A Lesson in Passion (29 page)

The first punch came from Alec, but Bram was
prepared and dodged it easily. A smile came across Alec's face. It
had been a test, to see if the other man would truly defend himself
or continue to allow himself to be beaten. The dance continued,
with neither man making a move, simply assessing each other's
strengths and weaknesses.

Finally, Bram ran toward Alec, catching him in
the middle and knocking him to the ground. Alec rolled him over and
was on his feet in seconds. Bram was still getting up when Alec
kicked him off his feet again. Rolling quickly to the side, Bram
gained his feet. No sooner did he stand again, Alec was there with
a vicious punch to the jaw. Before he could connect the fist to
Bram's face, Bram was able to turn slightly, catching the worst of
the back of his neck.

Since Alec wasn't able to make full contact,
it gave Bram time to turn on his heel and bring his elbow into
Alec's chest. With the wind knocked out of him, Alec went down for
a moment, but was up again quickly, a little more leery of the
other man's abilities.

And so it went, each man getting in his
punches, each man hitting the ground. Alec's right eye was swollen
and Bram's left cheek was bleeding. Both men suffered several
bruises, cuts and possible broken ribs. When finally, Alec rammed
Bram into the ground, neither man got up for several
minutes.

Ian walked over to the men, as did the
Sinclair commander. Alec finally got up, limping slightly and
looking much worse for the wear. Without getting off the ground,
Bram looked up, not quite able to focus and asked, “Are we
done?”

“Aye, we are done. I dinna expect
to ever see ya again. Aye?”

“Aye,” was all Bram said, eliciting
the help of his commander with getting off the ground.

As the commander began to half walk, half
carry the laird away, Ian spoke. “What promise did ya ask of your
commander before the fight?”

Bram turned slowly, wincing at the pain. He
wasn't sure he wanted to tell the McKenna, since it meant he might
get beaten on some more. However, it seemed that Bram needed
information as well, to determine if he needed to keep his promise
to the McKenna's wife.

“I told yar wife she could come and
live with the Sinclairs if ya wouldnae take her back.” Bram kept
his eyes on Ian, noting the stiffening of his shoulders and hard
line of his jaw. “Should I collect her now, or will it no' be
necessary?”

Ian's eyes turned to angry slits as he
answered the Sinclair's question in his most menacing voice, “It
will no' be necessary. And ya shouldnae ever speak to my wife
again. Aye?”

“Aye. I am glad ya came to yar
senses. She is a brave lass, and quite bonny at that. Ya would be a
fool to let her go,” Bram said. The commander continued on, helping
the laird onto his horse. The Sinclairs slowly left the field,
returning to their lives.

Alec stood on his own until the Sinclair laird
was out of sight. Then he leaned heavily on his brother, trying not
to vomit. Without a word, Ian helped Alec mount his horse. Then he
mounted his own horse and rode with Alec back to the abbey. He
wanted Ginny to look over his brother before he rode back to
McKenna land.

He gave orders to his men, keeping five with
him for the journey back, and sending the rest home. Broderick, who
was clearly still angry with Ginny, was told to go home and bring
his new bride with him.

“What will ya do with her?” he
asked, knowing full well that his Laird was likely to look past
this huge transgression.

Pulling his commander aside, he said, “I will
take her home.”

Lowering his head, Broderick only nodded and
turned to leave.

“What would ya have me do,
Broderick. Banish her?”

“Aye. My wife stood by me. She
understood what needed to be done. What will yar wife do next time?
Will she betray ya again?” Broderick's face was red with rage. If
given the chance, he knew he would do Ginny harm. What she did, in
his estimation, was unforgivable, and she deserved nothing
less.

“She did what she did to save us.
She risked her own life to keep us from battle. She found out the
reason behind the revenge and made the only person responsible pay,
instead of asking those who were innocent, or their families, to
pay. She is no' like us, Broderick...” at that, Broderick snorted
his agreement, but Ian continued. “Nay, she is no' like us. She is
better. She understands more, she has seen more, and she wants to
do good.”

