When they finally stopped their horses, David wasn’t sure what to expect. Where would they go to spend their first night together?
Anna whispered, “What now? Are we going to Drummond Castle?”
“I’m not sure,” David said. He pulled his horse next to his brother and Sweeney. “Many thanks to both of you for planning this.”
His cousins stopped and gathered around them. “Congratulations,” Will said, followed by a chorus of the same.
“Our thanks,” David said, his hand on Anna’s waist. “We cannot express how much we appreciate all you did for us.”
Anna nodded. “Thank you all.”
David’s mother came forward with her horse, broke into the middle of the group of cousins, and gestured for them to follow her. “Follow me.”
After several rounds of good-natured goodbyes, they left and followed Diana. They rode for about half an hour before she led them off the regular path, deeper into the forest until they could hear the rumble of a small waterfall not far away. When they could go no farther, she stopped and dismounted. “Your aunt and uncle couldn’t get here in time, but they sent a missive saying you’re welcome to use their favorite home away from their castle.”
“Another aunt and uncle?” Anna asked.
“Aye, David’s Aunt Avelina, Micheil’s only sister, and her husband, Drew. They had this built a while ago. She’s verra connected to nature, so it was a gift from Drew.”
She motioned for them to dismount, grabbed her saddlebag, and then led the way through the forest.
“Anna, I’ve heard about your love for flowers. I don’t know how you feel about faeries, but Avelina believes that flowers make them verra happy. She has a special connection with the faeries, which I’m sure David will explain to you sometime. She and Drew like to come here on occasion to remember how their relationship started. Come with me. We shall have to walk the rest of the way.”
She led them down a long path. They traveled deep into the woods, and the deeper they went, the more the flowers blossomed around them.
There was a thick covering of moss over many of the rocks, decorated with pink-colored star flowers that were absolutely beautiful. Then they passed a large grouping of bluebells aimed at the sun.
“These are some of my favorites,” Anna said with a gasp. “I love bluebells this time of the year.” She bent down to pick a couple and added them to her bouquet that she still held.
“Aunt Avelina considers bluebells to be faerie flowers. She loves them. She has done her best to transplant more down this path. And this one is Biolair ghriagain,” she said, pointing to a beautiful white flower, “‘tis another one of her favorites.”
David leaned down and whispered, “This looks like your dream home, Anna. Flowers everywhere.”
Anna took in everything as they walked, her eyes jumping from bush to flower to the birds overhead singing their delight. Finally, his mother stopped. “Welcome to the wee faerie castle.”
The area was small and private, full of large trees and abundant wildflowers. A small cottage sat on a small knoll at the edge of a spring near the base of a short waterfall. There was a plethora of flat rocks around the water, perfect to relax on.
“When the sun is high, there is naught more luxurious than taking a dip in the water and drying out on the rocks. No one will bother you, I promise,” his sire said, his voice bursting out from behind them, surprising them all. “My sister loves it here. She’s so happy to be able to share it with you two.” He wrapped his arm around his wife. “Sorry it took me a while to catch up with you. Getting my brothers to do aught at all is most difficult.”
The couple led them inside the cottage. “There are only two rooms,” Diana said. “We brought bread, cheese, and fruits, so you likely won’t need to cook on the hearth. Your sire found a bottle of wine he’d been saving and brought it along with two goblets, David, and we added a jug of mead.” She opened her saddlebags and brought out the goblets while Micheil produced the jug. “I also brought a satchel of extra clothing for both of you so you can swim.”
She led them into the second room. An enormous bed draped with canopies and piled with soft, pastel-colored pillows filled the chamber.
“Oh my,” Anna said, “I’ve not seen one that large before. And look at all the pillows! It looks divine. Many thanks to you both.”
His father clasped David’s shoulder. “So proud of both of you. We wish you much happiness. I doubt you’ll be in need of aught. We’ve tried to think of everything possible. Feel free to stay as long as you like, but I’m sure your mother will come searching for you if she hasn’t heard from you after three or four days, David.”
They thanked his parents profusely and waved goodbye to them. After they left, he and Anna stood outside staring at the beautiful glen, hand in hand, when something caught his eye. “Is that steam coming from the water?”
Anna’s eyes glimmered with excitement. She promptly removed her boot and walked over to the edge of the small pool to stick her toe into the water. “Oh, David.” She closed her eyes, sighing with pleasure. “The water is quite warm. I’m going in now.”
David watched in surprise as his wife tossed her clothing off to the side without a shred of embarrassment. Her moan of pleasure when she stepped into the water was motivation enough for him to strip out of his own clothes, in record timing, and follow her.
