Page 81 of When a Highlander Vows
But on the third night, after she spoke her words of love, she stood to go, but Lucas’ hand caught hers, and she turned to see Lucas’ eyes flutter open.
“Sunshine,” he said, hoarsely, and Caitlin started to laugh and to cry, leaning up against him and nodding.
“Aye, ‘tis me. Yer awake, me love. Yer awake!”
He pointed to the basin of water next to the bed, and she dipped a cup in it, bringing it to his lips. Once he had drunk his fill, helooked at her, his eyes full of recognition. His hand brought hers to his lips.
“I couldnae die, leavin’ ye behind, Lass. Never. And never one so bonny.”
“Och,” she said, laughing, brushing a tear away from her cheek. “I love ye, Lucas,” she said boldly, knowing that she was a fool to wait, even if he was not ready, her heart had known the truth.
As she took a breath to say more, he grinned weakly. “I love ye, Lass. I have heard yer words everyday, and it has taken me this long to say them back. I love ye, and I will never stop sayin’ it as long as we both live. Marry me?”
She laughed again, leaning forward to kiss him. “Aye,” she said against his mouth. “But we must wait until yer better.”
“Aye,” he said, pulling her close again. “And this time, I willnae wait to take ye, love. Jesus, I cannae believe I waited before,” he said incredulously.
“We now have the time, Lucas. As much time as ye like.”
“Good,” he said his eyes closing again. “After the weddin’, we willnae come out of the chamber for three days at least.”
Chuckling, she kissed him on the cheek and then crawled into bed with him. She could wait. As long as he got better and returned to her, she could wait forever.
EPILOGUE
Lucas had never wanted a wedding to end so much. Normally, weddings were times of merriment and joy, and drinking and feasting. It was a usual thing for people to enjoy them, especially Nan. Lucas had never been fond of them, too many people, too much joy, but in that moment, he wanted a wedding to end more than ever. Only this time, it was his.
It had taken him nearly a week to fully recover from those two wounds that he’d been given in the battle with the foolish, power-hungry Webster, and he would have a pair of scars to go with them. But now he was ready, ready to start his new life with his wife, and to bed her posthaste.
His grandmother had been especially forceful during his recovery that he wait until after the wedding to do the deed, claiming it was for his benefit.
“Ye must be well, completely well afore ye can dae yer duty, Lad,” she told him on numerous occasions with a wicked gleam in his eye.
So, he and Caitlin had to keep their distance, no matter how hard he tried to get her alone once his arm was feeling better. Caitlin seemed to be in on it too, grinning widely whenever Nan caught them kissing or trying to head to the gardens on their own.
And now he was here, wedding the woman of his dreams, and the minister would not stop talking. Minister MacMillan was always a pompous bastard, and as Lucas looked into Caitlin’s eyes, holding her hands, he hoped he wasn’t showing her just how angry he was at the minister for keeping them hostage.
“We never thought the Laird would wed, but here we are,” Minister MacMillan said, eliciting a laugh from the crowd.
When he lifted a brow at Caitlin, she smirked back at him. She’d refused to wear her spectacles for the wedding and instead donned a crown of flowers which was braided into her lovely golden hair. Her gown was a light green color, and it fit her perfectly. He tried to keep his eyes on hers, but every so often, they would dip down, desperate to catch a glimpse of her curves to fuel his already wild imagination.
The vows were gone through, and Lucas tried not to sound impatient as he repeated them.
“Dae ye take this man tae be yer lawfully wedded husband?” Minister MacMillan asked Caitlin.
“Aye, I dae,” she said, a smiling covering her face.
“And dae ye take this woman tae be yer lawfully wedded wife?” the minister said, and Lucas grit his teeth.
“Aye, I dae.”
“Put the man out of his misery, Minister! Can ye nae see he is eager tae have it all done with?” Archie called, and everyone in the church burst into loud laughter, easing the strain from Lucas’ shoulders a bit.
Caitlin started laughing too, a light happy sound that he’d started to hear more often of late.
“Very well then,” the minister said with a grin. “I now pronounce ye husband and wife. Go in grace. Ye may kiss yer bride, Me Laird,” he said, stepping back as Lucas pulled Caitlin close to him.
He wanted to do more than give her just a chaste kiss, but as their lips met, and he gripped her waist to bring her closer, he could feel the eyes of the clan on him, and so he reluctantly pulled back, trying not to grimace as they turned to face everyone.
