Page 78 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
“The moors? Is that where ye’d like to go?” Thomas asked, jumping at the chance to please his wife.
“Ye said ye had someplace ye wanted to take me—we should go there,” she said in a firm tone.
Thomas smiled and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Then we should get goin’. The ride might be short, but I think we are wastin’ time,” he urged as he turned a weather eye to the sky.
The horizon glowed with a soft light that threatened to brighten as the sun came back around in its daily orbit.
Taking Astrid by the hand, Thomas guided her through the castle and out to the stables. Astrid glared at him the second she spotted the single-saddled horse.
“What is this? Do ye nae think I can ride?” she asked.
Thomas couldn’t help but chuckle. “Maybe I wanted ye close,” he said as he pulled back the hood to his cloak.
“Can I nae have one of me own?”
“Nay, ye cannae. Ye dinnae ken where I’m takin’ ye. And if I gave ye a horse, then it wouldnae be a surprise,” he reasoned as he led her to the horse and cupped his hands to make a step for her. “Now, get on. Ye take any longer, and we might as well go to the moors.”
“I’m goin’,” Astrid huffed as he effortlessly hoisted her up into the saddle.
He slipped into the space behind her and glanced at the saddle bag. Reaching a hand inside, he double-checked to ensure that he had packed all the goodies he had in store for her.
With a final check and a squeeze of his thighs, they were off.
The ride to the loch was quick, and as they crested the hill to get the optimal view of the valley, the sun rose.
“This,” Thomas whispered as he watched the deep hues of the night shift into pastel purples and oranges. “This is what I wanted ye to see.”
“It’s lovely.”
“It’s the place where I was conceived,” he whispered.
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back.
“And where ye’re hopin’ I would conceive if ye took me up here?” Astrid asked as she stepped closer.
Suddenly, the silly notion of starting a family took root within Thomas’s soul. It was like a splinter shoved into him and left to fester and rot. But instead of festering, it created a new life that reinvigorated him.
He turned to her as his heart swelled with emotion and lust. He felt as if he had been waiting for this very moment his whole life. Without thinking, he leaned in to kiss her, nibbling and sucking on her lips.
Then, he pulled back, smiling. “Would ye like me to lay a blanket for ye?” he asked as he reluctantly released her to go to the horse. He pulled a blanket and a bottle of whiskey from his saddle bag and handed them to her. “Here.”
Her eyes widened as he made the hilltop their castle. With everything in place, Thomas reached for her to guide her into the spot next to him.
Astrid moved like mist and took her place beside him. She cupped his cheek in her hand and drew him to her.
“There’s nay one around for miles,” she whispered, her lips brushing against his jaw. “Nay one to interrupt us.”
It was all the invitation Thomas needed. He slipped his fingers through her hair and kissed her senseless as he lowered her to the blanket.
“Ye’ll tell me to stop if ye dinnae like anything,” he said as he looked deep into her eyes.
Astrid bobbed her head as his hand roamed over the swell of her breasts and down her ribs.
It was her dress he was after, the one thing that hindered his progress the most. How he despised clothing. If he had his way, he’d run about the castle in his birthday suit if it meant he could lie with his wife whenever he wanted.
Unfastening his breeches, Thomas moved between Astrid’s legs. As he entered her, a soft moan escaped her lips.
The soft morning light crowned their union in gold. With every caress and shared moment, Thomas found himself lost and found in Astrid’s embrace. As long as she held him together, he could do anything.
