Highland Devotion (The Band of Cousins Book 7) Read online

  He sighed and closed his eyes, tipping his head down so that his forehead touched hers. “You don’t know how tempting you are to me, lass. But I cannot lie with you when we’re not married. I wish to continue our relationship, but it would not be right. My sire taught me to respect women.”

  “I am not a maiden. You know my past. No man will want me,” she said, a tear sliding down her cheek. “’Tis unlikely I’ll ever marry, but I don’t want to live my life without knowing what it could be like…with you. I wish to know what it’s like with someone I love.”

  She touched her lips to his, holding his hand, and a low growl ripped from deep inside him. He cupped her face and kissed her deeply, reverently. She marveled at how gentle he was, though his kiss turned more urgent, more demanding. When she parted her lips for him, his tongue swept inside her mouth, causing a tingling sensation to travel all over her body until her nipples strained against the shift she wore.

  When he ended the kiss, he said, “I love you, Linet, and I don’t care about your past. Come to the waterfall with me?”

  She smiled and answered him with one movement, lifting her shift off and removing her wool stockings. “You’ll have to keep me warm.”

  His gaze took in everything, dropping to her breasts and below, a hunger in his gaze that pleased her because she knew she’d incited it. If he always looked at her like that, she would be a lucky woman. A part of her wished to run and hide, but somehow, the trust and the love she saw in his gaze stayed her fear. Gregor loved her as she did him, and this would be a wonderful experience between them. He’d said he wasn’t very experienced, and neither was she, so they could learn together.

  She vowed to trust him completely.

  “Love, I still cannot do this without something more formal between us.”

  “Formal? What do you mean?”

  “Handfast with me. I know of others in my family who have done it, though ’tis not common. Promise me that if we still suit, you’ll marry me in a year and a day. If we do not make a good match, we’ll go our separate ways.”

  She had to think about this. She stepped closer, her hand reaching up to touch him, attempting to mimic the tenderness he’d shown her. Her finger trailed a path from the bone underneath his chin over to his nipple, then to the coarse hairs on his chest, hesitating there a bit before she trailed her hand down to his belly and…well, she need not wonder whether Gregor wanted her or not.

  She’d thought she’d never marry. Seeing her mother’s unhappiness, her brother’s cruelty, it had soured her on the very thought. But Gregor was a different sort of man altogether.

  “Gregor, I’m not sure if I could ever marry,” she said, deciding he deserved her honesty in this. “I know nothing of normal relationships.”

  He trailed a line of kisses down her jaw, making her stand on her tiptoes because it excited her so. “I pledge to let you go if ’tis what you want then.” Pulling away, he lifted her chin so their gazes locked. “We cannot have a physical relationship without handfasting. Those are my terms.”

  “I accept,” she whispered, leaning in for a kiss to seal their bargain.

  “I don’t know how to formally do this other than to say I pledge myself to you for a year and a day, at which time I agree to set you free if ’tis what you want.”

  If love could be seen in a mere gaze, she knew exactly what it would look like. Gregor looked at her with such admiration and respect, how could she not wish to see what life would be like with him?

  “I pledge myself to you for a year and a day, and I will set you free if ’tis what you want,” she whispered, their faces nearly touching. “Until that day, I will consider you my husband.”

  “And you my wife.”

  They kissed to seal the agreement, then he reached up to his brooch and dropped his plaid before removing his tunic, boots, and hose. He held his arm out to her. “Are you ready, wife?”

  Linet giggled at the term, her nervousness overpowering her a bit. “Aye, I’m ready. Shall we enter our fine bath?” She held her hand out toward the bubbling pool at the foot of the falls. “You first.”

  He laughed and stepped ahead of her. “I’ll go in first, just to be certain there’s a bottom and there are no creatures inside.”

  She stood off to the side to watch him, pleased by the fine figure he cut. His muscles rippled with each step, even when he stopped under the falls to tip his head back, washing his hair before he swung it wide, sending droplets of water all over her.

