“But I’ll add to me own vows and promise before the priest and God ne’er to hit ye,” Conran said now. “I’ll also have that put in the marriage contract as I said I would. I’ll approach yer father about it first thing on the morrow.”
The words made Evina relax completely. He hadn’t forgotten his promise. With everything that had happened, she’d feared—
“Will ye marry me, lass?” he asked again, his voice solemn.
Swallowing, she met his gaze, and managed to get out the word, “Aye,” in little more than a croak.
It was enough. Conran bent to kiss her again with a passion that startled her with its strength. He was like a conquering warrior claiming his treasure, his mouth and tongue devouring and demanding a response. Evina didn’t hesitate more than a minute before giving it to him. She might have a few small qualms still in her mind, but her body knew what it wanted and was ready to celebrate this victory with him.
Conran woke up on his side with Evina cradled against him. Her bottom nestled against his groin and his arm wrapped around her waist and bent so that his hand could cup her breast. It was heaven, and he decided then that life would be a joy if he could wake up every morning just like this.
And he would, Conran reminded himself with a smile. As soon as Niels arrived they would have the ceremony and Evina would be his. At least, she would be if he got that marriage contract dealt with. Conran was surprised the Maclean hadn’t already approached him about it, but it had to be taken care of before the wedding and that would be today if Niels arrived as expected.
Removing his arm from around Evina, he eased out of bed and then gently tucked the furs around her. The lass didn’t even move. Conran wasn’t terribly surprised. While they’d slept all day and evening the day before, they’d been up most of the night exploring each other’s bodies. Evina was proving as bold and adventurous as he’d hoped when he’d thought her an experienced widow. The experience might be missing, but the enthusiasm was definitely present and they’d made love on the table, then the furs, and then she’d tried to pleasure him with her mouth and hand as he’d done for her. That had been more an exercise in frustration than anything, but she would improve with some tutelage, and he was pleased that she had been willing to try it. Besides, his frustration had given way to pleasure once he’d made her stop, rolled her onto her hands and knees and thrust into her from behind so that he could fondle her breasts and touch her as he drove them both to the edge of pleasure again and again until he’d relented and pushed them both over that edge.
Standing beside the bed, Conran stretched happily, and then moved to the ewer on the small table by the window and quickly washed himself down, his mind moving on to what he had to do today. Talk to her father about the contracts was first. Once that was out of the way, he intended to look into this business of her attacker. He’d finally convinced the lass to marry him. He wasn’t going to risk losing her now to the man who had tried to drown her and then disappeared.
Conran frowned as his thoughts turned to that matter. Geordie had said Aulay and Laird Maclean had failed to catch up to the bastard. After the fact, he could see the mistakes they’d made. The delay in even entering the passage to begin with was a big one. But the man hadn’t used that delay to make his escape. Instead, he’d somehow got around behind them and stabbed him. Why? What had he been doing while they were talking and then questioning Tildy again?
Shaking his head, Conran finished his cleanup and quickly pulled on his shirt, grimacing at the stench of it. It was the same shirt he’d had with him at the waterfall and that Gavin had brought back for him. It, and the now-bloody plaid, were the only clothes he had here. Unfortunately, not one of his brothers had thought to bring some of his clothes along to Maclean. And while Tildy had mentioned fetching him clothes twice now, she hadn’t carried out the promise either time.