Page 35 of The Lass Defended the Laird (Explosive Highlanders 2)

“Send word if you need anything.” Offered Taran, mounting his horse.

“I will.” Drostan said.

That night, Drostan and Freya lay entangled on the straw mattress while their bodies went back to a restful state. Her husband took her with such excruciating tenderness it dazed her.

They spent the afternoon packing and tidying the cottage as their family would ride out before dawn next day.

She would miss these few days with him and Ewan in cosy proximity. It had been a long time she did not feel so safe and…yes…warm. Darn, how she had missed him. The dimension of it clear after this time here. And now they would have to go separate ways again. She did not want to be bitter about it. Rather, she wished for gratefulness he came to her. And that they got these few days at least.

But she and Ewan would go back to being on their own with the grimness and strain it entailed. Which saddened her. They could do it no doubt. With an experience of four years, it would be no problem. Four unhappy years, you mean. She would use these weeks to think through a solution to this predicament. The bright side was that they would be near the McKendrick and in a relatively safe place. That would have to suffice for the time being.

“I will assign a footman to stay with you in the cottage.” Drostan started. “He will help you with the heavy chores and protect you.”

“Ewan and I did fine on our own.” The presence of servants had become an alien thing since she left the manor. It would be awkward to say the least.

“You did a good job of it.” He admitted. “But understanding the circumstances, I will take the required action.” His muscled arms tightened possessively around her.

It was relieving to have her husband’s support though Lairds would be Lairds. “I had forgotten how overbearing you can be.”

“Overbearing, woman?” His large hand splayed over her navel. “Is it so when I want safety for my family?”

She kissed his bunched shoulder. “You might have asked me at least.”

“I promise to ask you in the future.” His manly nose merged in her dishevelled hair.

Her eyes lifted to him. “In what, for example?”

“Hm, let me see.” His torso came over her. “Do you want me to kiss your lips or your neck?”

A laugh breathed out of her. “My neck.” She decided. And he grazed his stubble along it, eliciting a moan from her.

“Should I caress your right or left breast?” His drawl already a caress.

“Both.” Se dared.

“Wise choice.” A hand rested on her breast while his sensuous mouth sought the other.

By then her body temperature had risen considerably.

His old whisky eyes raised to her, fiery in the candlelight. “See? I can be very accommodating.”

“When convenient, you mean.” Her fingers dived in his smooth wavy strands.

He nibbled her lower full lip while his hands and hips were doing funny things to her. “Not only then.” His mouth suckled on her upper lip. “Here is one more accommodating choice.” He kissed her fully before continuing. “Which position do you prefer?”

As she turned her back to him to cradle his manhood suggestively, he groaned.

“Hell, wife, you will finish me up!” He ‘accommodated’ himself in her, nonetheless, and his fingers found her centre.

Strangely, they stopped talking at that point.

“Come, Ewan, let us go up the horse.” Freya told the boy next morning.

The first grey lights rose in the east promising a cold day with no sun. Despite the dampness in the air, there was no sign of rain yet.

“Where are we going, mama?” Dressed in his warmest clothes, he sounded eager for his new adventure.

“Back to the cottage by the loch, mo balach.” Drostan intervened, as he loaded saddlebags on Threuna.

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