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It was two weeks after the ordeal, and Tyra was out of sorts. She had recovered remarkably well thanks to Yesenda’s healing care. But it seemed Lachlan was avoiding her. She had not seen him for days and wondered if maybe he had lost interest. She ran through all the possible scenarios in her head, and none of them felt good. Sorcha assured her Heather had left Glencoe. Kieran explained the full details of the wager which put her mind at ease. But she worried about the woman she saw leaving his room. She told Yesenda about it and Yesenda confessed that she had walked into the wrong chamber by mistake. The other women assured her that Lachlan was just busy with urgent matters, so she tried to remain calm.
Then her heart plummeted when she heard from Bram that Lachlan had left for Glenorchy.
Feeling dejected and hurt, Tyra decided it was time to protect her heart. Instead of heading to the Keep for a noonday lunch, Tyra remained in her little cottage and sulked. She busied herself pottering around, and she resolved never to speak of Lachlan ever again.
Lost in her sulking, she felt a presence hovering close by and knew who it was. Lachlan stood in her doorway, casually leaning against the door frame.
“Tyra.”
“Aye,” Tyra responded and continued to stir the mixture. She refused to pay him any more attention.
“I was in Glenorchy.”
“I heard,” she said and moved to hang some cloth by the fireplace.
“Are you not curious why I went there?” he asked.
“Not really.”
Lachlan gritted his teeth, then stepped inside the cottage and slammed the door.
“Dinnae, break my door Lachlan, there’s a cold evening coming, and I prefer not to have a draft,” she snapped.
“Lachie!” he growled.
She looked at him, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Lachie, you will call me Lachie.”
She snorted, then resumed her chores and said, “I will do no such thing, Mr. Gair.” She emphasized the formality of his title then turned her back to him to reach for a jar by the bench.
Tyra did not get very far. One minute she was standing by the fireplace, and the next, she yelped in surprise as Lachlan had her over his shoulder as he walked towards the bed.
“Put me down!” she yelled.
“With pleasure,” he said and tossed her onto the bed, being careful of her shoulder. He followed her down, effectively hovering above her. Their faces were inches apart as he held his weight off her and balanced on his elbows. His eyes were soft, and he just kept staring at her.
Tyra glared back. “Get off me!” she demanded, but he would not budge.
“Not until you say my name, lass.”
She huffed and pursed her lips tighter in defiance.
“Stubborn wench,” he muttered.
Lachlan refused to move, but his mouth curved upwards into a smile.
Tyra continued to glare at him while he began caressing her face gently with the back of his hand, causing her to feel a plethora of emotions. She shivered when he gently caressed her neck. His hand moved lower into dangerous territory.
“All right. Get off me Lachlan Gair.”
“No. You ken tis not what I want.” He casually stroked the curve of her hip.
“Fine then. Lachie, please get off me.”
Lachlan grinned and paused. “Repeat my name, love.”
“Lachie,” she said with a slight huskiness to her voice.
His entire face lit up into a wide grin. Tyra had a hard time catching her breath. He indeed was a handsome man when he smiled. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Lachlan immediately got up and helped her off the bed.
“That was not so hard, was it?” he said with a raised eyebrow.
Tyra shook her head and made to move away, then found herself on his lap as he sat down on a chair.
“What now?” she said in a curt tone.
“Now, we are going to talk. I’m going to talk, and you will listen.”
“How—”
Lachlan placed a finger on her lips to stop her words. “You will listen first, then you can scream like a banshee later. Nod if you ken what I mean?”
Tyra scowled at him but nodded.
He removed his finger and pulled her closer. “I came to tell you I will move in here tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“Because we are getting married tomorrow in a chapel on Henderson land with close friends and family in attendance. There will be a wedding breakfast afterward, which is already arranged.”
She opened her mouth to protest when he stopped her again.
“I went to Glenorchy to gather all my belongings and notify my chieftain that I will not be returning. He gave me his blessing.”
Tyra opened her mouth to speak, but Lachlan stood abruptly, placed her on her feet, and covered her protests with his lips. He ended the kiss and whispered, “I’ll see you tomorrow. Sorcha and Willa will be here in the morn to help you get ready.”
Lachlan opened the door and quit the cottage, leaving a stunned, flustered Tyra wondering what the hell just happened. Then she shouted out the window, “That is the worst offer of marriage I have ever heard!”
She could hear Lachlan chuckling outside.
***
“THAT’S IT, TYRA, JUST like that. Take me deeper,” Lachlan groaned as he watched Tyra above him, riding him with abandon. He was caressing her breasts as he thrust his engorged cock upward into her welcome heat. Tyra threw her head back as she moaned in ecstasy. She covered one of his hands with hers while the other rested on his chest for balance.
A feeling of deep possessiveness and satisfaction stole over Lachlan as he watched the light reflect off the gold wedding band on her ring finger and the matching one on his. Then he felt her entire body stiffen and shudder as she found her peak.
Tyra shouted, “Lachie!” and made a high-pitched keening sound.
Watching his wife find her pleasure was the most erotic thing Lachlan had ever seen. As her core gripped him harder, he exploded inside her with a roar. Tyra collapsed onto Lachlan’s chest and, as her eyes bored into his soul, he captured her lips with his, sealing their love once more.
As they lay together in the afterglow, Lachlan smiled, recalling their perfect wedding hours earlier. It comprised a small chapel service attended by close family and friends. Kieran stood by his side as best man, and Willa by Tyra’s side. An exchange of vows and rings symbolized their love and fidelity—the wedding breakfast comprised simple fare, with an abundance of food for everyone. The ceremony and feast were what the bride and groom wanted, with some sweet treats for the children afterward. For a last-minute wedding, it was as if the couple had planned it themselves weeks ago.
***