“Death seems a harsh consequence when I meant them no harm.”
Ronan tossed his claymore aside. “True enough.”
Cregan grinned and threw his weapon aside. “What if I win?”
Ronan laughed. “There’s not a chance of that.”
“There is blood on your skirt,” Zia said. “Let me have a look at your legs.”
Carissa would not sit still long enough for Zia to have a look. “Ronan is taking too long. Someone should go see if he is all right.”
“He’s fine,” Cavan said, walking over to her. “Now sit and let Zia tend you.”
“No,” she said, and went to walk past Cavan.
He grabbed her arm, and she winced.
“That’s it,” Cavan said. “Ronan will have my head if he finds out you’ve been injured and not tended to.”
“You’re the laird, he can’t have your head,” Carissa said.
“But I can have yours, now sit,” Cavan ordered.
Her eyes turned wide, and she yanked her arm free and sped past him.
Cavan turned just as she reached a battered Ronan, and he smiled.
Carissa didn’t care if Ronan was bloody and bruised, she ran into his outstretched arms, and as they closed around her, she attempted to kiss him. They both winced from the pain of their split lips.
“I thought…” She could not vocalize her fear.
He cupped her face. “I’m not going anywhere. You are stuck with me.”
“It is you who are stuck with me,” she said.
“Good, then we’re stuck together.”
“Forever?” she asked softly.
“Forever,” he repeated, and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
“It is done?” Cavan shouted to him when their lips parted.
Ronan nodded. “Send his men to collect him. He will bother us no more.”
“Good, then we can finally all go home,” Cavan said.
“Home,” Carissa whispered.
“Yes, home,” Ronan said, then whispered in her ear, “and when I get you there, do you know what I’m going to do to you?”
She giggled as he poked her playfully, but gently, in the ribs. “Tell me.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, drew her near, and whispered exactly what he intended to do to her. Her face flushed bright red, her body tingled, and she wished they were already home.
Chapter 38
It wasn’t until later that evening that Carissa and Ronan got to be alone, and only then because they sneaked away. First, Zia insisted on tending their wounds, which only amounted to minor abrasions and bruises. Then Artair and Honora wanted a detailed description of what happened, which Addie happily supplied while wrapped in Hagen’s arms. Later, when Carissa and Ronan were about to take their leave and have a quiet supper to themselves, Dykar and Septimus arrived, and Cavan invited them to the table.
The abduction was discussed again in more detail, and Dykar told them all that a contingent of mercenaries was only too glad to join Sinclare warriors in escorting Cregan and his men off Sinclare land.
Dykar assured them that Cregan would return home, lick his wounds and stay put, knowing he had been soundly defeated.
It was during this constant chatter that Carissa and Ronan managed, separately, to slip away and reunite in their cottage.
A light snow fell as Carissa hurried along, and for a moment she stopped and looked up at the night sky. Clouds kept the half-moon from shining through, and with the air having turned crisper, more snow was bound to fall.
She smiled and drew her cloak around her. This time she and Ronan wouldn’t mind being stranded in a cottage together. They truly would delight in the prospect.
The door to the cottage opened, and Ronan stood silhouetted in the doorway. Her smile grew, for he wore only his plaid, which meant he had been busy undressing.
“Carissa,” he called out, and held his hand out to her. “What kept you?”
She hurried to him, her hand ready to grab his. “I’ve been thinking about how lucky I am.”
He took her hand and swirled her around right into his arms and kissed her. Not hungrily, but lovingly.
“And you’re about to get even luckier,” he said playfully when the kiss ended.
“Promises, promises,” she said, as they drifted together inside the cottage, Ronan shutting the door with his foot.
“Promises, I will always keep,” he said with a gentle kiss, and rid her of her cloak.
Her hands easily found the end of his plaid and in no time she rid him of it, letting it fall to the ground.
“Now that’s the way I like you,” she teased.
“And I you,” he whispered in her ear as he set to work undressing her.
Of course his lips had to trail where his fingers touched, and when Carissa shivered, he moved them closer to the warmth of the hearth and finished until finally they both stood naked together.