The Highlander's Warrior Bride (25 page)

Robert walked away from them, toward the window. He opened the shutter and gazed out at the cloudless night sky. Ronan could have counted to a thousand in the time it took for Robert to finally turn his attention back to them.

“Ye have my blessing,” he said softly. “Though a third born son is well below your station.”

Ouch. Ronan felt as though an arrow had slammed into his ego.

“Robert!” Julianna scolded. She gave Ronan’s hand a squeeze and then stood, marched over to her brother as though she’d grip him by his ear and drag him outside to the stocks. “His station means naught to me.”

The Bruce held up his hand, his face serious. “That is not the way I meant for it to come out. I only mean, that Ronan must be elevated. He has proven his worth to me. To this country. And if he means that much to ye, then I would see him given his rightful due.”

Ronan too stood. “My lord…”

“Dinna try to change my mind. I’ve thought about it. Had been thinking about it afore now. In a few months’ time, we will move closer to the Lowlands to prepare for the invasion promised us from the English come spring. When we leave, the castle will be without a laird. Ye, Ronan Sutherland, will be the new Laird of Eilean Donan, in fact all of Kintail.
Ross has lost his privileges here, and I hope to see you keep this castle fortified against him.”

“Aye, my l
ord. ’Twould be an honor. And thank ye. I love Julianna with all my heart.”

“Good. Because if ye ever hurt her, I will make ye pay. Painfully.”

Ronan blinked a few times trying to assess how to react, but the Bruce stepped forward and clapped him hard on the back three times.

“When should ye like to marry?” he asked.

“Now,” Julianna and Ronan answered at the same time.

Robert’s head fell back and he roared a laugh
. “Well, I see ye are both not too eager,” he said, his voice dripping sarcasm.

Julianna’s face turned a ravishing shade of red, and Ronan felt a little heat creep into his own cheeks.

“Oh, come now. Finish your wine. I will call for the priest.”

Less than an hour later, Julianna and Ronan were sequestered in he
r chamber, a table full of food, a jug full of wine and two hot, steamy bathtubs. Man and wife.

Neither of them
was interested in food and drink. And neither of them was interested in the second bath. Indeed, as soon as the door closed, they stripped each other down and Ronan carried her to one tub, settling her on his lap. Lucky for them, the tub was the one Wallace had requested be built for the larger men and so they both fit perfectly.

Between sensual kisses and playful nips, they gently washed each other, careful of the other’s injuries. But honestly, Julianna felt nothing but pleasure and elation. Ronan was hers!
Hers
!

Her thighs quivered as she moved to straddle him, feeling the hardness of his shaft press enticingly to the bundle of firing nerves. She gripped his length, stroking over it, loving his groans of pleasure and the way he moved his hips in tune with her hand. More than anything though, she wanted to taste him. To give him the pleasure he’d given her. Julianna moved to kneel between his knees.

“What are ye doing, lass?” he asked, twirling a lock of her hair around his finger.

“I want to taste ye. Ye said next time…”

Ronan’s pupils dilated. “Aye, I did.”

Gripping the edges of the tub, he stood, and lifted her with him, both of them dripping water. She was covered instantly in goose flesh, but not for long. Ronan placed her on her feet before the hearth and took a linen towel to her limbs, drying her off—while teasing her all over with his mouth.

Then she did the same to him, making sure to stroke and kiss his knees, thighs, stomach, chest and shoulders. He was a gloriously shaped man, making her feel boneless with his touch and light-headed with his good looks.

But even more, her heart soared with the things he said. His devotion, his love. Declarations of how beautiful she was and how much he cherished her.

Julianna knelt before Ronan, his shaft thick and hard, and so close to her mouth. She gripped the base and looked up at him, asking permission with her sultry gaze.

Ronan groaned and threaded his fingers through her hair. She took that as a yes, and bent forward, pressing her lips to the tip. His skin was hot, soft against her lips. Ronan’s fingerti
ps massaged gently on her scalp, enticing her to do more.

Julianna flicked her tongue out over the tip, remembering vividly all the moves he’d used on hers. She licked him up and down, all the while stroking with her fingers, and then she had an idea. To suck him. She opened her mouth and took him inside, all the way to the base.

