Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

B onnie had taken to spending her time in the gardens, surrounded by the kaleidoscope of flowers and bushes that grew there. Today, the clear sky gave her the perfect opportunity for a stroll and she walked around aimlessly, enjoying the fragrant air around her. The sunshine, the calmness of the gardens helped her clear her mind, though she still couldn't chase the thought of Evan away.

And then, as though her mind had summoned him, she saw him standing near the gardens, staring at her in silence.

What is he doin' there? Why is he standin' so far?

Slowly, as though he was reluctant to approach, Evan walked closer, stopping only a few paces away from her. "Good mornin'," he said in such a stiff tone that Bonnie feared something was wrong.

"Good mornin'," said Bonnie, resisting the urge to fidget with the edge of the sleeve. For a while, they fell in an odd, awkward silence as Evan shifted his weight from one foot to the other, opening and closing his mouth repeatedly as though he was trying to say something but then changed his mind.

Looking over his shoulder, Bonnie saw there was no one else there. Patiently, she waited for him to get his bearings and tell her whatever it was he was trying to say, but the more seconds ticked by, the more restless she became.

"Is everythin' alright?" she prompted when Evan said nothing.

It was amusing, seeing him freeze, eyes wide as though he had been caught stealing bannocks from the kitchen. He was a tower of a man, a laird with so much power in his hands, and yet here he was, unable to speak.

"Aye!" Evan said way too loudly and then he shook his head, taking a deep breath. It seemed to calm him a little and he smiled at Bonnie, reaching for her hand to lace their fingers together. It was a tender gesture, one that made her smile, too, despite herself. "Aye. Everythin' is fine. I wished tae speak with ye because I . . . I came tae a decision."

"A decision?"

Evan nodded firmly. "I've been terribly unfair tae ye, Bonnie. I never meant tae hurt ye. I never meant tae make ye think that ye dinnae matter tae me because ye dae. Ye matter more than anythin'."

Bonnie frowned, tilting her head to the side. She was waiting for him to shift his words around, to tell her that even though she mattered to him so much, he couldn't disobey his council; that even though he wished they could be together, they never could be.

"I wish tae make ye me wife."

Bonnie's heart stopped. At first, she feared that she had misheard Evan or that perhaps she was dreaming, her mind conjuring up fake scenarios in which she could be happy. But Evan was real next to her, his hand warm and solid around hers, his smile as blinding as the morning sun. It was real. There was no doubt about it.

"Say somethin'," Evan prompted and it was only then that Bonnie realized she had been stunned into silence, giving him no answer.

"I want that," she said, nodding fervently as she flew into his arms. Evan's laughter was a deep rumble in her chest as their bodies collided, his arms wrapping tightly around her and holding her impossibly close. "I want it. I want tae be yer wife."

Neither of them wanted to leave each other's arms. They stood there for several moments, Bonnie hiding the tears of joy in Evan's shoulder as she clung to him, her happiness so overwhelming that she could think of nothing else. Her entire body felt warm, a tingle of excitement spreading through her as she imagined their future together.

When she pulled back, though, she couldn't help but ask, "An' the council?"

"I will tell them soon. Today," Evan promised. "I dinnae care what they say. They cannae stop me. If they so wish, they can give the lairdship tae Alaric. Yer more important that this tae me."

Fresh tears welled up in Bonnie's eyes. She could hardly believe Evan would be willing to give up his title, his position, all just for her. She didn't want him to do such a thing but when she looked at him, he seemed to be at peace with his decision.

"Come," he said, before she had the time to wonder if she should protest, if she should try to convince Evan to do anything to keep the lairdship. "I wish tae show ye somethin'."

Evan had barely finished speaking before he began to drag her along as he walked towards the castle walls. Bonnie followed him, trailing after him and wondering where he was taking her when she saw a small door there in the wall, hidden behind some bushes. Two guards stood on that side and Bonnie and Evan greeted them before they slipped outside and found themselves at the far side of the castle, where the land spread in a gentle slope.

In the distance, a small lake glimmered under the morning sun. If the slope of the land didn't deceive her, then she thought it must have been a twenty-minute walk to the lake, down a narrow, winding path.

"Are we goin' there?" she asked, smiling at Evan.

"Aye," he said. "If ye wish. It is me favorite place in the world."

"Let us go."

Still hand in hand, the two of them walked down the path, Evan helping her whenever the path became too slippery or steep. Bonnie looked around her in wonder, gazing at the beautiful valley that spread all around her and farther down the distance, a sprawling forest of towering trees. All around them, the air was filled with the songs of birds, the whole world alive under the morning sun.

When they reached the lake, Bonnie realized it was a little farther down the path than she had originally thought, but still close to the castle. She could see why Evan loved the place so much; not only was it beautiful, but since it was so close, he could probably visit it often, even as a child. It was even a little bigger than it seemed from the top of the hill, with shrubs and flowers growing all around the bank in an explosion of color.

"It's a very bonnie place," she said, the soft, long grass brushing against her legs as she raised the hem of her dress a little, trying to keep it from getting soiled by the mud which collected near the edges. "Dae ye come here often?"

"Nae as often as I would like," said Evan as he laid out his plaid and sat on the edge, gesturing at Bonnie to join him. When she did, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I've been away a lot lately . . . an' when I'm here, there is too much tae dae. But I'll try tae come here more often . . . with ye. With our bairns."

Our bairns.

Bonnie's heart melted at the mention of children. She could hardly believe that Evan was already thinking about the family they would have, that he didn't fear talking about such things when only the previous day, he had been so reluctant to oppose his council.

