Page 46 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

She knew from his laughter he was teasing her, so she teased him back by nipping the skin below his ear.

She wasn’t prepared for his reaction, which was a deeper thrust followed immediately by another. She’d lost count when she felt the tension build to overflowing. She screamed in pleasure at the same time fire shot into her core. A moment later Bryce fell slack next to her, panting and smiling.

Life was indeed full of changes.

…

Bryce needed to leave. Not just because he’d promised to go to the Campbells to ask for men, but because he was in danger of more than just caring for his wife. He desperately needed to put distance between them, to have time to regain control over the situation, but he couldn’t make himself go.

She was well now, but he used her injury as an excuse to keep her in bed for a few more days. He wanted her touch, her body, her cries in the darkness. A trip through the Highlands in late November was less than appealing compared to the lure of Dorie’s warmth.

He snuggled under their bedding, pulling her naked body next to his to share the heat between them. A fire in the hearth took the chill from the room, but their cozy fortress was too tempting to abandon, even though he’d told his men to be ready for drills this morning.

He groaned when someone pounded on the door. “Bryce? Are you well?” Liam asked, concern in his low voice.

“Aye. I’ll be there shortly.”

“You’ve missed the morning meal,” the lad informed him.

Bryce groaned, both for having to leave his wife’s embrace as well as missing the meal. After making love to Dorie most of the night, he was famished.

“I’ll be there shortly,” he repeated as Dorie muttered her objections.

“Stay,” she said in a sleepy voice.

“God, woman. You cannot say such things. I can’t resist you. I think maybe you truly are a witch. You’ve cast a spell over me. I can’t get enough of you.” He kissed her smiling lips and pulled away before it was too late.

After dressing as quickly as possible, he ran a finger down her cheek and kissed her forehead. “Sleep well, angel,” he whispered and left while he still could. When he opened the door, the dog pushed past him and took his place in the bed next to her. “Lucky bastard.”

It was a testament to his need that he found himself slightly jealous of a dog. He took a moment to flirt with the women in the kitchen until they offered him a meat pie, and then headed to the bailey to train with his men.

The constant drills combined with carrying rocks for Cam’s new home had turned his men into strong, formidable warriors. While they were fierce, Bryce knew they were still outnumbered. It didn’t matter how well a man could fight if there were enemies on all sides.

He would need to leave to meet with the Campbells soon, which meant leaving Dorie.

Even now he fought as hard with Liam as he fought thoughts of her naked body, her arms reaching for him.

“Ach!” He winced and drew his hand against his chest as blood welled along his arm.

“Sorry. I thought you were ready for that move,” Liam said with wide eyes.

“I wasn’t paying attention. My mind was elsewhere.”

Liam chuckled. “I think I can guess.”

Bryce was about to wipe the smile off the lad’s face when the man on the gate yelled out, “Rider!”

Everyone stepped back, forming a line, but the gate didn’t go up. Bryce ran up the steps to take a look for himself. By that time the single rider had come close enough that Bryce could see he was wearing McCurdy plaid.

The young McCurdy, Rory, if Bryce remembered correctly from the day of his wedding, held up a piece of paper. “I’ve a message for your laird,” he said.

Bryce could only imagine what bad news awaited them next.

…

Dorie put the finishing stitches on a tiny shirt for baby Aiden in the solar and smiled down at her work. It was nice to sit with Kenna and Mari and do something useful again.

There were many times she felt the urge to speak to them, to share something or ask a question. But she remained silent and felt like a fraud. She’d had good reason for not speaking when she was younger. As an adult living away from the McCurdys, she knew there was no danger in thanking her friends for saving her life and taking care of her. Or for doting over the new babe who slept in his mother’s arms.