Highland Courage(56)

“Certainly they could have.”

“Nay, they couldn’t. They are lovely, kind women and are willing to work at anything which needs doing, but between them they couldn’t organize their way out of a sack. Do ye think Da couldn’t have arranged marriages for them to a laird or his heir?”

“He wanted them to be able to stay at Carraigile.”

“Aye, but don’t fool yourself, Mairead, if Da thought it was in the best interests of the clan he would have let them go, after all, he arranged Annag’s marriage to the MacBain. I think he knows neither Lily nor Rose has the strength and skills to be a laird’s wife. Ye have proven yourself to be one of the strongest and bravest women I know.”

“But I’m not brave.”

“Mairead, love, that’s not true. Ye have an inner strength a warrior would envy and ye are very brave,” said Tadhg. “Ye know bravery isn’t always something big and bold that warriors wield. Sometimes bravery is just the will to get up and try it all again the next day when it is the last thing ye want to do.”

Mairead looked into his eyes and read the truth written there. He had learned everything about her, more than any member of her family knew. Still, the love that shone from him was undeniable. Although he had never said it, at that moment she understood without a doubt that he loved her as much as she loved him. He believed she was strong and courageous. Perhaps it is time I believed in myself. She vowed she would.

~ * ~

For a few moments everything else in the room ceased to exist for Tadhg. He looked into her silver eyes, willing her to accept what he believed to be true about her. But what was reflected there touched his very soul. She loved him, absolutely, unconditionally. She had never uttered the words to him, but she didn’t need to. It was clearly written in her eyes. She had given him her heart as surely as he had lost his own to her.

~ * ~

Mairead woke early on Epiphany. In the warm cocoon of their bed, she became vaguely aware of something tickling her face. She squirmed away from it, snuggling deeper into the bedclothes. She kept her eyes closed, unwilling to wake yet. In a moment, she felt it on her nose again. She wakened more fully and opened one eye to see Tadhg propped on one elbow next to her lightly tickling her with one of her own curls. She brushed his hand away, saying, “Ye are a very wicked man, waking me like that.”

“There are a few more wicked things I want to do to ye, lass, but it is so much more fun if ye are awake.”

“Nay, it’s freezing.” She giggled and pulled the covers over her head.

“We can manage.” He ducked his head under the covers too, and before she could protest further, he captured her lips in a kiss, rubbing one nipple until it pebbled. His hands slid over her body, “Your skin feels like silk, and—tastes—even—better.” He planted kisses over her neck and shoulders between each word.

She reached up, putting her hands on his shoulders to begin her own tender exploration, but he grabbed them and, trapping them with one hand over her head, he whispered huskily, “Nay, lass, not this time. This is for ye.”

“But Tadhg—”

“Nay. Be still.” He captured her mouth with his to quiet her protest while his free hand continued to explore her body. Soon he left her mouth trailing kisses down her throat and to her breasts, and she gave a throaty moan. He let go of her hands but whispered, “Leave them there, don’t move.” He slipped his hands down her body to her hips as he trailed kisses down her belly.

When he reached the soft curls covering her womanhood she gasped and made to push his head away. “Tadhg, ye can’t…”

“Aye, I can,” he said with a chuckle. Grabbing her hands again, he moved them to where they had rested above her head. “I said be still and don’t move. Ye will like this.” He returned to the exploration of her body with his lips. He moved ever lower, sliding his hands under her buttocks as his tongue slipped between her moist folds.

She momentarily stiffened in shock but relaxed as his tongue caressed her. It felt oh so good—so soft and gentle. Too gentle. She arched against him, wanting more.

He chuckled. “Ye see, I was right. Ye do like it.”

“Aye, I do,” she whispered breathlessly. When it became too much, she begged, “Please, Tadhg, I can take no more.” Of their own accord, her hands found his shoulders, and she tried to pull him up.

“I can deny ye nothing, sweetling,” he murmured, and trailing kisses back up her body, captured her mouth again as he buried himself within her. She could taste her own salty essence on his lips as she rose to meet him. Still shrouded in the darkness of the bedclothes they moved together as one, giving and taking pleasure from each other until her climax overcame her. She could feel her muscles contracting around him as he too found his release.