A Perfect Wife(50)
She could see the pain he’d been in. She’d lain awake that night as well, not only thinking of how she and Camden would escape, but how upset Duff and Malcolm would be. Not just at the insult Ross gave them by stealing her, but for her as their wife. Surely he would not be so upset unless he cared deeply?
Malcolm’s brilliant blue eyes caught her. “By the morn I knew I lied to myself, Kiera. I’d kenned, in here”—he tapped his heart—“that love is dangerous, so pushed it away, using Kinrowan as an excuse.”
He finally moved, coming to one knee at her side.
“I would have gone on that ship with Ross. To save ye, and our babe, I would easily give Kinrowan to Duff to rule. It is just a place filled with people. Ye are my love.”
“Brother, Kiera was stolen from all of us, not just ye,” said Duff. “I feel the same. I wished to go in place of the laird to save ye.” He hit Malcolm in the rib with his elbow, hard. “My fool of a brother wouldna let me, and since he’s ten minutes older and the laird, I had to obey.”
“We love ye Kiera,” said Malcolm. “Though sometimes ye are stubborn and make us crazy—”
“And wild with lust,” interrupted Duff. “’Dinna forget that.”
“—we wish ye to be in our lives forever. Will ye accept us?”
She had them on their knees, begging her to accept them. It was more than she’d thought possible. A lump formed in her throat.
“You love me, for true? The way I mean it, forever?”
“Aye, Kiera, I love ye with all my heart, my soul, and my body,” said Malcolm.
“Especially yer body,” leered Duff playfully.
It was what she wanted, but something felt off. It was good to see, once, how they cared for her. But these men were warriors. She wanted their strength and power, as well as their love.
“I believe you.”
Duff grinned while Malcolm exhaled, shuddering. He stood, strong and confident. Duff kissed her cheek as he got up. She struggled out of her chair and slipped to her knees.
“What are ye—”
“’Tis my turn. I love you both. The night we met in my bedchamber,” she said to Malcolm, “you said I must prove myself worthy by kneeling at your feet.”
“Aye, but I’d barely met ye. I said it for yer father as well as for myself.”
“I wish to kneel, to prove that I will be a good wife to you.”
“Not a perfect wife?”
She sighed, making a face. “Nay. Just the best I can be, for you, and for Duff. I repeat my vow to obey, to serve, and to submit to you, my laird husband. And this time I mean it.”
His eyes almost glowed. He nodded regally.
“And to love you with all my heart,” she added.
“All yer heart?” asked Duff, cocking his head at her.
“Aye. I can give you both all my heart, with much left for our bairns as well,” she replied. “The nature of love is that the more you give it to others, the more you have. Camden also needs our love.”
Malcolm lifted her off her knees, carefully avoiding her sore ankle. He set her on the bed, laying her on her back.
“I am beginning to learn that,” he said. “And I will seek Camden out and tell him so.” He stared down at her and raised a commanding eyebrow. “But first we need to check your injuries.”
“My ankle—”
“My brother means we must strip ye naked, find every scrape and bruise, and kiss them better.” Duff’s voice had deepened to an eager growl.
“Oh.”
Heat flashed over her body. Her nipples tightened into hard buds as her pussy swelled with eagerness. She smiled in welcome.
“Then what are you waiting for, husbands?”
She shrieked as a matched set of eager men reached for her.
Epilogue
“’Twas bad enough that Kiera eloped, but my son and heir? Colin, laddie, what were ye thinkin’?” Laird MacKenzie held up his hand before Colin could answer. “Aye, I ken what ye were thinking. And ’twasn’t done with the head above yer belt.”
“John Grant put off our wedding one time too many, Father. Barbara is my wife in truth now.”
MacKenzie glared at his heir but he was pleased. Colin looked good. Barbara must have convinced him to take off the damn eye patch. Both eyes were open, staring him down, though he knew only one worked.
“Ye’ve taught me ’twas best to act first and ask permission later.” Colin bowed formally. “May I have permission to steal my fiancée and make her my wife?”
“Since she fainted when she rose from her curtsy to me, methinks ’tis a little late,” he replied drily.