  Flinching and squealing, she cried, “’Tis cold.”

  “Nay, ’tis not so bad,” he said just before he dunked his body into the pool of water at the base of the cascading water. Water spilled from a layer of rocks at one end of the small pool into the burn that joined the stream in the distance.

  He held his hand out to her after he’d swum around the pool. “Come, you can touch easily. You’ll be surprised to see ’tis actually warm. There must be a warm spring connected to it.”

  She put her hand in his and stepped in carefully, not willing to submerge as quickly as he had. The first bite of cold water made her cringe, but she quickly adjusted to the temperature. “You’re right.” She moved toward him, squealing as she submerged her shoulders into the cool water. “I brought my soap.” She held her hand out to show him.

  “May I?”

  She offered it to him without a second thought, but to her surprise, he made a lather from it and used it on her shoulders, lifting her out of the water and washing her back. She couldn’t help but moan from his ministrations, reveling in the now tepid pool, the wondrous feeling of being clean, and having his patient assistance in her bathing efforts.

  What more could she ask for?

  “Gregor, your touch is wonderful.” She tipped her head back and leaned it on his shoulder, enjoying his attentions.

  “May I wash your front? Will you allow me to touch your breasts?”

  Pleased with the respect he’d shown her, and with the bolt of excitement it shot through her, she spun around to give him a quick kiss. “Aye, and many thanks for asking.”

  His smile was tentative, and if she were to guess, she’d say he was as nervous about their joining as she was. She returned her head to his shoulder. He lathered his hands with soap again and then washed her front, her breasts just barely out of the water. He massaged carefully and methodically, not missing any crevice as he held each mound up to wash the underside. Tingles shot through her breasts.

  “Do you like this?”

  “Mmmmm… Aye, verra much. Keep washing.” She closed her eyes, hoping her excitement would conquer her fear. Gregor deserved to have a willing wife, and she wanted to enjoy this connection with the man she loved. The more time they spent together, the more she trusted him.

  He did as she instructed and continued to wash until he had her wild with a yearning she didn’t understand. She stood up and turned to him. “Now?”

  He said, “I’ll follow you out. Go warm yourself by the fire.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, noticing he was washing himself. Forcing herself to stop staring at his well-honed body, she huddled near the fire to dry off.

  His voice carried over the sound of water to her. “Have you changed your mind? ’Tis your choice. If you’d like to wait, we may.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip, considering her answer, but she knew, trepidation aside, what her answer would be. It was time for Linet to live her life the way she wished, and what she wanted was to lie in the arms of Gregor Ramsay.

  ***

  Gregor climbed out of the pool because he wished to see her face. “Do you want this as much as I do?” he asked, needing to know.

  “Aye, I want you, Gregor. I want you as my husband and my friend, as my protector and my confidante. Whichever you are, I want you and only you.”

  He covered her lips with his, trying to convey how much he loved her. He wasn’t quite confident in his ability to pleasure her, since he had so little experience, but he
’d do his best to let her know how he felt with his actions. His passion overtook him and he devoured her, angling his mouth over hers so he could taste every bit of her.

  To his surprise, she responded with a powerful passion of her own, one that fueled his desire. He ended the kiss and took her hand, leading her to the spot inside the cave where he had layered plaids and furs, settling them both down on their sides facing each other.

  He decided now was the time to confess. “I’m new at this, in case I bumble along.”

  She smiled, her hand reaching up to cup his stubbled cheeks. “Make no mistake, Gregor. This is as new to me as ’tis to you. This is about us showing the love we have for one another, something I’ve never done before.”

  She’d put voice to his own thoughts, which only convinced him of how perfect they were for each other. He kissed her again, then lowered his mouth to her breast, taking his time to tease her nipple until it peaked, and suckled her until she cried out. Her hand clutched his one arm, her nails digging into his skin whenever he did something she liked. Not knowing what else to do, he maneuvered her onto her back, settled himself between her thighs, and whispered, “Guide me?”

