Chapter Twenty-Two
Later that evening, Kai and Miran stood with Fraser and Mary, their children, Colin, Master Kinnear and his wife, and their son, Craig. The priest had arrived moments ago and required some warmed wine before he would perform the wedding vows.
Miran had been trying to get Kai alone, but he’d avoided it, for he knew what she was going to say. Mistress Mary must have spoken to Miran about how to conduct herself, even if they were betrothed.
Kai did not want to be robbed of the joys of intimacy with Miran. Every day he looked forward to loving her. He gazed at her then, desire building. How he loved her, all of her, from her stubbornness to her glorious, golden hair. Nay, it would not do.
Miran was wearing a flattering, blue wool gown and a silver chain about her neck. Her golden hair had been combed out and two braids, one on each side of her face, were dressed with blue ribbons. The fitted bodice accentuated her tiny waist and the heaviness of her breasts. She had the most elegant neck and delicate hands. And the sharpest tongue. He smiled.
“Kai,” she whispered through gritted teeth.
“Aye?” His head snapped up so he could meet her gaze.
“Why are ye looking at me in such a way?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you want the truth?”
She rolled her eyes.
“I was thinking about how pretty you are, how often you make me smile.”
Then an idea hit him. Why should they wait to marry? Why suffer when there was a priest available now? A smile spread across his face. Which only served to make Miran nervous.
“Why are ye grinning like a guilty lad? What have ye done, Kai?”
He ignored her.
“Kai?”
He slipped his arm about her slender waist and guided her to the front of the room where the priest stood.
“Captain,” Father Donald said. “I am pleased ye are here to witness the marriage of Craig and Rossa. I have known both of them since they were born. Lady Miran.” He bowed his head.
“I have a special request, Father Donald,” Kai said.
“Anything I can help ye with, Kai?” Fraser asked.
“It depends on what the priest says,” Kai explained.
“What are ye about, Captain?” Miran shifted in his embrace.
“I would be happy to help ye,” the priest said.
“If it isn’t too much to ask,” Kai said to Fraser and Mary, “I would like to marry Miran tonight, alongside your daughter.”
Miran tugged on his sleeve. “Kai. What are ye doing?”
He finally turned to her. “What I should have done months ago. What I know we both want.”
“Ye want to marry me now? Here?” she asked.
“Will you let me?”
“Aye!”
“Tis an unusual request,” the priest said, “but if ye are certain Laird Jamie granted permission, then I have no reason to deny ye.”
“I think it’s a fine idea,” Mary said, beaming at Miran. “It will solve all of the problems we discussed earlier, aye?”
“Tis foolish to think Jamie will approve of us marrying away from Sands Airgid,” Miran said.
“I believe it is necessary, Miran.” Kai sounded serious. “Father Donald, I believe we have sinned in the eyes of God.”
“Oh?” the priest said. “In what way?”
“Well…”
Miran wedged herself between Kai and the holy man. “The captain isna well-versed in our language, Father Donald. What I think he means to say, is, we are eager to start our lives together as man and wife.” She glared at Kai.
“Ah. Ye must guard yerselves against sins of the flesh. Tis better to marry than burn. And marriage is a holy covenant, set between man and woman…”
“I believe you might want to see this.” Kai offered the priest a missive with the MacKay seal on it.
Father Donald unrolled the scroll and read whatever was written on it. “This is all the proof I require. Master Fraser, Mistress Mary, are ye opposed to sharing yer daughter’s wedding day with this couple?”
“Not at all,” Fraser said with enthusiasm. “I am ever hopeful our children,” he motioned between himself and the Kinnears, “and Lady Miran and the captain will not only find happiness but will aid each other in living within the Almighty’s grace. For after tomorrow, Rossa and Craig will be leaving us and going to Sands Airgid to serve the MacKays.”
While the priest kept talking, Kai allowed Miran to pull him aside for the sake of privacy. “What is it?”
“What do ye have there?” She pointed to the missive.
“Do you wish to see it?”
She tapped her foot impatiently. “If ye doona let me, I will make ye eat it.”
His fiery Highland lass filled him with immeasurable amusement whenever she got impatient and demanding. “Take it, then.”
She snatched it from his hand. “This is a marriage contract!”
“Aye.”
“Already signed by ye and Jamie!”
“Aye.”
“Ye tricked me.”
“Nay.”
“Ye had this planned all along, to seduce me.”
“Nay, to win your love.”
She lifted her serious green eyes to meet his. “I doona know whether to hit ye or kiss ye.”
“I will let you choose.”
Her jaws clenched. “Ye are a maddening man.”
He bowed then, sweeping his arm over his head, then lower. “I am your humble servant, Lady Miran.”
She tossed her head from side to side, that heat he craved lighting her eyes. “All right, Captain, I will marry ye.”
As Kai grinned at her, he caught Mary whispering something to one of her sons. The boy nodded and quickly departed the cottage. Kai did not say anything, he simply acknowledged her help in getting Miran to agree to taking vows tonight with a nod. Whatever the woman had said, it had worked in his favor. He would not forget her, Fraser, or the beautiful village of Lagrith. All of their futures were intertwined, not only through the contract the elders had signed with Clan MacKay, but through the men and women they had pledged into service with Laird Jamie.
Sometime later, Kai and Miran and Craig and Rossa knelt on pillows before Father Donald while he blessed them and prayed. Then they all stood and repeated the same wedding vows, promising to love each other forever.
