Bound by Wish and Mistletoe (Highland Legends #1.5)(35)
Robert smiled and leaned forward. With tender care, he kissed away the salty tears from her lashes as she fluttered them shut. He brushed back a few strands of hair that had stuck to her wet cheek and, with gentle reverence, did his best to kiss all her pain away.
“Thank you for nearly tramplin’ me, threatenin’ my life, and for bein’ a feisty guest of ours. Were it not for your impossible nature, I might not have fallen for you.”
“Guest?” she said, pulling her head back. “Doona you mean to say ‘prisoner’?”
He laughed, kissing her luscious lips. He murmured against them between lazy kisses. “Nay, no matter who was the one bound, ’twas I who’d been captured.”
She pulled back, staring into his eyes with great intensity. “Robert, I canna stop worryin’ about my father and Dougal. They will come after me. You and your clan are at risk as long as I remain here. And...”
Robert swallowed hard, wanting to ease her suffering, but forcing himself to wait and listen to her needs. Her fear was justified and existed because, in the heat of battle, he’d chosen to protect her first and bring the fight to Dougal another time. On his terms. Without Susanna. He accepted the responsibility of easing her fears and worries until he killed Dougal. And her abusing, tyrannical father.
She slid her quivering fingers across his cheeks. “I’m tryin’ desperately to trust you. Trust this. Us. Mama told me things. Made me believe things that I’m now fightin’ against.”
“What kind of things did she tell you, Susanna?”
“Horrible things about men. All men. I’ve grown up fearin’ and hatin’ men. I hated you the moment I met you. I knew no other way.”
He turned his head, placing a gentle kiss in the palm of her hand. “And now?”
“Now I feel something verra different than hate for you, no matter my struggles with it.”
His soft laugh brought a small smile to her lips. “Your bravery and strength is admirable after all you’ve been through. That you fight your demons and try to trust somethin’ you never imagined possible is enough for now.” He smiled at her. “I’m a verra patient man.”
Susanna threaded her fingers through the hair at his nape and pulled him closer. He wrapped his arms around her, holding his new wife—his life.
*
Robert spent the entire morning in Susanna’s bed, holding and reassuring her, but also talking with her and learning about little things, like the secret hikes she’d taken alone and the colorful wildflowers she’d discovered while on them. The moment springtime arrived, he planned to share many new small adventures with her.
The castle’s daily activities were well underway by the time he ventured downstairs to replenish their food and drink. Maids were already clearing dishes from the day’s first meal off the tables and tossing scraps to the hounds as he bounded down the stairs. He stepped into the cool space of the larder to refill their wineskin.
When he passed back by the kitchen, Iain called out to him. “Robert! Look at you, hale and well rested.” A huge grin stretched across his face.
Robert narrowed his eyes, wary of Iain’s sudden jovial demeanor. “Iain, you’ve been heavily drinkin’ the ale already?”
“Nay.” Iain held up the aromatic brew of what he and Isobel drank. They called it coffee.
Iain continued to stare at him with a devilish smirk on his face.
Robert growled low. “What’s got you so happy today?”
He arched a brow. “I’ve called the priest. We heard you took a wife last night, and Father John will be givin’ you God’s blessin’.”
Robert snorted. “You heard?”
“I doona think even the mice were spared Susanna’s screams in the night. Damn, Robert. The walls are made of thick stone. I’d ask what you did to the poor lass, but it looks like she marked you in return.” Iain clapped him hard on the shoulder and left the room.
Robert grabbed a silver tray and held it up by the light of the fire. Small bruises dotted the side of his neck from his shoulder to his jaw. He slowly smiled.
“Aye,” he said aloud in the empty kitchen. “She marked me. Straight through to my heart.”
His grin faltered as he stared at the irrefutable image of who he was: a warrior who’d stolen a bride from another man—a man who would die by the blade of his claymore. And he might be Susanna’s husband by law, but he needed to explain the magick within their castle and how it affected their lives. He believed nothing should be kept secret between a husband and wife.
His dark brow furrowed in the reflection, and his jaw tensed as he replaced the platter on the table. After everything had been dealt with, and all had been revealed, he hoped she’d want to stay with him, be a part of Clan Brodie.
The celebrating would be tempered until he’d earned the right to keep her.
CHAPTER TWELVE
After a lazy afternoon talking and laughing with Brigid and Isobel, and the last hour of their fussing over her hair and gown, Susanna sent her new friends down ahead of her and now descended the steps alone. The brief respite granted her valuable minutes alone to think about her situation. Although she’d spent the prior night in Robert’s arms as he made her his, and spent the rest of the morning soaking in the warmth and protection of her warrior wrapped around her, it still hadn’t settled completely into her mind that she’d given herself to a man.