“I’m a bastard, too,” Brogan added, and Fiona had to hold in her groan.
Why was Brogan trying to bait her uncle further?
“Even better,” Uncle Tam ground out.
“In this case, it likely is,” Brogan said, his face calm, serious. “I have no claims on the Grant clan, and my father has disowned me for no’ following him to King George’s side.” He glanced at Fiona, and she felt her insides warm. “And I love Fiona. My loyalty is with her. I swear to protect her, fight for her, and cherish her for all the rest of my days.”
Uncle Tam grunted, but the frown creases between his brows started to dissipate. “Good. I hope that conviction gets ye through the night.”
“Uncle,” Fiona said, “I am happy. I love Brogan, and I would be happiest if my family loved him too.”
Uncle Tam pursed his lips as though he’d eaten something sour, then let out a long sigh. “I promised your da I would protect the lot of ye children. And when Gus left, and then Ian, each of them made me promise the same. And now we sit here with ye having wed the bastard son of the enemy.”
“All of that may be true, but I recall ye found respect for this same man the last time we were here.” Fiona put her cup down onto the table a little too forcefully, some of the ale sloshing over the side. “I am happy. I am safe. Forgive me, Uncle, but do ye know how many times I could have died on the road? This man saved me. I’ll no’ have ye disparage him. Brogan is a man of honor, and ye tarnish him with your distaste.”
Uncle Tam watched her through eyes hooded with age. “Well, now, lass,” he said softly. “If that is the truth of it.”
“It is.”
“Then I suppose I owe the two of ye an apology.”
“None is necessary,” Brogan broke in. “Ye were only trying to protect Fiona.”
“I love her as though she were my own daughter,” Uncle Tam said. Was that wetness gathering in his eyes?
“I love her too,” Brogan proclaimed, the strength in his voice, in his words, making her chest swell with pride.
She had the love of this amazing man. What more did she need to conquer the world?
Uncle Tam held up his cup. “To the two of ye, may ye live a long life full of happiness.”
“Thank ye, Uncle.” Fiona swallowed the emotion welling in her throat.
Her uncle reached forward, taking her hand in his, and squeezed. “And when this is all over and your brothers are back, we shall hold a feast and gain the blessing of our priest to celebrate your union.”
“Aye, Uncle, we would love that.”
“For now, get some rest, and in the morning ye can greet the clan as a wedded woman,” Uncle Tam said.
Fiona led Brogan upstairs to her chamber, surprising Beitris inside.
Her maid blushed and held her hands folded in front of her. “I hope ’tis all right,” she said.
Fiona looked toward the bed, which had been littered with flower petals of pink and white. A bath with the water still steaming from the surface was in the center of the room, also sprinkled with flower petals.
On the small table there were a crystal decanter filled with red wine and two crystal glasses. A platter filled with berry scones and a thick ball of butter graced its side.
“Those were your mother’s,” Beitris said, pointing to the crystal. “I know ’tis no’ your wedding night, but I thought to make it special anyhow.”
Tears sprang into Fiona’s eyes at the thoughtfulness, and she launched herself into Beitris’s arms. “Thank ye so much, ’tis beautiful. I love it.”
“Thank ye, Beitris,” Brogan said.
“Will ye be requiring anything else?” Beitris asked.
Fiona shook her head, swiping at the tears gathering in her eyes. Coming home for a respite had been the right decision for so many reasons. “Nay, thank ye, this is wonderful as it is.”
“Just call out when ye wish for the bath to be removed.” Beitris ducked her head and left the chamber.
Fiona turned to look at Brogan, who was eyeing the smaller bed she’d slept in since she was a lass. The room looked much like it had her entire life.
A tapestried rug depicting a unicorn escaping those who sought to capture him covered the wood-planked floor, a well-worn path in its center denoting the traveling path of her pacing. Similar unicorn tapestries covered the walls, and even the canopy over her four-poster bed was yet another scene.
“Are ye the unicorn?” he asked, coming closer to her and pulling her into his arms.
Fiona laughed. “No’ nearly magical enough.”
“Ye’re magical to me.”
She leaned up and pressed her lips to his. “I am a patriot, and given that the unicorn is the animal of our people, it seems only appropriate to have it all over my chamber.”
“I would never expect anything less.”
“The only thing I might have added is perhaps the unicorn spearing a dragoon. What do ye think of that?” she teased.
“I will commission it tomorrow.”
They had a good laugh at that, which turned quickly into a passionate kiss, each of them fumbling to undress the quickest.
Beitris had been very thoughtful in making the bath. She’d chosen the largest tub in the castle—one that would fit two, and Fiona was eager to climb inside the warm depths of the water with Brogan.
They sank in together, with her straddling his lap. She attempted to run soap over his skin, but he only teased her by flicking his tongue at her nipple before taking it into his mouth. All thoughts of getting clean were quickly removed from their minds as his cock grew hard against her. A subtle shift of her hips and she was sinking down onto his length, taking him inside.
They both groaned, then she pressed her hand over his mouth. “We must be quiet. They know I am married, but they need no’ know I’m a wanton.”
“Och, lass,” Brogan said against her palm, “trust me, no one would think ye wanton for taking your pleasure. A man is supposed to pleasure his woman.”
“I love being your woman.” She smiled down at him and then gently nipped his lower lip.
“And I love pleasuring ye.” He captured her mouth for a searing kiss, his fingers gripping her buttocks and guiding her to move.
Pleasure saturated her insides, made her frantic with need. But every time she tried to move faster, he slowed her down, until she was biting his shoulder with the need for release. Finally, lost in the sea of his own pleasure, Brogan pumped hard and fast, and she took the reins, riding him until her body broke apart. They swallowed each other’s moans with a heated kiss, but the water sloshing over the sides and soaking the floorboards was evidence enough of how much they’d enjoyed the bath.