Highland Troth (Highland Talents Book 3) (28 page)

“Will ye be mine, then?”

“Aye, of course. Here? Now?”

Jamie pulled back, his eyes full of regret as he searched her face. “Yer first time must be special. As much as I want ye…need ye, this is neither the time nor the place.” He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers for a moment.

“My first time
will
be special, because it will be with ye.”

Jamie’s teeth caught his lower lip as he studied her. “It will be hours yet before MacGregor’s men tire of chasing the others and come this way—if they ever do.”

“So we’re safe if I want it to be here…and now?” Caitrin murmured in his ear then licked and nipped his neck just behind it.

Jamie’s grip on her tightened.

“Now, Jamie. Here. And now.”

With an oath, he grabbed the rolled-up plaid from behind his saddle and moved away from the horses before tossing it open on the ground. Then he picked up Caitrin and laid her on the plaid, joining her there before she’d had a chance to catch her breath.

Caitrin arched against him as he kissed his way down her throat, then unlaced the tie at her neck, and continued running his lips and tongue down her chest. With eager fingers, he pulled aside the bodice and covered her peaked nipple with the wet heat of his mouth, licking and sucking, before he moved to the opposite side.

Caitrin moaned, and the sound seemed wrenched from deep within her, so deep that it sounded like it belonged to someone else. Like Jamie. Aye, he moaned, too, as he tugged her skirt above her knees and slipped a hand underneath. She opened her legs while Jamie’s hand strayed higher, fully aware of his hard length on her thigh as his fingers found her moist center. Caitrin bucked, but Jamie didn’t let up, with mouth or hand, as he murmured sweet words and his body rocked against hers. She barely knew what happened before she found herself moaning his name and drowning in sudden pleasure the likes of which she’d never felt before.

Jamie eased up, slowing his seduction in time with her breathing as the last pulses claimed her. Then he caressed her hip with the hand beneath her skirt while he kissed her again, then told her, “It will be like that, love, only more so, when I make ye mine. But yer first time should be done in comfort, no’ on a plaid on the ground. Never fear…” he continued, stroking his big warm hand down her hip as he silenced her with a kiss, “I will make ye mine. And soon. I can barely stop myself now.”

She gave him a soft smile. He was trying to care for her the best way he could, reigning in his own passions to protect her. But she wanted him as much as he wanted her. “Then dinna stop, Jamie. I want this. With ye.” Caitrin’s breathing speeded as Jamie’s hand wandered up, tugging gently on the damp curls at the apex of her thighs. “I meant it when I said
now
.”

“Ye willna wish to ride…after.”

“Then I’ll ride with ye. ’Tis only an hour, ye said.”

Jamie chuckled. “Ye will, indeed.” His hand left her body.

Caitrin stroked down his chest to his belt and fumbled with the catch.

“Let me.”In moments, Jamie had freed himself and pushed Caitrin’s skirt up to give him access. “Ye’re lovely to look at, lass.”

“Ye are…intimidating.”

“We can wait for a bed.”

Caitrin reached out and traced a finger around the moist head of Jamie’s erection. “Or no’.”

With an oath, Jamie took her hand away and kissed it while he moved between her thighs. “It will hurt, but only for a bit.”

“So I’ve heard. I want ye, Jamie. I always have. I willna wait any longer.”

With that, Jamie began to push his way inside.

She welcomed the pressure. It filled the emptiness within her that ached for him. She scarce noticed the pinch as he breached her barrier. Her heart swelled with joy, with relief, that Jamie, the man she’d loved for so very long, finally possessed her. The rightness of it brought tears to her eyes, happy tears. Satisfied tears. She seized around him then slowly relaxed as he held still, giving her time to accustom to his length and thickness. “Now, Jamie,” she whispered.

“As milady wishes,” he murmured and began to move within her.

****

So close was he to bursting with the joy of finally possessing Caitrin, Jamie could scarce control himself. He’d loved her for years. This moment had been delayed too long, but it was finally here. Her demand, her welcome, tasted sweeter than anything he could remember in his life. As he stilled to give her time to adjust to his body within hers, he marveled at the fate that had brought them back together. At how this woman fought to make him hers. As he longed to make her his.

