Page 30 of A Highlander's Bride

She could feel him grin behind her. “I doona think ye are telling the truth, sweetheart.”

“Stop calling me that. I am no’ yer sweetheart.” Truthfully, the term did warm her. She ne’er thought to hear those words from a man since she’d always eschewed marriage.

“Ye could be my sweetheart.” He began nuzzling her again. “What say ye join me in my bedchamber when we get back to the castle.”

Beth sighed. “Nay. I will no’ join ye in yer bedchamber. ’Tis no’ proper.”

He pulled her closer while she tried to concentrate on keeping Atlas from wandering off the path to graze, or worse, to roll them off.

Once again he began kissing her neck, then his hand wandered up her body, cupping her breast. She sucked in a breath, about to push his hand away, when he pinched her nipple and she jumped. It felt strange. But good.

“Daniel, ye should no’ be doing this.” Her voice sounded strange to her.

“Shh, sweetheart. Just relax and enjoy it.”

His hand moved up to the top of her dress and he slid his finger in, circling her nipple. The kisses on her neck grew more intense and she was certain he sucked the skin under her ear.

She had to stop him; they were coming close to the castle. With the sun rising, the guardsmen were changing and they would give the men a wonderful sight to talk about for a while.

She pushed at his hand, pulling it from her bodice. “Daniel, ye must stop.”

“Nay, love, I would do this for the rest of yer life.” He fumbled again, trying to put his finger back.

Beth shook her head and swatted at his hand. “I dinna say ‘aye’ to yer proposal, Daniel.”

“Ye will.”

Just then they reached the lowered drawbridge which told her the men had seen them coming. Hopefully no one had eyesight good enough to see them from a distance.

Once they reached the outer bailey, one of the stablemasters helped her off the horse, and then Daniel all but slid onto the ground.

“Yer laird has had a busy night. I need one of the men to put him to bed.” She didn’t mention the busyness he’d had was helping the new da to get through his wife’s birthing by getting them both drunk.

Daniel reached out and grasped her forearm. “Nay, lass, I want ye to put me to bed.”

Beth could feel her face begin to flush. She shook his hand off and grabbed his shoulder as he began to fall. She turned to Gregory, who was grinning like a fool. “Please take yer laird upstairs.”

Gregory threw his arm over Daniel’s shoulders and moved him forward. “Let us go to bed, Daniel.”

He stumbled as he tried to turn around to look at her. “Is Beth coming? ’Tis no’ ye I want to go to bed with.”

“Nay, Laird. Lady Beth is finding her own bed.”

As they walked off, she heard Daniel say. “She can have my bed. With me.”

Beth took a deep breath and headed to the stairs. She pondered whether she should break her fast first before going to her chamber. Realizing she probably wouldn’t be able to sleep if she was hungry, she hurried upstairs so she could clean up before she ate.

Her mam was coming down the stairs as she was going up. “Is the laird well?” she asked.

“Aye,” Beth said. “Gregory is bringing—probably dragging—him to his bedchamber.”

Her mam smiled. “He seems to have a fancy for ye, daughter.”

She shook her head and closed her eyes. “Please. Doona ask.”

*

Daniel awoke togloaming. There was a fire in the brasier in his bedchamber, which someone must have started. He was still dressed and his head felt as though someone had slammed the flat side of a sword on it.