before she could think on his meaning, he ripped the material from her bodice all the way past her waist. it fell away, baring her breasts to his eager touch.

" 'tis not fair," she grumbled. "i can't rip your clothing."

he grinned. "would you like to, lass?"

"aye, i would."

chuckling, he rolled until he was on top and he began shrugging out of his clothing. as soon as he was naked, he pulled the remaining tatters of her dress from her body and then rolled her back on top of him.

" 'tis an odd position, husband. i'm sure you don't have the way of it."

he traced a line from her temple over her cheek and to her lips. "aye, lass, i have the right of it. today the women are in charge and the men are doing the work. it only seems right that you should be on top. i am your humble servant."

her eyes widened. she thought on what he'd said, pursed her lips, and then finally shook her head. "i'm not at all sure such a thing is possible."

"oh aye, 'tis possible, lass. not only is it possible, but 'tis a marvelous experience."

he gripped her hips, lifting to position her over his groin.

"put your hand down, lass. guide me in."

she trembled with excitement and anticipation. her legs quivered and jumped against his sides as she reached down and grasped his hardness.

"oh, aye, lass, just like that. hold me just right there. let me fit you to me."

he moved her, holding her still as the tip of his cock brushed through her damp heat. then he found the entrance and slid in the tiniest bit. her eyes flew open and she tensed as he began to breach her opening.

"relax," he soothed.

he guided her down and she removed her hand and placed both palms on his chest. she leaned forward as his fingers slid from her hips over her buttocks. he gripped her flesh and spread her wider as he slid deeper.

with one final push, her bottom met the tops of his thighs. it was an unsettling sensation, being speared, so full with no relief. her body hummed with pleasure. her nipples tightened into hard points, pouting and begging for his touch.

he obliged her, leaving her hips and feathering his fingers over her belly up until he cupped both breasts in his palms. little sparks of fire sizzled through her body when he thumbed the taut buds. he teased and coaxed until they were painfully rigid.

"ride me," he said huskily.

the image of doing such a thing exploded in her mind. a hot flush worked through her core until she squirmed and gripped him even tighter in her sheath.

eager to do his bidding, she began to move, tentatively at first. she felt awkward and shy but the look in ewan's eyes gave her all the confidence she needed to continue.

back and forth she rocked, rising up and then easing down. they both made contented sounds that became more desperate and urgent as she picked up her pace.

delighting in her newfound freedom, she proceeded to drive them both beyond the bounds of reason. she smiled seductively down at her husband when he pleaded with her to stop tormenting him.

with her lips fused to his as tightly as their bodies were joined, they found their release. she swallowed his cry of triumph as he swallowed her cry of ecstasy. his fingers dug into her hips and he pulled her down, holding her there ase emptied himself into her body.

with a sigh, she collapsed on top of him and burrowed into his warmth. his heart pounded frantically against hers until she wasn't sure whose beat harder. he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

"i love you, mairin."

for a moment she didn't think she'd heard correctly. aye, she loved him. more than she'd imagined loving a man. but she hadn't dreamed that he'd return her feelings. he was affectionate with her. loving, even. but she hadn't ever expected that he'd offer her his heart.

tears filled her eyes as she rose up, her hair falling over his chest while she stared down at him in wonder.

"say it again," she said huskily.

he smiled at hearing his own words tossed back at him.

"i love you."

"oh, ewan," she whispered.

"don't cry, lass. i'd do just about anything to keep you from crying."

" 'tis happy tears." she sniffed. "you've made me so happy, ewan. you've given me a home and family. a clan to call my own. and you stood behind me today when i feared you'd denounce me in front of everyone."

he frowned and shook his head. "i always stand behind you, wife. i may not always agree with you, and there will be times that i may not make a decision you agree with, but i always stand behind you."

she hugged him again and pressed her face into his neck. "oh, i do love you so, ewan."

he rolled until they were on their sides facing each other. he touched her face, stroking the wispy tendrils of hair from her cheek. "i've waited a long time for you to say those words, lass. and now that i have, i'm never going to grow tired of them."

she smiled. " 'tis a good thing, laird, for i have this problem with saying the least thing that runs through my mind, and 'tis a fact i'll be thinking of how much i love you often."

"perhaps you should show me," he said in a husky, aroused voice.

her mouth dropped open. "again?"

he smiled and kissed her. "aye, lass, again."

chapter 31

mairin slowly dragged herself out of bed and headed straight for the chamber pot where she vomited what little remained in her belly from the night before.

ias a miserable occurrence and had happened like clockwork every morning for the last fortnight. only it didn't end there. she vomited promptly after the morning meal, then again after the noon meal, and usually at least once before bed.

she'd hidden her condition from ewan for as long as possible, but with all the vomiting and the way she eyed food as if she were being poisoned again, it was inevitable that he found out.

she would tell him today of her suspicions. not that they were actually suspicions because it seemed obvious to her that she was carrying his child, and god knew, ewan had put enough effort into the task of impregnating her.

the entire clan would greet the news with joy. with her dowry to be delivered at any time, prosperity would finally visit their keep. a pregnancy and safe delivery of a child would seal the mccabe control of neamh alainn.

she fairly danced with excitement over the idea of telling ewan the news.

after washing out her mouth and getting dressed, mairin headed below stairs where she was met by gannon. she raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw him because since her poisoning, ewan had made it a point to have either himself or one of his brothers guarding her every moment of every day. it was a fact she was resigned to and had accepted with good grace.

