Part 45 (1/2)
”Oh, Brice,” she breathed against his mouth.
”Will you some day grow weary of me and tire of our lovemaking?”
He chuckled, low and deep in his throat, and the sound sent tremors along her spine.
”Never, my lady. It would take an eternity and beyond to even dim the love that s.h.i.+nes within me for you.”
She relaxed against him and lost herself in the kiss.
”But I have a better way to prove my love,” he muttered, s.h.i.+fting until he hovered over her.
”Far better than words.”
Brice lay very still, unwilling to disturb the woman who slept so peacefully in his arms.
All night they had loved, slept, then loved again until they were sated. And still he had not had enough of her. Nothing would ever be enough. A hundred times. A thousand years. He loved her. Body and soul. Completely.
He thought of the beautiful young woman he had watched from the tower of the cathedral. Clothed all in white, her spine rigid, her head held high. Even then he had sensed the strength in her, the determination.
And when he had first looked into her eyes he had read the goodness there.
He dared not lose. He wanted the love they shared to be sanctified and blessed by the kirk. He wanted the entire country to know that the Highland Barbarian was loved by this beautiful Lowlands woman. He wanted to shout of their love from the highest mountain.
He glanced at Meredith and saw the slight nicker of her eyes. Sleep was leaving her now. Within moments she would awaken.
His woman.
The decision was made instantly. He would send a messenger to the Lowlands to learn the fate of her people. He would wed her now, as soon as it was possible to prepare a wedding feast. And then, with the might of his Highland warriors behind her, she would return triumphant to her people. With the combined strength of her armies and his, Gareth MacKenzie would not dare to continue his litany of murder and lies.
They could bring a renewed sense of peace between the Highlanders and Lowlanders. Perhaps, because of their love, the Scots lairds could cease their endless fighting and join forces to combat their true foe, the English invaders.
Meredith's eyes opened and she found Brice watching her. On his face was a smile of such contentment, she answered with a smile of her own.
”You look rather pleased this mom, my lord.”
”Aye. How could I be less than pleased with the woman I love lying in my arms?”
She sighed and drew her arms around his neck.
”I feared -I would awake and discover it was all a dream.”
”It was no dream, my love,” he murmured against her lips.
”Nor is this.”
His kiss was hot, hungry. His lips persuasive. And because he had spent the night learning all the secret, intimate places of her body, he was able to arouse her instantly.
”If it be a dream,” she breathed inside his mouth, ”pray do not wake me till it is over.”
Chapter Fifteen
q^t^ts^q -Locked in the arms of her love, Meredith drifted on a cloud of contentment. For days now they had closeted themselves in Brice's chambers, leaving their private haven only occasionally to inspect the work being done on the great hall.