“Hello, love,” Alistair murmured. “Kier was just trying to convince me his laziness was premeditated.”
She lifted a brow and turned to Kiergan, who was—
Was he blushing?
Lara must’ve noticed as well, because she made a little sound of understanding. “This isnae about him wooing ye a wife, is it?”
Alistair blinked. “How did ye ken that?”
Twining her fingers through his, Lara smiled up at him. “Yer twin brother has suspected my feelings for a long while, ye ken. ‘Twas why he wouldnae find another wife for ye. Well, that, and the fact I threatened him.”
Alistair grinned and lifted her hand to his lips. “Well, it appears I owe him my thanks,” he murmured against her skin.
“And an apology!” Kiergan snapped.
Too pleased to be irritated, Alistair nodded to his twin. “And my apology. Thank ye for saving me from myself. And I’m sorry.”
Kiergan harrumphed, Aunt Agatha rolled her eyes, and Father Ambrose beamed.
And Lara tugged on his hand. “On that note, I hope ye dinnae mind if I steal Alistair away? We have some important celebration-planning business to attend to, and I need his help.”
As everyone nodded approval, she offered the priest a little curtsey. “I’m looking forward to meeting with ye tomorrow, Father Ambrose.”
He chuckled. “Fast weddings are becoming something of a tradition in this family.”
“Ye’re just lucky I didnae insist on being married today,” Alistair quipped, as he allowed her to tug him away. “But alas, duty calls.”
“Aye,” Lara threw over her shoulder with a smile. “I need yer help, hurry!”
“Is aught amiss?” Alistair was breathing heavily as she dragged him up the stairs. “Ye said ye needed my help!”
“Aye,” she called over her shoulder, “ ‘tis verra important!”
“Lara! What is it? What’s wrong?”
Smiling, she finally reached his solar and slammed her hand into the slightly open door, knocking it open before Alistair could even call out a warning. As she did, a bucket of water came crashing down, and she jumped backwards to avoid it. Alistair caught her up, lifted her out of the way, and muttered something about a “son of a diseased frog.”
The bucket had completely taken her mind off her hurry.
“Wha—” She shook her head as Alistair lifted her over the puddle. “What was that?”
“That, my love”—he kicked the bucket out of the way and nudged the door shut with his foot—“was my twin brother’s idea of a joke.”
“Kiergan put a bucket atop the— Oh! Last night ye said he’d been trying to play stupid jokes on ye. So I fell for that one, I suppose.”
“Aye.” He finally placed her on her own two feet in the center of the room. She immediately reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “So what’s wrong, Lara?”
She smiled. “Naught’s wrong, except for the puddle of water I’ll have to clean up.” Later. Much later.
His brows drew in. “Ye said ye needed me, then dragged me up here. Is something wrong with the celebration plans? Do ye need my help?”
“Naught’s wrong, but I do need ye.” Her grin turned wicked as she flexed her pelvis forward. “I need ye verra much.”
His eyes slowly widened. “Lara Oliphant, did ye drag me away from my father’s birthday celebration, saving me from my brother’s ridiculous sense of humor and my great-aunt’s nagging, just for sex?”
“There’s nae ‘just’ about it, Alistair. I need ye,” she repeated simply. “Make love to me.”
He was already reaching for his clothes. “Ye’re too sore.”
“I’m sure ye’ll think of something.”
He did, and when he pressed her back on his little cot and dragged his tongue along her dripping core, she screamed his name.
Later, he held her against his chest as they both waited for their breathing to return to normal.
“See?” she finally murmured, pressing a kiss to his chest. “I kenned ye’d come up with something.”
She loved the way his whole chest rumbled with a chuckle. “I love ye, Lara. Thank ye for keeping me on my toes.”
They had the rest of their lives together, and she couldn’t wait to get started. She planned to make sure he spent the rest of his life happy and contented, and vowed he’d find time each and every day for relaxation, no matter what the future held for them.
With a grunt, Alistair shifted on the cot, trying to find a more comfortable position. She pushed herself upright. “I’m sorry. Let me move off—”
His arm tightened around her. “Ye’ll do nae such thing. I need ye here with me, lass, can ye no’ tell?”
He’d neglected his own pleasure to give it all to her, and she could feel his erection digging into her hip. Smiling, she was reaching for it when his words stopped her.
“I am thinking we’ll be needing a different bed.”
Tsking, Lara pushed herself up on one elbow so she could smile down at him. “Mam and I had a little chat earlier. Now that ‘tis nae secret she’s been sharing the laird’s bed, they’re going to make things more permanent.”
Alistair’s brows shot up. “He’s going to marry her?”
“Och, nay.” Lara shook her head, amused at the idea. “But she’s going to move into his chambers. They decided they’ll no’ be sneaking around anymore, which is why yer da claimed her so publicly tonight.” She lowered her voice in an approximation of the laird’s. “I’m too auld to be creeping through drafty corridors at night!”
Chuckling, Alistair pulled her down for a quick kiss. “Ye’re adorable, love, but dinnae do an impression of my father when we’re in bed together, aright?”
“Noted,” she agreed with a grin. “But my point is…with Mam moving in with yer father, and Brohn already settled into the barracks, I thought…” She shrugged, suddenly awkward, and dropped her gaze to his chin. “If ye wanted, we could share my chamber. The bed is much bigger, and I ken ye like it.”
It wasn’t until he placed a finger under her chin and lifted, that she was able to look him in the eyes again. He was smiling.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Lara. Kiergan and I shared a chamber when we were younger, and although he claims he never brings women to that bed, I have nae need to bring my wife there.”
A feeling of contentment shot through her at the word wife. After tomorrow, they’d belong to each other, in the eyes of God and the clan.
Finally.
She smiled softly. “I love ye, Alistair.”
“Not as much as I love ye, Lara.”
Her grin turned wicked as she pushed herself upright, then reached for his manhood. When her fingers wrapped around its hard length, he sucked in a breath. “I doubt that. I have more experience.”
“More experience…at what?” he managed.
She was already leaning down, but paused to peek up at him. “At loving ye.” She’d loved him for years, after all.
“What are ye doing?” His question ended in a moan when she licked the already-seeping tip of his cock.