"good morning, my lady," gannon said cheerfully.

"good morning, gannon. tell me, what have you done to anger your laird?"

gannon blinked and eyed her with confusion. then he laughed as he realized she was jesting with him over his duty.

"nothing, my lady, 'tis the truth i volunteered for the chore of looking after you today. the laird and his brothers have gone out to greet the mcdonalds."

her eyebrows rose again. any talk of the mcdonalds had been dispensed with after her poisoning. why, she'd even forgotten the matter of an alliance herself. the mcdonalds' departure was not on pleasant terms, so the idea that they had returned made her very curious.

"where are they?" she asked.

"unloading the stores of food from the wagon," gannon said with a smile.

mairin clasped her hands in delight. "so they made good on that ridiculous wager?"

gannon rolled his eyes. "of course. 'tis a peace offering, too. the two clans must soothe over any bad feelings if we are to ally ourselves."

"oh, that's wonderful. surely this will carry us to the winter months."

gannon nodded. "and beyond, if the hunt continues to be successful."

and if her dowry would come, the clan would have warm clothing for the winter. the children would have shoes. they would eat instead of worrying about where their next meal would come from.

this was very welcome news.

"where might i find ewan?" she asked gannon.

"i'm to escort you to him when you rise."

she frowned. "well then, i've risen, so let's go."

he chuckled and guided her outside to where the mcdonald wagons had been driven into the courtyard. men were unloading the supplies and taking them to the larder.

ewan was absorbed in conversation with mcdonald, and mairin frowned as she scanned the people littering the courtyard. then her gaze fell on rionna and she brightened.

she started to call out and wave when ewan caught her eye and motioned her over.

he pulled her to his side when she approached. "laird mcdonald wished to give you his regards. they aren't staying and have only arrived to deliver the supplies. since we are in agreement over alaric's marriage to rionna, we'll meet later in the summer to celebrate the arrangement and announce their betrothal."

mairin smiled at the laird, who took her hand and bowed.

"i'm relieved that you are back in full health, my lady. i look forward to the time that our clans are united not only by alliance but by marriage bond."

"as do i," she said. "safe journey to you and i look forward to seeing you when you return."

when one of the men walked by with the gutted carcass of a stag, mairin's stomach revolted. her cheeks puffed out as she sucked air through her nose to keep from vomiting there in front of ewan and laird mcdonald. there'd already been far too much drama the last time the laird visited, and she had no desire to start another fracas by losing the contents of her stomach all over his boots.

she hastily made the excuse that she needed to see gertie so she could supervise the storing of the provisions and bolted before ewan could remark.

once inside the keep, she took in long, steadying breaths and then made her way to the kitchens. it wasn't a complete fabrication. she did want to know gertie's plans for the sudden surplus of food, and she also thought it would be a nice surprise to plan a special meal for the occasion.

predictably, gertie was grumbling over a large cauldron of stew when mairin entered the kitchen. gertie stopped periodically to taste, then she'd groan and add another vegetable.

gertie looked up and frowned when she saw mairin. "you're looking peaked, lass. i saved you a bowl from the morning meal. are you still feeling poorly every time you eat?"

touched by her thoughtfulness, mairin placed a hand on her stomach. "aye, i'm afraid so. 'tis the truth, not much seems appetizing to me these days."

gertie tsked and shook her head. "when are you going to tell laird that you're carrying his child?"

"soon. i wanted to be sure."

gertie rolled her eyes. "lass, no one retches as much as you have for as long as you have if they're ill. by now they'd either die or get better."

mairin smiled and put a hand to her middle. "aye, 'tis true, still i didn't want to chance telling the laird something that was false. so much rides on this little one's shoulders."

gertie's expression softened. "you have a good heart, lass. our clan has much to be thankful for since you came to us. it almost seems too good to be true."

embarrassed by the other woman's praise, mairin directed the conversation to the matter at hand.

"i thought to plan a special meal since laird mcdonald made good on his wager. it seems all we've eaten of late is rabbit stew. i'm sure the men would love to have fresh venison and vegetables. surely we could spare a little for celebration without depleting our stores to dangerous levels again."

gertie smiled broadly and reached over to pat mairin on the arm. "i was thinking the same thing myself, lass. i already had in mind to make venison pies, with your permission, of course. with the salt that laird mcdonald provided, we no longer have to spare every grain for preserving. 'twill make the meal taste delicious."

"wonderful! i'll leave the planning in your capable hands. i've promised crispen that i'd throw skipping stones over the loch with him this afternoon."

"if you wait but a moment, i'll give you some bread to take. it will settle your stomach and give you and crispen a snack for the afternoon."

gertie wrapped several small loaves into a cloth sack and handed it to mairin. "off with you now, lass. go and have a good time with crispen."

"thank you," mairin said as she turned to go.

her heart light, and giddy over the idea of telling ewan of her pregnancy, she went outside to find crispen.

the sun's rays shone bright and she turned her face up, seeking more of their warmth. she paused for a moment to watch the mcdonalds file across the bridge to the other side of the loch. her gaze sought ewan but he was already off on another duty.