Twenty-One
They spent the better part of the following day lazily making love in their grotto. When Katie’s stomach growled, James laughed.
“I believe it is time to leave in search of food.”
Katie stretched sleepily, warm in his embrace. “Who needs food when I have my warm and loving husband next to me?”
When her stomach growled again, James barked in laughter.
“Mo stòr, yer stomach is about to eat itself. And so is mine.”
She sighed, not wanting to leave the magic of their cavern. “I suppose we can leave, then, but we will come back?”
Her eyes held a note of fear. James perked up.
“What is it, lass?”
She sighed. “I fear that we will lose our magical bond- that other things may interfere and we will nay have or share what we’ve had here.”
He took her hand and nodded. “I understand, mo stòr. What we have, however, is special beyond measure, trust me in that.” He kissed her hand. “Nothing will tear us apart. I would never allow it.” He moved within inches of her face, and his other hand glided into her loose hair.
“Ye are mine. I am yers. Nothing will ever change that.” His eyes studied her, the intensity of it making her breath catch.
“I’ve been able to control my memories here.”
He kissed her nose. “That ability was not gained simply by location, my love. That was gained by mental fortitude and a fighting spirit.” He kissed her lips. “‘Tis why I said ye are the strongest person I know.”
“What if they doona only haunt my dreams? They doona only exist there. They are more than imaginary fiends, and are actual bodily demons.”
She looked away, tears gathering in her eyes. “If they find me? If they make attempts on me, to rape me again or kill me? They’re looming monsters in my mind, in my dreams, and in my life. They always will be.”
Her voice ended in a whisper. She was afraid to voice her fears. She did not want to validate them lest they come more frequently to her mind.
And what if the men returned for her?
“Ye’ve nothing to fear ever again from them.”
She pulled back, her eyes narrowing on his. “What are ye saying?”
Watchful of her, he said, “My father and I ensured that they would never hurt another woman. They are nothing more than distasteful memories.”
She gasped. “Ye killed them? Why?”
He snorted in disgust. “For all the ill they have caused to ye and my sister, I would have tortured them more were they heartier.”
“James!”
His eyes softened. “I apologize, for crass language doesna belong in a lady’s ear.”
She shook her head. “Nay, James, ‘tis just that I worry about the aftermath.”
“There is none. The two remaining brothers fell at my hand. No one would want to avenge them.”
“Wynton?”
“Is, oddly, no where to be found. If God is just, he would’ve encountered his demise and suffered a great deal as he’d forced Maddie to endure.”
“When did this occur? ‘Twas after I revealed the truth about it being all three, wasna it?”
“Aye. My father and I went shortly before we were married. We told Connor our intent when we appeared at yer holding seeking Maddie out. Ye never need to worry about them again.”
Katie sighed and rested her forehead against his chest.
“Inappropriate as it is to say this, but thank ye, James.”
He pulled back and thumbed her chin towards him. “Ye doona have to thank me, lass.”
“Ye potentially tarnished yer soul for me.”
He stayed quiet for a moment as his eyes bored into hers.
“I believe my sister has influenced ye.” Katie laughed as James grew serious. “My soul was tarnished before ye, lass. But doona ye know?”
“Know what?”
“I would damn my soul to hell a thousand times to spare ye a tear.”
She gasped and reached up to him.
“James…”
Their lips collided as she settled back down on the ground.
They made love before finally leaving their magical cocoon.