Prologue
“Duncan MacLean, dinna think yer kisses are goin’ to distract me from the fact that yer hands are on my arse!” Mari Stewart giggled and kissed her betrothed again, as they stayed hidden away from curious eyes, inside the mews of MacLean Castle.
“Och, Mari! We’re gettin’ married in a month’s time and I’m about to leave to battle the English. Give a randy man somethin’ to remember ye by.”
Mari felt her body go limp and her knees about to buckle beneath her as she basked in the embrace of the man she loved. If ever there was a time she wanted to push aside her morals and surrender her virginity, this was it. She reached up and kissed Duncan again, her body coming to life under his touch. The scents of woodsmoke and Highland heather permeated his body, teasing her senses. Her eyes drifted closed and her head fell back as his kisses trailed down her neck and stopped at the top of her cleavage. Purposely arching her back, she secretly longed for his mouth on her breasts next.
As he cupped one of her mounds right over her clothes, his thumb flitted over her nipple making her breath hitch. All she had to do was say the word and they’d be making love in the hay.
“Duncan,” she gasped in a seductive whisper, her chest heaving with each breath since she could barely control her passion. Lust coursed through her. The idea consumed her thoughts of throwing herself wantonly in the hay and spreading her legs in anticipation. “We should wait,” she said, holding back but inwardly cursing herself for being so timid. “After all, we’ll be married on Hogmanay, and that will be here before ye ken it.”
“Blethers, ye are drivin’ me mad, lass! I love ye, Mari Stewart. Do ye no’ understand that? This is no’ just a careless romp in the hay to suffice an achin’ need, but so much more.”
“Aye, Duncan. And I love ye, too. But I think we should slow down . . . for now.”
“Ye dinna ken what ye’re doin’ to me, lass. Here, let me show ye.” He took her hand in his, guiding it atop the front of his plaid, closing her fingers over his hard erection beneath it. Her heart sped up in excitement as his desire for her throbbed beneath her touch. Then her eyes roamed downward and settled at the bulge below his waist. Curiosity coursed through her. She found herself longing to see and feel his manly form without the barrier of the wool between them. Aye, she wanted to make love to Duncan right now more than anything in the world. But she also knew she should wait until they were properly wed. If they coupled before taking their vows, and her father found out about it, he would have her head. But then again, she could keep this a secret. After all, like Duncan said, they were betrothed to be married soon so it wasn’t really a sin. Was it?
He watched her with a hooded gaze now, already undressing her with his eyes. She liked that. It made her feel special. “I’m about to burst and willna be able to fight the Sassenachs unless ye help me get somethin’ off my mind first,” came his hot whisper in her ear. His tongue flicked at her lobe, causing her to tingle. He leaned in closer and pressed his body up against hers. A shudder of desire shot through her. She was losing her resolve quickly.
“I – I dinna ken, Duncan. We should probably wait until we’re married.” She said the words but was no longer sure she agreed with the idea.
“Losh me!” He released her and threw his hands in the air in aggravation, turning a full circle and blowing a whoosh of air from his mouth. Finally, he turned back toward her, seeming to fight for control. “We’re goin’ to be married in a month,” he told her once again. “A mere month, Mari! So tell me, does it really matter?”
Nay, it really didn’t matter in her opinion. Still, she was a virgin and that was something that made her apprehensive. She’d never been with a man before and wasn’t even sure she knew the proper way to please a lover. Or mayhap she did, but just didn’t want to admit it. Her older sister, Tillie, had told her more than she needed to know on the subject. Tillie was twenty years of age and two years older than Mari, but had been married for years now and already had two children. This sometimes made Mari feel as if she were far behind in marrying and raising a family.
“What are ye afraid of, lass?” Duncan’s dark eyes stared deeply into hers, as if he were looking for answers. How could she admit to him that seeing her sister go through so much pain in birthing the babies had her shook up as well? After all, kissing led to coupling, and coupling led to birthing babies and experiencing lots of pain. Was she really ready for all this? Or was she being too cautious and downright silly?
Duncan appeared dangerous in a sexy sort of way and it excited her and somehow managed to push away her fears. As her body warmed, a wetness gathered between her thighs, accompanied by a pulsating within her core that she’d never experienced before. She had to have him!
“I willna hurt ye,” he promised in a mere whisper. Longing showed in his eyes. Mari struggled with her decision.
“I ken ye’d never hurt me,” she told him, wetting her lips with her tongue, savoring the taste of his essence, never wanting to forget it. “I guess I’m just afraid I might no’ . . . please ye. And if no’ . . . ye willna want to make me yer wife after all.” It wasn’t just this but, still, it was one of her concerns. Mari had a habit of worrying. Her sister always told her she was too cautious and needed to live for the day. Mayhap she was right. Still, Mari struggled with making the right decision.
His deep chuckle almost unnerved her at first, until she looked up and saw the care and understanding in his eyes. He reached over his shoulders, pushing back his long, black hair into a queue. His strong nose, high chiseled cheekbones, and a smattering of dark whiskers on his jaw made him ruggedly handsome. Her desire for him grew out of control.
Mari and Duncan had been close since childhood even though he was five years her senior. Their fathers were good friends, and often visited each other’s clan with their families in tow. Mari’s heart had been broken the day Duncan’s father betrothed him to another girl and he wed her when Mari was only twelve. But Duncan’s new wife died suddenly from an illness before she could give him an heir. Mari was the one who was there to comfort him and help him through it. With her love and understanding, she’d made it possible for Duncan to push past his pain and disappointment. She and Duncan were good friends. They always had been and always would be. But now – now they were more than friends and soon to become husband and wife. Her dream was finally about to come true.
“Ye could never displease me, love,” he told her, reaching out to cradle her cheek in his big hand. It was surprising that such a rugged, hardened warrior could be so gentle. Then again, she’d always been able to see that side of Duncan, although he didn’t like to show it. “Ye ken I’d never force ye to do anythin’ ye were no’ ready to do. I’m sorry for puttin’ ye in that position, Mari.” He pushed a lock of her long, red hair behind her ear with his other hand. Mari let out a deep sigh and longingly leaned in to his caress. She felt safe and secure in Duncan’s embrace and never wanted to lose that feeling.
“I love ye, Duncan,” she whispered, her body trembling with want.
“I’ll wait for ye, Mari,” he promised her in a low voice. “I’ll be faithful to ye like I’ve been for the last two years since we’ve been together as a couple. And now that we’ve proclaimed our love for each other, nothin’ can tear us apart. I’ll wait for ye, and when I return, we will have twice as much to celebrate together.”