True to the Highlander(76)

“Alethia.”

She sensed his nervousness and knew his heart raced with the same anticipation as hers. “Malcolm.” She smiled from her place near the door, her hands clasped in front of her. Seconds went by, and still she stood, as if her feet had taken root in the wooden planks beneath them.

A loud, raucous cheer rose up from the great hall below. Lydia and Elaine must have announced she’d been delivered into her husband’s keeping for the night. Her heart hammered against her ribs, embarrassed to the core. Everyone she’d come to know so well, even those she didn’t, knew exactly what would transpire here tonight. She tried to speak but couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

“Come warm yourself by the fire, lass.” Malcolm grinned. “You look like one of your coneys—tempted by the bait, wary of the trap.”

“I do not.” She grinned back, the tension broken for the moment. She walked to the chair opposite his, concentrating hard so as not to trip over the long hem of the lovely silk night rail.

“May I pour you a glass of wine?”

“That would be nice.” Gathering the billowing yards of cloth, she settled herself on the chair opposite his while he poured them each a goblet of wine.

“Mmph. I would have you nearer, mo céile.” Malcolm placed the goblets on the hearth, slid her chair closer and took his seat. “You’ve no need to be nervous. I’m the same man I was before we wed. Nothing has changed.”

She accepted the wine he handed her and took a sip. “Everything has changed.”

“Aye, for the better.” He took the goblet he’d just placed in her hands and set it back on the hearth. “Come here to me, wife. I willna bite.” He drew her from her chair and settled her on his lap, putting his feet up on her vacated spot. “Be at ease, mo cridhe.”

“You’re as nervous as I am, Malcolm.” She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. Curly russet chest hair peeked out of his robe. She ran her fingers through it and splayed her hand over his chest. His heart raced beneath her fingertips. “Can you tell me our vows once more, so I can commit them to memory?”

Malcolm lifted her hand from his chest and kissed the tips of her fingers one at a time. She sighed with pleasure.

“I, Malcolm William, son of William of clan MacKintosh, pledge my troth to thee, Alethia Grace Goodsky—”

“Of clan Crane,” she whispered.

“Aye, well, I neglected to say that this morn. ’Twill be said when we take our vows again this spring.” He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “With my hands, I shall provide for thee. With my body, I pledge to protect thee. With my heart, I shall cherish thee, and only thee, all the days of my life. As God is my witness and before my clan, from this day forward, we are husband and wife.”

He bent his head and kissed her. She loved the way he kissed, full, strong kisses with his whole being behind it. She put her arms around his neck and opened her mouth, inviting him in. His groan sent ripples of pleasure down her center, causing an answering dampness and throbbing sensation between her thighs.

“Wait.” She straightened in his lap. “What about my vows? What did I say?” Malcolm’s eyes had turned from sky to midnight blue with desire.

“I, Alethia Grace Goodsky…of clan Crane…pledge my troth to thee, Malcolm of clan MacKintosh. With my hands, I shall provide for thee. With my body, I shall succor thee. With my heart, I shall cherish thee, and only thee, all the days of my life,” Malcolm recited.

He waited for her to repeat the words. She repeated each line, until she got to the part where with her body she offered succor. “With my body, I pledge to protect you as well as the succoring part.” She raised her chin, firm in her resolve.

“Nay. ’Tis a man’s duty to protect his family and a woman’s duty to see to her husband’s needs and provide him with the comforts of hearth and home.”

“I can do that and protect you.”

“Mayhap you can. ’Tis my hope the need will no’ arise. Now say the rest.”

“With my heart, I shall cherish thee—”

“And only me.”

She giggled. “And only thee, all the days of my life. As God is my witness, and before our clan, from this day forward, we are wife and husband.”

“Husband and wife.”

“That’s what I said.” She glanced at him through her lashes and smiled as she went back to playing with his chest hair.

“I want you, Alethia. From the very first day I found you by the side of the road, I have thought of little else. You turn me inside out with worry and want.”