“Anna, och, you’re so bold.”
She gave him a saucy look and said, “Do you mind?”
“Nay,” he growled, grabbing her and pulling her close for a kiss. He kissed her hard, letting her know how much he wanted her, remembering how it had felt to be inside her. “Now I have you all to myself, lass. I will know every last area of your body, and I promise to make you scream my name with pleasure.” He couldn’t stop himself from running his hands down her beautiful curves.
“I could already scream your name with pleasure, just being beside you in this warm water. I need to sink into this completely.” She fluttered her lashes at him.
“You don’t understand my meaning, I see. Allow me to show you.”
“David, let me languish in the warmth of the water for a couple of moments first. Please?” She gave him a sassy grin that told him she was as interested in their lovemaking as he was, so he could hardly turn such a request down. A few moments later, he was pleased he’d given in to her.
They slipped into the warm pool together, sliding down until their shoulders were covered. “Anna, is it possible all these events have changed you as they have me? There was a time when you were timid, even though you kissed me first. You were timid around your family.”
She leaned back, allowing the warm water to surround her as she lifted her feet so she could float freely. “Was I? Perhaps you are right. Being around my sire and Ossian was intimidating. I’ve never felt that way around you. Mayhap ‘tis you that has changed me. I am more confident around you. How have you changed?”
He gazed up at the clouds, one eye closed. “Having the confidence to stand up for what I believe in. At first, when your sire said the betrothal was canceled, I thought there was naught I could do to stop him. My cousins helped me to realize we were strong together. That if I wanted something badly enough, I would find a way to make it happen. I know I’ve surprised my parents.” He couldn’t help but chuckle. “My sire even asked me when I grew up. Something like that.”
“David, no one else could understand our love. ‘Tis meant to be. We both knew it and were not about to allow anyone else to put our love asunder.” She floated closer to him and kissed his shoulder as he sat in the water. “Now that I know what happened to my poor mother, I’m so glad we fought for each other.”
“Aye, my grandpapa and your mother. Is that not strange?”
“Most strange. Do you remember him at all? Do you look like him?”
“Nay, I don’t remember him,” he said wistfully. “He died before I was born. They say he was a character but also a fine laird. Do I look like him? I’ll have to ask my mother that question.”
“There were some surprises, were there not?” she arched her brow at him. “Could you believe it when I was betrothed to Gilroy Walters?”
“Nay,” he growled. “Never mention that name again, though I’m sure he’s gravely disappointed.”
“I’m still surprised my mother stood up against my sire.”
He reached for her hips under the water and tugged her back against him. “Aye, but there was one event that surprised me more than anything. Had I still held any idea you were timid, I would have lost it when you begged me to take your maidenhead in the abbey.” He gave her a glance full of confusion, his lips twisted in an odd way. “I never would have believed it. In the abbey, no less.”
Anna began to laugh, throwing her head back with glee, and before he knew it, they were both laughing hysterically over everything that had happened. She managed to get out between her chuckles, “I know this is wrong after we’ve been through so many tragedies, but it feels so good to laugh.”
He ran his hands up her thighs, and as soon as his laughter calmed, he turned her around to face him and pulled her close for a kiss. “Wife, I’m thrilled to see you laugh. I thought we’d never share such pleasure again.”
She whispered, “But I always believed in us, David. I always believed you’d come for me.”
“And you were right.” He released her, and she dropped her shoulders underneath the water.
“I like it better under the water. Come with me.”
The strain in his cock forced him to say something else. “I’d prefer to watch you instead. Just for a few moments. You are so beautiful. Allow me this simple pleasure.”
She giggled. “As you wish, my lord.” She rolled onto her back in the water, tipping her head back and closing her eyes to the sun, her breasts bobbing in the heat, brazenly pointing her rosy nipples up to the sky. He had to fist his hands at his side to keep from reaching out to her.
“Do you have any idea how much you taunt me, wife?”
“I thought you wished to watch me.”
“I can only watch for so long before I need to touch you.” He gritted his teeth as the water rolled across her body.
She opened her eyes and glanced at him, then looked at her body floating in the early sun. “The heat feels wonderful, David. I won’t torture you. Feel free to touch me.”
He moved forward boldly, bringing his hand straight to the center of her belly before tracing a careful path up to her breasts, slowly kneading each proud mound, tweaking her nipples until she moaned.
Her eyes closed, her small moan going straight to his cock. “That feels wonderful. I had no idea marriage could be so enjoyable.”
“Your breasts are begging for my attention, floating atop the water the way they do.”
His hand grazed down her center, careful not to put any pressure on her so he wouldn’t submerge her. He was enjoying the view of her gorgeous body.
