Highlander's Dark Seduction Page 26

  She stood before the man in the blue doublet and cape who was seated behind the table; did he know who she was?

  She was older now, they both were. A few strands of grey had come to haunt her hair and the lines around her mouth and on her forehead had deepened, but she had recognized him on the spot, even if his hair was almost completely grey now and his belly round. The likes of him only got the best cuts at the table.

  When she’d seen him, it had taken her two glances to recognize him, but there was no mistake, she’d know these eyes wherever she went.

  Years had passed since they had last met. She smoothed her skirts and curtsied prettily, giving him a smile.

  Their eyes collided, and for one second, she could see the young man he once had been.

  Before she could open her mouth to say anything, he spoke:

  “Freya?”

  Her smile broadened.

  Chris slowly made his way to the den where he knew Alexander and the friar were seated, in deep discussion. An idea had occurred to him, a way to bring his new and old families together and cement their place in the community. He only hoped that the MacTavish was agreeable. He had discussed it with Rebecca and she had been very supportive – provided her brother agreed. He had to admire her loyalty even if it did make him a touch jealous. He had never had anyone related to him by blood who was so unconditionally loyal to him. He hoped that one day, she would feel that same unconditional loyalty to him.

  He knocked on the door and opened it to see the new father with a cup of tea in his hand and a smile on his face. Alexander lounged in a rocking chair, his daughter asleep in his arms. It was a very tranquil room and Chris could not help but smile.

  “May I come in?” he asked.

  Alexander shrugged. “It’s your house.”

  Chris took a deep breath, closing the door behind him. “I hope so. I hope that it’s my house someday…but it’s not. Not yet.”

  Alexander arched his brow as if to say, ‘Continue.’

  “I have asked Rebecca to marry me again, in front of God and her family and she is agreeable.” He announced to the room. The friar’s smile widened.

  “Congratulations son,” he said. He moved his left hand – where someone had cut him across the knuckles during battle – with care but was otherwise unhurt.

  “Thank you.” Chris nodded at him but his eyes remained on Alexander.

  The other man quirked a smile. “Surely you do not need my permission?”

  “I don’t,” Chris said hand on his chest, “But Rebecca does.”

  Alexander snorted. “That lassie hasna needed my permission tae do anything since she was in leading string – if then.”

  Chris mouth widened in acknowledgment. “Perhaps. But she would like to know she has your blessing.”

  “O’ course she does. Why would she doubt it?”

  Chris cut his eyes to the friar and then back at Alexander. There was no need to broadcast their business to everyone and he was desirous of keeping the friar’s good opinion of him. “You know why,” he said to Alexander.

  His brother in law waved a dismissive hand. “All in the past. Ye have proved yerself an honorable man after all, if misguided…” Alexander smirked, “When d’ye intend to hold this ceremony? I have received word that Emily’s sisters will make the journey to see their new niece. Will ye wait for them?”

  Chris smiled. “I shall be glad to. Besides, there is a lot to arrange.”

  “There is indeed.” Alexander glanced down at his niece, “Perhaps while we have a priest on hand, we can get the wee one christened.”

  Chris’ smile widened. “That is an excellent idea.” He turned to the friar, “I don’t suppose you are authorized to wed and baptize?” he asked.

  Friar Sam raised an eyebrow. “I can do it in a pinch. I have taken the same vows.”

  Chris clapped his hands with joy and beamed at the father. The baby startled in her sleep and Alexander glared at him for almost waking her.

  “Sorry,” Chris whispered and crept out of the room.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  He had been back on his feet for a week and all Rebecca would let him do was kiss her hand. Chris looked longingly at their bed before reaching for his jerkin and necktie, deeming them safe enough to remove as she walked into their chambers and straight to her wardrobe. She returned carrying something blue and flimsy, and Chris gulped when she smirked at him.

  “That dinner was fraught huh?” Rebecca told him, inclining her head toward the door. “I was waiting for a stramash to break out.”

  Chris mumbled agreement before divesting himself of his breeches. “Yes well, it had to be done and better it be done quickly. If we are to build an alliance between the local people and my people, we need to start somewhere. A feast to celebrate the battle of Dun Alba was a good start I think.”

  She took a step forward. “It was a good idea.”

  Chris nodded. “Yes, we needed that. It’s a start to building a new life.”

  Rebecca smiled and then turned her back to him. He was treated to the sight of her round and strong shoulders, her shapely arms as she tossed aside her bodice. He quickly glanced away when she spun around with a grin, the glimpse of her breast he caught, high and round and encased in whalebone making him plump up in his breeches.

  He stared at her feet as his face heated from within, the purpose of their very important conversation forgotten when she reached for the clasp in her skirt, thoughtfully fingering the boned hook.

  “Are ye gang to stand there and stare?” Rebecca sounded distinctly amused, and Chris jerked his head up to find her soft gaze on him as she smiled. “Or are ye gang to help me out of these clothes?”

