Page 43 of It Began With A Kiss
“You need your rest,” Aiden said in a soothing tone, whilst taking the coverlet and tucking her in again.
“But I want you…” she said suppressing a yawn.
“And I want you, but later… We have the rest of our lives together. Rest… sleep… the morrow will bring with it a new day for us to explore to our hearts content,” Aiden whispered before he began singing her a Scottish lullaby he must have learned in his youth.
The baritone of his song rocked her into a gentle sense of security that all was right in her world. With her husband’s arms around her, she took solace in the thought that he would protect her and Gregor to the best of his abilities. Dunborough had its new laird and she a husband she could love for all time. She smiled in contentment and fell asleep in her husband’s loving arms.
EPILOGUE
Berwyck Castle
One Year Later…
Children’s laughter, mingling with the sound of the surf hitting the shore, proved that all was right in the world. Aiden walked hand in hand with Iona through the water’s edge whilst Gregor played with his cousins in the distance. ’Twas the first time in many a year that all the MacLaren siblings were together, and he rejoiced that they had been able to make this trip to his homeland. Despite Aiden pleading his allegiance to Scotland, Dristan had assured him that a brief trip south would be fine. Lynet and Ian were also in attendance. No one in their right mind would go up against the Devil’s Dragon to lay harm to his extended family… or so Dristan had proclaimed in the missive he sent inviting them.
Their trip had an extra motive, since he and Iona wished to show off their daughter, who was but two months old. She was young for such a journey, but Amiria had insisted she must needs hold her niece. Since Aiden was not about to go against his sister’s wishes—he told Iona that his twin would challenge him to prove his worth in the lists against her if he defied her—he had agreed to come south to Berwyck. The clan had accepted both Iona and Gregor into the fold, along with their newborn daughter. Still… he could not help but worry and refused to let his guard down.
“We are fine, Aiden. Stop scowling or the lines upon yer brow will be permanently etched there,” Iona said, squeezing his hand. She rested her head upon his shoulder whilst they stopped their stroll.
His eyes traveled to those who sat on the beach eating and drinking their fill and making merry. “I cannot help but be concerned for our safety,” he muttered, thinking they should return to the group.
“I suppose ’tis yer place as head of our family, but nothing will happen tae us, not with your brother-in-law commanding all those around him. I can understand why he is called the Devil’s Dragon. I have never met someone who appeared so fierce and protective.” Iona’s gaze also went to his siblings and their families sitting on blankets in the distance.
He chuckled. “Are you trying to imply that I cannot protect you like Dristan could?” he teased.
“Never!” she replied, looking horrified. But the laughter she suppressed could not be contained and it bubbled over like the sweetest sound he had ever heard.
“Good!” he stated, whilst giving her bottom a playful slap and staring into her mesmerizing blue eyes. “I would not wish you to think I am weak and unable to wield my sword to protect those I love.”
“I believe the proof of the prowess of yersword, my laird, is currently being held by yer sister Lynet,” she teased, as merriment twinkled at the creases of her eyes.
“My… you are a saucy wench today, I see,” he beamed, pulling her into his embrace. “Mayhap we should escape to our bedchamber for the rest of the afternoon.” He began kissing her neck and he heard her moan in delight.
“We have plenty of time for just the two of us tae be alone together, Aiden. Ye need this time tae spend with yer family. It may be a while before ye are all together again.”
“Wise, as always, my dearest wife. What would I ever do without you?”
“Become an old and lonely man?” she asked teasingly.
“Quite right, as no other woman could claim me until you fell into my life,” he exclaimed before leaning forward to claim her lips in a searing kiss. Another moan escaped her, and he broke off their kiss before he threw her over his shoulder and took her all the way back to their bedchamber, where they surely would not see his family for the rest of the day.
She reached up to caress his cheek. “What still bothers ye, my love?”
She knew him so well. He turned his attention back to his siblings and his gaze automatically went to Sabina. She seemed so lost in their world and very much alone. “Sabina is but a shadow of the young girl from my youth.”
Iona nodded. “She has been through… a lot.”
Aiden looked down upon his wife. “She told you what happened to cause her to withdraw from those around her?”
Iona shuddered. “No woman should go through what she has endured. That she still lives is but a testament tae her inner strength. She just needs time?”
“?but the siege happened nigh ten years ago,” he interrupted.
Iona patted his arm. “She needs time and will one day come around. Ye must be patient with her.”
“I had hoped she would find someone she could come to love,” he muttered, more to himself than for his wife to here.
“’Twill take a special man tae break down the walls she has erected around her heart. She has been hurt both mentally and physically. Her match is out there somewhere, and when the time is right, he will find her.”
