Page 55 of To Charm a Highlander

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After leaving the Lists and then taking a swim in the loch, Callum stopped in the room where his brother was housed.

The Gunn and his men were still being held in one of the bedchambers since Haydon dinna want to give the mon the chance to leave until they straightened out the charges against him.

Callum had dodged the questions Fraser had and realized after a few minutes that there really wasn’t much reason for his visit since there wasn’t anything for the brothers to speak about.

If Old Marta was to be believed, Fraser had conspired with their mam and cheated Callum out of his birthright, and if Donella was correct, his brother had wreaked havoc on her life.Add to that setting Callum up and then banning him from the clan.Those subjects dinna make for friendly conversation.

Callum only grew angrier with his brother as he blathered on about being treated disrespectfully, all the time thinking he might be the one who had violated his wife.The only thing keeping him from beating the life out of the mon was the doubt they all had because of Donella’s insistence that she had killed her captor.

“I doona ken why that crazy woman accused me of kidnapping her,” Fraser said after Callum had ignored his complaints.

Callum’s hand fisted at his sides and his jaw tightened.“Thatwomanis my wife.The one ye petitioned Laird Sutherland to arrange a marriage with.And the only reason I haven’t killed ye yet is because we are investigating her charge.”

Fraser huffed.“I am The Gunn.I have all the women I need falling at my feet.I doona need to take some scrawny bitch against her will.”

Callum’s fist flew out before he e’en kenned it.Fraser went flying across the room, landing on his arse with a surprised look on his face.

Callum walked over to him, stepped on his chest and grabbed his leine at the neck, twisting until Fraser’s face was red.“I told ye she is my wife.Anymore disrespect out of yer mouth and Iwilltake ye apart piece by piece.”

He stood and dusted his hands off.“I see it was a mistake coming here, so I will leave ye now.And I suggest ye spend more time at the lists and less at the supper table.Ye can hardly defend yerself.”With those words he kicked his brother on the chin, and left the room, slamming the door shut, the continued surprised look on Fraser’s face bringing him a smile.

Aye, it had no’ been a good idea to try to speak with Fraser.

During a brief meeting after supper, Haydon, Conall, and Callum spent time speaking of the issues they were facing.

“Based on the information ye gave me earlier, I sent a rider out this afternoon to find the cottage of that woman who delivered yer brother years ago,” Haydon said.“Bringing her here to speak with me will give us something to send to the king to have him relieve Fraser of his lairdship and give it to ye.”

“And what about Donella’s charge against The Gunn?”Callum asked.

Haydon sighed.“’Tis not an easy one.I’m sending men out tomorrow to see if they can find this cottage where Donella said she’d been held.I realize it’s been a long time, but mayhap there is something there that might help us.”

After that, Callum took another swim in the cold loch since he figured he was facing another night of frustration in his bed.Then after a few mugs of ale, then two glasses of whisky, he was feeling quite nice.

Callum entered their bedchamber quietly.‘Twas silent and dark.His wife lay on the bed, curled up, hugging his pillow.Her nighttime braid had loosened, and beautiful, silky locks fell over her cheek.

Donella had not appeared for supper in the great hall but after he asked Ainslee, he learned that she had taken a tray in her room.Thinking she was still recovering from her day, he let her be and spent the time speaking with Haydon and Conall.

Seeing his beautiful wife settled in their bed all soft and warm, had his cock rising for the occasion.He sighed, kenning that this was probably the worst night to attempt to make love to her.

But he wanted her so much it hurt.

As he sat on the bed, she opened her eyes, and he was lost.“Good evening, husband,” she whispered.

He reached out and ran his knuckles down her warm, soft cheek.“Aye.Good evening to ye as well.”

She leaned up on one elbow, pushing back the hair that fell on her shoulder.“Callum?”

“Aye, love.”

“I want ye to make love to me.”

He thought his cock would explode.For a few moments he couldn’t speak, making sure he’d heard what she’d said.“Are ye sure, lass?Do ye ken what yer asking?”

Please, good Lord, doona let her change her mind.

“I am sure.I ken how much ye love me, and how much I love ye.I ken it will be so different than what I had before.”She reached out and touched his cheek.“’Tis been too long.I want ye, Callum.I want to be yer wife in truth.”