Would they ever accept her, Bonnie wondered? Or would they always spurn her, blaming her for their laird's decision?

And what if they were right? What if Ruthven attacked with the shadowed support of Baliol and the King, bringing the MacGregor Clan to its knees? What if the clan was destroyed and Evan was killed by Ruthven's hand?

Bonnie didn't think she could ever bear it.

"Me love," Evan said softly, cradling her cheek and making Bonnie look at him. "Whatever it is that is makin' ye fash, forget it. I am here right the now, with ye. I'm with ye."

Bonnie nodded, sighing softly when Evan kissed her. At first, it was barely more than a brush of lips, but then it quickly turned hungry, lips and teeth clashing together as they tried to get ever closer. Evan pulled her into his lap once again and Bonnie had quickly come to realize how much she loved being like this, their bodies plastered together as she was enveloped in Evan's arms.

"Maybe we should begin tae try fer those bairns," Evan said, laughing against Bonnie's lips. "What dae ye say, mo ghraidh ? Will ye give me an heir?"

Bonnie couldn't help but laugh, too, pushing Evan playfully away. He was quick to move close again, nosing at her jaw and neck, his hands trailing a path down her curves until they came to rest on her rear, fingers digging roughly into her flesh. Then, he gathered the fabric of her dress, pulling it up, up, until he could slip his hand underneath, fingers searching for her molten core.

When they brushed against her, Evan swallowed the gasp Bonnie let out as they kissed. Every first touch was like the very first time, sending the same sweet thrill down Bonnie's spine as when Evan had first touched her, and this was no different. She couldn't help but shiver when Evan caressed her folds, his touch light and teasing before it turned more insistent, one of those devious fingers slipping inside her with no resistance.

"Come," Evan said, mumbling against her lips. "Let me hear ye."

Bonnie moaned as Evan crooked his finger, brushing up against a sensitive spot inside her that had her seeing stars behind her closed lids. With trembling fingers, she undid her dress as much as she could, pushing the collar down to bare her breasts just to see the wild look in Evan's eyes as he stared at her curves. His lips found the crook of her neck, the kisses he pressed there on her soft skin driving Bonnie wild with lust.

One hand curled around the back of Evan's head, threading through his hair as the other reached for him, slipping under his kilt to stroke his manhood. Bonnie thought she would never get used to this, this feeling of closeness, of oneness, the likes of which she had never experienced before. But now she had her whole life ahead of her with Evan by her side, and she would never have to be without this feeling.

"I wish tae be inside ye," Evan said, voice a hushed whisper, his tongue dragging over her neck, her collarbone, leaving behind a trail of heat. "Please . . . I cannae take this any longer."

Nodding in agreement, Bonnie shifted her hips, moving even closer to him. The loss of his fingers was regrettable for only a moment before Bonnie guided his length to her opening, her arousal already so great that she could easily sink down, taking him all the way to the hilt.

Their lips met again in a feverish kiss. Their movements were syrupy slow, bodies writhing together in a slow rhythm as Evan's arms caged Bonnie between them, both of them clinging to each other desperately. Every thrust of their hips pushed Evan deeper and deeper, filling Bonnie to the brim, stretching her walls in a way that sent shivers down her body. When Evan tilted his hips just right, groin meeting her sensitive spot with every thrust, Bonnie threw her head back in pleasure, a shuddering moan escaping her.

It was as though flames licked her skin, leaving her overheated and desperate under the morning sun. There was nothing around them but the sound of their coupling and their broken moans, the whispered promises they exchanged between them.

Bonnie looked at Evan, pressing their foreheads together. He was intoxicatingly handsome under the golden light, his dark eyes shining with all the emotion that hid behind them, all the love he felt for her. Bonnie had no doubt he loved her. She had no doubt he meant every word and that from now on, she would never have to wonder.

"Inside me," she said as she felt his manhood throb and twitch, hearing the desperate moans that tumbled past his lips. She quickened her pace, hips rolling frantically as she tried to bring them both closer to their climax, her nipples brushing against the stiff edge of her dress as her breasts bounced—a slight sting that only served to stoke her lust. "Inside me, Evan. I want tae feel ye."

Groaning, Evan grabbed Bonnie's hips, rolling her over onto her back before he drove relentlessly into her, making her cry out with every push of his hips. He took her hard and fast, seemingly losing all patience until they were both adrift, swimming in the depths of their pleasure, the world narrowing to the point where their bodies were joined.

Just as Evan stilled, spilling inside her, Bonnie's orgasm shook her to the core, the pleasure so intense that everything around her went white. She held him close, soothingly whispering in his ear as he trembled where he was draped over her, chasing the last of the aftershocks with short, jerky thrusts.

Then, he collapsed on top of her with a chuckle, one that Bonnie echoed even as he pushed all the air out of her lungs.

"Yer too heavy," she said, pushing him off—or at least trying to. Evan moved reluctantly, rolling over onto his back on the plaid and Bonnie sat up, fixing her dress as best as she could, before focusing on her hair. It was a mess, she was certain of it, but there was little she could do other than hope she wouldn't meet too many people on her way to her chambers.

"How long can we stay here, dae ye think, afore yer council?—"

The sound of approaching footsteps cut Bonnie's words short. There were several of them, jarringly loud in the quiet of the lake, and before she could turn around to see who it was, Evan was already jumping to his feet, grabbing his sword from where he had left it earlier by a nearby rock.

When she looked over her shoulder, breath catching in her throat, she saw a band of men approaching, their weapons already drawn.