he snuggled deeper into the warmth, her body still tingling from his masterful possession. This time when she drifted back to sleep, a smile curved her lips.

“You’re up late this morn, Caelen,” Ewan said when Caelen entered the hall.

Caelen eyed his brother, who sat by the fire breaking his fast. “I was detained.”

Ewan smothered a grin and nodded. “Aye, ’tis interesting how that happens when a man is married, is it not?”

“Shut the hell up,” Caelen growled.

Ewan sobered when Caelen took his seat and motioned for his goblet to be filled. “I’ll not tarry long, Caelen. I want to reach Neamh Álainn as soon as possible. Cameron would use this opportunity to attack us as we travel. We departed McCabe land in the middle of the night and traveled straight through without stopping. I plan to do the same tonight.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

Ewan shook his head. “Nay, you have much to do here. How goes it thus far? How does Rionna fair after her attack?”

Caelen frowned. “The lass was badly beaten. ’Twas a coward’s attack meant to anger me into foolhardy action. Cameron seeks to lure me to him. He has no desire to launch an attack in winter. He remains behind the walls of his keep, warm and sated with food while he has hired mercenaries to do his cowardly deeds for him.”

“Have you any luck in training the McDonald soldiers?”

Caelen sighed. “They work hard and are diligent in their efforts. ’Tis not that they aren’t worthy soldiers. They’ve just not had proper training until now. ’Tis hard to correct years’ worth of inefficiency in a few week’s time.”

Ewan clapped his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “If anyone can do it, you can. I have every faith in your ability to fashion your men into a formidable army of warriors.”

“How does Alaric fare?”

“He’s taken over the duties of laird as if he were born to the position. The clan is in good hands. He will be a good laird and Keeley will be a credit to him.”

“ ’Tis good that he is happy,” Caelen murmured.

Ewan glanced sharply at his younger brother. “And you, Caelen? Are you well satisfied with your marriage and your position as laird?”

Caelen thought for a moment. He hadn’t stopped to analyze whether or not he was well content with his new wife and clan. There had been too much to tend to. Was he happy? Before, his happiness hadn’t come into the picture. It mattered not whether he was happy. It only mattered that the alliance would be kept and that he would be able to aid his brother in the fight against Duncan Cameron.

Happy?

He frowned.

“ ’Twas not a trick question I was putting to you,” Ewan said dryly.

“It matters not if I’m happy. What matters is that we have the might to destroy Cameron. I have more reason than ever to want his blood.”

“Aye, you do,” Ewan agreed. “We all do. He’s brought much harm to our clans. To our wives.”

“He killed our father.”

Ewan sighed. “You cannot still blame yourself for that, Caelen.”

“ ’Tis not a martyr I make of myself. I was young and foolish and we all paid the price. The signs were there for me to see but I purposely blinded myself to them. Our clan paid the price. We lost our father and you lost your wife. Crispen lost his mother.”

“I have never blamed you,” Ewan said in a low voice. “Not once. If Elsepeth hadn’t done the deed, Cameron would have found another way.”

Impatient with recounting the past, Caelen waved his hand dismissively. He didn’t like to dwell on just how young and stupid he’d been. Elsepeth had found an easy mark in him. She’d turned his head, seduced him, and kept him under her spell. He would have done anything for her.

He’d loved her.

He still winced when he made that admission, but he made it freely to remind himself of his past sins. It was a mistake he wouldn’t make again. Dealing with a woman required a clear head, one unclouded by emotions.

“Are you up for a little exercise, or has marriage and fatherhood made you soft?” Caelen challenged.

Ewan’s eyes glittered. “Are you prepared to be humiliated in front of your men?”

Caelen snorted. “You can certainly try, old man.”

Rionna stretched languidly and smiled even before she opened her eyes. ’Twas a wonderful morning. Her feet were toasty warm and she had no desire to get up from bed.

Then she opened her eyes and blinked sleepily as she gave another lazy stretch. She turned on her side and her gaze rested on a pair of leather boots on the floor next to the bed.

