The Highlander's Outlaw Bride (25 page)

She hesitated at the top of the landing. Her eyes locked with his and for a moment Conn wondered if she would descend the stairs. He splayed his arms at his side, a silent invitation, a promise of desire and keeping. She smiled and color flooded her cheeks. From the other end of the gallery, an older man appeared at her side, dressed in festive finery. He took her arm and led her down the steps.

She glided slowly across the hall between the rows of Wyndham folk and a few from Morven. Conn’s eyes lingered briefly on Brianna’s teal blue velvet gown, his ribbon gift twined through her curls. A sparkling band circling her brow held the delicate lace in place over her head. And nestled atop the mound of her breasts winked a splendid sapphire pendant.

At last she halted before Father Roderick, and the priest glanced from Conn to Brianna and back. He cleared his throat.

“Conn MacLaurey?” he asked. Conn nodded. With a nod, the priest placed Brianna’s hand in his, and Conn stared into the happy eyes of his bride.

Chapter 28

Conn wondered when he could tastefully and unobtrusively remove his new wife from the feast. He smiled at an elderly lady who wished him and his bride good health, and nodded at a man who raised his glass, saluting Conn’s good fortune.

Bray stalked to his side as Conn perused the crowded hall. “I am glad ye made it. Ye look well enough for a man who wasted no time on the trail.”

“There were a few of us who did not wish to miss your
cérémonie du marriage
. It was well done, laird.” Bray motioned toward Brianna. “Ye best claim her before she collapses.”

Conn followed his direction and spotted her standing in the midst of a chattering group of young women, a strained look on her face.

With a start, he realized the long day and her pregnancy likely exhausted her, and he jerked away from his indolent stance at the fireplace. Shoving his mug of ale into Bray’s hands, he strode toward his wife. He made his way through the crowd, nodding absently to well-wishers. Reaching Brianna’s side, he slid an arm around her waist and felt her sag against him.

“Are ye well?” he whispered as he kissed her ear.

She turned bright eyes and a tired smile on him. “Och, I am fine.”

Conn gave her a tender look. “Dearling, when ye need something, dinnae deny me the opportunity to provide it.” He guided her to the side, away from listening ears. “Wait a wee bit, then excuse yerself. Go up to yer room. I will be there shortly.”

“I shouldnae leave the guests—”

Conn stopped her protest with a finger to her lips. “They will be here until the food and wine are gone.” His attention wandered to the softness of her lips and he slowly rubbed his finger against their gentle curve. “’Tis time for us to retire.”

“Och, then we can retire together. They willnae follow us up. I am no maiden, and I am already with child, though I would prefer to keep that to ourselves a bit longer.”

“Ye are right, but I still think I will get Bray to stand guard at the foot of the stairs. Blushing virgin or not, ’tis still a wedding and I would rather avoid any pranks, however well-meant.”

“A fine idea. I shall go now.” She wound through the room, pausing to greet guests along her way. Conn watched the swing of her hips for a moment, then strode to Bray to ask his favor.

“
Oui,
I will keep the marauding horde from your doorway,” he vowed, hand over his heart in jesting promise. With a nod of thanks, Conn took his leave. Ahead of him, Brianna paused at the foot of the stairs. Jamie, clearly both exhausted and over-stimulated by the excitement, threw himself at her, wrapping his arms fiercely about her waist.

“Anna!” he howled. “Dinnae leave me, Anna!” He buried his face in her skirts, sobbing into the costly velvet. Brianna pried his hands from the fabric, pushing him slightly away as she hunkered down to his height.

“Wheesht, lad!” she admonished him. “Why do ye
haiver
so?”

“Ye are leaving me again,” he sobbed. “Like ye did before. Ye are leaving, and ye are never coming back!”

“Och, ye know that isnae true. Ye can visit me at Morven whenever ye wish once I am settled there.”

Jamie drew back, giving his sister an accusing stare. “Ye are, too, leaving me. And I willnae let ye!” His lower lip quivered and Brianna took a deep breath.