At her whispered, “Now, Jamie,” he withdrew a bit and pushed back in, each time making the stroke longer until he set the rhythm that would drive him to heights, and bring Caitrin with him. Fire spread from his cock to his belly, pulling his balls up tight and tensing every muscle in his body. “I canna wait, lass. I want ye too much.”

“Then take me, Jamie. I want ye, even more.”

His release staggered him, lasting far longer than he was accustomed to. At its end, he rolled to his side, pulling Caitrin with him, still deep within her, and wrapped her in his arms. “Ach, lass, I’ve waited a lifetime for ye.”

“I doubt that,” Caitrin told him with a giggle as she shifted the leg wrapped over him and kicked him in the ass with her heel. “Though I have, for ye.”

Jamie kissed her, savoring the taste of her lips. “And ye have proof, aye,” he teased, thinking of the blood likely on her thighs, and the uncomfortable ride ahead. “But it doesna matter. I would have ye to wife, nay matter yer history, nor mine.”

“So ye shall, if we both survive the MacGregor.”

He winced, wishing she had not mentioned that name. “We shall.” Reluctantly, he withdrew from her and propped his head on his hand while he stroked her cheek with the other. “But we’ll no’ do that staying here much longer. When ye are ready, we’ll go on our way.”

She slid her leg off his hip and pushed down her skirt. “There wouldna be a handy stream nearby, would there?”

He shook his head. “Nay, but I have water.”

Caitrin sat up and retied her bodice. Jamie lifted a hand to her breast and stroked over and under it. “Beautiful, even when hidden.”

She snorted and pushed aside his hand. “Water, if ye will.” She glanced down and winced. “Ye’ll be needing a rinse, as well.”

He nodded. “Virgin’s blood. Aye.” He rolled to his feet, holding his trews up with one hand, and pulled a flask from his pack. He dampened the corner of his shirt, and then he offered the water to her, and cleaned up as best he could. The sight of Caitrin dabbing at the blood on her inner thighs had him hardening again in his hand. He tucked away his wayward cock and rearranged his clothes. She did not need a repeat this soon. Between his size and riding a horse for another hour, she would not thank him.

In moments, she sighed and stood, then bent to roll up the soiled end of the plaid. “There’s nay sense advertising what we just did,” Caitrin said with a grin.

Jamie rolled the rest of it to fit and replaced it behind his saddle. “I have already spoken to yer da. I’ll make this official as soon as I can.” But when? And what would be the consequence for Lathan? Well, it was too late to worry about that, not that it would make any difference. He loved Caitrin and would marry her.

Caitrin nodded. “I believe ye.” Her quiet confidence steadied him.

“But for now, I must keep ye out of MacGregor’s clutches. Let’s go.”

He helped Caitrin take her seat. Her slight hesitation as she settled herself told him she suffered at least some discomfort. “Would ye rather ride with me?”

“Nay, I’ll be fine.” But she winced as she said it, leaning forward to pick up the reins. “If we’re to arrive before nightfall, we’d best be on our way.”

They made the rest of the trip in silence, riding gently to spare Caitrin as much discomfort as possible. As long as they encountered no one, Jamie would gladly keep the easy pace, though he still fretted at being away from enough men to protect her. Fortunately, they crossed paths with no one and arrived at Fletcher’s cousin’s croft well before dark.

“Ye dinna remember me, I’m sure,” Rabbie told Caitrin as he led her toward the croft. “Ye were little more than a bairn the one time yer parents came this way.”

Jamie would have loved to hear the rest of that story, but the horses needed attention, and he needed to talk to his men.

“All’s quiet,” Kyle assured him as they brushed the animals down and settled them for the night in the cousin’s rough barn.

“For now,” Jamie warned. “I want ye three, Will, and Malcolm’s men to bed down in here when no’ on watch. Keep each mount’s tack handy in case we need to ride quickly.”

“Do ye think we will?”

“I canna ken. Between Fletcher’s, yers, and our trails, MacGregor’s men will be led on a merry chase across the countryside. Mayhap they’ll never arrive here—at least, no’ until we’re long gone.”

“How long do ye plan to stay?”

“Ye ken we thought we’d be leaving Caitrin here and returning to MacGregor as if naught was amiss. But with all of us, and Lady MacGregor and Fletcher gone from the keep, we havena any reason to return, and many reasons to avoid it.”

“As many as MacGregor has men, aye.”