The moan that came from Ronan’s mouth rattled the rafters and shook Julianna to the core. Her own sex twitched and sparks spread fire throughout her limbs. She’d not expected that making love to Ronan with her mouth would make her so full of desire, need.

“Och, Julianna,” he groaned. “Ye make me feel so good.
What would I ever do without ye?”

“Mmm…” she moaned around his flesh, then pulled away, and smiled up at him. “Be a miserable warrior, cold in your bed?”

He laughed, then lifted her from the floor and carried her over his shoulder toward the bed. He slapped her playfully on her bare behind, then tossed her onto the coverlet.

Julianna fell to the soft mattress
in a fit of giggles, but her laughter died as Ronan spread her thighs and crawled up her body like a man on a sensual mission. She gasped, bit her lip and trembled all over.

“I love ye,” she whispered.

Ronan settled between her hips, his shaft on the edge of her center. “I love ye too,” he declared as he thrust home.

Hearing those words said with such conviction as he merged their two bodies made Julianna’s heart burst from her chest. Every time she thought she loved him
to the moon, he did something else to make her love him more. Every glance, touch, whispered word.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled his lips to hers and gave him all she had with her kiss. His thrusts we slow, deliberate, and he took turns with kissing her mouth and then her neck, breasts, hands. He made slow, sweet, love to her, not leaving a spot untouched, not an inch
of her without tingling pleasure, curling her toes.

Making love with Ronan was magical. As though they’d transported Heaven to this very room. And they were married now. Could make love every night. Every morning. And no one could tell them not to.

As their bodies soared to new heights of pleasure, and then whispered words of love in each other’s ears, the world around them faded. She was consumed with Ronan, with pleasure.

Ronan gradually increased his pace and she met him, tilting her hips with each thrust until they were both crying out their pleasure as climax devoured them.

Sated and smiling, they laid in each other’s arms, gazing into one another’s eyes, until their breaths and pounding hearts subsided.

Julianna stroked her hands over Ronan’s stubbled cheeks and smiled, her heart full and light. He gripped her hand and kissed her palm, his breath tickling her skin.

“I love ye, warrior bride.”

“T
he End”

If you enjoyed
THE HIGHLANDER’S WARRIOR BRIDE
, please spread the word by leaving a review on the site where you purchased your copy, or a reader site such as Goodreads or Shelfari! I love to hear from readers too, so drop me a line at
[email protected]
OR visit me on Facebook:
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. I’m also on Twitter: @ElizaKnight
Many thanks!

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Robert the Bruce
(de Brus) did not have an older sister named Julianna—or that we know of. She is a fictional character I made up for the purposes of this family saga. Robert did have many siblings, including an older sister named Christina.

Eilean Donan was not, that I know of, used as a camp for Robert the Bruce in 1297/98. He did seek shelter there several years later. For the purposes of this story and the castle’s mystery and location, I thought it perfect. Additionally, Kinterloch and the issues with Laird Ross are a product of my imagination—although it is known that Ross stirred up a lot of trouble during this time period.

The saga continues! Look for more books in
The Stolen Bride Series
coming soon!

Book Five
– The Highlander’s Triumph
– June 15, 2013

He was a warrior fighting for Scottish freedom.

She was his enemy’s mistress.

Laird Brandon Sinclair has given his life
to the Scottish cause. Swearing fealty to Robert the Bruce, he will stop at nothing to see oppression end.

Lady Mariana wants nothing more than to break free of the tyrannical hold the English king has on her. When he sends her to Scotland with a message for the rebels, instead of obeying his orders, she finds herself submitting to her desires. After one sizzling, life-altering night, Brandon and Mariana must part ways. But Mariana has no intention of betraying her heart again.

And Brandon is determined to get her back. Stealing Longshank’s secrets felt like victory, but taking his woman will be this Highlander’s ultimate triumph.

There
are six books total in The Stolen Bride Series! If you haven’t read the other books, they are available at most e-tailers. Check out my website, for information on future releases
www.elizaknight.com
.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eliza Knight is the multi-published
, award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of sizzling historical romance and erotic romance. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain, and enjoys cold winter nights when she can curl up in front of a roaring fire with her own knight in shining armor. Visit Eliza at www.elizaknight.com or her historical blog History Undressed: www.historyundressed.com