31 A THOUSAND-FOLD

FINN'S COMMENT brOUGHT a wave of whispers around them and raised another smirk from Alec.

Astrid ignored them all as she stared back at Finn. "Excuse me?"

"I haven't been honest with ye," he replied, his gaze never wavering. "Or myself."

Astrid swallowed. They were making a scene, and her cheeks were aflame, yet she couldn't look away from him. "Tell me the truth then," she whispered. "Now."

A flush rose to Finn's high cheekbones. "I was a coward all those years ago … scared that ye'd reject me," he admitted, his voice rough now. "And it galls me that I'm still a fazart when it comes to matters of the heart."

Her mouth quirked, even as her throat thickened. "I would never have taken ye for a coward, Finn."

He gave a soft snort. "Aye, well … now ye know the truth." He stepped in closer, blocking out the rest of the hall. "I'll admit I didn't have the best start to life, but it was me who carried things on. I made myself an island … and decided I was better off that way." He swallowed then. "But I was wrong."

Astrid's breathing caught at this admission. She wasn't sure how to answer him, but it appeared Finn didn't require an answer.

"Ye are everything I've ever wanted and yet been terrified to reach for," he continued huskily. "Aye, there are better men out there … but none would adore ye as fiercely as I do." He drew her closer still, his arm curving around her waist. The feel of his touch made her want to sink into him, even as her pulse went wild. "None would cherish yer independent spirit and unique blend of fire and softness … as I do."

Astrid's lips parted. His admission had robbed her of words .

Nonetheless, Finn still wasn't done. "Ye own my heart, lass," he admitted, his gaze never leaving hers. "And although it terrifies me to ask ye this, I must. Are my feelings returned?"

"Aye," Astrid gasped without hesitation. "A thousand-fold."

A wide, delighted smile creased Finn's face at her response. It was like watching the sun come out after days of heavy fog.

He tore his gaze from hers then and focused on where Loch stood a few yards away, his arm slung around Mairi's shoulders. The clan-chief and his wife were watching them; Loch wore a knowing smile while Mairi looked bemused.

"I'm in love with yer sister," Finn informed him, his voice carrying over the now silent hall. "And with yer permission, I would make her my wife."

Murmurs followed this comment, even as Astrid's belly swooped as if she'd just leaped off a cliff. Mother Mary, had he just proposed?

All gazes swiveled to Loch to see how he'd react. Of course, it was an unconventional match. Astrid was a clan-chief's daughter while Finn was the Captain of the Duart Guard. By rights, she should have chosen a man of the same rank as a husband. Also, few of them would have forgotten that he'd once promised his sister to Kendric Mackinnon to forge an alliance between their clans—and perhaps they thought Loch had another husband in mind for her.

The clan-chief didn't answer for a few moments. Instead, his gaze moved from Finn's face to Astrid's. "Is this what ye want, sister?" he asked eventually.

"Aye," she replied firmly. "More than anything."

Her emphatic statement drew more murmurs, although many folk in the crowd, Jack and Tara among them, were now smiling. Meanwhile, Finn's hold on her waist tightened.

Tension shivered through his lean frame.

Loch gave a slow nod and focused once more on Finn. "Then ye have my blessing."

Joy sparkled in Finn's hazel eyes, and his throat worked as emotion swept over him. "I will protect her with my life," he said, voice catching. "I swear."

Loch moved close, covering the space between them and placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "There's no need for ye to make such a promise, lad," he said gently. "I know I railed at ye when Astrid was injured … but I was wrong to do so. Ye 've already proved to me that ye'd do anything to keep my sister safe." He paused then, favoring them both with a wide smile. "And if ye wish it, I shall join ye as husband and wife here and now."

It was incredible how events could take a turn.

Earlier, Astrid had believed Finn would never let his defenses down around her. But in the space of a few moments, he'd declared his love for her before a packed hall and gained her brother's blessing for their union. And Loch had offered to marry them.

They both agreed.

Standing in the heart of the hall, as the clan-chief wound a length of Maclean plaid about their joined hands, Finn and Astrid stared into each other's eyes. The ceremony was short yet heartfelt, and as Astrid promised that she would be Finn's, body and soul, until she drew her last breath, a sense of completeness filtered over her.

This was how things were meant to be.

"As yer hands are bound together by this plaid, so, too, shall yer lives be bound." Loch's voice rose into the smoky air. "May ye forever be one, sharing in all things, in love and loyalty for all time to come. May the road rise to meet ye. May the wind be always at yer back." He then unwound the plaid and stepped back. "Ye are now husband and wife." His mouth quirked into a grin. "So, ye can stop gazing at my sister with calf eyes and kiss her, man."

