Free Highland Hero by Hannah Howell

softly as desire rushed through her veins, silencing the argument in her head. She wrapped her arms around Lucais’s neck and returned his impassioned kiss.
    It was not until they were lying flesh to flesh, their clothing scattered over the ground, that she grasped a fragment of clear thought. She briefly wondered how they had gotten undressed so fast, then struggled to think about what she was doing and not about how much she wanted to do it. The night she and Lucais had spent together had been beautiful. In a strange way, the need to go and save Malcolm had enhanced the sweetness of it. There had been no morning regrets, no wrong things said or done to spoil everything, even the memory. This time they were alone with no chance of interruption, and this time she could not use Malcolm as a reason to stay close, hoping for more than passion.
    Lucais slowly kissed his way to her breasts, and Edina shuddered. There had been no promises, no words of love. Lucais could have sought her out because he hungered for another taste of the passion they shared, and for no other reason. As he drew the hard tip of her breast deep into his mouth, she decided that she did not care why he was there. Another taste of the passion they shared would just add to the memories she could cherish when she was alone again. She wrapped her body around his and let passion rule her.
     
    Lucais held Edina close as he regained his senses. Never had lovemaking been so sweet or so fulfilling. He could not understand how she could walk away from that. When he felt her start to tense and shift slightly in his hold, he knew he had to start talking, demanding a few answers from her, and being painfully honest himself.
    “Edina,” he said, touching a kiss to her forehead as he gently but firmly held her still when she tried to move out of his arms. “We must talk. Since we first set eyes on each other we have suspected each other and desired each other. We have protected my sister’s child, beaten my enemy together, and talked about little parts of our lives. Now we must swallow our pride and our doubts and talk about what is to happen between us.”
    She peered at him through the tangled curtain of her hair, not sure what he meant. A little knot of fear formed in her stomach. If he was planning to ask her to be his lover, to stay with him as his leman, she was not sure she had the strength to refuse.
    “What about us?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.
    “This might be a wee bit easier for me if ye didnae look so frightened,” he said, and smiled crookedly.
    “Uncertainty makes me frightened.”
    “Edina, do ye think I ran after ye just for this, sweet as it is?”
    “I am not sure why ye are here.” She took a deep breath and decided to be completely honest. “I cannae stay if all I am to be is your leman. ’Tis best if I leave now.”
    “I wouldnae chase my leman down if she left me. I would just go and find another.” He brushed a kiss over her mouth when her eyes widened slightly. “Aye, I want ye in my bed, but I also just want ye.” He grimaced. “I have ne’er spoken of such things with a lass before, so I ken that I may not say it weel, or prettily.”
    “Say it badly or any way ye choose,” she whispered. “Just say it.”
    He laughed and pulled her into his arms. “I was nae really sure until I found ye gone, but I love ye, Edina MacAdam. I want ye to stay with me as my wife.”
    “Are ye sure? I have no dowry.” She was not surprised that she found it hard to speak, her voice choked with tears, for she was elated, stunned, and afraid that she had not heard him right.
    “Ye are all I need. I have lands and I am wealthy enough to satisfy all my needs.” He looked at her, frowning a little when he saw a tear roll down her cheek. “I was hoping that ye would answer in kind.”
    She hugged him with her whole body. “Idiot. I love ye. Aye, I will marry ye. I have just dreamed of hearing ye say such things so