  He was moving before he realized it, stepping into her space to set a hand into the notch at the small of her back, the other landing on the high waist of her skirts. Chris shivered inwardly at the conflicting texture of linen and fine wool, hearing the rasp of his calluses when he slides his fingers over her shift before finding her eyes.

  “You don’t wear a corset.” It came out sounding thick and slow, and he winced before looking away. She giggled and gently turned his face to hers.

  “No. They are’na very practical for war. Besides, anything that gets me out the door in the morning quicker is a good thing.” Chris inclined his head, pretending to understand her meaning as his eyes drop, goggling at the voluptuous thrust of her breasts before returning to her face.

  “I dinna wear stockings, either.”

  Chris swallowed hard when she reached around herself to take his hands, easing them to the waist of her skirts so he could help her pull them down. She answered his searching look with a nod, and he squeezed his eyes shut while undoing her fastenings, his hands sliding over her hips and rear as she wiggled to help him push down the skirt of her gown. A cautious brush over her back reveals an unbroken expanse of soft flesh, and he glanced downward quickly inhaling sharply.

  “Ah!” he moaned, “So soft, so much give.” His voice sounded rougher and deeper to his own ears, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care. Rebecca answered with her lips pressed against the edge of his jaw, making no secret of inhaling his scent as she turned in his arms.

  “Ye like my body don’t ye?” She hummed in gentle self-assuredness when he boldly cupped her bottom, squeezed it before his fingers glided over her silky chemise and pressed inward, almost painfully. “I like when ye touch me like that.” She whispered.

  He tipped his head back to allow her access to his neck, encouraging her to press her shapely lips the length of his throat. She fingered the edges of his shirt and opened them, slowly and carefully while his eyes were closed. He slipped his hands underneath the hem of her shift his breath coming hard. He felt the warm smoothness of her back and smiled to himself as it pimpled into goosebumps against his work-roughened fingers.

  Rebecca’s fingers trailed across his navel before catching hold of the edges of his shirt and pushing it off his shoulders. It fell
in a whisper of linen, her lips hot on his chest and throat before kissing along his ear. “Did ye get everything ye wanted tonight?” she breathed, inspiring a shiver as he turned his head to kiss her temple.

  Chris moistened his lips before he could speak. “There’s only one thing I want,” he told her, “and that’s you. Everything I did tonight I did so that you could be happy, here with me.”

  She snagged the lobe of his ear between her teeth, and he hissed as she traced the waistband of his breeches with casual fingers. “I am happy here with you,” she whispered, kissing the sensitive flesh behind his ear before trailing along his jaw to his neck. “However what I meant was, do ye think ye will be able to achieve what ye’ve set out to?”

  He exhaled shakily before kissing her, the pull of her lips irresistible as he tugged her closer, pushing flush against her until there is no space between their bodies. “I have faith,” he said after a time as he suckled at her jaw until she gasped. “The friar and his men came with me all this way, I overheard some of the men making plans to go out tomorrow and survey. Commence building their crofts and preparing the land for planting. Onesmus and the others were talking with Connell about doing drills. There is excitement about the wedding. I feel optimism in the air.”

  Eyes gleaming, she slid her hand down his front to cup him boldly through his breeches. He held his breath when she peered at him from beneath her eyelashes, a small, hopeful smile playing on her lips as she squeezed experimentally. “I feel excited about the wedding too.”

  Chris decided to be completely honest. “Me too.”

  She blinked and he leaned in to kiss her again, speaking against her lips. “I cannot wait to claim you in front of God and your brother.”

  Rebecca smiled as she teasingly undid the ties on his breeches, loosening the coarse fabric to dip a finger inside, rubbing his length. His flesh shivered beneath her touch as she flattened her breasts against his chest. She moved rhythmically putting as much flesh on flesh as she could until he hooked his fingers beneath her shift.

  She hummed, kissing him with encouragement when he tossed her bodice aside before sliding his hands through the dip of her waist to her abdomen dusting over the slight curve of her creamy stomach, her ribcage and up to her breasts, covering them with his palms. He hefted them playfully before flicking his thumbs over her nipples, gratified to be rewarded with a broken sigh.

  Her other hand slipped into his breeches, and Chris bit his lip so he would not gasp. She massaged him lightly before shoving the fabric past his hips. Rebecca sighed with pleasure as she skimmed her knuckles over his stomach and ribs, lightly passing her hand over each scar as she pushed his breeches down.

  Chris kicked his clothes aside without breaking off the kiss, sinking into her mouth as she stroked him until he forgot his own name.

  Her fingers closed around his wrist and guided his hand to her bottom her eyes never leaving his. “I’d rather you claim me now,” she murmured, “let’s go to bed.”

