Grant Clan 06 - My Desperate Highlander (18 page)

Micheil grasped Alex’s hand first, then Robbie’s. “My thanks. I will be forever indebted to you for ridding my wife’s clan of these heathens.”

“Your clan now, Ramsay,” Alex reminded him.

As they conversed, servants sneaked out onto the balcony, out of the kitchens, and in the front doors, expressions of hope clearly evident on their faces.

As the members of the Drummond Clan hesitantly emerged, they erupted into cheers when they realized the baron was dead. Alex held up his arms to quiet them after a few moments. He pointed to Micheil. “I introduce to you Diana of Drummond’s husband, Micheil Ramsay. Honor him as you do her, and let us see if we can clean this place up and make it worthy of Diana’s presence, especially during this difficult time for her.”

His men and the servants joined together to remove the bodies and set the furniture back to rights. Alex said, “Go to your wife, Ramsay. You must meet her sire, if he still lives. Robbie and I will direct the clan, though they are quite happy to be free of that monster, even after only a couple of days of his tyranny, and will handle everything on their own.”

Micheil nodded and headed back to the kitchens. A servant led him to the tunnel door, and he rushed through the cool air, hoping to find Diana safe and warm with her sire.

Once outside, he headed east and found many of her guards not far from the cottage. He informed them of the demise of the baron and sent a group back to help with the restoration of the keep.

The men directed him to the cottage. Making his way to the front door, he said a silent prayer that Diana’s sire still lived. He stepped into the dark cottage, and as soon as his eyes adjusted to the light, he found his wife asleep on the bed next to her sire.

An old weathered hand beckoned him forward.

Micheil strode over to the figure in the bed and said, “Laird Drummond? You are awake?”

“Aye, my son. I have awaited my daughter’s return, but it took some time for me to gain the strength to speak to her.” He patted her hand. “Seems she is tired, so I will let her rest. I would like to speak to you first.”

Micheil was dumbfounded and wanted to awaken his wife. But first he would allow her sire to speak his mind, so afraid he would reject him because of his status as a third son. “Aye?”

Keen eyes assessed him. “I see you wear some blood. Does that mean you have finally rid my keep of the baron and his men?”

Micheil nodded. “Aye, but only with the help of the Grants and their warriors. ‘Tis done. Gow is dead.”

He shook his head slowly. “I advised him to leave before Alex Grant returned. All of the Scots know of his prowess in battle. Nevertheless, my thanks.”

Micheil peeked at his wife again, settling his hand on her hip as she slept.

“You love my lassie, do you not?”

Micheil nodded. “Aye, more than I ever thought possible.”

David of Drummond looked directly at him, his eyes misting as he reached out to grasp Micheil’s hand. His face was drawn and pale, but Micheil could tell he had need to share before he would let go, so he allowed him to speak without interruption.

The old chieftain spoke, “Och, it does my heart good to finally meet you. Seems a man willing to fight for her would love her, too. She’s a good gel. You’ll take care of her for me?”

Micheil nodded, for some reason incapable of speaking at the moment.

“Promise me to care for not just her body, but her heart as well. She is a special lass.”

“I will.” His voice broke. He stepped away to grab a Drummond plaid from a nearby chair and covered his wife with it before kissing her cheek.

David Drummond patted his hand and said, “Lad, ‘tis a pleasure to finally meet my daughter’s knight. You have my blessing.” He sighed and closed his eyes, folding his hands across his chest. “I am going to rest. I do wish to summon the strength to speak to my daughter one last time.”

He closed his eyes, so Micheil moved into the chair by the hearth.

***

It was the middle of the night when something woke her. She noticed someone had come in and covered her with a plaid. Everything came back to her slowly when she realized where she was.

“Lass, could you lean a bit away from me? I am not as strong as I used to be.”

Her head popped up as her gaze flew to her father. The familiar spark in his gaze told her he was entirely himself, though he clearly had not regained much strength. “Papa? By the saints above, thank you. Papa, are you truly speaking to me?”

“Aye, lass.” He sighed and took as deep of a breath as he could, squeezing her hand before he continued. “I do not have much time left, but your mother made me come back, just for you,” he whispered.

She moved off the bed and into the chair next to it, pulling it as close as she could. “What do you mean? You have seen Mama?”

