Page 41 of To Charm a Highlander

He greeted her at the door to the keep when she reached the bottom of the stone steps.“Where were ye, lass?I was afraid ye left me.”

She joined her arm in his.“Nay, my love.I willna leave ye.I need ye to help me overcome the remaining problems I have.”

They walked into the great hall where clan members and warriors had begun breaking their fast.She noticed the only family member at her table was Ainslee, holding giggling Alasdair on her lap, while trying to keep Susana from dripping her porridge all over her dress.

“Can I help ye, Ainslee?”Donella asked as she walked up to the table.

“Aye, please.Jenny is still not feeling well and the young lass who helped me yesterday is busy serving breakfast.”

Donella and Callum took seats.Donella right next to Susana and Callum next to her.

“The new bride and groom are certainly up early,” Ainslee said with a grin.She leaned in close to Donella, her eyes on Callum to make sure he was busy with Susana.“Is all well, lass?Last night we heard a disturbance coming from yer bedchamber.Yer brother wanted to investigate, but I told him to leave ye alone.”

She smiled.“Do no’ fash yerself, e’erything is just fine.”

Her sister-by-marriage appeared to want to ask another question, but apparently deciding not to, turned her attention again to Alasdair.“Nay, lad, ye canno’ throw porridge at yer sister.”

Soon more warriors arrived, some of them looking as though they were feeling the results of the wedding celebration the night before.

Haydon, Conall, and Maura also arrived.By the looks of them, they dinna spend as much drinking and dancing as the rest of them did.But then—she shivered—they had things to keep them busy in their bedchambers.

As she stirred her porridge, playing with it more than eating, Donella thought perhaps now Ainslee would be willing to speak with her about bed activities.She certainly kenned how Callum made her feel when he kissed her and ran his hand up and down her body.‘Twas time to find out what came next so she wasna surprised when they retired tonight.

Aye, she had decided tonight she would try to allow Callum to do more than he’d done the night before.With Father McNeil’s blessing, and her love for her husband, she would do her verra best to let her memories go.‘Twas a long time ago.Then she was no’ much more than a child, now she was a married woman with a husband who loved her and would no’ force her to do anything she dinna want to do.

* * *

Callum could feelthe difference in the air as he and Donella entered their bedchamber.It had been decided they would continue to use her room until the house Callum planned to build was finished.Now that he had Donella’s dowry, he could buy what he needed from the villagers to start the house.It would take some time, but at least until then he and his wife had a solid roof over their heads and plenty of food.

Donella had been strangely quiet at the supper they had just shared with her family, the rest of the clan members and warriors.He hadna seen her all day because he’d been on the lists, still in charge of training the new warriors.Conall had said he seemed to have a knack for dealing with the younger lads, giving them confidence without letting them kill each other, or themselves.

She had told him while they were breaking their fast that she’d seen Father McNeil already that morning, but dinna say what they spoke of, although he was most certain it had to be about the guilt she’d carried for years for killing her captor.He only wished the mon wasna dead so he could kill him.Slowly.Painfully.

Donella wandered her bedchamber, looking around as if she hadn’t seen it before.

He walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders.When she didn’t move or stiffen, he spread her silky hair over her shoulder and kissed the soft pale skin on her neck.

She leaned back against his chest, so he continued across her neck, nibbling on her ear lobe.“Ye are so soft and warm, my love.”

“Hmm.”She tilted her head so he had more access to her neck.Slowly, he unfastened the back of her gown and slid it off her shoulders.Her bent elbows kept it from dropping to the floor, so he pulled both of her hands down, the garment pooling at her feet.

“Mo Chridhe” he whispered.“Ye are so beautiful—and donna argue with me.”

She turned in his arms and smiled as she wrapped her arms around his body.“Nay, I’ll not argue with ye e’en though I doona believe it.”

He pushed her hair back and cupped her cheeks in his large hands.He kissed her gently, then trying his best to keep control, tried once again to enter her mouth.She allowed it, but still after less than a minute, she pulled back.

“Would ye care to move o’er to the bed?I ken we will be much more comfortable there.”

Donella hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

He took her hand, and she stepped over the dress lying on the ground and walked with him to the bed.Thinking ‘twas best to remain clothed for a bit, he toed off his boots, removed his stockings and then joined her, his kilt and leine still in place.

“Once again, lass, I want ye to stop me anytime ye feel uncomfortable or nervous.We have the rest of our lives together so there is no need to rush.”

No rush even though he’d been walking around with a stiffened cock for days.But this was his wife, not some leman.

Donella smiled.“I spoke with Ainslee today.”