In Bed with a Highlander (McCabe Trilogy #1)(60)

She frowned and punched him in the gut. He laughed and sucked inward in mock agony. He grabbed her wrists and rolled, careful not to jar her side. When they were on their sides, locked together, their faces so close she could feel his breath, he touched her cheek and rubbed with the back of his knuckle.

“And now, lass, I’m thinking I have some kissing of my own to do. Complete with tongue.”

She sucked in her breath until she saw spots dancing in her vision. “Tongue? Have I told you lately how indecent your tongue is, Laird?”

“It can’t get any more indecent than yours just got,” he said.

Then he proceeded to show her that indeed, he was far, far more indecent than she could ever dream of being.

Chapter 23

Ewan woke to a heavy pounding on his chamber door. Before he could rouse himself enough to answer the summons, the door burst open. Ewan was out of bed in the next instant, his hand on the floor and around the hilt of his sword.

“Jesu, Ewan, ’tis just me,” Caelen said. “You were sleeping the sleep of the dead.”

Ewan sat back on the bed and first pulled the furs up to shield Mairin’s nudity and then to shield his own. “Get the hell out of here,” he said irritably.

“If my presence offends your maidenly modesty, I’ll turn my back until you dress,” Caelen said.

“ ’Tis not mine I’m worried over,” Ewan snarled.

“Well, hell, Ewan, I can’t see the lass, nor am I looking. ’Tis important or I wouldn’t have breached your chamber.”

“Ewan?”

Mairin’s sleepy voice rose from the covers, and her head poked out. Her hair was all rumpled, her eyes droopy, and yet somehow she still managed to look adorable. Even though Caelen claimed not to be looking, Ewan caught his brother glancing Mairin’s way.

Ewan leaned over and brushed the hair from her face and then kissed her on the forehead. “Listen to me, sweeting. I want you to go back to sleep. You need your rest.”

She murmured something he couldn’t hear and snuggled back underneath the blankets. He touched her cheek one last time and then rolled out of bed to pull his clothing on.

He ordered Caelen into the hall until he was finished put on his boots and picked up his sword. With one final look in Mairin’s direction, he strode into the hall where Caelen fell into step with him.

“Sweeting? You need your sleep?” Caelen mimicked. “I think you’re missing your scrotum, brother.”

Ewan balled his fist and slammed it into Caelen’s jaw. Caelen went reeling and had to catch himself on the wall to keep from falling down the stairs.

“Well damn, Ewan. I have to say marriage doesn’t agree with you,” Caelen said, as he rubbed his jaw.

“I think it agrees with me just fine.”

As they entered the hall, Ewan saw Alaric stride in, his clothing dusty and lines of fatigue creasing his face.

“You dragged me from a warm bed for Alaric’s arrival?” Ewan asked.

“He said ’twas important. He sent a messenger ahead to summon you to meet him,” Caelen defended.

“Ewan,” Alaric called as he strode forward.

“What’s so urgent that you sent a messenger ahead of you?”

“McDonald is on his way here.”

Ewan frowned. “Here? Why? What happened, Alaric?”

“You married. That’s what happened. Laird McDonald had every intention of marrying off his daughter to you. He’s not pleased to discover that’s no longer an option. He’s insisted on meeting with you, no matter that you are newly married, as I tried to explain. He informed me that if you wanted this alliance, you would meet with him.”

Ewan cursed. “We’re in no position to host anyone. We can barely feed our own clan and now we have to host McDonald and his men? We need weeks to prepare for an event such as this, not mere days.”

Alaric grimaced and closed his eyes.

“What?” Ewan asked sharply.

“Not days. Day.”

More curses blistered Ewan’s lips. “Day? When is he arriving?”

Alaric sighed and wiped his forehead wearily. “Why do you think I ran my horse into the ground to get here? McDonald will arrive on the morrow.”

“Ewan?”

Ewan whirled to see Mairin standing a short distance away, her gaze questioning.

“May I have permission to speak?”

He lifted a brow, surprised she’d even ask. But he also saw how nervous she appeared as she stared at his two brothers.

He held out his ha, and she hurried over to take it. “You have need of something, Mairin?”

“I overheard, I mean about Laird McDonald coming. Is there trouble?”

Worry shadowed her blue eyes as she stared up at him.

“Nay, sweeting, no trouble. Laird McDonald and I are in talks. ’Tis nothing for you to worry over.”

“He’ll be here tomorrow?”

“Aye.”

She frowned and then squared her shoulders. “There’s much to be done, Ewan. Are you going to be difficult about my injury and make me stay abed, or are you going to allow me to do my duty so that I’m not shamed beyond measure when we have important guests?”

“Shamed?”

She huffed in exasperation. “The keep is in no condition for visitors. There’s cleaning to do, food to cook, instructions to give. Why, if someone arrived today, they’d think me the most incompetent of any laird’s wife. Not only would I be shamed, but you would be shamed as well.”