No one seemed at all surprised when Tierney tugged Rosamond along the top deck calling for the priest. Curious glances had come their way. Samuel had smirked knowingly. There were no objections and the ceremony itself had been short and to the point: man and wife. They’d stood at the bow of the ship, endless miles of ocean surrounding them, waves lapping at the hull as their music, and the sun glittering overhead, warmed the skin on their faces.

Tierney had bent to give his wife a chaste kiss, not wanting the whole of the ship to be privy to his desire for her. But even their chaste kiss, the gentle brush of his lips so short and sweet across hers had made his blood thrum, his groin tighten.

It was all moving so fast.

One minute he’d been climbing up to the cave and the next he was marrying her.

But if anything, the last few days he’d spent avoiding her had only proven his awareness of her, his intense need to possess her. Was it enough to keep him interested for an eternity? He hoped so. It was too late now. This marriage was an alliance, the joining of two people against a common enemy, no matter how much he desired her in his bed. No matter how much he wanted to hear her soft whimpers against his mouth, to crush her plush body beneath his and surge inside her, claiming her. A marriage that followed his path to retribution. A direct thrust of his sword to that bastard Surrey’s gut. As much as the blackguard had wanted them both dead, knowing they were wed and thriving would blacken his mood worse than a starving man being served shite.

This was just the beginning.

As soon as the priest dismissed them so he could go and eat his supper, Tierney swept Rosamond up into his arms and carried her to the stairs.

No sooner had they entered the cabin then a knock came at the door.

“Go away,” Tierney growled, his mouth already watering to taste her skin.

“I’ve something for the wedded couple.” Samuel. What the devil could he want?

Tierney wrenched open the door to find his old friend standing there with a raised brow. “A quick ceremony and no feast, then you can at least accept this.” He pulled a jug from behind his back and jiggled it. But when Tierney reached for it, Samuel tsked and pushed his way inside the chamber. “A toast first, and then I shall leave you.”

Rosamond blushed, her gaze toward the floor, hands folded demurely in front of her.

“What are ye about?” Tierney growled under his breath.

Samuel muttered just as low, “An innocent lady needs to be wooed afore the bedding, Tier, I know you’ve been imprisoned for a long while, but for certes you’ve been to a wedding prior to your own.”

Sufficiently chastened, Tierney nodded and passed his blushing bride a cup of fine wine.

“To Laird and Lady MacDougall. May you be well for all the days of your life. May your union bring you both happiness and bountiful fruit. May you regain what is yours.”

The three of them raised their glasses into the air and clinked them together.

“I bid the two of you goodnight.” Samuel bowed low to Rosamond and then left the room as swiftly as he’d come, leaving the two of them quite alone. And thank the saints for that, so Tierney would not have to toss him out.

Though they’d been alone before, this felt infinitely different. More secluded. More intense.

“Can I get ye another glass of wine?” Tierney asked, pouring himself a second. Bloody hell, but he was more nervous than he cared to admit.

He’d never bedded a virgin, and he’d not lain with a woman in ten years. When he’d kissed her before, he’d nearly come undone. How was he going to get through this evening without embarrassing himself? How could he make certain she was pleasured, spent, and looking forward to lying with him for many years to come?

Though this may be a marriage to acquire an alliance, he also wanted it to be sensually satisfying for them both. He cared about her pleasure and happiness.

“Aye.” Her voice shook, as did her hand as she passed him her cup.

Tierney pretended not to notice, not wanting to call attention to her unease. He would have to ease her fears some other way. Woo her.

“We can take our time, lass,” he said softly, handing the filled cup back.

Rosamond’s eyes widened and she stared at him over the rim as she sipped.

“There’s no need to rush,” he murmured, reiterating.

Finishing her sip, she set her cup down on the table and then reached for the laces on her gown, wide eyes locking on his. “I fear the longer we wait the more anxious I’ll feel. I’d rather we get to it.” Her fingers still trembled slightly as she tugged at the ties.

Tierney reached forward, his hand covering where she worked the laces, stilling her furtive movements. Though his body tightened, ready to burst with anticipation simply at the knowledge that he now had permission to sink inside her, he knew leaping straight into bed was not the way he wanted to start his marriage. “My lady wife, I would never consider lying with ye something I simply want to get over with. But if it is your wish that we not wait, I will bed ye good and proper.” He leaned closer, his voice husky with need as he spoke against her ear. “Make ye writhe with wanting.” Hand still covering hers, he tugged her gently forward, and covered her mouth with a hungry kiss.

Immediately she sank against him. The familiar warmth of her plush body causing him to gasp and reach for sanity.

God, but her mouth felt so good against his. Soft. Hot. Wet. Eager. If he’d thought that holding onto control was hard before, now it was infinitely more intense. Because now she was his. The woman in his arms, smelling of sweet herbs and tasting of fine wine was—his wife.

The notion was terrifying at the same time extremely satisfying. The way she responded to him, so passionate, at least he knew they would be compatible in the bedchamber—as long as he didn’t scare her before showing her just how pleasurable lovemaking could be.

With that thought in mind, he lifted her and carried her to the bed, laying her gently down, hands caressing over her hips and upper thighs as he did so. Tierney lay down beside her, and stroked her face. She gazed at him with eyes filled with curiosity and a twinge of fear.

“Do ye know what happens between a man and a woman?” he asked.

Her lips twitched in a bewitching smile. “I lived at court. I might know perhaps more than most.”

He chuckled softly. “I suppose ’twas a silly question considering.”

“You mean my sister.”

“I was thinking more like what ye saw, but aye, I suppose that, too.”

