Page 34 of My Scarred Laird
Her heart melted at his admission, and she went to him, letting him wrap his arms around her as she rested her head on his chest.
“I am all right. I promise ye. I just didna wish ta give the clan something ta discuss. What ye and I do isna any of their business.”
Callum cupped her face, “Ye are right my beautiful lass. At least until I make the official announcement.”
She looked up at him, “When are ye doin’ that?”
He smiled down at her, his lip pulling slightly to one side, “Today. I willna wait another minute ta let the clan ken I am yers.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly, “Are ye certain?”
“I have never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“Oh Callum.”
He kissed her, lifting her into his strong arms, “I love ye Islay. Ye are mine. I made ye mine last night. I doona ever wish ta wake without ye in my bed.”
“We will scandalize your clan.”
He shrugged, “I doona care. They already doona respect me as their Laird. I feel like I doona want ta wait for them ta start now. Ye are the only person that matters ta me. Not them. Not even my brother.”
Islay bit her lip, leaning forward to kiss Callum gently, “Ye canna be serious.”
“I am. The clan doesna listen ta a word I say. I am their Laird, and have been for years, but only my warriors respect my word. Everyone else doesna care. I cannot recall a time when someone aside from Ida and Ewan who even listen ta a word I say. They are all tae scared of me.”
Islay shook her head, pushing free from his hold, “We have ta stop that. Ye have done so much for them Callum and they doona even appreciate it. Doona care that ye doona ask anything in return for their happy lives.”
Callum studied her, “I want ta believe they would listen, but ‘tis as if I’m nothing ta them.”
“Well, make them listen then. I’m here. I will stand at yer side and support ye while ye let yer clan there are going to be changes.”
Callum’s eyebrow lifted, then he smirked at her, “Ye are truly the only woman who would do what ye are doing for me. Ye were always meant ta be mine, werena ye?”
She nodded, “Always.”
He pulled her into his arms, kissing her again.
“I love ye. Ye ken that?”
She nodded again, “I ken. Do ye ken I love ye ta?”
He nodded, “Let’s get this over with. I want a new day with the woman I want ta marry.”
Islay followed along behind him, her hand clasped firmly in hers while Callum walked in front of her.
The clan was all in the front hall, and Callum sent Ida to get Ewan, and Egan to bring in the warriors before he pulled her up to the high table.
He stood; his head held high as everyone in the hall went silent.
The warriors came in the back and with her hand firmly in Callum’s she waited.
There was the girl who believed herself to be the next lady of the keep and she was glaring at her.
Islay lifted her chin, and the girl glared at her, but her mother elbowed her, and she looked away.
Callum waited for the warriors to finish filing in and then he cleared his throat.
Islay squeezed his hand, and he looked over at her, then nodded.
