Chapter Fifteen

Bryce cared.

He cared about his cousins who had grown up with him and stood beside him in battle. He cared about Kenna and Mari. He cared about their children. Including little—or not so little—Aiden who had come into the world earlier that morning.

But he also cared for Dorie.

Despite his desperate attempt to keep her at a distance and not let her into his heart, he cared about her. The lass made it impossible not to, with her quick smile and warm eyes. The more he’d watched her sleep, the more she’d called to him.

He could pretend he cared about her as he would any other clansman who had been injured by an enemy, but he didn’t like to lie to himself. She was his, and he protected what was his. It was as simple as that.

Except, it wasn’t just that he cared. He was also attracted to her and had become more so the longer he was with her. He remembered the feeling of those long legs wrapped around him and twitched at the memory of her heat and the sounds she’d made.

The way she’d said his name in that rough, unused voice.

He wanted his wife in his bed.

When she was deemed well enough to be moved—a week after being shot—Cameron offered to drive her up to the castle in a wagon. Worried the bouncing might cause her pain, Bryce had offered to carry her instead.

Cam smiled knowingly, as if he’d known Bryce had come up with his plan as an excuse to hold her close. No doubt the man had come up with his fair share of plans to keep his wife close as well.

In the end it hadn’t mattered. Dorie had wanted to walk. Rascal was also on the mend and took his place by her side as they started off, staying closer than usual.

“I was shot in the chest. My legs are perfectly fine,” she’d pointed out when Bryce complained. He couldn’t argue that her legs were anything less than fine. He’d still insisted on supporting her with an arm around her waist the whole way to their room in the castle.

That was nine days ago, and he was still looking for reasons to touch and kiss her. He hadn’t kissed her mouth, but he’d pressed his lips other places to the point it was now second nature. Her hair, her temples, her hands, even her neck once.

He’d put off his trip to the Campbells once again, so he could stay with her. Now that she was well, he didn’t want to leave. And not just because he wasn’t looking forward to seeing his father again.

She had started talking with him while they were alone but remained silent around others. He guarded her secret, knowing she would speak when she was ready. For now it was something to be shared just between them, and he found he liked that more than he should.

It was a part of her that was only for him.

The best thing by far—the thing that proved his attraction—was the pleasure he felt each night when he slid into bed behind her and pulled her body against his chest. It had started as a way to ensure she didn’t roll over and re-injure her wound. But now there was no worry. Other than a bit of stiffness, she was healed enough to move around. Her skin had healed into a tight pink scar.

Neither of them mentioned that fact during the nights as he continued to hold her, even though both of them knew it wasn’t necessary. At least it wasn’t necessary for healing purposes.

In truth, Bryce thought he might die if he had to let her go.

…

Dorie shifted uncomfortably in bed. While her wound had healed, she was still in pain each night when Bryce pulled her close. Not from the injury, but from the deep ache in her core from wanting him so much. She’d waited as long as she could stand it. She couldn’t take any more.

Shifting away, she rolled onto her back and turned her head to look at his face. The moonlight spilled through the window, lighting up their small room so she could see him clearly. His eyes, though cast in shadow, were open and his gaze was on her.

“What’s the matter?” he whispered.

She didn’t answer right away as she gathered the courage needed to take the next step.

Words had been a stranger to her for so long, she found they eluded her now. Instead, she rested her hand on his cheek and leaned forward to press her lips to his.

Like a spark to tinder, her husband caught fire. His lips moved against hers; his tongue invaded her mouth with a moan. She wound her leg around his hip and used her thigh to draw him closer to where she needed him most. His hand kneaded her breast as his breath quickened.

“Please,” she begged when his hand moved lower across her arse to caress the heat between her legs.

“Are you sure you’ve healed enough?”

“I need you,” was her only answer. Even if she wasn’t healed enough for such activity, she didn’t care. Nothing was more important than having Bryce inside her. “Please.”

“God, Dorie. I want you so badly I’m not sure I’ll last but a minute.”

She wasn’t sure she needed that long, but instead of joining with her, he continued to rub his fingers over that place where she wanted him. He pushed one of his long fingers inside her, and she moaned in pleasure. While it wasn’t enough to ease the ache, she moved against him.

A second finger filled her, and when he curved them slightly to hit some divine place inside her, she cried out as her body clenched desperately around him.

He quieted her with his mouth as she calmed afterward. Her body relaxed part by part, and she could have easily fallen to sleep if not for Bryce’s kisses moving down her neck to her chest.

