“If it would make ye feel more comfortable, why dinna ye sleep here in my room and I will sleep in yer room. But I will stay here wit’ ye until ye fall asleep, so that ye are no’ alone.”
Lara thought about his idea; it was a valid suggestion. She knew that they would not be allowed to share a room. If her father found out, she knew that all manner of hell would break loose. Nodding her head, Bram moved over to the other side of the bed. Quietly and uncomfortably, Bram and Lara lay side by side. Lara felt a warm sensation resonating through her.
“Thank ye,” she said trying to mask the tension in her voice.
“Yer welcome,” Bram replied rolling onto to his side facing away from her.
Under the covers, Lara could feel the heat radiating from his skin. She turned towards him; his bare back exposed to her made her thoughts run wild. What was the matter with her? She felt her nerves crawl under her skin and her breathing hitched. She longed for him to turn around and hold her, even though she wanted to resist. She pined for his attention and yearned for his kisses. The desire within her was almost so unbearable she wanted to scream. Overwhelmed with sensation, tears instantly filled her eyes.
Bram heard Lara shuffle on the bed and rolled to look at her. From the dying light of the embers, he could see the shine of her teary eyes.
“Oh lass. Dinna worry. Tomorrow yer father will be here, and everything will work out,” he said, as he gathered her in his arms.
Lara snuggled herself deeper into his hold. Sucking in a quick breath of air, she looked up at him and gazed into his eyes. Bram placed a hand on her cheek and rubbed his thumb across her jawline. Sensing no resistance to his touch, he continued to run his fingers through her long hair stopping at the base of her neck. Scooping her hair to the side, he let it fall through his fingers leaving her neck exposed. Bringing his hand back to her cheek, he placed his fingers under her chin and lowered his head towards her, until he was but a breath away. Barely touching his lips to hers, he savored the moment and waited for her to push him away, but she didn’t. Instead, to his surprise, Lara raised her head towards him, closing the space between them.
Bram’s kiss was urgent and demanding. All thought and reason left Lara’s mind. She felt her spirit lifted as if she soared through the heavens. His touch, his kiss, unlocked desires within her she never knew she had, or even thought possible. This, she knew, would change everything; but for that moment, she did not care. She did not care whether she angered her father, or if Dermot found her, for she felt the courage to face both of them.
Bram firmly pressed his tongue against her lips encouraging her to open. Once Lara submitted to him, Bram deepened the kiss. As Bram’s hands vigorously moved up and down her back, he pressed her tighter against him, causing a flood of uncertain sensations. Lara could feel awareness of her body’s need as she felt an aching desire in the most secret parts of her body.
As their lips pulled apart, they both gasped for air. Lara drew in a long and shaky breath. She did not want to fight her feelings any longer and she did not want to push him away. She welcomed his kisses, though she knew it was wrong of her to do so.
Before he lost all of his dignity and righteousness, Bram had to break the kiss. His need for her had become unnerving, and the swell of his groin had been urging him on, but he forced himself to stop. He would not tarnish her name or her honor. These feelings were a whole new experience for him. Was he not the man who just months ago bedded down with willing whores? Had he not been one to talk about marriage as if it was a fool’s game? How did one lass change all of that? Bram never thought of himself as righteous or honorable when it came to women, but he would do right by Lara.
“The hour is late and ye need yer rest,” he told her as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“Are ye leaving?”
Bram kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and her lips.
“Nay, lass,” he smiled down at her. “I am no’ leaving ye, but I must return to the other room before the sun rises and we are caught in bed together. I dinna want anyone to think that something had happened between us, as that would no’ be good for either of us.”
“Will ye come back in the morning?” Lara anxiously asked wanting him to be there by her side when her father arrived.
“Aye, lass. I will.”
Lara’s eyes fluttered closed, and she quickly faded into a deep sleep. When Bram was certain Lara was fast asleep, he rolled out of bed, snatched his tunic from the floor, and headed to the room down the hall for the remainder of the night. He was in awe of what had transpired between them, and looked forward to tomorrow, when he could kiss her again.
Chapter 18
A loud commotion outside the window woke Lara out of a deep sleep. She jumped out of bed and ran to the window to see what was occurring just outside. More than fifty horses came barreling across the drawbridge and emerged into the courtyard.
The horses were draped in red and blue royal trappings while their riders were dressed in armor. In the center of the assembly of riders, a large man with black hair stood out from the rest. He sat high upon his horse and wore fine furs around his wide shoulders. Next to him, sitting atop their horses, were John and heather. So anxious was she to see them, Lara could have leapt from the window.
She quickly turned and left the room, running down the hall to where Bram was sleeping. Without knocking, she burst through the door to announce her father’s arrival, but the room was empty. The bed was made, and there showed no sign that anyone had even slept in the room. Lara’s heart dropped in her chest. She worried if Bram had been caught wandering the hall while he was walking between the two rooms, or if he had left and headed back to Scotland. Lara refused to believe the latter, as he had made her a promise. He may have been a wretched Highlander, but she believed him to be honorable.
She quickly slipped her dress on over her chemise, then pulled on her boots, not even having the time or patience to tie the leather straps. She left the room running: down the hallway, then down the stairs into the great hall. In the great hall, a large crowd filled the room, making it impossible to find her brother and father amongst all of the people. Lara was short, and most of the men in the room seemed to be double her height and size. As she squeezed past them, she found her brother and father talking privately in the back corner.
“John, Father,” Lara cried out and ran towards them.
John noticed Lara first as she bumped past a group of men trying to reach them. Giving her a smile, he held his arms out to the crying lass.
“Lara!” he said, as she fell into his embrace. “What are ye doing here?”
“I must talk to both of ye in private. It is of great importance,” she said, looking at both her brother and her father.
William nervously looked about the room and grabbed onto Lara’s arm, escorting her into an adjacent chamber. The room was small, with four chairs around a circular table. Hung on the walls were portraits of the Magnusson Royal family, and books were stacked high on shelves around the room. Lara was amazed; she had never seen so many books.
In a demanding and angered tone, her father asked, “Why are ye here, and where is yer husband?”
“He is no’ here, Father. I traveled here wit’ an escort.”
Lara had never seen such anger in her father’s eyes before. She tried to continue, but he immediately stopped her.
“Ye have nay business here. Ye will return to Scotland on the first boat.”
“But Father, ye must listen.”
“Nay, ye listen! I married ye off to Laird Moray. Ye are nay longer my responsibility. We have a contract with their clan fer this union,” he yelled and slammed his fist on the table.