The Bard (Highland Heroes #5) - Maeve Greyson Page 0,68

had to try. “What if we have already seeded a bairn?” she breathed into his ear as she arched into his touch.

Sutherland froze and raised up to stare down at her. “Have we?” he asked, his tone filled with awe.

She laughed, cupping his face between her hands. “I canna be certain yet. It’s far too early.”

He attempted a stern look. “Minx!” he scolded, then renewed his efforts.

“I couldna resist.” She pulled him into an urgent kiss, then tangled her fingers in his hair and lifted him away. “Now, love me, my husband,” she ordered as she wrapped a leg around him.

“As ye bid me, my love.” He shoved their clothes out of the way, then groaned as he drove deep inside her.

In the shade of the grove, the ground was cold and hard at her back, but Sorcha didn’t care. Not when the man she had wanted for well over a year joined his body with hers, and they became one. She still hadn’t figured out how each time could be better than the time before, but somehow, it was. She bit her lip to keep from screaming out her ecstasy and announcing to all her kith and kin that her husband had pleasured her well.

Sutherland had no such reservations, letting loose a roar that rattled the thicket as he emptied himself inside her. Rumbling out an entirely too loud, satisfied groan, he rolled to one side while keeping an arm around her shoulders.

“I hope Da doesna send the guards to hunt the beast hiding in this thicket,” she teased as she sat up and flipped her skirts back down in place.

Sutherland winked. “We’ll tell them I fought it off with my bare hands, aye?”

“Aye, my brave warrior.” She started to lay back down beside him but stopped herself. He’d said the wagons were packed, and everyone was ready to leave as soon as they returned to the keep. A wave of homesickness washed across her, chasing away the joy of just moments ago. Jenny was coming with them, but Da would be left behind. All alone. She hated the thought of leaving him.

“He will be all right, mo chridhe.”

Sometimes, she swore Sutherland was one of the touched because the man seemed able to read her mind. She looked down at him, still stretched out, with his hands clasped behind his head. “I know he’ll be all right. It’s just…hard to leave.”

Without a word, he rolled to his feet and reached down to help her to hers. “Then let us get it over with, aye?”

She took his hand and stood. He was right. It was inevitable, so best to get on with it. Without a word, she walked at his side, taking in the wonder of her childhood home one last time.

As they drew closer to the keep, she forced a smile and set her mind to making the best of the sad day. After all, she was blessed to be leaving with a man she loved and joining a family of good, kind people. Such could not be said by every chieftain’s daughter.

“Came to her senses and tried to run from ye, eh?” Graham teased as they approached.

Sutherland smiled and lifted her hand. “Aye, but I caught her.” He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “Make yer goodbyes, love,” he said softly.

Everyone else went to their mounts as Sorcha went to her father. She appreciated their respect for her privacy.

Da took hold of her shoulders and squeezed, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I love ye, daughter.” He stopped and pulled in a deep breath, blew it out, then cleared his throat. “And when next I see ye, yer belly best be rounding with my first grandchild, aye?”

“Aye, Da,” she whispered as she hugged him tight and kissed his cheek. “Be careful and oust that woman quick, ye ken? Dinna trust her or her son.”

“I will be fine.” Her father smiled, squeezed her shoulders again, then nodded toward her horse. “Would ye do yer father the honor of helping ye mount?”

“Aye, Da.” She glanced around, searching. “Heckie didna come to bid me and Jenny farewell?”

“MacIlroy said the boy’s locked himself in his room and willna come out. Best leave him be. Ye know how hard it is for him sometimes.” He planted his hands around her waist and hefted her up into the saddle as though she were a bairn.

“Da!”

Greyloch laughed. “Ye used to think it great fun when I’d throw ye high into the saddle when ye were