  She took him in her hand and teased her entrance until he thought he’d spend himself then and there. “More…”

  Spreading her legs, she guided him inside until he thought he could go no farther, but as soon as he began to move, she opened wider, giving him greater access.

  She whispered one word to him, and he was glad to oblige her. “Faster.”

  Leveraging himself on his elbows, he kissed her neck as he found his rhythm. She joined him in her need, her breathing as raspy as his own. She pushed him farther, changing his angle in just the right way to please her, and he followed her lead, pounding into her so desperately that he thought he might hurt her.

  “Please, harder.”

  He did as she asked until he nearly spilled his seed inside her, but he managed to control himself until her breath caught, again and again, and she finally tumbled over the edge, calling his name. He echoed her, doing the same as he hurtled into his own chasm of pleasure, something entirely new to him.

  When they finished, he couldn’t move, so overwhelmed by their love that all he could do was stare into her eyes.

  “I love you, Gregor.” Her eyes misted and he kissed her tears away, slowly, tenderly.

  “This is not a time to cry, but a time to rejoice that we’ve found each other again. I love you more than I thought possible, and I’m quite sure it will be forever, not just a year and a day.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  They arrived at Drummond Castle when the sun was highest. Linet had to admit she felt as though she had a glow about her—one Gregor Ramsay had put there. His tenderness and loving nature had put a smile on her face and a warm feeling deep in her belly.

  Gregor greeted the men who rode out to welcome them, introducing them to her as Daniel and Uncle Micheil. He had told her about his two cousins and about Daniel’s missing hand.

  “I’m guessing there may be a reason you’re here,” Daniel said, quirking his head to the side.

  “Aye, we’ll talk inside. Is David in residence?”

  “Aye, we are all here. We’ve been anxious to hear about the progress of the Band. After the battle at Inverness, I’ve been anxious to join the next effort, but the last we heard you were all back on Ramsay land.”

  Drummond Castle was indeed beautiful. The cottages outside the bailey were lined up in neat, orderly rows, and many clansmen came out to greet them. But the castle grounds impressed her most of all. The bushes were neatly trimmed, planted in purposeful groupings, something she’d never seen before. A great pine tree surrounded by smaller bushes sat in each corner of the bailey, and trees in large pots decorated either side of the entrance.

  The greenery, even in winter, made the castle warmer, more appealing.

  Once inside, a bubbly red-headed lass hurried over to greet them, followed by a beautiful dark-haired woman, whom she guessed to be Gregor’s Aunt Diana. She carried herself like a chieftain would.

  “Greetings,” the red-headed lass said, “my name is Constance and I’m married to Daniel. You must be Linet. I was with your sister in Inverness. We searched everywhere for you. ’Tis so lovely to finally meet you.”

  She liked Constance immediately. The rest of the introductions were a blur—Anna and David, Lady Drummond, and two others she didn’t recall.

  Lady Drummond said, “Please sit over by the hearth where you can warm yourself. I’ll go to the kitchens and arrange for some food for you. Gregor, do you eat like Gavin? If I recall, you don’t, but I’ll bring out as much as you would like.”

  Gregor moved protectively to Linet’s side and said, “A light repast is fine. We’ve much to tell you.”

  Once they were all settled around a trestle table, Daniel looked Gregor in the eye and said, “Are we any closer?”

  “Aye,” Gregor replied. “Maggie asked me to send for you and David, plus some additional guards if possible.”

  Linet added, “While I was being held by the Channel, I found out several things. The main group and holding is in South Berwick and their largest building is near the docks.”

  Daniel whistled. “That gives them access to the sea. We must stop them.”

  “I was also told by one of the group’s leaders that their largest shipment ever is going soon, that it would require three ships, and the men in charge will pay anything to get this shipment off. He claimed the Ramsays were no longer a threat because he and Earc knew everything there was to know about the Ramsay warriors. The Channel has many more men than Clan Ramsay, according to this man’s boasts.”