“Aye, she awaits me and I have missed her. Your mama is my heart and soul, and I was so happy to finally see her again. I was prepared to cross over, but she wanted me to return to you one last time. She wishes she had been here to raise you, but she is so proud of you, and pleased with the person you have become. She’s proud of both of us.” He smiled before continuing. “‘Tis my time, daughter, and I think you know it, but I must finish my mission.” He paused, gathering the strength to continue speaking.

“Papa, do not overdo it. Please listen to me. I’ve married my knight. His name is Micheil and I love him so. I want you to meet him, please? Give us your blessing.”

“Och, lass, ‘tis why I came back. Your mama wouldn’t welcome me …until I met your knight. She says he is the right one, and I have one more duty I must do.”

“I’ll get him. Wait.” She stood up, begging him. “Promise me you will wait.”

Her father raised his hand and pointed behind her. “He is already here. I met him. He is a fine man, and I welcome him as a son. He covered you with the plaid, just as I would have done if I had the strength.”

Micheil stood behind her, and he grasped her hand in his. “I’ve been sitting in the chair next to the fire, love. I did not wish to disturb you.”

Diana’s face flooded with tears; how wonderful it was to finally see the two men who lived so strong in her heart meet. She grabbed her husband’s hand and tugged him close to the bed. “Papa, here he is. My husband, Micheil Ramsay.” She pushed Micheil ahead of her so her sire could see him. Even though they had already met,
she
had not introduced them. Micheil clearly knew her mind, for he leaned down to the gentleman and said, “I am honored to meet you, Chief Drummond, and I want you to know how much I love your daughter. I pledge to protect her with my life.”

David Drummond’s trembling hand came up to grab Micheil’s. “Och, son, I welcome you to the Drummond clan. My wife and I are verra happy to have you here.” He glanced at Diana and smiled. “My lass has been everything to me since her mama’s passing. She has a good mind and will do a fine job leading the clan. Do you pledge to assist her and plan to live here with us?”

“Aye, I do. She is a strong, vibrant lass who has stolen my heart. We will live here and plan to raise our bairns here. My family is not far, and we may travel some.”

“Good, good.” He patted Micheil’s hand. “She’ll challenge you a time or too, but she has a big heart. I’m afraid…”

“Papa? What is it?”

“Och, lass, I’m weary. I’m not much longer for this world, my time is near.” His breathing became irregular, and he struggled to cough.

“Papa, not yet. Please.” She squeezed his hand as his eyes fluttered shut. Micheil stepped back to allow her to be closer to her father.

“Your mama and I love you, Diana….so proud of you.”

“Papa, wait.”

The door opened and Alex Grant strode over to the bed. He reached for the Drummond’s hand and said, “Uncle, do you bless this union?”

Her sire’s eyes opened, and he patted his daughter’s hand. “Aye. I bless the marriage of my daughter to Micheil Ramsay. Let all know ‘tis my wish.” His eyes closed.

Alex set the man’s hand down on the covers, kissed Diana’s forehead, and left the chamber.

Diana grabbed his hand again. “Papa? Nay, please not yet?” She leaned closer, unable to hear his breathing anymore, not wanting to accept the truth.

“Papa, nay. I love you.” She kissed his forehead and sobbed as her sire took his last breath.

Micheil gathered her in his arms and held her while she wept.

***

About an hour later, Micheil scooped his wife up in his arms and carried her out of the cottage and back to the keep, nodding to Robbie Grant when they departed.

“The baron, Micheil?”

“The baron is dead. ‘Tis all you need to know. Close your eyes as we go through. The battle took place in your hall. You do not need to see this.”

She buried her face in his shoulder.

“Where’s your chamber, lass?” Micheil whispered, once they had traveled through the tunnel and up the stairs to the second level of the keep.

Diana pointed down the passageway, so Micheil made his way down the corridor until she stopped him and directed him to the correct chamber. He set her on the bed and returned to bolt the door.

Not quite sure what she wanted him to do, he nestled in to her side and hugged her close. “Tell me what to do for you. Anything, I’ll do anything you want.”

Diana sniffled and laid her head on his shoulder. “I want you.”

Her crying had subsided. Micheil did not think she could possibly have another tear inside her. Her answer was unexpected, but he truly would do anything to help her through this difficult time.

“It would be my pleasure to hold you in my arms all night. You must be tired after all the trials you have endured. Close your eyes, sweeting. You have been a good daughter to your sire. ‘Tis time to take your rest.” He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent, hoping she could find some peace this night.