He placed a soft kiss to the scar above her breast. “I’m so glad you’re still here with me,” he whispered so softly she wasn’t sure he’d actually spoken.

He dipped his head to take her nipple into his mouth. Too soon, he released it, causing a shiver when the chilled air touched her damp skin.

He moved lower and lower, under the covers so she stayed in the comfort of the warm bedding. It meant she wasn’t able to see him, and probably that he couldn’t see. When his lips settled on the place where his fingers had just been, she thought it was by accident…until he moaned and continued with purpose.

She recalled hearing about this. She’d thought she’d never be so bold as to allow such a thing, but here she was with her fingers clenched in her husband’s hair, holding him in place while she moved against his ministrations.

How strange life was. The way it changed. The way a person could learn to accept something one never thought possible. Long for it, even.

When he moved back up her body, she wiggled with excitement. She knew what would happen next and was eager for him to join his body with hers. She couldn’t keep her hips still as he placed kisses up her body.

Soon he was positioned between her thighs and his lips had found hers. Instead of thrusting in quickly as she’d expected, he entered her with slow, exquisite pleasure.

“Bryce,” she called out.

“I like hearing my name on your lips,” he said next to her ear, his hot breath adding to the heat searing her body with every touch.

“Faster,” she begged, allowing instincts to guide her in what she needed.

“Faster means it will be over too soon.”

She understood, and a grin came to her face.

“Ah, I see you’re embracing your powers, witch.” A smile pulled at his lips.

She knew from his laughter he was teasing her, so she teased him back by nipping the skin below his ear.

She wasn’t prepared for his reaction, which was a deeper thrust followed immediately by another. She’d lost count when she felt the tension build to overflowing. She screamed in pleasure at the same time fire shot into her core. A moment later Bryce fell slack next to her, panting and smiling.

Life was indeed full of changes.

…

Bryce needed to leave. Not just because he’d promised to go to the Campbells to ask for men, but because he was in danger of more than just caring for his wife. He desperately needed to put distance between them, to have time to regain control over the situation, but he couldn’t make himself go.

She was well now, but he used her injury as an excuse to keep her in bed for a few more days. He wanted her touch, her body, her cries in the darkness. A trip through the Highlands in late November was less than appealing compared to the lure of Dorie’s warmth.

He snuggled under their bedding, pulling her naked body next to his to share the heat between them. A fire in the hearth took the chill from the room, but their cozy fortress was too tempting to abandon, even though he’d told his men to be ready for drills this morning.

He groaned when someone pounded on the door. “Bryce? Are you well?” Liam asked, concern in his low voice.

“Aye. I’ll be there shortly.”

“You’ve missed the morning meal,” the lad informed him.

Bryce groaned, both for having to leave his wife’s embrace as well as missing the meal. After making love to Dorie most of the night, he was famished.

“I’ll be there shortly,” he repeated as Dorie muttered her objections.

“Stay,” she said in a sleepy voice.

“God, woman. You cannot say such things. I can’t resist you. I think maybe you truly are a witch. You’ve cast a spell over me. I can’t get enough of you.” He kissed her smiling lips and pulled away before it was too late.

After dressing as quickly as possible, he ran a finger down her cheek and kissed her forehead. “Sleep well, angel,” he whispered and left while he still could. When he opened the door, the dog pushed past him and took his place in the bed next to her. “Lucky bastard.”

It was a testament to his need that he found himself slightly jealous of a dog. He took a moment to flirt with the women in the kitchen until they offered him a meat pie, and then headed to the bailey to train with his men.

The constant drills combined with carrying rocks for Cam’s new home had turned his men into strong, formidable warriors. While they were fierce, Bryce knew they were still outnumbered. It didn’t matter how well a man could fight if there were enemies on all sides.

He would need to leave to meet with the Campbells soon, which meant leaving Dorie.

Even now he fought as hard with Liam as he fought thoughts of her naked body, her arms reaching for him.

“Ach!” He winced and drew his hand against his chest as blood welled along his arm.

“Sorry. I thought you were ready for that move,” Liam said with wide eyes.

“I wasn’t paying attention. My mind was elsewhere.”

Liam chuckled. “I think I can guess.”

Bryce was about to wipe the smile off the lad’s face when the man on the gate yelled out, “Rider!”

Everyone stepped back, forming a line, but the gate didn’t go up. Bryce ran up the steps to take a look for himself. By that time the single rider had come close enough that Bryce could see he was wearing McCurdy plaid.

The young McCurdy, Rory, if Bryce remembered correctly from the day of his wedding, held up a piece of paper. “I’ve a message for your laird,” he said.

