The Highland Bride's Secret

A Highland Feuding

A marriage of convenience, spicy medieval romance!

The warrior’s mission...Catching his runaway bride!

When she makes her vows to handsome Tomas of Clan Cameron, Welsh noblewoman and former courtesan Elen knows she is going to break them! Marriage gives her the perfect cover to find her young son taken at birth, but it means quietly leaving Scotland--and her new husband.

Elen’s learned that no one can be trusted, so when Tomas tracks her down, she expects him to drag her back. She’s surprised when he offers his help, but can she overcome her fears and put all her faith in him, or will she rip apart their union before it’s properly begun?

A Highland Feuding ~ Rival clans. . . . Forbidden love!

Print: 978-1335050533 eBook: 978-0369777386

Tomas wanted her.

As they positioned themselves across from each other at the beginning of the dance, he studied her closely. Not known as a great beauty, it was the expressiveness of her face that was appealing. When smiling or laughing, her eyes sparkled and her mouth with those full lips drew attention. The colour of the evening sky as the sun sets, those eyes met his gaze now and boldly held it. When the tip of her tongue slid along her lower lip, his body reacted. No maiden lass, his wife knew how to entice men and now sought to use her seductive way on him.

After the very frank talk with his father about accepting this woman as his wife, Tomas discovered that he truly did not hold her past with the king against her. He was not a fool—when the king decreed such a thing or indicated his wishes, it was done. Rumours of her father’s connections and plotting in Wales were just that—and not under her control. Their only private discussion on the matter was brief—he’d asked if she had objections and if she would be faithful to her vows to him.

Another woman might have been offended by his question about fidelity in their marriage. Every woman knew what was expected of her, and wealthy or noblewomen understood it even more clearly. Elen seemed to take his qualms and the many other unasked questions in stride, answering quietly with few words. And so, Tomas put aside any concerns and would take her at her word.

She smiled at him now as she took his hand and moved towards him, following the steps of this dance. Others moved around them, and he enjoyed watching her graceful movements in time with the music that grew faster and faster until they were spinning around and laughing. As the music suddenly ended, a cheer went up from the wedding guests and Tomas found a cup in his hand.

‘To my bride,’ he called out and then took a large swallow of the wine in the cup.

‘To the bride!’ shouted some.

‘Kiss the bride!’ shouted others.

The words echoed around the hall several times while they all watched and waited for what came next. Determined not to disappoint them or, from her expectant expression, her either, Tomas slid his arm around Elen’s waist and drew her close to him. He lifted her until their faces almost touched and then he whispered the words only to her.

‘I will kiss my bride.’

Someone took the cup from him, freeing him to wrap her in his embrace as he kissed her. A simple touching of their mouths changed quickly as her body softened against him and his hardened in the right place. Canting his head, he teased with his tongue until she opened to him. Deepening the kiss, he plunged into her mouth, seeking her tongue and tasting her. Her hands slid up his chest and then she wrapped her arms around him, tilting her face and allowing him to do more. Tomas possessed her mouth as he would her body, stroking and tasting and touching over and over until they had no breath. The loud and raucous screaming and clapping that filled the hall finally broke the bubble of silence and wanting surrounding the two of them. Tomas lifted his mouth from hers and allowed her to slowly regain her feet.

From the way her body shuddered and the press of her breasts against her gown, he was pleased that she seemed affected by this connection. Elen touched her finger to her lips as though checking them.

‘Did I hurt you?’ he asked softly, though he could have shouted it and most would not hear.

‘Nay.’ She shook her head once and then again as though she was trying to convince herself of something. ‘Nay,’ she said, a smile this time made it more convincing.

Tomas leaned over and kissed her once more. Not with the same passion as the first, but more than the polite one that had sealed their betrothal those six weeks ago. Elen met his mouth and kissed him back. As she leaned away this time, he noticed a glimmer of disbelief in her gaze in that moment. It disappeared quickly, but he’d seen it. Almost as though she’d not expected…something.

The gathering calmed a bit, but his body did not then nor through the rest of the festivities. Not when she leaned her feminine curves against them as they made their way through the hall and spoke to more of his kith and kin. Not when they sat once more at the high table and her hand slid over onto his leg. And especially not when she moved that hand slowly along the length of his thigh, teasing him relentlessly while she watched the others dancing below them.

Her gaze taunted him as well, for it was clear in the blue depths of her eyes that she did this apurpose. When she leaned closer, pressing her breasts to his arm and slowly caressing his cock though none could see, Tomas felt the edge of his control and knew it was time to leave. Placing his hand on hers, he moved them away from his rigid flesh.

‘Soon,’ he said without looking at her.

The rest of their time at the banquet was a blur to him. Elen remained at his side in spite of attempts to draw her away to dance. The need in him eased as they sat together, even the pace of their breaths aligned. Finally—finally! —his father stood and gave the words that released them from the hall.

Amidst more cheering and clapping, he led her down from the dais and to the door that led to one of the towers. His chamber would no longer be acceptable and he’d insisted on a new one large enough for both husband and wife. Elen would also have a separate bedchamber that adjoined it, as had his mother, but, as with his parents, he expected to share a bed with his wife.

The sound of her laughter as he moved faster along the corridor to outrun any well-wishers who would follow made him smile. They were breathless when he tugged her within the chamber, their chamber, and slammed the door closed.

Now she would be his.