“I dinna think I can live with
her.”

Ian was incredulous. Lose his commander and
best friend? Impossible. He had to find a way to make it work,
because Ginny would be coming home with him.

“Get yar wife home and make her
safe. I will be home tomorrow and we will talk then. Dinna do
anything rash, dear friend. Please.”

Broderick heard the desperation in his Laird's
voice. “I will see ya soon, then.”

“
Aye.” And with that, Ian
turned toward the abbey with his brother in tow.

• * Chapter 27 *
  

Ian opened the wrought iron gate and
half carried his brother into the great hall of the abbey. Brother
Douglas was there, along with a few other monks, who had prepared
to assist the injured. When the monk saw only Alec, he looked
confused. “Only one?” he asked.

“Aye, there wasnae a battle,
Brother. Where is my wife?”

“Yar wife? I havenae seen her since
she asked for a horse.”

Ian gently laid Alec down by the hearth and
walked over to the monk. Trying not to look too intimidating, he
spoke in a hushed tone, “Did ya know what she had planned to
do?”

“Nay. I came out just as she was
riding across the field. Brave one, that lass. It seems she
prevented a great deal of bloodshed.”

“Aye. She may think I dinna mean to
take her home.”

“Why would she think that?” the
monk asked, knowing full well that she would be viewed as a traitor
and either banished or killed. Brother Douglas didn't believe that
Ian would kill her, but being banished would result in the same
thing. Without the kindness of strangers, it would not be long
before any lass was dead or wishing she were.

“The Sinclair laird has offered her
refuge. I told him it wouldnae be necessary. I will take my wife
home with me,” Ian had a way of saying things that left no room for
argument.

But like his wife, the monk would not take the
hint. “I will only release her to ya if I am sure ya willnae harm
her.”

Ian came to stand in front of the monk. His
frame was a good foot taller than the monk, but Brother Douglas
didn't back down. “Ya dare threaten me?”

“Aye. I know what she did and how
most Highlanders would mistake it as treason. I willnae let her go
if I think yar only going to punish her for it.”

That caused Ian to stop in his tracks. The
thought of anyone, especially himself, causing his wife harm was
unbearable. He remembered how he felt, watching her ride across
that field, especially after she wouldn't stand by him. Even then,
he would not have harmed her. The only emotion was the tearing of
his heart at the thought of never being with her again.

“Brother Douglas, ya have my word
as a Highlander, as Laird and as a McKenna. I willnae ever harm my
wife or make her pay for this action. She saved many lives today,
maybe my own. My clan...
our
clan owes her a debt, not punishment.”

With a sigh of relief, the elderly monk said,
“Ya may want to check the room ya had last night. She dinna come in
here and there are few other places she would go, save the
chapel.”

Ian strode from the room, his long legs
carrying him quickly as he searched for his wife. He walked quietly
down the hallway, not wanting to scare her away. As he approached
the door to their room, he noticed it was slightly ajar. Opening
the big wooden door, peering inside, he saw her immediately. His
wife was laying on the pallet, curled in a ball, fast
asleep.

Stepping inside quietly, not wanting her to
wake, he stared at his beautiful wife for a moment. Her hair was
still braided and wrapped around her neck. He saw smudges of dirt
on her face, marring her porcelain complexion. Staring at her face,
he noticed how long her lashes were, framing her eyes. Her lips
were full and pouty and slightly open as she slept. Her nose, cute
and pert, perfectly centered in her heart shaped face. And of
course, she shivered slightly. His wife was, once again,
cold.

His heart leapt, thinking that this woman was
now forever tied to him, would give him sons to carry on his clan
and would warm his bed as long as he lived. What had he done to
deserve this? Feeling ridiculous at such fancy, he lit a candle and
closed the door to the cell. After removing his clothing, he
climbed under the blanket and began to seduce his wife.

