Page 56 of A Highlander's Bride

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Daniel enjoyed thecelebration of his wedding in the great hall, and didn’t even mind that a great deal of the attention usually focused on the bride and groom was instead focused on His Majesty, King George II. He was sure almost every clan member was seeing the king for the first time and truly, not everyone had a king as a guest at their wedding, so he and Beth could be proud.

And the rest of the guests could all admire the king; Daniel spent his time admiring his beautiful wife and hoping she would soon tire of the celebration and let him bring her to his bedchamber where heplanned another sort of celebration.

They’d had a wonderful feast that had him wondering how his cook Jemima was able to put together such a meal in what little notice she’d been given.

There had been hours of dancing, singing, and toasting the newly married couple.

He turned from watching Beth on the dance floor as Gregory slapped him on his back. “I figured yer new wife would no’ want to have the traditional bedding ceremony so I passed the word among the verra drunk men that they are no’ to start one.”

“Aye, drunk or no’, there is no way I want my men seeing my naked wife.”

Lord Grant returned Beth to their table after a rousing dance. Daniel looked at her. “I want more than anything to bring ye upstairs and settle for the night, but I honestly do believe y’er looking a tad tired.”

Beth smiled and touched his arm. “’Tis true, I am feeling worn out.” She leaned in closer and said, “And ’tis anxious I am to see how ye plan to settle me for the night.”

The smile she gave him had all his blood pooling in one place. Out of respect, Daniel turned to the king sitting next to him. “Yer Majesty, after my wife’s ordeal, she is feeling tired, so we will retire now. I will speak with ye first thing in the morning.”

The king smirked and said, “I don’t expect to see you too early.”

“Most likely no’,” Daniel replied with a grin.

The king laid his hand on Daniel’s arm. “I have sent Lady Chisholm and her maid to Kensington Palace where they will remain until Lady Chisholm’s trial. I am no’ yet sure what punishment would fit what the maid did.”

He took a sip of ale and continued. “I will leave the lad, Joshua, in your hands to do what ye think is appropriate for his punishment.”

Daniel nodded and then helped Beth up. He ignored the few callsfrom the men who were sober enough to start the bedding ceremony. He just laughed and shook his head and hustled his wife upstairs.

They entered his bed chamber. It was set exactly as he had requested. Flowers had been scattered on the bed, a bottle of wine stood on a table with pieces of the cake that Jemima had made for the wedding that they would have missed.

Beth turned to him, tears in her eyes. “This is beautiful.”

He took her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “Aye, but no’ as beautiful as ye.” He bent his head and kissed her, thanking God that he had this wonderful woman for his wife, and that she had survived the horror Lady Chisholm had put her through.

*

She leaned intohis touch, heart thudding as he brushed his thumbs across her cheeks.

“I thought I would feel different as a wife,” she whispered.

Daniel arched a brow. “And do you?”

Beth nodded. “I feel… safe.”

His breath left him in a quiet rush, and then his mouth was on hers—warm, deep, full of love and hunger he’d held.

Her hands slipped beneath his shirt, sliding over the hard planes of his chest. He made a low sound and pulled her closer, lifting her into his arms and carrying her to the bed as though she weighed nothing.

Their bodies remembered the rhythm from their one time together, the heat, the way they fit—but tonight was different. He undressed her slowly, reverently, his lips following the path of each loosened fastener, each bared inch of skin.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured against her collarbone. “And you’re mine.”

She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling his mouth back to hers. “Only yours.”

Their joining was a slow claiming, a deep, aching union that spoke more than words ever could. He moved within her with care, with reverence, his forehead resting against hers as their breaths mingled.

“I love you,” she whispered as her body arched into his.