“Aye.” Jamie set aside the curry comb he’d been using on a tangle in Caitrin’s mount’s mane and rubbed the beast’s shoulder. “We’ll leave in the morning for the Aerie.”

“Directly?”

“Nay, I want ye to pair up and go in different directions. We’ll meet at the edge of Lathan territory and go on from there.”

“I’ll take first watch,” Kyle offered.

“Set the others to follow ye. I trust Madeleine kens her men, but pair them with one of ours for the watch, including Malcolm. I’ll be in the croft, staying close in case of trouble.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “Let the horses rest two hours then saddle the freshest pair. We may no’ have the time it takes to ready them all and my main concern is to get Caitrin away if there is trouble.”

“Aye, I will.”

With a nod, Jamie left Kyle to organize the watch. Inside the croft, Rabbie had a small but cheerful blaze going in the hearth. Caitrin sat at table with a mug at hand and a wooden tray of bread and cheese before her. Judging by the sounds he heard, Rabbie moved about the loft, preparing the extra sleeping space. He hoped the man planned to sleep up there, because Jamie would be down here, guarding the door all night.

Caitrin looked up at the loft and frowned.

“Is something amiss, lass?” he asked quietly.

She brought her gaze back to him and shook her head. “Ye must be hungry.”

Her words were innocent enough, but Jamie caught the undertone and smiled at the memory of the exertion she expected would have given him an appetite.

“Aye. A bite wouldna go amiss. Is there enough for the men?”

“Aye. I left a bundle of food and a jug of ale by the door.”

He took those out to Kyle then hurried back to Caitrin. “Help yerself,” she offered as he settled on the bench beside her. She pushed the tray toward him, rose to pour another mug of ale, and offered it. “I’ve had my fill for now.”

Reaching for the mug, he grazed his fingertips over hers before she released it. He canted an eyebrow, making her smile. “There’s always tomorrow,” he promised.

“’Tis my fondest wish.” Caitrin’s saucy grin made her meaning perfectly clear.

He ached for her, but he also ached to get her clear of MacGregor’s reach and safe within the Aerie. What Toran would say when they arrived was the least of Jamie’s concerns, especially now, with his beautiful Caitrin giving him a smile that promised heaven to come.

****

Jamie had expected their subterfuge to be successful long enough to grant them one night’s rest before they went on their way, but MacGregor’s men attacked just before dawn. He roused at the sound of approaching horses, certain his men did, as well. Minutes before the first rider burst out from among the trees, the thunderous rumble told him too many were on their way for their pursuers to have been scattered across the countryside, chasing their false trails. Somehow, MacGregor knew where they were.

Jamie’s men had no time to prepare to meet the charge. He itched to get outside and join the fight, but first, he made certain Caitrin was awake and ready to leave.

“I’ve got all I need in my pockets.” She stood and gave him a quick kiss, then exposed the handle of a small knife. “A gift from Madeleine.” At his nod, she replaced it and stepped away from him. “Come back to me, Jamie. I willna lose ye again.”

“Aye, my love. I willna be away from ye for long.”

Her quick and quiet compliance made him proud. She must be terrified by what they faced, but she refused to reveal it. Instead, she accepted what he must do and, rather than clinging to him, showed she was prepared to defend herself.

Before he went out, he checked the loft, concerned. He’d heard no movement up there since before the fighting started. They were alone in the croft house. Rabbie could not have gone outside to help with their defense while Jamie roused Caitrin. Normally a light sleeper, Jamie would not have missed seeing or hearing him moving in the small confines of the croft or opening the door. Nor did he think the tryst with Caitrin would have made him sleep too deeply to be aware of movement nearby. Quickly, he looked around, but found nothing. There must be another way out from the loft. Rabbie had used it to get out and alert the MacGregor, betraying them.

Why? He ground his teeth. Caitrin was his blood. Malcolm, too. What could the MacGregor have offered him, and when? Had he warned MacGregor after their first visit Jamie would bring her here? Or slipped out during the night and gotten word to MacGregor’s patrol? Jamie’s sentries had been watching for MacGregor’s men to approach, not for Rabbie to sneak away past them.

No matter. Trouble had arrived and would have to be dealt with.

“Caitrin, come up here.”

She scrambled up the ladder and joined him. Her eyes widened. “Where did he go?”

“To betray us, unless I miss my bet. There must be another way out from up here. Come back down and bar the door behind me, then search for it. Ye may need it.”