Scot to the Touch (The Hots for Scots #7) - Caroline Lee Page 0,53
his forehead to hers, he was pleased to learn she was breathing as heavily as he was. Around them, his family welcomed their newest member, and Aunt Agatha shouted instructions, but Kiergan and Katlyn just stood in one another’s arms, breathing the same air, and reveling in the peace they’d found.
“Marry me, Kat,” he whispered. “Ye make me a better man.”
“Nay.” Her eyes, so close to his, twinkled as she murmured her reply. “Ye are a good man, a good leader, Kiergan Oliphant all on yer own. But I will be honored and overjoyed to stand by yer side.”
“I love ye, Katlyn.”
One of her brows twitched in challenge, and her lips curled. “Forever?”
Since meeting her, he’d wanted no other woman. Even the confusion of who’d climbed into his bed and given him the best sex of his life couldn’t diminish the attraction he’d felt toward this woman, nor the joy she brought him.
So it was an easy vow to make.
“Forever. Marry me, my love.”
Her arms wrapped around his waist, and she smiled. “As soon as possible please.”
Chapter 12
“Calm down, laddie. Ye got to dance with yer brothers’ wives. They’re just taking their time, making ye miserable.”
Kiergan folded his arms across his chest and glared across the great hall, where Finn was spinning Katlyn through an energetic reel. The music was deafening, and the laughter and conversation doubly so.
Still, tucked away in this corner, he could hear his father well enough. Da was beaming, likely due to the ale he’d consumed. Nay, that wasn’t completely true; he’d married off one son and had gained a seventh. He’d been smiling since yesterday morning when Graham had announced his name and Kiergan his intentions.
“He’s holding her awfully close,” Kiergan grumbled, watching as his wife laughed at something Finn had said.
“Aye, because she’s a beautiful lass, and because he kens it’ll piss ye off.” Da winked. “Besides, look ye, Fiona isnae nearly as jealous as ye are.”
“Fiona cannae walk without puking.” But still, Kiergan relaxed slightly, knowing his brothers were just teasing him in their own way. “I for one will be glad when she births that bairn and can go back to keeping Finn occupied.”
“Och, well, she’s ahead of the rest of ye, ‘tis certain, but only God kens the future, laddie. Merewyn is pregnant as well, and I suspect Evelinde and Lara arenae far behind, judging by the way yer brothers have been going after their wives.”
Kiergan nodded. “And whichever births a male bairn first will determine the next Laird Oliphant. Whichever one of my brothers gets the honor, the clan will be lucky.”
To Kiergan’s surprise, Da clapped his hand down on his shoulder. “And every single one of them might bear lassies, meaning ye could still become laird.”
Snorting, Kiergan shook his head. “I’ll no’ hope for something so lofty. The MacKinnons on the other hand…”
“Aye, they hold a smaller amount of land and ‘twill be easier to manage.” His father’s grip tightened momentarily on his shoulder. “And ye’ll do an excellent job of that as well, laddie. I ken ye had nae ambition to be a laird, but ye’ll make a fine leader.”
Kiergan watched the way Katlyn’s smile lit up the wedding celebration. “I’d agree to become Pope if it meant having Kat as my own.”
“Aye, love takes ye that way,” Da said with a sigh. “Speaking of which…”
Following his gaze, Kiergan saw Moira laughing with her son Brohn, and impetuously, asked his father, “Are ye going to marry her? I ken ye hold Flora’s memory in yer heart, but Moira makes ye happy now. Why no’ make her yers?”
“Because I’m the laird, and she’s my housekeeper,” came his father’s immediate response.
So he’d considered it?
“Aye, but being laird means being able to make changes, aye? Ye’ve praised me for my diplomacy now that I’m handling the clan’s correspondence, but that’s one thing I’ve learned…ye can make changes.”
His father was still staring at Moira. “Aye, I suppose ye’re right.” He shrugged. “I guess we’re in nae hurry. Mayhap I’ll be able to convince her.”
Kiergan elbowed his father. “Go on, start now. I’ll sit here and mope until one of those bastards returns my wife to me.”
And I can get her in bed.
Chuckling, Da gave him a salute and sauntered off toward Moira. Kiergan smiled, but his attention was captured by Graham, who was staring bemusedly after Father Ambrose as he walked away. When the other man saw Kiergan watching him, he sidled over.
“Is he always like that?” Graham asked out of the