Page 104 of Never a Duchess
Smoothing her hair with his hand, he stared into her eyes like a man in love. “I’m sorry for leaving, for nae staying to explain. But realising everything I’d believed was a lie … well, it stole my breath and squeezed my lungs until I couldnae think straight.”
“I know that feeling well.”
Tears built behind her eyes, a few falling.
Dounreay dashed them away. “Forgive me. I didnae mean to make ye think of yer own terrible memories.”
Clasping his face in her hands, she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, though the rush of love made her giddy. “I’m not grieving for my mother, Callan. I’m grieving for all the years I could have spent loving you.”
His eyes narrowed as he tried to grasp her meaning.
“Remember when you gave me a sprig of heather?”
“Aye.”
“Now let me give you a gift.” Reaching into her pocket, she withdrew the pebble she had collected on the path. It was rough around the edges, not quite white. “When penguins find their perfect mate, they give them a perfect pebble.” Ailsa had mentioned male penguins, but it didn’t matter.
Amusement and confusion flashed in his eyes.
She took his hand and placed it in his palm. “It’s a little like me. I’m far from perfect and not at all chaste, not since you ruined me quite thoroughly. But I am yours if you want me.”
He swallowed hard as he gazed at the pebble, then at her. “Lillian, ye’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted. The only woman I’ll want till my dying day.”
She took a second to breathe, to let his words infuse her. “Good. Because it’s my turn to make an oath.” Taking Eliza’s weapon from her pocket, she whipped the blade from its sheath. “Give me your hand, Callan Maclean.”
“If this is some strange form of handfasting, prick away.”
Capturing his finger, she stabbed the tip, drawing a drop of crimson blood. She did the same to her finger, rubbing it with his, their life forces mating.
“On my oath, I pledge my undying loyalty.” She didn’t look at his mouth but gazed beyond the duke and the Highlander to stare into the soul of the man. “I vow to love you until the end of my days. I promise, wherever you go, I shall follow.”
She took his finger into her mouth and sucked it clean.
A growl vibrated in his throat. “Ye’ll marry me. That’s nae a question. Ye’ll be my duchess.”
“Yes. I’m in love with you. I never want to be without you again.”
He claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss. “I’ve loved ye for so long. It’s taken every ounce of strength to keep the words at bay.”
“You don’t need to keep it a secret anymore. And when we’ve punished those devils for hurting your mother, we’ll tell everyone that the mystic was right. Iammarrying a man who bares his knees in public.”
He kissed her again with a feverish intensity, his hands scooting under her skirts to grab her bare buttocks. “I need to be inside ye, love. ’Tis the only place I feel at home now.”
The need to take him deep consumed her, too.
“Yes. Hurry.”
They didn’t undress.
There was no need.
She had exposed her whole self to him tonight.
Soon, they were gasping and panting as he freed his thick shaft. Moaning in the chill air as he pushed inside her, stretching her until she was so full with this Scot she would never feel starved again.
ChapterNineteen
They reached London at eight o’clock the next morning, and Dewart drove them to the Hart Street office as instructed. Their clothes were crumpled, their lips swollen and bruised because Callan hadn’t stopped kissing Lillian since she’d agreed to be his wife.