A heartbeat later, Finn did just that, scooping Astrid gently against him, his mouth slanting across hers. And she kissed him back just as fiercely, as cheering erupted around them, shaking the rafters.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur.

More wine, mead, and ale were brought out, as were little honey cakes, which the cooks had hastily prepared upon hearing a wedding would take place that very eve. Fresh out of the oven and oozing with honey, the cakes were hot and delicious .

However, Astrid barely tasted them. All she could think about was that she and Finn were wedded. Seated next to each other at the laird's table, their thighs pressed close, she was exquisitely aware of him. Each moment became more tension-filled than the last.

And when Finn fed her some cake, she boldly licked the honey off his fingers.

The hunger that ignited in his eyes made her tremble, and their gazes fused, need shivering between them.

It had been a few days since their encounter at Dunvegan Castle, yet neither of them had forgotten it.

Long moments passed, and then, wordlessly, Finn rose from the table and drew Astrid to her feet as well. Without warning, he scooped her up into his arms.

Astrid squeaked, and Finn's gaze snapped to hers, shadowing. "Did I hurt ye?"

She shook her head before wrapping her arms around his neck. "No," she whispered. "Ye just took me by surprise."

A smile tugged at the corners of Finn's mouth, and need quickened in Astrid's stomach. When he looked at her like that, something deep inside her caught fire.

Ribald comments followed them as Finn carried his bride away from the laird's table, skirting the dancers, and making for the door. Neither of them paid the others any mind, even if Astrid marked the scowl on Malcolm's face and the smirk upon Alec's.

Finn didn't speak as he carried Astrid upstairs. There had been no time for servants to prepare them a bridal chamber, or for a priest to bless the bed, but Astrid didn't care.

All she wanted was to lie with this man, to let the love they'd just admitted and formalized flow.

Entering Astrid's bedchamber, Finn nudged the door closed with his foot and lowered her to the ground. And then, he dipped his head once more and kissed her. This embrace was slow and tender.

Tears stung Astrid's eyelids as the kiss drew out, their tongues stroking, his hands reverently cupping her face.

And when Finn eventually drew back, gazing down at her, Astrid's vision blurred, emotion swelling in a tide within her. "I love ye, Finn," she gasped out the words. "It's only ever been ye … I just didn't want to admit it. "

"My lovely lass." His voice caught as his thumb swept away the tears that now trickled down her cheeks. "What did I do to deserve ye?"

Astrid huffed a shaky laugh. "I'm just sorry we wasted so much time," she admitted huskily. "All these years loathing each other … never realizing that we were meant to be together."

"Aye," he said, his voice thick now. "And I won't waste another moment." His mouth found hers again, and this time, it quickly slid from tender to passionate.

Astrid matched him, her arms winding around his neck, her body pressed against his long, lean length.

This eve, Finn wasn't dressed in his usual tight-fitting leathers. Instead, he'd donned a fresh lèine, tucked into chamois braies, a Maclean sash across his chest. The clothing softened him, suited him. Although there was nothing soft about his hard-muscled body, or the rod that pressed against her stomach as their kiss grew wilder and deeper.

No, his arousal was very much in evidence, and Astrid found herself grinding her hips against him, as she had that night in Dunvegan, desperate to feel his body against hers.

Breathing hard now, Finn drew back. "Are ye strong enough, Astrid?" he asked, his voice gravelly with need. "I don't want to hurt ye."

"I'm fine," she assured him, "as long as this isn't rough."

"I will never be rough with ye," he assured her, as he moved behind her and began unlacing her surcote. His tone grew huskier still then as he added. "Unless that is what ye wish."

Heat pulsed in Astrid's lower belly at the sensual promise in his voice.

How she wanted him, yearned for him.

Wordlessly, Finn undressed her, stripping off her surcote and kirtle, and the filmy lèine she wore underneath, until she stood before him, naked save for the light bandage that covered her ribs. The wound still had a large scab upon it, and Donn wished to keep it protected during the day.

Embarrassed, she adjusted the bandage slightly. "Apologies about this," she murmured. "It isn't the bonniest sight."

Finn's hungry gaze swept over her. "It makes no difference to yer loveliness, lass. "

Astrid's breathing caught. Hades, the gleam in his eyes, the way his lips parted, made her heart thump against her ribs.

"Ye are bonnie enough to break my heart," he added.

"I never would," she whispered, even as heat washed over her.

Heart pounding now, she stepped close to him, her hands straying to where his lèine was tucked into his braies. "Come," she murmured. "I want to see ye naked too."