Page 34 of A Highlander's Bride

“Where are we going?”

He smiled at her. “Somewhere private. I need time with ye, lass.”

“I’m no’ sure this is a good idea.”

He shook his head and placed his finger over her lips. “Just for a few minutes. Things are simply too loud at the bonfire.”

After a few minutes, they were in a small glen with which he was very familiar. Even in the dark, the star-studded sky and bright moon highlighted the area. Dips and valleys in the distance gave the space a feeling of being on top of the world.

He turned and gathered Beth into his arms. He lowered his head and took her mouth in a searing kiss. No hesitation on her part, she responded with fervor. He pulled her close enough that they wereplastered against each other.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and she slid her hands up his chest and encircled his neck. The feel of her soft body against his almost drove him crazy. He wanted her so much. Definitely in his bed, but also in his life. She was perfect for him. He was growing nervous about Lady Chisholm and had to get a definite answer from Beth so he could see her father, and get the wedding date set.

No matter what it took, he would not lose her.

*

Beth had lostall reason. Daniel’s lips, warm skin, muscular chest pressed against her breasts brought strange feelings to her stomach. And lower parts.

He pulled away and began to nibble on her ear, leaving kisses in the trail of his mouth as he moved from one ear to the next, nibbling on her skin. “Ach, lass, ye’re driving me crazy.”

His hand slowly made its way down her shoulder to her breast, where he pinched the nipple begging for his touch. She gasped, and he covered her entire breast with his large warm hand, kneading, plucking, and bringing even more pleasurable feelings to her body.

“This is what we can do all the time if ye agree to marry me, sweetheart. There are so many ways I can bring ye pleasure, so many ways we can pleasure each other.” He moved his mouth to her ear. “Say ‘aye’.”

She tried to shake her head no, but he gripped her bottom and lifted her until she felt what she knew was his male part, which was very swollen.

No longer remembering what she was saying ‘nay’ to, she groaned and rubbed back and forth. Daniel sucked in a breath and moved his head to her neck, scattering kisses, nipping, sucking.

He pulled back and she slowly opened her eyes. “Say ‘aye’, lass.”

His eyes were black, his entire face tense with passion. Why was she saying nay? A lifetime of this kind of activity, of enjoying Daniel’s company, beating him at chess, and one day bearing a bairn who looked like a combination of him and her.

It might not be so bad having a bairn or two. It might even be fun.

Before she could answer, he said, “What can I do to get an ‘aye’ from ye, sweetheart?”

She’d always wanted a love match like her parents and sisters had. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved the arrogant oaf, but did he love her? Or was it all passion he felt for her?

She decided to be honest if that is what he wanted in a wife. “Do ye love me?”

He startled for a moment, then his face softened and he said, “Aye, lass. I love ye, and didn’t realize it until just now when ye asked. Of course I want ye in my bed, but ’tis much more than that I feel for ye. Ye are smart, compassionate, funny, and I love being in yer company.”

He pulled her to him with a kiss that set them both on fire. He pulled back, both of them panting. “We would be great partners, as well as lovers.”

She thought for a moment, then, after taking a deep breath, looked him in the eye. “Aye, Laird Daniel Mackenzie. I will marry ye.”

Chapter Twelve

No more thantwenty feet from the passionate couple, Lady Chisholm tightened her lips. The bitch had managed to wangle a proposal out of the laird.

No matter, she would take care of it Alice needed a husband and her mam would get one for her. Not the one Alice wanted, but the one who would bring money, prestige, and security for both her and Lord Chisholm.

Their life would change drastically if Alice didn’t marry someone like Laird Mackenzie. The invitation to come to the Castle Leod to be a possible wife to the laird had arrived at the perfect time.

She and her husband would no longer be able to keep their life together if there wasn’t a new source of money.

She shook her head. Alice wanted to marry that man who had nothing, whom she claimed fathered the bairn she was carrying.He’s a hard workershe said. So what? If her daughter thought life with a “hard worker” would be satisfying, she was living in a dream world.