Epilogue

EPILOGUE

O ne week later…

Darren’s bruises had almost completely disappeared, but he couldn’t say he was well. As he’d predicted, Adrian’s betrayal had hit like a kick to the gut once the battle focus had worn off. The knowledge that he’d forced Marcus to kill their cousin, therefore earning his own brand of kinslayer, had made him even sicker than the repeated blows to his head. He’d spent much of the first night after throwing up in a basin - a thing he’d not done since his father’s death years before.

He hadn’t enjoyed being stuck in the healer’s cottage for several days either, but Evina had been adamant that if he couldn’t stay out of danger and avoid further injury on his own, she was going to ensure that he was relatively well before she let him out of her sight. She’d refused to let him leave until his headache had disappeared and his vision had settled.

His only consolations had been Alayne’s frequent vitists, the knowledge that Marcus and Bard were keeping the clan well- looked after, and the man who now stood before him preparing to leave.

Donall Ranald had been his constant companion in the healer’s cottage, confined for the deep gash over his ribs, and the severe blood loss complicated by his time spent in the king’s dungeon. He’d picked up a cough and an infection, and Evina had confined him in the same room as Darren.

Between sleep and medical treatment, they’d had plenty of time to talk to each other. Now that Donall was no longer seeking vengeance for his father, the younger laird proved to have a good head on his shoulders, and a sound understanding of the difficulties and necessities of being a laird. Not having been raised a warrior, or in competition with two brothers, he approached problems and solutions differently than Darren did.

Talking with him had proved enlightening, plus the young man had a fine sense of humor once the awkwardness of getting to know one another properly had worn off. Even better, Marcus had gotten over his dislike of the Ranald laird, resulting in a few nights of card games that had well and truly ended any hostilities between them, even if Evina, Erin and Alayne had scolded Donall and Darren for drinking too much.

Now they were both free to leave, and Donall had announced his intention to return to his clan. Spring was coming soon, and there was much to be done to prepare for planting season. Darren didn’t begrudge him the work he would need to do, much less the fact that he would need to find a new head of household, with his sister now the Lady MacLean.

Had he been in better condition, he would have offered Donall Bard’s services. But his own clan was unstable after the revelation of Adrian’s betrayal, and Bard’s presence, along with Ryan and Marcus, was the only thing keeping the council even slightly calm - to say nothing of his brothers.

Keegan and Daemon had both sent long, incensed letters berating him for not calling for their help sooner. Ryan and Marcus had apparently agreed that the best thing to do was send his family a full account of everything that had happened. He and Donall had commiserated on the scathing lectures-by-letter that he’d received.

“Ye look miles away,” Donall’s voice broke his thoughts. Darren shook his head with a wry smile.

“Just thinkin’ over everything that’s happened. Dinnae ken if I envy ye the lack o’ trouble tae sort out, or pity ye fer the work ye have tae oversee tae be ready fer planting and growing season.”

“The latter, fer I’ll have trouble o’ me own tae sort out. The Elders o’ me council will have something tae say that ye were in control o’ our clan fer almost a season - and more tae say that I’m nae avenging me faither’s honor, or me sister’s virtue any more.”

Darren snorted. “The elders o’ both our clans can sit on a horseshoe nail fer all either o’ us should ken. I’m o’ a mind that we’ll all be better off with the peace we’ve forged.”

“Ye’ll get nay argument from me.” Donall agreed. “’Tis better fer the island as a whole, too. We’ve both good harbors, and the extra places fer ships tae dock will dae both clans some good.”

“Aye. And grant us more safety on both our borders.” Darren nodded.

Donall looked up at the sun rising in the sky, and the horse he was borrowing from Darren’s stables. Then he turned to his sister. “I wish I could stay longer, dear sister. Ye and yer husband have been good hosts and good friends tae me. But there’s much tae be done, and waiting willnae lessen the work fer any o’ us.” He kissed his sister, then embraced her.

Once that farewell was done, he exchanged a strong handclasp with Darren, and a solemn shake with Bard and Marcus.

His eyes met everyone’s once more, and then he turned and mounted. The group watched him ride away. Marcus and Bard drifted away as soon as he was through the gates, but Darren stayed, holding Alayne close as she watched her brother’s form until it disappeared among the hills.

She looked so sad, he couldn’t help lifting her chin to kiss away her tears. The soft, sweet scent of her filled his nose, making him suddenly aware that it had been a seven-day since he’d last had a chance to love her.

His body responded instantly, his groin tightening in response. He tried to push the reaction away, fearing Alayne would be disappointed that he was thinking such things when she was distressed over her brother’s departure.

He was surprised when she suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling her body flush against his. “Alayne?”

“Aye.”

He blinked. She couldn’t mean what he thought she meant with that word. “Aye? Ye mean…” He trailed off.

“I want ye. I want ye tae take me tae our rooms and make love tae me until I cannae think o’ me braither’s departure.”

Well, he wasn’t going to argue with that. He lifted her into his arms with a kiss to her brow and a soft smile. “As me lady commands.”

And with that, he turned and carried her inside. And if his growing arousal made it somewhat difficult to walk, well, that just made his anticipation and desire all the sweeter.

She hadn’t meant to seduce Darren. But she’d felt his growing arousal, and the sensation of his body hardening against hers reminded her that it had been a seven-day since she’d last been able to give or receive pleasure from her husband.