“Nay. I
want
you.” Her hand reached up under his plaid and brushed across his thigh.

Micheil did not quite know what to say, but he did not want to misinterpret her request at such a time.

“Love me, Micheil. I need you this night. I want naught between us, no clothes, naught.”

Micheil lifted his gaze and stared into the eyes of his beautiful wife. “Are you sure? I’m happy just to hold you. This has been a verra difficult day for you.”

“Nay, I want to be in your arms. I want you inside me as we were meant to be, skin to skin, heart to heart. Love me the way I love you.” She looked at him and brushed his long hair back from his face. “Please, Micheil. I need you. But let it be different this time. I want you to love me slowly, so we can feel the power of it. ‘Tis what I need now.”

Micheil kissed her lips, a sweet tender kiss meant to tell her how much she meant to him. She parted her lips and teased him with her tongue. Oh, how he had missed the taste of his love. He cupped her face and gave her a slow tangle, a delicious assault on her mouth until their need for each other mounted.

He ended the kiss and climbed out of the bed, kissing her fingertips as she reached for him.

“Nay, do not leave me, husband.”

“I only seek to do as you ask. I will return once I remove these cumbersome threads from my body, then I will work on yours.” He kissed the palm of her hand before he stepped away and unhooked the brooch from his blue and green plaid. Once it fell to the floor, he removed everything else. His long dark hair tumbled almost to his shoulders—it was in need of a trimming, but his wife did not seem to mind. His beard was rough and unkempt since he had not had the time to tend it. He would have to be careful to keep his roughness from chafing his wife’s tender skin.

Moving back to the bed, he pulled back the furs and the covers on his side, finally reaching for his wife, who still rested atop the coverings and was watching his every move with a glint in her eye. She sat up for him, and he undid the bindings on the back of her gown, tugging the laces before freeing her of her overgown, her undergown, and finally her chemise and her stockings. She held her arms out to him, and he lifted her lithe body off the covers so he could pull them back and settle her under the protection they offered from the cool night.

“Come back to me, Micheil.” She gazed at him through her long lashes and licked her lips. “Please do not make me wait any longer.”

Micheil climbed in next to her and nuzzled her neck. “I have instructions for you, my lady.”

She arched a quizzical brow at him and he smiled. “You have been through too much, so I ask that you rest while I spend my time getting to know your body even more than I already have.”

A lazy grin crossed her features as she reached a hand up to run it through his long, thick locks. “I am all yours, Micheil Ramsay. My sire has blessed our union. I am yours forever, so you may do with me as you wish.”

He removed her hand from his hair, kissed her palm, and trailed kisses up her arm, forcing a shiver from her as he reached the sensitive skin on the underside. His lips then traced a path down her ribcage and up to her breast, kissing around the outside of the full mound before reaching the center and taking her sensitive bud in his mouth. His tongue took a lazy path down the curve of one breast and back up to the peak of her other, causing his wife to moan softly, her fingers finding his hair again.

He deftly brought her other nipple to a taut peak, swirling his tongue around it before he suckled her hard and was rewarded with the passionate response he’d hoped to receive. His wife grabbed his hips, trying to force him closer, but he would not give in to her just yet. His tongue traveled down her belly and into the vee of curls at the juncture of her thighs. When he came close to her bud, he moved away, meandering down the inside of her leg to her knee.

Rolling her onto her side, he kissed the inside of each knee until she moaned. The clenching of the muscles in her legs each time he touched her with his tongue told him his ministrations were heating her passion. Rolling her onto her belly, he tasted the back of each knee before traveling up the backs of her thighs and licking a path across the soft roundness of her bottom until she squealed and squirmed, kicking her legs against the bed in torment, causing him to sit up and chuckle. Massaging her back with his hands, he brought them down over her soft mounds, caressing her with a feather light touch that caused her to buck off the bed toward him.

How he loved the way she responded to his touch. “You like, my sweet?” He grinned at her in the dark, gratified to see her react this way to him. She would be calling out his name multiple times before he was done. He had so much to teach her, but there was an abundance of time. Tonight, he would tend her every need. This night was for her.

She rolled onto her back and reached for his hand. “Micheil, you are torturing me. Please finish this, now.”

“My pleasure.” He went straight for her core and tongued her clit, alternating between licking the nub and plunging his tongue inside of her. When her moans reached a fevered pitch, he suckled her nub and plunged his finger inside her, forcing her to go over the edge, her muscles spasming around his finger.