She blinked more rapidly and sat up, clutching the covers to her breasts.

New boots. Not just newly fashioned, but fur-lined.

And beside them, was a neatly folded fur-lined cloak with a hood.

Her feet hit the floor and she dove toward the treasures. She grabbed one boot and turned it over and over, inspecting the fine stitching and craftsmanship. Then she plunged her hand inside and sighed at the luxurious feel of the warm fur.

With a delighted squeal, she clutched the boots and the cloak to her chest and danced around the room.

She stopped in front of the fire and buried her face in the soft fur. What a wonderful, wonderful thing for Caelen to do. How had he laid hands on such fine things?

Not able to wait a minute longer to try them on, she hurriedly donned her gown and then sat on the bed as she pulled her boots on.

She closed her eyes and sighed idiotically as her heel slid into the boot. She stood and paced about the chamber, testing the feel and the size. They fit her perfectly. Not too big and not even a pinch too small.

She ran to the window and threw aside the fur then stuck her head out. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky and collected on the ground below. ’Twas a perfect day to try out her new treasures.

With a grin, she spun around, donned the cloak, and hurried out of her chamber.

’Twas remiss of her to not even check the hall to see if her guests were in attendance, but she didn’t care. Caelen would be outdoors with the men, as he was every day, and he was the one she wanted to see.

Her boots crunched over the snow but no dampness seeped into her toes nor did any hint of cold grip her feet.

Caelen stood with his brother and ’twas obvious the two were set to spar. She was too excited to consider whether ’twas appropriate for her to interrupt.

“Caelen!” she called as she approached.

As soon as he turned in the direction of her voice, she launched herself at him. So surprised was he that he stumbled back even as he caught her against him and they both tumbled into the snow.

“God’s teeth, woman, whatever is the matter? Is someone hurt?”

She sat astride him, grinning so big that her cheeks hurt. She leaned down, framed his face in her hands, and proceeded to pepper his face with kisses. Then she fused her lips to his in a hot, lusty kiss that certainly had her toes curling in her new boots.

“Thank you,” she said huskily. “I love them. ’Tis the best gift anyone has ever given me.”

There were sounds of amusement on all sides of them, but she ignored the men as they gathered. She pushed herself off Caelen, who looked dazed and befuddled by what had just transpired.

She gifted the men with an equally dazzling smile and then she performed a perfect curtsy in Ewan’s direction.

“I’ll leave you to your duties,” she said.

She chanced one more look at Caelen, who still lay sprawled in the snow, a look of complete bemusement on his face, and then she turned and all but skipped back toward the keep.

Caelen blinked and stared after his wife as she hurried through the snow. Then he glanced around at the men gathered and scowled at their looks of amusement.

Ewan stood to the side, contorting his mouth so he didn’t laugh aloud, and then he extended a hand down to Caelen.

“I take it Rionna liked her gifts.”

Caelen grasped Ewan’s hand and hauled himself out of the snow.

“For God’s sake, the woman has no self-control,” he muttered.

Ewan laughed softly and then clapped Caelen on the shoulder. “I’d say you just scored some points with the lass. I’m sure we’d all understand if you chose to excuse yourself for a time.”

Laughter rose from the assembled warriors and Caelen scowled even harder. Then he punched Ewan directly in the gut, satisfied when his brother let out a pained grunt.

“What the hell was that for?” Ewan demanded.

“Payment for the time you did the same to me when I needled you about your wife.”

Ewan laughed as he rubbed his belly. “I believe you made mention of me missing my cods. Strange that you seem to suffer the same affliction when it comes to a certain, golden-haired lass.”

Caelen went to hit him again but Ewan dodged this time and both men went down in the snow. The men pressed forward and shouts rose as they urged the two brothers on. Wagers were quickly placed and the snow began to fly.

CHAPTER 22

Crispen threw his arms around Rionna’s waist, surprising her with his exuberance. He was a sweet child but a typical boisterous lad. She kissed the top of his head and he bounced away to pounce on his Uncle Caelen.