Kai did not care about the obey part—not at the moment—for all he could see, all he ever wanted, was the right to call Miran MacKay his own. And as she smiled softly up at him, her eyes full of the same love he felt for her, he leaned close to kiss her for the first time as his wife.
Their lips touched, and his body ignited with every wicked sensation known to him. He wanted to hold and protect her, talk with her about anything she desired, and make love to her every night for the rest of their lives.
As he broke the kiss and stepped back to regain his wits, Fraser stuck his hand out. “Congratulations, Captain Kai.”
Kai took his hand.
“And to ye, Lady Miran, I wish ye love and comfort.” Fraser kissed Miran’s cheek.
“Thank ye,” she said.
“Now, let us celebrate with the feast my wife and Mistress Kinnear have prepared.”
Hours after eating and drinking their fill with nearly the best people Kai had ever met in the Highlands, Miran gave him a tired smile and yawned. Aye, twas time to go to bed. He stood and offered her his hand.
The rest of the guests stopped talking and focused on Kai.
“Thank you for sharing this special night with us, Craig and Rossa. Fraser and Mary, your generosity will never be forgotten. We have a lot to do tomorrow, so without further delay, we will retire for the night.”
“Ye are always welcome here,” Fraser said. “I consider ye another son. My wife prepared yer bridal bed in the room in the stable. I hope ye find it comfortable.”
Before she could refuse, Kai swept Miran into his arms and carried her outside and toward the stable. They had waited long enough for this night.
*
Standing in front of each other with only the light of candles and the brazier, Miran reached up and touched her handsome husband’s face. The day’s growth of dark stubble on his cheeks and chin made him even more exotic, more brutal looking, more desirable to her. He leaned into her hand, moaning as she traced his jawline with her fingertips. “Ye are everything I ever wanted, and some things I never thought I’d accept.’
He laughed at that. “I could say the same of you, sweet one.”
“Oh?”
“Aye.”
She dinna care, really, but liked to jest. Keeping her gaze on his face, she unclasped the MacKay brooch at his shoulder, letting part of his tartan fall away, revealing a broad shoulder. Then she lifted his linen shirt over his head, taking in his tanned skin, his sculpted chest, and the scars that he’d earned in battle. He was perfect in every way, powerful and intimidating, almost too beautiful to be real.
“What is it, lass?” he said in that practiced brogue that made her shiver.
“Ye are beautiful.”
“Aye?” he asked.
She dinna answer, but knelt to remove his boots, then his braes, which she struggled to unlace.
“Let me.” He showed her how to tug on the leather lace just right.
After he stood naked in front of her, his manhood thick and long and ready for her, she trembled.
“We are made to fit together,” he said, caressing her face. “Will you let me show you?”
She nodded and closed her eyes just as he started to undo the front laces on her gown. She helped him lift it over her head, then stood only in a thin shift.
“You have lovely breasts,” he whispered, gently touching one of her sensitive, hard nipples through the material. “I love how they fill my hands while I kiss you.” And he did just that, stepping into her and covering her mouth with his.
She felt adrift as he kissed her harder and deeper, than lifted her and carried her to the narrow bed they would share. “Miran,” he breathed her name. “I do not want to wait to be inside you.” He set her down.
Miran kneeled in the middle of the bed and slipped the straps of the shift down her arms and wiggled out of it, revealing her flesh, unafraid to give herself to him. Strong fingers wandered down her arms, then slipped underneath one of her breasts. She closed her eyes just as his mouth took hers again, his tongue seeking hers, everything about him, his taste and smell, the feel of his calloused hands on her hot skin, and even the sound of his hitching breath, filled her senses.
“Lie back, sweet one.”
She slowly positioned herself in the middle of the soft mattress, her thighs opening for him.
“Aye,” he growled, his piercing gaze sweeping over her, raising gooseflesh from her neck to her toes.
He lowered his face between her legs, his tongue swirling over her folds, then penetrating her, causing her to lift her hips off the bed, seeking more of him, all of him.
“What do you want, Miran? My love. My wife?”
He gazed up at her, a smug look on his face. How arrogant he was, proud that he had finally won her.
“Ye are a scoundrel, Captain Kai. My beloved Prince Kuresh.”
He growled, crawling up her body until his face hovered above hers. “Say it again.”
“My beloved Prince Kuresh.” Her breasts ached for his touch, and her core, wet with desire, needed to be filled.
He knew it all too well, and pressed his erection into her stomach, then slid lower, until she felt the tip of it at her opening.
“Aye,” she whispered, raking her nails up his back, wild with need.
“Aye? Tell me…”
“I want ye.”
He dipped down and kissed her feverishly, claiming her, while his hands slid between them, stroking her womanhood and then his shaft.
“I love you, Miran.” His fingers dug into her hips as he entered her, slowly filling her.
A pinch of pain radiated up her body and she went rigid.
Kai framed her face between his hands. “Are ye all right?”
“Aye.” She dinna fear what came next, he had been considerate and gentle with her body until now. “I want to feel all of ye, Kai. Please.”
He made a strangled sound before he pumped his hips and buried himself in the heat of her body. She locked her ankles at the small of his back and held on for dear life. This man belonged to her now. How she had ever rejected him, she’d never understand.
Perhaps she resented him at first for being able to read her emotions, to know what she needed more than the air she breathed. Him. Her Highland captain. Her own prince. A husband to love forever.
But one thing was certain, Miran MacKay would never be alone again.
THE END
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