Mairin was so relieved that she threw herself into Ewan’s arms and fused her mouth hotly to his.
“You didn’t trust me, lass.”
His voice was reprimanding as he tasted her lips again.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “You did look as if you wanted to yell at me again.”
“Laird, you cannot mean for us to do the women’s chores!”
Ewan turned sharply at Robert’s protest.
“Indeed, I do. If any man has a problem with my command, they are free to leave the keep.”
Heath’s lips turned up into a snarl and Mairin automatically moved farther into Ewan’s hold. The man made her nauseous, and the hatred in his eyes frightened her.
“What of Heath?” she whispered. “Why was he pardoned from the women’s work?”
The scowl that blackened Ewan’s face terrified her. “Stay with Alaric.”
He actually deposited her between Alaric and Caelen before stalking over to where Heath stood. Their shoulders closed in front of her and she stood up on tiptoe, bobbing left and right in an effort to see over or through the two brothers.
When Ewan reached Heath, he didn’t say a word. He drew back and rammed his fist into Heath’s face. Heath fell like a rock. He groaned piteously when Ewan gathered his shirt in his hands and hauled him back up again.
“That was for Christina,” Ewan snarled.
Then he rammed his knee right between Heath’s legs. Alaric and Caelen both winced. Gannon turned white and Cormac flinched and looked away.
“That was for my wife.”
He dropped Heath on the floor, where he promptly curled into a ball. Why, Mairin could swear the man was weeping.
“I’d be weeping, too, lass,” Alaric murmured.
Ewan turned and addressed Gannon in chilling tones. “He dies. Take him away.”
Heath blanched at the death sentence and began begging in hoarse tones. The assembled warriors winced and showed their disgust at the piteous way Heath behaved.
“Aye, Laird. Immediately.”
Gannon bent and hauled Heath to his feet, and he and Cormac dragged him from the hall, Heath still hunched over in pain.
Ewan then turned his attention to the celebrating women. “My apologies, Christina, that you suffered such injustice. I do not condone, nor will I accept such behavior from my men. Enjoy your free day from your duties. I doubt my men will do the job you would do in their stead, but the work will be done.”
Mairin’s heart swelled with pride. She was so thrilled by the sincerity in Ewan’s evenly voiced words that her eyes stung and watered. She gripped Caelen’s and Alaric’s arms until her knuckles turned white.
Caelen carefully pried her fingers from his elbow and then rolled his eyes when he noticed her tears. “What on earth are you crying for, lass?”
She sniffled and scrubbed her face against Alaric’s shirt sleeve. “ ’Tis a wonderful thing he’s done.”
Alaric pushed at her head and scowled until she stopped wiping her tears on him.
“He’s a good man,” she said.
“Of course he is,” Caelen said loyally.
Having settled the matter, Ewan walked over to where Mairin stood. Uncaring of how it looked or the fact that he hadn’t invited her this time, she launched herself around Alaric and Caelen and catapulted into Ewan’s arms. She peppered his face with a barrage of kisses and latched onto his neck and squeezed for all she was worth.
“Let me breathe, lass,” Ewan said with a laugh.
“I love you,” she whispered into his ear. “I love you so much.”
And suddenly he was squeezing her every bit as hard as she squeezed him. To her utter shock, he turned and hauled her out of the hall. He took the stairs two at a time and burst into their chamber just moments later.
After he kicked the door shut with his foot, he stared fiercely down at her, his grip so tight around her that she couldn’t squeeze out a single breath.
“What did you say?” he asked hoarsely.
Her eyes widened in surprise at his vehemence.
“Just a moment ago. In the hall. What did you say into my ear?”
She swallowed nervously and fidgeted in his arms. Then she gathered her courage as tightly around her as he held her. “I love you.”
“ ’Tis about damn time,” he growled.
She blinked in confusion. “ ’Tis about time for what?”
“The words. You finally said them.”
“But I only just realized,” she said in bewilderment.
“I knew it already,” he said with smug satisfaction.
