Highland Barbarian Part 77

His mind was playing tricks on him. He was seeing her again, looking far lovelier than she had ever looked before.

She wore a hooded cape of lush green velvet, lined with ermine. Her cheeks were flushed, and her green eyes sparkled with a light that he had seen before, on that first night they had loved. She slid the hood back to reveal a mane of mahogany hair that tumbled down her back in a riot of curls. Entwined in her hair were ivy and wildflowers, their sweet perfume filling the air.

He blinked. The vision did not vanish. Instead she took a step closer. Her lips parted in the sweetest smile.

"Meredith." His heart stopped. .

"Aye."

He felt his throat go dry.

"You are not a vision?"

"Nay, my lord." She laughed and crossed the room until she was standing in front of him.

"Touch me. I will not vanish."

Touch her? He wanted to crush her to him. Instead he reached a hand to her and felt his fingertips gently brush her cheek.

"How did you get here?"

"I rode."

"Alone?" His eyes narrowed.

"Nay, my lord. I brought a company of my men."

"Ah." At last his senses were returning. The floor, which for a moment had tilted dangerously, was now steady once more. He brought his other hand to her face and stared down into her eyes.

"Why have you come, Meredith?"

"To invite you to a wedding."

"A wedding?" His heart tumbled. His brows drew together in a frown.

"Aye."

"Whose wedding?"

She smiled.

"Mine."

His frown became a scowl. She felt his battle for control as. he dropped his hands to his sides, where they curled into fists.

"You did not wait long to wed."

"I have waited long enough." When she saw the look of pain that crossed his features she could no longer carry on the charade.

"Oh, Brice. If you could but see your face." She reached up to touch him and the cape slid from her shoulders, revealing a white gossamer gown that skimmed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and fell in soft folds to the tips of kid slippers.

His hands grasped her shoulders so tightly that she gasped.

"You look," he whispered, "as beautiful as you did on that mom when first I saw you in the cathedral."

"This time," she said, looking up at him with love s.h.i.+ning in her eyes,

"I dressed for you."

"For me." He allowed his gaze to travel slowly over her, devouring her.

And then he knew.

"You've come to stay?"

"Aye. If you'll have me."

"Oh, Meredith." He drew her into the circle of his arms and kissed her with a savageness that left them both dazed and reeling.

He lifted his head and touched a fingertip to the tear that squeezed from her eye and coursed down her cheek. "Tears, firebrand?"

"I was so afraid, Brice."

"Of what?"

"Afraid this was all a terrible mistake. Afraid that when I reached your beloved Highlands you would not want me."

"Oh, my love. You are all I want."

' "Then why did you leave me without a word?"

"I had no right to ask you to give up your t.i.tle, your power, your home, for me."

Another tear spilled over, and then another while she wrapped her arms about his neck and clung to him. So Brenna had been right. She would be forever thankful to her sister for urging her to take the risk.

Against his throat she whispered,

"You are all I want, Brice. Without you it is empty."

"Oh, little firebrand." He buried his lips in a tangle of her hair and crushed her to him.

"What arrangements have you made for your clan?"

"Brenna will be the MacAlpin." She smiled.

"Without Gareth MacKenzie to divide them, the Borderers have united to stand against any English attack. Though I fear Brenna's greatest challenge will not be with the English, but with our sister, Megan."

Brice laughed.