Page 87 of Never Tempt a Scot
“You are man and wife under the eyes of God and these here witnesses.” The blacksmith lifted the hammer up and smashed it down on the anvil.
Jackson kissed his wife, and Jane smiled as she kissed him back.
“We’ll have your papers ready tomorrow,” the blacksmith said. He nodded to the woman, who took note of their full names on a piece of paper. “Now let me get some bloody sleep. Er ... and congratulations.”
“Thank you. We shall come by tomorrow.” Jackson shook the blacksmith’s hand, and then he escorted Jane back to their inn. When they reached their shared room, he grinned at her.
“Care to start our honeymoon tonight before we resume the chase for Kincade and Lydia?”
Jane began to undo his cravat, a coquettish smile on her lips that heated his blood.
“Absolutely, husband.” She used his loosened cravat to pull his head down to hers for a long, deep kiss that was the beginning of one of the best nights of his life.
21
The following days passed in a blur of laughter, delight, and kisses. Lydia explored the lands around Castle Kincade, with Brodie as her guide. Half the time they had Rafe and Isla accompanying them, and the rest ... well ... They took advantage of their time alone.
This was one such moment. Lydia laid a large plaid blanket down on the ground by the lake, and then Brodie removed the food from a wicker basket. She lay back on the blanket while he prepared their plates. She took a moment to admire him without his being aware of it.
His dark hair, slightly too long to be considered fashionable, was tousled by the wind, and a shadow of a beard ghosted his jaw. He was the most handsome man she had ever known. She had met prettier men, certainly, but there was something about the hard-edged features of Brodie’s face and form that made him seem invincible, untouchable, and that he was hers to surrender to. Hers to touch. Hers to love.
Brodie noticed her eyeing him and offered her a wolfish smile. “What are you thinking about, lass?”
“You.” She smiled and rubbed her foot against his thigh. It was so easy now to be playful with him. Here she didn’t have to worry about scandal, rumors, or ruination. She was free.
Brodie’s eyes warmed as he caught her foot and tickled her ankle. She giggled and pulled free of him. He offered her a plate when she sat up, and they ate in pleasant silence.
The waters of the lake glinted in the bright late-summer sunlight. Ducks and swans floated on the surface, bobbing beneath the water to quest for food. It was all so blissfully peaceful.
“Lydia ...”
She turned to look at him. “Yes?”
“I never apologized for taking you from Bath the way that I did. Although, I canna say I regret it. This last week has been ...” He didn’t finish, but his smile pulled at her heart.
“It has been wonderful,” she said.
“I hate that I scared you.” Brodie brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear, his gaze impossibly tender. “I would never hurt you, lass.”
She leaned into his palm as he cupped her cheek. “I know.”
“’Tis funny, is it not? All this time, I thought I kidnapped the wrong sister. But as it turns out, I took the right one.” He leaned in and kissed her. It was a sweet kiss, like one between two people who had been lovers and friends for years, not days.
Lydia moved her hand to the back of his neck to keep him close as she deepened the kiss. Their mouths broke apart briefly as she teased him.
“Never hold back with me, Scot.”
Brodie chuckled and tumbled her backward on the blanket. He captured her wrists above her head with one of his hands, pinning them into the soft plaid blanket beneath them. He took his time kissing her, first sweetly, then more passionately until she was flushed with excitement.
“This is how I will remember us,” he whispered in her ear between kisses. “Like this, in the sunshine, the breeze in your hair, and clear skies reflected in your eyes.” Brodie nuzzled her neck, and Lydia’s heart swelled within her chest.
She would remembereverythingabout him when this was over, not just how he was with her, but how he was with those he cared about. How he sang Isla to sleep each night, how he teased Aiden into smiling, or how he would let his guard down over a game of cards and laugh with Rafe. There were a thousand things about Brodie Kincade that could make a woman fall in love. He believed he was cold and aloof, but he betrayed himself with every bit of love he gave others, even if he didn’t realize it.
She captured his lips with hers, and he pulled her skirt up to her waist as he slid into the cradle of her thighs.
“Make love to me,” she demanded. “Fast and hard.”
His wicked grin made her moan as he pinned her hands above her head again so he could continue his tender assault at an agonizingly slow pace.