*
*
*

Ginny dreamt of walking through a snowstorm,
blinded by the white. She was frantically searching for something,
not being able to see where she was going. Suddenly, she found
herself in the eye of the storm. Sunshine, brilliant and yellow,
rained down and warmed her body. She stood in a beautiful field of
wildflowers, touching the blooms as she walked.

She smiled and sighed, awakening to his touch.
Ginny suddenly realized that she was no longer alone. That someone
was beside her, caressing her face, shoulders and back. Without
opening her eyes, she knew it was Ian. She could tell by his scent
and by the strength of his hands. Turning her face up to his, she
opened her mouth and allowed him to invade her.

There was a distinct chill in the room, but it
was soon banished by his warm body, wrapped around hers. Ginny used
her hands to explore his chest. Running her hands down his body,
she realized that he was already naked. “Doesn't seem fair.. you
being naked and me not,” she said in a raspy voice, caused by sleep
and passion.

“Nay, wife, it doesnae. I shall
amend that immediately.”

His hands slowly lifted her tunic over her
head, leaving her only in her chemise. Before Ian could remove it
as well, Ginny stood up. Slowly, seductively, she removed her
shoes, her hose, and finally, her chemise by lifting it over her
head. Ginny was rewarded with a look of awe on her husband's
face.

Ian sounded almost tortured when he said,
“Och, Ginny. Yar so beautiful. Come back to me, lass. I canna take
much more.”

Ginny considered asking him what had changed
his mind, but didn't want to ruin the moment. She wanted this
lovemaking to last, especially if it was to be the last. So she
walked to him, lowering herself so she was on top of him,
straddling his middle. She could feel his erection rubbing her
intimately. In response, she grinded her hips slowly, back and
forth, until Ian's face contorted from both pleasure and
pain.

His hands reached up and palmed both breasts.
Cupping her breast, Ian used his thumbs to rub her nipples, getting
them to grow hard. Ginny closed her eyes to the perfection.
Reaching down and grabbing his cock, she slowly raised it to her
opening, rubbing herself, using him like a toy.

“Please, Ginny. Now, my
love.”

Suddenly Ginny remembered that he told her he
loved her. Before lowering herself on the head of his penis, she
looked him in the eye and said, “Ian, now you belong to me.
Aye?”

Confusion was written in his perfect features,
but then a smile formed on his lips. “Aye. I belong to ya now.
Forever.” The last word was gruff, mostly from his need for
release. With his proclamation, Ginny lowered herself until he was
fully inside her. Ian sat up so he could kiss his wife fully. His
mouth conquering her, letting her know they belonged to each
other.

Ginny wrapped her legs around his middle and
reached back with one hand to caress his sack. Her other hand was
firmly around his neck, to keep her balance. Ian groaned his
approval as he grabbed her hips and began to move her back and
forth, in and out. At this angle, Ian's erection was hitting the
perfect spot inside Ginny, and soon all thought was gone, only the
pleasure of the moment remained. The burning of her orgasm was
driving her wild and she began to buck wildly against him, making
Ian grit his teeth to hold out, to give her more time.

Almost magically, Ginny was engulfed in all
encompassing ecstasy. Like lying on the beach, each wave of her
orgasm slammed her body, leaving her spent and fulfilled. Ian, in
his own need for release, threw Ginny on her back and continued to
pound into her until his orgasm rocked him. Spilling his seed into
her, Ian gave a satisfied grunt. He moved to the side, carrying her
with him, cradling her in his arms. He kissed her tenderly, but
realized that he was already getting hard again. Thinking of his
new wife, he pulled the blanket over them and began to rub her back
gently.

The room was cool, which for once felt good
against Ginny's heated skin. The only sounds were their soft
panting, as they tried to regain some control. Ian shifted
uncomfortably, as a piece of the straw mattress dug into his back.
“Och, sorry, my love.” He moved over, carrying her with him, to a
more comfortable position.