“Jamie, Da and Auld Willie will be here. And I will leave Tam here for ye, too. Ye willnae be alone. And Una will tuck ye in at night.”

“But she willnae tell me stories.” He leaned backward, straining against her grip on his hands.

Conn strode to them, placing a hand on Brianna’s shoulder in support. “We will be here a couple more days, lad. Then, if ye are agreeable, ye can ride with us to Morven and see where yer sister will be living. Would ye like that?”

Jamie glanced at him and snuffled, dragging the back of his wrist across his nose before he answered. “Can I really go with ye?” he asked, cautious hope on his face. Brianna gave Conn a startled look, but he smiled at Jamie and patted his head.

“I would imagine ye could do a lot of things if ye would refrain from rumpling yer sister’s good clothes,” he told him in a conspiratorial whisper. “The lasses dinnae like their clothes getting all mussed up.”

“Anna doesnae mind.” Jamie stoutly defended his sister. “She isnae like other lasses. She even likes
puddies
!”

Conn grinned. “Good. Because there are a lot of frogs at Loch Mor. Now, ye need a good night’s sleep so ye can start packing yer things on the morrow.” He gave the lad a nod. “Off ye go.”

Jamie started to leave, then rushed back to give Brianna a quick hug. “Can she tell me a bedtime story?” he asked Conn.

Conn shook his head. “Nae, lad. Not tonight.”

Jamie’s lower lip slipped out in a pout. “Why not?”

Conn leaned down and whispered in the lad’s ear. “She is telling
me
a story tonight.”

Jamie’s face registered surprise. “Truth?”

Conn nodded solemnly. Jamie appeared to give it some thought, then looked back at his sister. “Aye, then.”

With that, he took himself off to bed. Brianna turned to Conn, a look of bemusement on her face. “What did ye tell the lad?”

“Seems Jamie has a new appreciation for marriage.” Conn grinned. “He will learn the truth in a few years.”

“And what would that be?”

“That husbands get a bedtime story
every
night.”

* * *

Brianna had almost finished brushing her hair when she saw the opening of the door reflected in her mirror. Laying her brush carefully on the table, she waited as Conn walked through the door, closing it securely behind him. He crossed the room and stood behind her, filling his hands with the mass of her hair.

He leaned close, his lips teasing the edge of her ear. “I love yer hair, the way it glows like moonlight.” He pulled her against him, running his hands up and down her arms. Invisible sparks arced between them where their bodies touched.

“I love the way it spills across my hands, the way it smells.” He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, nuzzling the side of her neck. “And I love the way ye feel in my arms.”

His hand drifted to the ribbon at her neck. Grasping it, he slowly slid the pendant up her skin, eliciting goose bumps along its trail. “How did ye get this?”

“I had given it to Gavin to be sold, but there is no place in Wyndham’s village to sell such a piece and he held it until he would make a trip elsewhere for grain.”

“I suppose it should bother me ye gave my gift to another man, and in some small way it does. But I understand the why of it, and I am particularly pleased he saw fit to give it back to ye. I promise ye, Wyndham willnae go hungry this winter.”

Brianna slipped the pendant from her neck and laid it on the table before her. She closed her eyes and sighed, tilting her head back against his shoulder, giving in to the sensations of pleasure shooting through her. She looked into the mirror, to his storm-dark eyes, and smiled at him. “I think I may like ye,” she murmured, arching an eyebrow.

He laid his lips against her cheek. “Want to find out for sure?” he challenged in a husky whisper that made her knees quiver, and made her glad she was seated.

His warm breath fanned across her skin and sent ripples of delight down her spine. She shuddered as she sucked in her breath.

“Aye.”

Conn pulled her from her seat and into his arms. She wound her arms around his neck, melting into his kiss. Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the bed and laid her on the soft coverlet. Her hands flew to unfasten his leine and he pulled back only for the instant it took him to fling the garment to the floor. He stretched out on the bed, pulling her down beside him, running his hands over the nearly transparent muslin of Brianna’s under gown, past the delicate embroidery, to the hem caught beneath her legs.