“You did not. I didn’t even know it, so how could you?”
He grinned. “So tell me, lass, how did you plan to spend your afternoon of leisure?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Perhaps I’ll go find Crispen and play with him and the other children.”
Ewan shook his head.
“Nay?” she questioned.
“Nay.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve decided that an afternoon of leisure sounds extremely appealing.”
Her eyes widened in astonishment. “You have?”
“Mmm-hmm. I wondered if perhaps you were willing to be leisurely with me.”
“ ’Tis a sin to be slothful,” she whispered.
“Aye, but what I have in mind has nothing to do with being a sloth.”
She blushed furiously at the suggestion in his voice. “You’ve never taken the afternoon off from your duties.”
“My most important duty is to see to the needs of my wife.” He cupped the area of her cheek where Heath had struck her, and his gaze darkened.
“Do you really mean to kill him, Ewan?” she whispered.
Ewan scowled. “He struck you. You are wife to the laird, mistress of this keep. I tolerate no disrespect and I damn sure will kill any man who ever touches you.”
Mairin twisted her hands, guilt surging through her. “I provoked him shamelessly. I called him terrible names. I used words no lady should ever use. Mother Serenity would wash my mouth out with soap.”
Ewan sighed. “What would you have me do, Mairin? He’s been a problem before today. He’d already used up his allotment of chances. Even if he hadn’t struck you, I would not tolerate him raising a hand to another woman in this clan.”
“Can you banish him? I would think that a man with no home and no means would suffer far more than if you offered him a quick and easy death. Maybe he’ll starve to death or a pack of wolves will descend upon him.”
Ewan reared back in surprise and then he laughed, the throaty sound sending prickles of delight down Mairin’s spine.
“You’re a bloodthirsty lass.”
She nodded. “Aye, Alaric said as much.”
“Why is it important that I not do the killing, Mairin? ’Tis my right as laird and as your husband.”
“Because I feel at fault for provoking him so. If he hadn’t struck me, you wouldn’t have ordered his death for striking Christina. Not that you wouldn’t have punished him,” she rushed to say.
“So you’d rather he be ravaged by a pack of wolves.”
She nodded.
He chuckled. “So be it, lass. I’ll have Gannon escort him off our lands with the order never to return.”
She threw her arms around him and squeezed as hard as she could. “I love you.”
He pulled her away and then leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. “Say it again.”
She twisted her lips and scowled up at him. “You’re a demanding man, Laird.”
His lips found hers and he drank deeply, rubbing his tongue over her mouth until she opened to let him in.
“Say it,” he whispered.
“I love you.”
With a low groan, he gathered her in his arms and walked her back until her legs hit the edge of the bed. He swept her down and then rolled until she was sprawled indelicately atop him. He pushed at her clothing, baring first her shoulders and then her arms. He gripped her upper arms and pulled her down so that he nuzzled her neck. Ah, but his lips were magic.
Determined that he wouldn’t be the only one doing the torturing, she bent and ran her tongue over the thick cords in his neck. Smiling when he flinched and went rigid underneath her, she sank her teeth into his flesh, inhaling his male scent. She savored his taste, rolling her tongue over every line and dip.
“Mairin?”
She leaned up so she could look down into Ewan’s eyes. “Aye, husband?”
“Do you have a particular fondness for this dress?”
She frowned. “Well nay, ’tis a work gown after all.”
“Good.”
Before she could think on his meaning, he ripped the material from her bodice all the way past her waist. It fell away, baring her breasts to his eager touch.
“ ’Tis not fair,” she grumbled. “I can’t rip your clothing.”
He grinned. “Would you like to, lass?”
“Aye, I would.”
Chuckling, he rolled until he was on top and he began shrugging out of his clothing. As soon as he was naked, he pulled the remaining tatters of her dress from her body and then rolled her back on top of him.
“ ’Tis an odd position, husband. I’m sure you don’t have the way of it.”