  He nodded his ascent before crouching before her, kissing her neck and chest open-mouthed. He kissed and tasted each breast in turn, before laving his lips over her skin. Rebecca breath came in ragged gasps as he flicked her nipple to a hardened tip before sucking it into his mouth. He let it pop out of his mouth with a wet sound and dropped lower. Lathering her quivering stomach with kisses, he pressed his lips to her belly button before flicking his eyes up to her face.

  “Are you sure?”

  Rebecca smoothed his hair down. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” she said softly, “take me to bed.”

  Chris knelt in supplication as he kissed her pelvis, pressing his lips to each inch of exposed skin. She squirmed against him, threading her fingers through his hair and murmuring encouragement as he peppered her hips and thighs. His fingers brushed against her ankle, and he straightened up, watching as her hips swayed forward, his hands coming to rest lightly on either side of her thighs.

  She smiled down at him as he dipped his tongue into the cup of her navel. Her fingers scratched through his auburn locks and through his scalp, shivering when he covered her quivering center with one hand. He pressed his lips teasingly to the hollow her hips knowing full well how empty she felt. She made a sound of longing and he flicked his eyes up, slowly trailing his fingers upward until they brushed against her warm wetness, finding her already slick with yearning. He muffled his pleased gasp in her skin, delighting in the way she trembled as he touched her. Rebecca widened her legs and rested her hands on his shoulders, breathing in deep, shaky breaths as his hands played with her core. Chris slowly curled his finger, brushing against her nub as she shivered before dipping into her moist wetness and spreading it over her lips.

  She moaned low and deep, shaking with reaction against the soft hot skin of his mouth. “Oh God, I need it. Please, I need it.” She pressed down on him, encouraging his tongue to go further, fill the gaping hole inside of her. His hand slammed into her, thrusting with enthusiasm as he got to his feet, the better to devour her lips with his.

  His needy lips pressed against Rebecca’s again. He kissed her slowly, lovingly and carefully. He guided his cock to her entrance and started to press in. She moaned into the kiss. He held himself up so as not to squash her even as he interlaced one of his hands with hers.

  “I missed you so much,” he whispered against her lips.

  He couldn’t help but say it again. Chris loved this woman with everything he had and now he knew it for sure. He rolled his hips into hers. She met him thrust for thrust, her fingers moving across his back. Those little touches set a shiver down his spine.

  He kissed her once more, letting his forehead rest against hers. They looked into each other’s eyes and he knew, he knew things were going to be different this time. He was never going to let anything come between them again. Rebecca was the woman of his dreams, the only person he could see himself with.

  “I love ye, Chris,” she mumbled.

  “I love you too,” he could feel tears burning in his eyes, but he didn’t care.

  He was too happy to be with her to care about the tears threatening to spill down his cheeks. His movements quickened only slightly. He could feel his orgasm building up. All he needed was for her to reach her second orgasm first.

  A few more thrusts and she let out another gasp. He had her.

  “Chris,” she practically whimpered this time.

  “Rebecca,” he dragged out her name.

  She started to shake again. Her walls squeezing his cock so tight.

  “Oh fi,” he hissed.

  He gave a couple more thrusts before snapping his hips forward. His cock throbbed and he spilled his cum inside of her. He started to pull out after they had both come down. His cheeks were wet now, but so were hers. He lay down beside her, trying to catch his breath. She reached up and wiped his tears away.

  “I love ye.”

  He smiled, turning his head into her hand. “I love you too.”

  It was a marvelous morning for a wedding.

  They’d waited until the conclusion of March when spring finally soothed the roaring blasts of cold and ice down into their annual slumber, and Dun Alba had turned green, alive and rich with the sweet scents of maple, pine, and new life.

  And so on a clear and cloudless Wednesday morning, Rebecca was quite fit to be tied and as eager to be a bride as any woman ever was.

  Inside the manor, Rebecca was nervous, to be sure; how could she not be? This was no ordinary Wednesday; today was the day, at last, the much-talked-about second wedding between herself and her husband, the reformed blackguard Christopher Ellis.

  In her chambers, surrounded by sweet-briar wallpaper and tapestries sporting chivalric scenes Rebecca’s hands fluttered restlessly over her cotton chemise. Emily came in, dumping the baby in her arms before presenting her with a steaming cup of tea.

  “Drink, my dear Becca lest your brother think we are starving you up here,” she instructed, her voice filled with
amused concern. “And can you manage to eat something? If only for me.”

  Rebecca waited for her tea to cool a little, warming her fingers against the teacup’s sides. She took a sip, taking care to keep the baby steady.

  “Hold still!” chided Frances, as she finished lacing together the last two eyelets of Rebecca’s steel-boned corset. She winced at how tight Frances had it, a lot more than was usual in their day to day lives. Emily gave an understanding chuckle before settling deeper into the cherry cushions.

  “Sorry… Emily,” she said. “I’m—I’m all nerves this morning, ‘m afraid. Wouldn’t be able to keep anything down.”

  “Hm,” hummed Emily. “I well remember the feeling. I don’t imagine you much cared on your first wedding day,” she grinned at Rebecca.