Brianna wriggled until he tugged it free, leaving it loosened about her, then lay back to catch her breath. Running her hands over his shoulders and across his chest, she thrilled to the feel of his skin pulled across taut muscles. She followed his gaze as his eyes roamed over her body, knowing she was subtly different, aware he noticed the changes. He explored the roundness of her breasts and the slight mound of her stomach with his hands, sending new tremors through her. Splaying a hand across her belly, he caressed it gently.

“Have ye felt the bairn move yet?”

Brianna shook her head. “I thought I did once, but I am certain it is still too early.”

He kissed where his hand had lain, and Brianna laughed as his chin tickled her through the sheer fabric. He grinned at her. “My loving ye is funny?”

“Yer whiskers!” she replied, squealing as he rubbed his cheek vigorously across her belly. But her laughter changed with a sudden intake of breath as he ceased his play and trailed his kisses lower and lower as she arched against his touch. She reached for him to bring him closer, but he resisted.

“I am afraid of hurting the bairn. Not for all the pleasure in the world would I risk harming him.”

“Ye cannae hurt the bairn,” she assured him, stroking his arm. “Dinnae stop.”

Conn chuckled. “Then I willnae let ye hold back, either. I promise ye will have yer pleasure. I am not so muddle-headed this time.”

“Show me what I have been missing, Conn. I would be yer wife in full.”

His gaze locked with hers. “Ye shall be.”

He knelt beside her and gathered her hands in his. He kissed each finger, opening her hands slowly to kiss her palms. She shuddered as the tip of his tongue slid across her skin, and he looked up, a wicked smile on his face.

Sliding off the bed, he unwound his plaide, leaving his clothing in a heap on the floor. Brianna couldn’t help the lift of her brow as she beheld his form.

“Ye dinnae appear so in the moonlight.”

“’Twas over much too soon, dearling. This night, we have as much time as we wish.”

Her insides tightened at his bold promise and she pushed to a sitting position, motioning for him to turn. She lost sight of his cocky smile as he faced away, but she was content to admire the strong line of his back and buttocks. For a moment.

With a laugh, Conn faced her again, arms folded across his chest, feet planted a foot or so apart. “Yer turn.”

Nerves fluttered down her arms as Brianna accepted his challenge. Running her fingertips across the tops of her breasts, she fingered the tie at her neck for a moment before grasping the loose end. She pulled it slowly downward, exposing her breasts inch by tantalizing inch. His eyes flashed and Brianna reached for the hem of her shift, pooled about her on the bed.

With a twist, she yanked the fabric over her head and it floated to floor without so much as a whisper of sound. Her skin prickled and she shivered.

“Cold?” His voice rasped.

“Titillated.” She smiled.

Conn groaned. “I have married an educated woman.”

“Ye know I am not a simpering virgin.”

He sank onto the bed beside her, running his eyes hungrily over her before meeting her gaze. “Ye are a bold young woman who is not afraid to state her mind, and who is used to giving orders.” One side of his mouth quirked upward. “I will do whatever ye bid me this night.”

“I dinnae have enough experience to command yer performance.”

His grin widened. “By the end of the night, ye will.”

* * *

Brianna felt Conn’s breath stir the hair at her neck. “Wake up, dearling,” he whispered in her ear. She sighed and snuggled her backside closer against him, feeling her heart rate jolt at the memory of her pleasure at his hands. She moaned softly. He jostled her and she opened her eyes. Pale light streaked through the window, and the manor house was silent.

“Shh. Dinnae move.”

“I dinnae think I can.” She pulled a leg free from beneath his and stretched slowly, feeling her muscles’ light protest.

Conn chuckled in her ear. “We have company, my love.”

Startled, she glanced quickly about the room and spied a small bundle in the chair beside the fireplace across from their bed. She started to sit up, but Conn’s hand stopped her even as she remembered she was naked beneath the bedding.