Page 47 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
They were dancing together at the cèilidh following the wedding ceremony, and he’d been caught staring, again.
“Ye ken, I can feel ye starin’ at me,” she huffed.
A small laugh escaped his lips. The sound shocked them both for a brief second, Magnus recovering first. He was simplyhappy.
“Aye, well, I cannae very well help meself now, can I? Not when me wife looks ravishin’. Where else could I possibly look?”
The blush he was hoping for spread across her cheeks.
“Thank ye, Me Laird,” she said quietly, shyly, and he smiled down at her again.
She would have to get accustomed to compliments because he planned to shower her with them.
He couldn’t ever remember a time when he’d felt this light, bubbly feeling in his chest. He felt like a champagne bottle waiting to be popped.
“So, we are married now,” Ciara commented as they continued to dance.
Hearing her claim him, even in that small way, had his hands tightening around her. One hand held hers, and the other was pressed to her lower back. He wanted her closer, wanted her flush against him so that he could feel the full length of her body against his.
“Aye, we are,” he grunted, resisting the urge to drag her off to some dark, shadowy corner of the room. He didn’t care that both their families were watching them.
“The ceremony was…” Ciara paused then, and Magnus held his breath to see how she would describe the moments that had changed the course of his life. “Powerful,” she finished.
“Aye,” he replied with a small chuckle, “it was certainly that.”
“May I cut in?” Laird Gunn suddenly asked from behind her. He stood with his wife, presumably Magnus’s new dance partner.
Magnus nodded reluctantly and handed Ciara over to her father. Laird Gunn spun her then, a fast twirl. The magical sound of her laughter warmed Magnus’s very dark heart, and his eyes followed them for a few seconds, just to see the joy on her face.
When he turned towards Lady Gunn, he found her already watching him.
“I see the way ye watch her, ye ken?” she said once they were dancing together. “I’d have to be blind not to.”
Magnus sputtered a little, unsure what to say to his mother-in-law. He did watch Ciara—of course, he did. Even she knew it. But he hadn’t realized it was so very obvious.
“It’s not a bad thing, lad. Ciara deserves someone who adores her, but if that’s nae ye, or if it cannae be ye, then ye need to stop,” Lady Gunn urged. “Ciara… Ciara isnae as tough as she might want everyone to think. And I can see the way she watches ye. So, just be careful with her,” she pleaded.
Magnus was already nodding. “Aye, of course. Ciara is… nae a game to me,” he finally said, and she nodded.
After a few more twirls, the song changed from an upbeat tune to a more traditional and, unfortunately, social dance. Magnus groaned but was equally pleased that he had an excuse to part from Lady Gunn. The pair of them split and made their way into the circle of guests.
Once again, his eyes found his bride across the room. After each spin and twirl, he found her again. He paid no attention to who stood on either side of him, even as they held hands through the dance. No, he watched as her lit up the room with her joy and waited until he could have her in his arms again.
Finally, he heard the last few beats of the song as he broke the circle early, heading towards her.
She laughed when he pulled her back into his arms.
“Ye just couldnae wait for the song to end, eh?” she asked.
“Nae,” he growled.
“I’m glad.” She beamed.
This time, Magnus didn’t bother to hold her appropriately. This time, he pulled her flush against him, both hands trailing down her back now, while hers wrapped around his neck.
“How was yer dance with yer faither?” he asked.
“Happy and sad. And yer dance with Maither?”