Bryce could only imagine what bad news awaited them next.

…

Dorie put the finishing stitches on a tiny shirt for baby Aiden in the solar and smiled down at her work. It was nice to sit with Kenna and Mari and do something useful again.

There were many times she felt the urge to speak to them, to share something or ask a question. But she remained silent and felt like a fraud. She’d had good reason for not speaking when she was younger. As an adult living away from the McCurdys, she knew there was no danger in thanking her friends for saving her life and taking care of her. Or for doting over the new babe who slept in his mother’s arms.

The laird burst into the solar with a string of curses trailing behind.

“The children,” Kenna reminded him as two sets of wide blue eyes stared at their father in surprise. Lizzy began to cry and Mari frowned at her brother-in-law before pulling her daughter up into her lap with the babe.

Dorie had not seen Lachlan lose his temper in the whole time she’d been at Dunardry. She could see from everyone’s surprise it didn’t happen often. Dorie tried to make herself smaller in case his anger was directed at her.

“Forgive me, I’ve just gotten word from the McCurdy.” He held up a missive.

“What has happened?” Kenna asked.

“It has been more than two months since Dorie and Bryce wed, and we still hadn’t received word on a ship available to take goods to trade. I wrote to inquire on the delay and the bastard returned this.” He shook the paper again. “The blighter has gone back on his word. Nay, he says he never gave it in the first place.”

Kenna gasped and took the paper from her husband’s fist. Cam and Bryce stepped into the room, the three large men filling it to capacity.

“What is it that has you so angry?” Cam asked, taking Lizzy to calm her.

Kenna’s eyes flashed back and forth as she read the document. She looked up. “He says the wedding was not a true alliance because Wallace did it without his knowledge, and because Dorie is not even his daughter.”

All eyes turned to Dorie. Some with confusion, some with worry. Bryce’s were filled with compassion, for he knew the truth.

“His word is not worth the air he uses to speak it,” Cam said.

“’Tis not a lie,” Bryce said quietly, his gaze capturing hers. “I think it’s time you told them.”

She nodded. It was time they all knew the truth. Time they realized exactly who they’d let join their clan. She was no more than a murdering bastard.

Cam scolded his cousin, smacking Bryce in the shoulder. “Are ye daft? You know she canna tell us anything.”

Bryce’s gaze didn’t move from her. Instead he gave her an encouraging nod and came to kneel next to her. He took her hand, placing a kiss to her palm. “It’s time.”

She nodded.

Turning toward the group, she spoke to them aloud for the first time. “I’m sorry,” she said first, as it was the most important.

Mari gasped and Lach whispered a curse—though Dorie heard it easily enough in the silence that followed her first words to them.

Taking a deep breath, she launched into her story and didn’t stop until she reached the end, revealing how her words had caused her mother’s death and that she’d been secluded in silence until her marriage to Bryce.

“It’s true I’m not the laird’s daughter. I didn’t mean to deceive you. I had no idea he planned to use this knowledge to get out of his agreement. In truth, I wasn’t even aware of the agreement.”

“Of course you didn’t mislead anyone on purpose. No one blames you.” Kenna came to her side and wrapped her arm around Dorie’s shoulders. “Though you could have told me you can talk,” she added in a whisper.

“My sister is not one for secrets,” Mari said with a laugh. “Unless she’s on the side that’s keeping them.”

Dorie looked up at the laird. “I should have spoken sooner, but I was afraid you’d turn me out. And I didn’t want to have to go back there.”

“I wouldn’t have allowed it,” Bryce said sharply.

“Oh? You wouldn’t have allowed it?” Lachlan tilted his head.

“No. I wouldn’t have.” Bryce stared at his cousin in a silent challenge.

Dorie didn’t want to be a point of contention between them and quickly said, “I’m afraid I’m just the bastard daughter of a certain Captain Dorien Sutherland, for whom I was named.” She hung her head and prayed they wouldn’t run her out of the castle. This was the first place she’d felt at home since her mother died. If only she’d remained silent back then, perhaps her mother would still be alive. And the MacKinlays would have their alliance.

A hush followed her confession for only a few seconds. Marian was the first to speak. “My God,” she said with a frown.

Dorie bit her lip. Of anyone, she had thought the kindhearted Marian would be most accepting of her situation. After all, she’d murdered a duke with her own hands.

Cam went to his wife. “It’s fine, love. We’ll find another way.”

“No. It’s not the agreement. It’s— I’ve met Captain Dorien Sutherland.” She looked at Dorie and then broke into a smile. “I know your father.”