“Farewell, Rionna, and thank you for your hospitality,” Mairin said as she hugged Rionna.

Rionna kissed her cheek and then pulled aside one of the small blankets that encapsulated Isabel and nuzzled the baby’s soft cheek. Oh but babies smelled so sweet. It filled her with longing for her own babe, and then she shook her head at the insensible urge.

“Safe journey, Mairin. I’ll pray for you and Isabel.”

Mairin smiled and then went to say her farewell to Caelen, while Ewan waited by the horses. Rionna watched in amusement as Caelen softened into a pile of mush as he stared down at Ewan’s tiny daughter.

There was something powerful about a warrior brought to his knees by a babe. Rionna stifled her laughter as Caelen uttered something nonsensical to Isabel. He followed it with a promise to cut off the heads of all men who’d pursue her in the future.

Rionna and Mairin exchanged eye rolls. At least he hadn’t suggested another part of the male anatomy.

Ewan and his men mounted and then Caelen lifted Mairin and Isabel up onto Ewan’s horse. Ewan wrapped his arms securely around his wife and child and then gave the order to ride.

They filed out of the courtyard, over the wooden drawbridge, and into the moonless night.

Caelen returned to her a moment later. “ ’Tis late. We should retire now.”

She nodded and allowed him to take her arm as he escorted her inside. He paused at the bottom of the stair to discuss the next day’s events with Gannon while Rionna proceeded up the stairs.

She had plans for her husband this evening. Daring plans that no lady should ever entertain, which delighted her even more.

Once inside her chamber, she quickly added logs to the fire and straightened the furs on the bed. Soon she heard her husband’s heavy step on the stairs and then right outside the door.

She turned, hiding her smile, so that her back was presented when Caelen stepped inside the chamber.

“Rionna, there is something we should discuss,” he began sternly.

“Hmm, can you help me with my dress?”

She turned in time to see him frown. But he crossed the room and began to unfasten the buttons of her gown.

“Now what is it you’d like to discuss, husband?”

He cleared his throat. “There are certain things that should not be done in front of others.”

She lowered the sleeves of her gown and turned, holding the bodice barely over her nipples. She stared innocently up at him as she allowed one side to slip, baring the tip of her breast.

“Like what?”

His gaze tracked downward and he sucked in his breath. It took him a moment before he continued. “Displays of affection should be contained to our private chamber.”

She turned away again and let the gown fall, stepping from it and reaching for her sleeping gown. She tossed her head, allowing her hair to skim along her buttocks, and then she arched as if stretching before tossing aside the gown, seeming to change her mind about donning it.

“Such displays are never appropriate in front of my men,” Caelen continued in a strangled voice.

Rionna turned once more and stepped forward to loosen the ties of his trews. “Aye, husband, I’m sure you’re right. No show of affection in front of others. ’Tis unseemly.”

She reached inside and cupped his heavy sac, squeezing gently.

“ ’Tis not just … What on earth are you about, wife?”

She stroked up and down and then withdrew her hand. “I’m undressing you. ’Tis my duty, is it not?”

“Well, aye, ’tis sometimes. But right now ’tis important we have this discussion.”

“Oh, I agree. Do continue. Where were you? Ah yes, you said ’tis not just … ’Tis just not what?”

He frowned and shook his head as her hand grazed over his chest and then began pulling at his tunic.

“ ’Tis not just unseemly. ’Tis a matter of respect. The men’s respect for me. I cannot command their respect if I’m being tumbled to the ground by my wife.”

He had mustered another grim scowl, but she tugged at his trews and freed his c**k into her greedy grasp.

“Am I allowed to tumble you to the ground in the privacy of our chamber?”

His brows drew together in confusion. “What?”

She hooked her leg behind his knee and gave him a mighty shove. He stumbled back against the bed and went down on his back.

She climbed atop him and stared triumphantly down at him. “Now what is it you were saying, husband? I am ever obedient and am awaiting your instructions.”