  Diana gasped. “More than Clan Ramsay? ’Tis more than any of us have.”

  It would have frightened Linet to hear her say so, but she and Gregor had already discussed what would happen next.

  “Except for Clan Grant,” Gregor said. “They have nearly seven hundred warriors. While Uncle Alex would never send them all, Maggie is hoping to meet up with Connor so he can send a request home for at least two hundred Grant warriors—their verra best. We’re planning to return to Ramsay land to see what they’ve heard from the Grants, if anything. Maggie needs to assemble as many guards as possible close to South Berwick.”

  “Their verra best would be the two lairds and Connor,” David said. “Mayhap Loki.”

  “Plus Braden and Roddy. They’re already in South Berwick with Connor.”

  Diana said, “Micheil and I will speak with the guards, choose our best. And I’ll also send someone to Aunt Avelina’s.”

  Gregor said, “I’m sure that would be appreciated.”

  Uncle Micheil shook his head. “If these Dubh men think they’re only going to have to fight the Ramsay men, they have no idea what they are about to go up against. It’s not only the Ramsay guards, but the Drummonds, the Menzies, and soon the Camerons and the Grants.”

  “You forgot something important, Uncle Micheil,” Daniel said.

  “Oh,” he asked, quirking his brow. Linet could tell this family often teased each other, and warmly.

  A huge grin lit Gregor’s face. “I believe I know where you’re going with this, Daniel. The Channel of Dubh is about to meet the entire Band of Cousins all at once.”

  Epilogue

  Linet and Gregor arrived back on Ramsay land the next day. They still had five days until the shipment was due to leave. Gregor was becoming more and more upset about the possibility that he might not make it back in time to assist his cousins.

  Linet feared for him, but she knew he’d never forgive himself if he missed the chance to help his cousins extinguish the Channel of Dubh for good. She urged him to go back, but he insisted on introducing her to the clan as his partner. At first, she’d thought not to tell her parents or anyone else the truth about Mal, but Gregor insisted.

  “This isn’t time to feel sorry for your brother. ’Tis time to set things right. Your parents deserv
e to know why you chose not to return. They shouldn’t mourn your brother as if he were a hero.”

  “I will talk to them,” she said, kneading her hands in the folds of her skirts, doing her best to hide it.

  Gregor reached for her hands and said, “I’ll go with you.”

  “You needn’t come, Gregor. I’ll be fine.” But even as she said the words, she doubted they were true. How could she admit to her parents that she’d twisted the arrow in Mal’s wicked heart until his last breath had left him?

  “You are correct. I don’t need to, but I would like to. Come, let’s speak to them now. You’ll dread this until you do it.”

  And her heart swelled a bit more for the love of Gregor Ramsay. She nodded and they headed out the door toward the huts. They walked in silence, Linet focusing on what she would say.

  She was so upset that she didn’t even recall stepping inside and sitting at the table, her parents greeting them both.

  “Mama, we have bad news for you,” she whispered. Gregor stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders for support. “Mal…”

  “Mal is dead,” her sire blurted out. “Struan heard that he was with those Dubh men,” he continued, his voice raising with each question. “Is it true? Was he a traitor?”

  Gregor nodded, but didn’t speak.

  Linet said, “Aye, ’tis true he was working with the Dubh men in Edinburgh and Berwick.”

  Her father began his pacing. “I cannot believe it. How do you know this to be true? He was a good lad, he would never…”

  “Papa, he had me tied up and transported to Berwick against my will. He…”

  Her mother’s sobbing stopped her. “He had a sickness, did he not, Linet? He…” Her voice cracked and her hands came up to her throat.

  Linet said, “He was the reason I did not wish to return to Clan Ramsay.”

  “What are you saying? Finnola? What sickness?” Her father clearly had no idea what her brother had been doing. All she could do was let the tears fall. Looking at the pain in her dear mother’s eyes was more than she could bear. She stared at her father instead, and so she saw the exact moment when understanding filled his eyes.