Rosamond nodded, fiddling nervously with the neckline of her gown. “Loretta fancied herself in love.”

“With Lancaster?”

“Aye.”

“He loved plenty.”

“Sadly enough. Did ye know him?”

“I’d heard of him.” He shook his head. “That was callous of me. Let us talk no more of others.” He leaned down and kissed the edge of her jaw, skimming his lips up toward her ear. “I must tell ye,” he whispered against her lobe, his tongue flicking out to tease her, “I thought ye an enchantress when I saw the light shining from your cave.”

“Light? But you came in the day?”

“Aye, but I’d seen ye the night afore. I waited until dawn so as to row safely to the cliffs. Slept not a wink for fear ye’d disappear.”

As he nuzzled her cheek, he drew circles on her ribs until his fingers skimmed the side of her breast. She sucked in a breath, her back arching just enough that he took the hint she gave him to touch her breast.

Oh God...

He slipped his hand down the top of her gown. Her skin was warm, soft. Cupping the fleshy globe, he massaged as he captured her mouth once more. Thrums of desire raked up his spine. He tried to move slowly, but she was touching him now. Soft fingers gliding over his back, massaging the taut muscles. Over his shoulders. Down his arms. Over his chest.

His heart beat a rapid staccato. How was he going to make this pleasurable for her without coming undone himself?

And then he knew…

Tierney kissed his way down her neck to her breasts, mouthing the peaked tips through the fabric of her gown and then tugging away the barrier so his tongue could twirl over her naked flesh. She tasted as sweet as honey, and infinitely better than he’d imagined.

Rosamond let out a moan, a sound so sensual, he was certain he’d never heard anything more stunning and erotic in his life.

While he could have dined on her breasts all night, he roved lower, kissing her belly at the same time he inched her gown up her legs. Before she could protest, he tucked his head beneath her skirts, finding an even better place to feast—her glistening folds.

God almighty, her scent was divine. Intoxicating.

Tierney pressed her thighs apart, smiling against her sex when she parted them with a sigh. “Och, but ye’re so beautiful, lass.”

The feather light touch of her fingers through his hair was all the answer he needed, and permission to continue. Saints, but he’d expected her to balk at this way of pleasuring her, but she seemed eager, ready. What else had she learned at court?

Tierney’s mind leapt to all sorts of wicked positions and pleasures, and he dove right into pleasuring her now, his tongue flicking over her folds, teasing her, toying with her. Fingers gliding up her thighs, he stroked the heat of her as his tongue continued to work. She writhed against him, her soft moans and the sway of her hips enough to do him in.

The realization that if he had to wait another ten years to be with her, he would, was enough to make him pause.

Rosamond gasped, her hips bucking against him, fingers tugging at his hair, demanding he continue, and he did, bringing her to absolute completion. The walls of her sex tightened against his fingers, the skin of her slick folds tightening up and then vibrating over his tongue as spasm after spasm shook her. The cry from her throat had a drop of moisture pearling at the tip of his cock. Ballocks, but if he wasn’t inside her soon, he’d spend his seed without ever getting there.

Climbing from beneath her skirts, he crawled up the length of her, and crushed his mouth to hers in a feral, demanding kiss. At the same time, he unpinned and unbelted his plaid letting the fabric unwind, and tossed it to the floor. He had to have her. There was no time to shed all of their clothes. And she seemed equally as insistent, her fingers tightening on his hips, moving round to massage and grip his buttocks.

Tierney settled between her thighs, lifted her knees up around his hips, and gripped his cock, sliding it along her wet folds. Their moans echoed in the tiny cabin, breath panting, hearts pounding. He pressed his tip against her heated center, working hard to stay still and not surge forward, but then she thrust her hips up, and for a moment he was lost, plunging forward and breaking the barrier of her maidenhead before he had a chance to pull back.

A pain-filled cry burst from her lips and the writhing and gripping she’d been doing in the throes of passion ceased. Now, she was pushing him away.

Sweat beaded his brow. His cock pulsed with the need to drive deeper. To claim. But he forced himself to be still, if only for a few more seconds, giving her time to adjust.

Mo chreach, but it had been so long since he’d been inside a woman it almost felt like the first time. And it might as well have been with as much control as he had. He stroked her face, kissed her brow. Nibbled her lips, and whispered encouraging words until she relaxed around him.

“Are ye all right?” he asked through clenched teeth, working hard to breathe. “Does it still hurt?”

“Nay. Not any more. I’m fine.” Again those tiny caresses on his skin, and she shifted beneath him. “Are you all right?”

Tierney gripped her hips, stilling her and rested his forehead on hers. “Dinna move.” The demand was harsh, as he breathed hard, and tried to concentrate on not spilling his seed.

But there was nothing for it. He couldn’t stop the tide. With a growl, he withdrew and pushed back inside. Miraculously she raised her hips to meet him, a soft gasp feathering on his face as he thrust in again. Once. Twice. Dammit, but he was going to peak.

And he’d wanted her to find her pleasure once more.

Next time. He thrust hard again, crying out as an intense wave of pleasure overtook him.

Breath ragged, he held himself up on his elbows, unable to withdraw from her. “I promise next time it will be better,” he said in apology.

Rosamond smiled, her cheeks heating. “Better? ’Twas magnificent.”

A quarter of an hour later, Tierney proved himself right, taking his time and pleasuring her for several more hours, until they both fell into a sated, deep sleep.

In fact, it was the best sleep Tierney had ever had. Deep and wondrous where he dreamed of his beautiful wife and the life they would forge together in Scotland. All the nightmares of his past pushed into oblivion. She was all he needed.