Page 74 of Marry the Highland Villain
Page marked, Brigid hurried out of the room, intent on finding Conall as soon as possible.
CHAPTER 26
Conall was in his room,enjoying a rare moment of solitude before supper, when the door burst open. He was halfway to his feet, angry words on the tip of his tongue, when he realized the intruder was the very woman who’d been occupying much of his thoughts over the past seven days.
He blinked. “Brigid.”
“Conall.”
Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, but her smile was warm enough to rival the fire in his hearth. She was clutching a book to her chest—not the one he’d given her, he noticed. It was older and worn in a manner that suggested it had been read several times.
Brigid stared at him, then looked down and opened the book and began to read in a clear, though slightly wavering voice.
“The sun will rise and shine its light, a bright and golden gleam,
The warmth it rivals nae yer smile, bright as a happy dream.
And though I marvel at the moon and stars, that shine so bright above,
Still I ken they’re nae so pure as the light and warmth of love.”
For a moment, he wasn’t sure what the words were supposed to mean. Then, he did. And he knew what it was that she read.
It was a poem. One of hers. And it was a declaration of love.
Brigid closed the book and looked at him. “I love ye, Conall Barr. I’ve kenned it for days, but I didnae ken how to reconcile that with… well, everything. And now I ken I dinnae need to reconcile it, for Mama only wanted my happiness. And my happiness is ye.”
The words wrapped him in warmth, in light, and thawed the cold weight that had settled in his gut the day he’d turned away from Brigid and had refused to disappear since then.
Heat surged through him, and his response was instinctive and immediate. He stepped past Brigid in several quick strides, slammed the door shut, and bolted it. Then, he turned, caught Brigid in his arms, and pulled her to him, his mouth claiming hers in a passionate kiss.
Brigid met both his embrace and his kiss with a passion that matched his own, the book falling to the floor as her hands clutched at his arms. The scent of paper and ink and leather filled his senses, and the taste of wine lingered on his lips, along with a honey-sweetness and the subtle flavor of milk that was Brigid’s alone.
Hands caressed, then slid down his arms to the belt of his kilt. Conall broke the kiss with a groan as heat surged to his groin and thickened his manhood.
“Are ye sure?” he said, his voice husky with desire.
He wanted her. But only if she was certain she wanted him, too.
Brigid moaned and pressed herself against him. “Aye. I’ve missed ye, Conall.”
That was all the encouragement he needed.
Conall captured her mouth in another kiss, then moved to undo the bodice of her dress.
Brigid’s slippers soon joined his boots, and Conall swept her into his arms and carried her back into his room to set her on the bed. Brigid slipped out of his arms before they reached it, smiling teasingly at him as she slid the dress up her body and over her head, leaving herself bare to his gaze.
Conall hurried to remove the rest of his clothing, then stalked toward the bed, offering her a roguish smile before he pounced on her. He had a split second of uncertainty, wondering if she was going to flinch away from him, but she just laughed and scooted backward.
The two of them tangled together on the bed, her soft warmth welcoming him and thawing any residual coldness from the loneliness that had surrounded him for the past several days.
Finally, they subsided, panting softly. Conall took the chance to roll Brigid beneath him, straddling her as his hands roved over her body. His thumbs teased her taut nipples, then moved down her chest and over her soft stomach to comb through her damp, glistening curls.
Brigid moaned again and opened her thighs, welcoming his touch.
Blood surged to Conall’s manhood, making him gasp. “Och, ye…”
“Conall…” Brigid pulled him closer to her, her nipples dragging across the sensitive skin of his chest and setting his body afire with need.
