Page 37 of To Charm a Highlander

“That was verra nice of them.”

“I ken.I must admit I’ve been part of a bedding ceremony for other men and it was great fun, but I had no intention of allowing a group of drunken warriors to get a glimpse of my naked wife.”

She wrapped her arms around herself and looked over at him.“Thank ye, husband.”

He placed his hands on her shoulders.“I told ye I would protect ye, and I meant from everything that would upset ye.Anything that I am able to.”He leaned down and kissed her.“However, this I can do.”

His kiss was as she remembered.Not threatening, but soft and tender.She couldn’t help but wonder what would come next.

She’d asked Ainslee what she should expect on her wedding night, but strangely, her sister-by-marriage told her in her case‘twas best if she let her husband lead her.

Suddenly, she realized she and her new husband were alone in her bedchamber.It appeared from the lack of noise outside the room that the men had given up and returned to the celebration downstairs.

“What do we do now?”she asked.

Callum groaned, but smiled and took her hands in his.“I suggest yer change out of yer pretty gown and put something more comfortable on.”

She began to chew on her lips.“Where can I change?”

“This is a nice sized room.I suggest ye change by the bed here, and I’ll wander over to one of the chairs in front of the fireplace.”

She hesitated for a moment.This was now becoming real.She was in her bedchamber with a mon who was her husband.He wanted, aye probably needed, and by church law had the right, to do things to her she wasna sure she could allow.

Donella seemed frozen to the spot and her eyes began to fill with tears.

Callum studied her and pulled her back into his arms.“Lass, if ye want to sleep in yer gown, ‘tis fine, too.”

She shook her head, swiping vigorously at the tears on her cheeks.“Nay.I am a strong woman and I promised ye—and myself—that I would enter this marriage with the idea of having a normal life.‘Tis best to start the way we plan to go on.”

He grinned and pulled her closer.“I love ye, Donella.”

“And I love ye, Callum.”

* * *

Despite her burst of confidence,Callum kenned he still had to go slow.“Turn around and I’ll unfasten yer gown.Then ye can change right here and I’ll meet ye at the fireplace.It looks like someone sent up some wine for us.”

She pushed her beautiful golden red curls over her shoulder, leaving the lovely silky skin and the back of her gown exposed.With shaky hands, he undid the fasteners and then hopped up, almost knocking her off her feet.“I shall open the wine for us.Join me when yer ready.”

He hurried away, breaking into a sweat.Donella felt this was nerve wracking for her, but ‘twas turning into a contest of who was more shaken.‘Twas then he decided to forego any attempt this evening to bed his lovely wife.He’d give her time to get used to sleeping alongside him before he tried anything else.

It dinna take long for Donella to join him.He patted his knee.“Come sit here, lass.Yer too far away over there.”

She smiled and joined him.He handed her a cup of wine, which she immediately downed.

He took the cup out of her hand.“Ach, be careful, lass.Ye donna want to be sick tomorrow.”

She swung her feet back and forth and she looked like a bairn.Except his wife was no bairn.She apparently had removed all her clothing under her nightgown.Whether from the chill in the room or her body’s reaction to their closeness, her nipples stood out against the thin material.

He gulped the cup of wine and took a deep breath.At this point ‘twas probably best to get them both into bed.Maybe some cuddling would help, but sitting here, with her lovely breasts a few inches from his mouth gave torture a new meaning.

“What say ye we get into bed.‘Tis been a long day and I’m sure yer tired.”

She almost looked disappointed.“Aye.I am a tad tired.”She stood and headed to the bed.

His next dilemma was the fact that he always slept in the nude.He hadn’t worn anything to bed since he’d been a lad.Well, she was the one who said they should start off the way they planned to go on.While he dinna think she meant to jump right into love making, he would still sleep in his usual manner.

By the time he arrived at the bed, she was under the bed covering, with her back to him.He touched her shoulder.“Lass, I’d like to at least kiss ye before ye go to sleep.”