Epilogue

After their heartfelt agreement to marry, Arran and Scarlett felt the call of tradition to renew their vows later that day.

Sienna Paton may have been the one pushing them to do so, but they did it nonetheless.

"Ye didnae think that ye should perhaps state yer vows again under the new intention of it being a true and steadfast commitment?"

"She's about as subtle as a loosed arrow," Arran murmured in Scarlett's hair, which made her smile.

"Aye, she's right, Arran. Let's go!" Scarlett said, and he chased her through the castle. "Maither! Ye too, let's go!"

They were saddling the horses a few moments later and racing out to their favorite spot. With the misty Highlands and Sienna as their witnesses, Arran and Scarlett stood hand in hand on the riverbank and reaffirmed their commitment to each other.

The whispers of the wind and the gentle babbling of the river fell into the background as they spoke their sacred vows to each other. Sienna wrapped a conveniently presented handfasting cord around their hands, and they all laughed at her unmatched preparedness.

"That was just lovely, dears," she said quietly and hugged them both. "Thank ye for letting me be a part of this. We willnae ever speak of this to yer faither, Scarlett."

She tucked the cord back into her hidden pocket and then left them by the river, heading back to the castle.

"Are ye happy, lass?"

"Aye, I'm happy. Are ye?"

"Aye, I couldnae be any happier at this moment."

Scarlett nodded her head thoughtfully and looked at the river and then back at him. "Any happier?"

"Nay, I am content," Arran said and grabbed her hand to kiss her knuckles. "Should we dance?"

"If ye wish," Scarlett hummed dreamily and let him spin her around the quiet riverbank.

"Ye ken what would make me even happier?"

Arran hummed in response as he rested his cheek on the crown of her head.

"Breakfast," Scarlett purred.

He straightened to look at her face. "Breakfast?"

Scarlett worried her plump bottom lip with her teeth and looked up at him from beneath her lashes as she nodded her head. "Aye, breakfast."

Her sly smile ignited a fire in his loins. "Breakfast…"

"Aye, Laird McLaren. Are ye nae… hungry?"

Arran's eyes darkened, and he tightened his grip on her waist. "Aye, I'm always hungry, lass."

She hummed sensually and guided his free hand down to her skirts. "Ye make me hungry, Arran Williams."

"Here?" he asked and looked around briefly, before meeting her fiery stare.

"Here."

Arran lifted her into his arms, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he walked them over their horses. He set her down as he unsaddled Morag, and then laid the saddle on the blanket and did the same with Sorcha's saddle. A bed on the edge of the river.

He scooped Scarlett up again and laid her down on the blankets, making sure that her head rested on the saddle seat.

"Comfortable?"

"Aye," she said, looking at him hungrily.

"Careful with what ye do with that look, lass," he cautioned playfully, and his hand slid down her leg to gather her skirts and lift them slowly.

Arran leaned over and removed her riding boots and stockings with ease before he kissed her leg all the way up her thigh. He could feel the heat of her core, but instead of having a taste of her honeypot, he trailed kisses down the other leg to her foot. He then trailed a hand up her thigh until it reached her slick folds and heard her breath hitch as he explored her softly.

Scarlett's sighs guided his fingers around her bud of nerves until she shook with pleasure. He shifted his weight to hover over her, meeting her eyes as she came down from her climax.

"Look at me, Scarlett. I need to see ye," he said as his erection slowly slid into her.

He shuddered at how tight she was and had to take a steadying breath before he started thrusting into her slowly.

"Och, Arran…"

"Aye, lass, it's me," he grunted.

He planted hot, open-mouthed kisses on her neck and lips with each mind-blowing thrust.

"Sweet mercy!" Scarlett cried out and threw her head back in almost total ecstasy.

Arran slowed down to growl in her ear, "Do ye want me to go faster, lass?"

Scarlett's eyes flashed open and met his. "Faster."

"Ach! Lass," he groaned and rammed into her fiercely.

Her cries of pleasure threatened to push him over the edge.

"Arran," she moaned and gripped his arm tightly.

"Ready, lass?" he asked as he drove into her again and again.

"Och—Arran!" she moaned as she climaxed around him.

"Scarlett," he grunted in her hair as he found his release inside her.

Their hot breaths formed little white clouds in the chilly morning air as they both came down from their climax.

"I love ye, Scarlett Williams," Arran said through heavy breaths, and peppered kisses all over her face, careful not to press too hard on her bruises.

"I love ye, Arran Williams," Scarlett returned and kissed him lightly on the forehead when he finally settled into her embrace.

The End