Chapter 35
Aileana
After close to three hours on the road, they pulled up in front of a beautiful old mansion that had been converted into a luxury hotel. It had a beautiful view, right on the shores of the Beauly Firth. The grounds were impressive. They’d arrived in time for the afternoon coffee and shortbread. The piping hot coffee and the shortbread were just what she needed to hold her over until the dinner hour.
Kendrick said they had time to take in the gardens. As they walked and viewed the gardens, he had tucked her under his arm. He kept her pulled up tight to his large warm body, close enough to feel the beat of his heart. She was secure in her love with this Selkie man, and she was content to be wrapped in his warm embrace. She felt a happiness she’d never before experienced and wouldn’t have believed possible.
After they walked along the shore and spotted a few dolphins playing in the firth, they were also able to see the Kessock Bridge from the lawn of the hotel. They then decided to head back to the room to dress for the dinner party that the hotel planned for the holiday.
She moved to the bathroom and got ready in there. Kendrick would get ready in the bedroom. She was excited about the evening. This would be the first time he would see her in evening attire. She wore a little more makeup than she normally did, but she still kept the makeup on the natural side. Her one concession on the makeup would be going with the smoky eyes, which intensified the dark green of her eyes.
She tried to tame her long mane of soft curling auburn hair, deciding to style it in a half-up, half-down hairdo, using a few well-placed jeweled hair clips. She was pleased with her efforts, her hair looked softly sensual. Not too bad for a girl used to wearing her hair in a ponytail.
Before she slipped the gown on, she used a few spritzes of Eternity perfume. The perfume always put her in a special place. She knew it sounded strange, whether that was true or not, but that was how she felt when she wore the fragrance. It made her feel sensual. The gown had the touch of soft gossamer, virtually a fluid feeling. The silk floated down and around her lush curves while the gown wrapped around her in a subtle seduction of pleasure.
One last look in the mirror and she was ready to enjoy the dinner and festivities the hotel had planned. She opened the door and saw the most attractive male standing in the room. Kendrick wore a formal kilt outfit, from his black bowtie to his Ghillie Brogue’s long laces which wrapped around his well-muscled legs to just below his calves. His ivory-colored kilt hose held an old world stag antler sgian-dubh in his right kilt hose.
Aileana slowly brought her eyes up to fall upon his badger sporran, which had sterling cantles trimming the top of the pouch. The sterling cantles were etched with Celtic knots and inlaid stones. The sporran appeared to be a family heirloom. The handcrafted sporran had undoubtedly been passed down through the generations of the clan Morgan. To finish off his formal attire, he wore the black wool Prince Charlie jacket and vest with the blue Morgan plaid kilt.
He was the most scrumptious vision of a male she’d ever seen. His virile, muscular body would make all women with a heartbeat swoon with desire to be in the same room with him. His long dark hair was pulled back into a queue tied with a length of black leather. As she approached him she became aware of his natural crisp spicy scent.
She thought, Oh, dude, did it just get twenty degrees warmer in this room? Or did I just have a hot flash at the ripe old age of twenty-six, soon to be twenty-seven? Well, whatever it is, I am one extremely fortunate woman to have this man in love with me.
“Aileana, ye are a lovely vision. I am the luckiest male in Scotland. I may need to use mah sgian-dubh just to fight the other males off ye,” he said with a breathlessness to his voice.
“There will be no fighting males off of any sort tonight, I only have eyes for my Selkie.” She laughed. “But I will undoubtedly need your sgian-dubh to ward off the women from trying to have their way with you.”
“Nay, I also only have eyes, fur ye, mo luaioh.”
“Mr. Selkie, you need not worry about me. No one in this world could budge me from your side.”
“Shall we go downstairs to dinner? By the way, I will enjoy watching the other males’ reaction to seeing yer beauty, especially knowing yer mine.” His eyes were full of lust.
He opened the door of their suite, placed an arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, “I’m truly blessed to have ye in mah life and I will always cherish ye.”
With his lips so close, she turned her head and brought her lips to his for a passionate kiss. She told him they were both fortunate to have found each other after their lips parted.
They walked arm in arm into the hotel dining room. The tables were set with snow-white linen and crystal stemware. The candles were all lit and gave the room a soft, warm glow of romance. She felt she’d walked into a wonderful dream world. The other guests barely registered in her mind. She felt they were in their own private world. Her senses were overwhelmed by the male that had her on his arm.
They enjoyed the most delightful meal, which was superb from the presentation to the delectable fresh cuisine. There were pipers and dancers to entertain, which all the guests enjoyed. After the entertainment, they had everyone dancing to a traditional Scottish band. She danced and danced until she thought her feet would give out.
Just before midnight, Kendrick said, “Let’s take a short walk. The evening is brisk but clear. I would like to have ye all to myself at the stroke of midnight.”
“That sounds fantastic. I would like a little fresh air. I am warm from all the dancing, and being within your sphere.” She smiled.
“Aye, Aileana, ye have the same effect on me.”
They proceeded out the front door and down a small walkway to where there stood a large old cedar tree. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her neck and whispered to her. “This old tree was planted before the battle of Culloden. It’s recognized in the Highlands as a lucky tree.”
“What type of luck does it bring, Kendrick?”
“That is why I asked ye outside, to tell ye aboot the luck that is made under this tree,” he said solemnly. “It’s identified as the ‘Loving Tree’ and known fur bringing good luck to all couples that get married beneath the branches,” he stated.
Kendrick dropped to one knee and pulled out a small dark blue leather box. Aileana’s heart started to pound. It was ready to jump out of her chest when she realized what he was about to do.
“Aileana, will ye do this Selkie the honor of becoming mah life mate for as long as we shall live?” He smiled. “I promise to keep ye happy and well-loved forever.” His eyes gleamed with passion and promise.
“Yes, yes, I would be honored to be your life mate.”
“Aileana, ye have made me happier than I could’ve ever wished. Ye will be the most loved and cherished woman forever and I will start to prove it to ye just as soon as we get back to our room,” he promised.
“How could I say anything but yes after you’ve promised to keep me well-loved and happy?”
He reached for her hand and placed the gorgeous heart-shaped diamond ring on her finger.