He traced a line from her temple over her cheek and to her lips. “Aye, lass, I have the right of it. Today the women are in charge and the men are doing the work. It only seems right that you should be on top. I am your humble servant.”
Her eyes widened. She thought on what he’d said, pursed her lips, and then finally shook her head. “I’m not at all sure such a thing is possible.”
“Oh aye, ’tis possible, lass. Not only is it possible, but ’tis a marvelous experience.”
He gripped her hips, lifting to position her over his groin.
“Put your hand down, lass. Guide me in.”
She trembled with excitement and anticipation. Her legs quivered and jumped against his sides as she reached down and grasped his hardness.
“Oh, aye, lass, just like that. Hold me just right there. Let me fit you to me.”
He moved her, holding her still as the tip of his cock brushed through her damp heat. Then he found the entrance and slid in the tiniest bit. Her eyes flew open and she tensed as he began to breach her opening.
“Relax,” he soothed.
He guided her down and she removed her hand and placed both palms on his chest. She leaned forward as his fingers slid from her hips over her buttocks. He gripped her flesh and spread her wider as he slid deeper.
With one final push, her bottom met the tops of his thighs. It was an unsettling sensation, being speared, so full with no relief. Her body hummed with pleasure. Her nipples tightened into hard points, pouting and begging for his touch.
He obliged her, leaving her hips and feathering his fingers over her belly up until he cupped both breasts in his palms. Little sparks of fire sizzled through her body when he thumbed the taut buds. He teased and coaxed until they were painfully rigid.
“Ride me,” he said huskily.
The image of doing such a thing exploded in her mind. A hot flush worked through her core until she squirmed and gripped him even tighter in her sheath.
Eager to do his bidding, she began to move, tentatively at first. She felt awkward and shy but the look in Ewan’s eyes gave her all the confidence she needed to continue.
Back and forth she rocked, rising up and then easing down. They both made contented sounds that became more desperate and urgent as she picked up her pace.
Delighting in her newfound freedom, she proceeded to drive them both beyond the bounds of reason. She smiled seductively down at her husband when he pleaded with her to stop tormenting him.
With her lips fused to his as tightly as their bodies were joined, they found their release. She swallowed his cry of triumph as he swallowed her cry of ecstasy. His fingers dug into her hips and he pulled her down, holding her there as he emptied himself into her body.
With a sigh, she collapsed on top of him and burrowed into his warmth. His heart pounded frantically against hers until she wasn’t sure whose beat harder. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
“I love you, Mairin.”
For a moment she didn’t think she’d heard correctly. Aye, she loved him. More than she’d imagined loving a man. But she hadn’t dreamed that he’d return her feelings. He was affectionate with her. Loving, even. But she hadn’t ever expected that he’d offer her his heart.
Tears filled her eyes as she rose up, her hair falling over his chest while she stared down at him in wonder.
“Say it again,” she said huskily.
He smiled at hearing his own words tossed back at him.
“I love you.”
“Oh, Ewan,” she whispered.
“Don’t cry, lass. I’d do just about anything to keep you from crying.”
“ ’Tis happy tears.” She sniffed. “You’ve made me so happy, Ewan. You’ve given me a home and family. A clan to call my own. And you stood behind me today when I feared you’d denounce me in front of everyone.”
He frowned and shook his head. “I always stand behind you, wife. I may not always agree with you, and there will be times that I may not make a decision you agree with, but I always stand behind you.”
She hugged him again and pressed her face into his neck. “Oh, I do love you so, Ewan.”
He rolled until they were on their sides facing each other. He touched her face, stroking the wispy tendrils of hair from her cheek. “I’ve waited a long time for you to say those words, lass. And now that I have, I’m never going to grow tired of them.”
She smiled. “ ’Tis a good thing, Laird, for I have this problem with saying the least thing that runs through my mind, and ’tis a fact I’ll be thinking of how much I love you often.”
“Perhaps you should show me,” he said in a husky, aroused voice.
Her mouth dropped open. “Again?”
He smiled and kissed her. “Aye, lass, again.”