In fact, he was quite certain he could watch her forever.
He moved between her legs, gently maneuvering her ankles so she was in the right position for him, and caressed a path up the inside of each thigh until his hands met in the center of her curls. She lifted her head to stare at him, her heavy-lidded gaze teasing his cock more than the sensation of her soft skin beneath his fingers. He wrapped his arms around her knees and tugged her closer until he dropped his head to her mound, his tongue flicking out to catch her nub.
She squealed and squirmed in the water. “David, what are you doing?”
“Getting to know you. ‘Tis what I promised, and I’m a man of my word.” He lowered his shoulders into the water and brought her closer, his tongue caressing every part of her. He licked and suckled until she moaned, a sweet sound that could nearly drive him to the edge.
“David, I think I might drown.” Her arms flailed as she struggled to keep her head above water.
He pushed her forward until her back met a rock at the side of the pool. Placing his hands on her bottom, he lifted her, caressing her folds before he set her on the rock, pulling her over to the edge so he could finish what he had started.
“Lean back, love. I need to be inside you, but not until I finish this.”
She gazed at him, the trust in her eyes humbling. “Please don’t stop.” She did as he suggested and leaned back on her elbows.
He used his tongue to tease her again until she opened wide for him. He entered her with his finger then, keeping his tongue on her pleasure spot while he moved inside her in a rhythm he hoped would bring her to climax.
“Come for me, Anna,” he whispered, continuing his ministrations.
“Oh, David!”
He took her nub in his mouth and suckled hard until she cried out, her contractions tightening around his finger.
She fell back panting on the rocks, and all she could say was, “Oh my.”
He couldn’t wait any longer. “I know you’d like to lie back and enjoy the sensations, but I’m about to lose myself after watching you.” He reached for her hands and tugged her to a sitting position before he helped her slide back into the water.
His mouth descended on hers and he ravaged her, tasting every corner of her sweet mouth, relishing every touch of her tongue.
He could wait no longer. He lifted her and slid into her with a groan, pleased to find she was still slick with juices to welcome him. He settled one hand on the rock behind her back, the other holding her bottom close to him, and plunged into her, suddenly unable to control his need. His mouth dropped to her breast and he took the full weight of her into his mouth, her soft cries driving his need to even greater heights.
Her hands found their way into his hair, and she tugged him closer. He let go of her breast to focus his attention on her nipple, suckling and grazing his teeth across the tip as he sensed her nearing another climax.
He drove into her over and over again, panting with a need, her own voracious appetite pushing him to take her harder, faster, deeper. They clung to each other, the sound of water slapping between them, her own pants echoing in his ear.
“I love you, David.”
Her contractions squeezed him as she screamed his name, forcing him over the edge to his own release, pouring his seed into her with a growl. His orgasm rocked him to his core, and all he could think about was how wonderful they were together, how loving this woman would make him happy for the rest of his days.
How finally, after everything they’d been through, they were together. Just as they should be.
She fell limp against him and he cuddled her to him, stroking her back as they fought to control their panting.
“I have something for you, my sweet,” David whispered when he was able to control his breathing. He let go of her and moved over to the edge where he’d dropped his plaid, reaching across a stone for his sporran. He reached inside until he grasped the delicate chain of the necklace, pulling it out to hold it up for her. “For you.”
The excitement in her gaze made his trip to Edinburgh worth it. He’d almost forgotten that he had it, so caught up in the chaos of their wedding day, but he’d carried it in his sporran for days. “My wedding gift to you.”
“Oh, David,” she purred, holding the palm of her hand out to him so he could drop the necklace inside. She fingered the pendant and said, “I believe ‘tis the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen. A white rose. It almost looks like the white flower I saw on the path we came through. ‘Twill be a symbol of our love.” She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him softly on his lips. “My thanks, husband. I love it and will wear it always.” She turned her back to him and handed him the necklace so he could fix the clasp for her. As soon as it fell against her neck, her fingers reached up to caress the rose. She spun around to look at him, a wide smile on her face.
Surprising him yet again, she wrapped her legs around his middle and then interlocked her hands with his, pushing him away from the rock enough for her to fall back lazily into the water. “How does it look in the water?”
“Not as lovely as you.” He couldn’t help but smile as he watched her bask in the water. He leaned over and kissed her navel. “I do love you, Anna. But you know that, I’m certain. Did I please you?”
When she was finally able to speak, she whispered, “Aye, you pleased me more than I would have imagined. Being here with you not only pleases me but is sheer bliss.” She ran her hand across his hard abs. “You, David Drummond, are my Highland bliss.”