Alayne was surprised when he lifted her into his arms, but she didn’t protest. It was, as he’d once reminded her, the way she should have come home to MacLean Keep. She knew Darren did it because he cherished her, and wanted her to know it.

In their bedchambers, he lay her on the bed, and stilled her hands when she began to undo her bodice. “Let me.”

“Only if I can undress ye in turn.” She’d helped undress him to tend his injuries, but that wasn’t the same, and she certainly hadn’t felt free to touch and admire his body with Donall and Evina in the room.

“Bargain struck, me lady.”

She kicked off her slippers, and he slid off his boots. His hands slid the laces of her bodice loose, as well as the ties of her skirt. She undid his belt and let it fall with a thump to one side, followed by his sash.

Strong, callused hands tugged her shirt free of her skirt, and molded her chemise to her body as he slowly dragged it up over her head. Her hands removed his shirt in turn, her fingers gliding over new scars and old. “Will ye get tattoos for these as well?”

“Dae ye wish it?” His soft, sincere question caught her off guard.

“It makes ye more comfortable.” She traced her hands over a puckered red line.

“It daes.”

“Then I want ye tae dae it. But… I’d like tae choose the symbols. Tae place me mark on ye, as ye seem tae enjoy daeing tae me.” She glanced up at him through her lashes, and he laughed, more at ease than he’d been in some time.

“Seems fair tae me. Speakin o’ which… I gave ye yer ring back, but I’d like tae give ye a ring that ye cannae lose, ever again.” He lifted her hand to kiss her finger.

“Seems fair tae me.” She freed her hands to grip the ties of his kilt, then smiled and lowered her hand to cup his growing erection through the cloth. It was something Erin had suggested she try.

Darren’s breath hissed between his teeth, and she felt him harden further in her hand. “Vixen.”

“Aye. But ye enjoy it.”

He laughed again, stroking her hair back from her face before his hands went to her hips and began to tug skirt and chemise up. “Aye. That I dae.”

He slid his hand under her skirt to stroke her, a smug smirk teasing his mouth as he caressed her damp curls. “Already wet fer me, are ye?”

“As ready fer ye as ye are fer me.” Her breath was shorter, panting, and her breasts were already peaking, nipples hardening with anticipation.

A finger slid between her folds, startling her. They were both still sitting, her legs close together as she knelt on the bed, and the sensation was different from what she was used to. She gasped, body arching against his hand.

Darren’s smirk widened, and he slid his finger over her and into her several more times, until she was squirming against his hand, gripping his wrist to pull him closer. Only when she was breathless with desire did he pull away, and continue removing her clothing.

She reciprocated by stripping off his kilt and wrapping her hand around his hardened shaft. Darren shuddered, and he almost tore her chemise in his effort to remove it and fling it to one side.

“Ye’re so beautiful. I’ve been dreamin’ o’ ye, o’ having ye in me arms and me bed once more.” Darren guided her to lay back on the bed, kneeling between her willingly parted legs as his body lay over hers. The taut skin of his chest pressed her breasts, teasing the sensitive flesh with the heat of him as he bent over her. His shaft teased the inside of her thigh and made her long for him inside her.

“I dreamed o’ ye too.”

He chuckled, the sound sending shivers through her as he placed his hands on either side of her head. “And what did ye dream, wife o’ mine?”

“I dreamed… I dreamed o’ ye burying yer length inside o’ me. O’ ye taking me, slow and strong, until we were both mindless with pleasure. Until we both lost ourselves in the pleasure. And then, tak’ng me again once we’d recovered, hard and fast, until I couldnae breathe. And then again… all night long.”

Darren pressed his lips against her jaw, his hips already moving as he guided his shaft into position and began to slowly penetrate her. “I dinnae ken if I’ll last all night, so soon after me release from Evina’s domain, and I imagine we’ll be wantin’ tae eat at some point, but…” He smiled down at her and slid himself inside her to the hilt, making her gasp at the heat and friction, the burning, stretching feeling as he filled her to the core. “I’ll certainly dae mw best.”

Her hands found his, fingers folding together as he began to thrust, setting up the slow, steady pace she’d spoken of. Alayne gave herself over to the pleasure of her husband’s body within hers, the friction and heat of each thrust sending sparks dancing through her.

There was none of the teasing he usually indulged in, but Alayne couldn’t bring herself to care. There was pleasure and delight in the sensation of nothing more than their hands and their bodies joined, in no contact save the grip of his fingers and the sensation of his hardened manhood sliding into and out of her core.

The pleasure built, heat spiraling from her sex to her core and back again, muscles tightening and flexing around him as she arched her hips to meet each thrust and draw him deeper.

The world dissolved into the sensations and the pleasure they invoked. Far faster than she’d expected, she felt herself building to her release. The edge of the wave of her climax rose inside her.

Then, to her surprise, Darren stiffened, his rhythm breaking as his movements faltered and his own climax swept over him. Alayne arched her back, muscles tightening as his seed spurted into her core. The sensation was enough to wring her own release from her, muscles clamping down to milk his shaft of every last drop as pleasure swept her away.

The climax was more intense than she remembered it being, and the last thing she felt, as her vision faded in a white haze of heat and pleasure, was Darren’s warmth as his body covered hers, locking the two of them together in their shared pleasure and the relief of being together once more.

But there’s more…

Eager to learn what happened with Alayne and Darren ?

Then you may enjoy this extended epilogue .