suddenly she felt a warm burst of pain, and then he was inside her.

Moira’s eyes opened wide as the world became new to her, as her virtue was surrendered. She wrapped her arms and clung to his back as she breathed deep, shuddering breaths. His powerful form melted into her as their bodies became one, their tongues dancing as they traded orgasmic pleasure. Her back arched, her insides scorched by his passion. It seemed as though it would never end, but then it did, and that was the sweetest part of all.

6

Moira awoke the following morning with hope and love in her heart. So far, her time with the Calbraiths had been more like a fairy tale than she had expected, and she couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. Niall was already awake.

“I was just watching ye sleep. Ye looked so beautiful, I didnae want tae wake ye,” he said, and then kissed her.

“I’m nae sure I want tae wake up. I feel like I’m dreaming,” she admitted.

“Oh this is all real, and sae was last night,” he whispered. They shared a giggle. Moira blushed at the memory of what they had done. As it turned out, she enjoyed sex more than she thought she would. The pain hadn’t been as intense as others had described, and the pleasure, well…that was something that could change a life. Even just thinking about it made her head swim.

They lay in bed for a while. She nestled up to her husband and enjoyed the feeling of his long arms wrapping around her, but eventually, the world called and life needed to be lived. Thankfully Niall wasn’t going to abandon her to his duties just yet; he revealed his intention to take her on a tour of her new home so that she might make herself familiar with her new surroundings.

They got dressed and ate breakfast, and then were on their way.

The lands the Calbraiths owned were not as expansive as she was used to. Their keep was set in the midst of woodland, and while there were some fields, there were only a handful of animals grazing nearby. Paths led away from the keep, running all across the Highlands. One went to the nearby shore, and a lot of the trade was for seafood, so the smell of fish was difficult to escape. Niall walked with confidence; when he showed her his home, he spoke with pride.

“I’m just glad that we hae been able tae move on from the bad times,” he said after they had been speaking for a while. “The wars that hae existed between our people…I cannae help but feel as though they hae held our clans back.”

“Aye, I feel the same. We always lived in fear of an attack.”

“As did we.”

All her life, Moira had thought of the Calbraiths as the vicious enemy, as men and women who wanted nothing more than to destroy and steal anything they wanted, but the reality was that they were much like the Monroes.

They had lives and ambitions, and some of them were afraid as well. A part of her wondered how there had even been war in the first place when they had been so similar, so afraid of the same things. But that didn’t matter now. The threat of war was no longer a pressing concern because of her marriage.

“I wanted tae say something else tae ye, Moira. It was something I also said tae Marcas. I wanted tae apologize for what happened with yer Uncle Roderick. My father was a fool tae trust him. He was blinded by his ambition, but I knew there haed tae be a better way for our clan tae prosper. If Roderick could betray his own blood, then what would stop him from turning his back on us? But Da wouldnae listen to me.” He spoke with a great heaviness in his voice.

“What happened tae him?” Moira asked.

Niall arched his eyebrows and scratched his chin. “After what happened with Roderick, he was ashamed. He felt as though he had let the clan down and he couldnae show his face again. Word got out about Roderick’s disappearance, and Da decided tae make the same choice.

He said that he haed made a great error and that he could no longer lead the clan. He said it was time for someone else tae take over, for someone tae find a new path. Sae he gave the clan tae me and then he left, saying that he hoped he could make up for his dishonor elsewhere. He was always a man of principle but still, sometimes I wish he would hae stayed.”

For a moment, Niall looked younger than his years, and his easy confidence vanished. Moira knew the look well. She had seen the same thing in Marcas and in herself.

“I know what it’s like tae lose a parent. No matter how old ye get, there’s still a part of ye that wants tae be with them.”

“Aye, truer words hae never been spoken. I know of yer loss. I’m sorry that he died in battle with us. That’s what I hope tae avoid with this alliance. We must move forward,” Niall said. He was saying all the right things and yet…was it that easy? The enmity between the clans had existed for generations. Was it going to be as simple as Moira and Niall banishing the past to where it belonged?

“I haed a lot of fun at the wedding, although I was disappointed tae nae spend time with Jamie and Isobel more,” Moira said.