“You’re so tight,” he murmured, sounding concerned.

“I think it’s more that you’re so big,” she said. “But you don’t need to worry. I’m fine.”

He went slowly at first.

But slowly didn’t last long. Soon a more urgent rhythm took hold as his thrusts increased in both speed and intensity.

The force of his passion took her breath away, but Maddie would be damned before she’d ask him to stop. She loved feeling just how much he wanted her, just how desperately his body needed hers to be complete.

He began to murmur words she didn’t understand. Little sweet promises in Gaelic, or so she flattered herself to think. Even though she couldn’t decipher their meaning, there was no mistaking the tone in his voice. It was one of raw emotion. She was certain she heard a few familiar phrases in the mix:

Maddie.

Mo chridhe.

Na tréig mi.

She wrapped her legs around his hips and clung to his shoulders, holding him as tight as she could.

Then he reached a point where there were no more words. He braced himself on one elbow and slipped the other arm beneath her waist, drawing her body tight against his. When he thrust, his cock reached a place so deep inside her that she felt him everywhere.

After a few final thrusts, he shuddered and groaned. He slumped atop her and buried his face in her neck. She put her arms around his shoulders, hugging him close.

They lay there together, just breathing.

Her heart had never been so full.

All too soon, she began to hear noises from the lower floors of the tower. The men and the servants were returning from the bonfire.

“Perhaps I should go down to meet them.” She started to rise from bed.

“No, no. Where do you think you’re going, Mrs. MacHasty?” He grabbed her arm and pulled.

She laughed as she tumbled back to the bed. “What did you call me?”

“I believe . . .” He rolled to face her and gazed at her wonderingly. “I called you my wife.”

“Are we fully married this time?”

“Of course we’re married.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You’re verra, verra sure?”

“We’ve just consummated the relationship, Maddie. I warned you, once I held you this way . . .” His eyes grew intense. “You can’t ask me to let you go.”

“Oh, Logan. I’m not asking that. I want to be your wife. More than anything. I was only teasing when I asked if you were sure.” She brushed the hair back from his brow. “I’m so sorry.”

His stormy expression didn’t clear.

She skimmed a touch down his bare chest, nestling close. “Believe me, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than here. With you.”

The men downstairs would have to fend for themselves.

She pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw, then slid her tongue down his neck, willing the corded tendon there to relax.

It had been thoughtless of her to tease him that way, knowing what she knew now about his childhood. It might be months, even years, before those nightmares ceased and he stopped worrying she’d abandon him the moment he gave her the chance.

Tomorrow she would commence finding other ways to reassure him.

For tonight, she hoped kisses would make a good start.

Chapter Twenty-four

In the morning, Logan woke alone. He knew a moment of bleary-­eyed, unreasoned panic—­until he found a note on the pillow beside him.

My dearest Captain MacSleepy,

Forgive me. I didn’t want to disturb your well-­earned rest. When you wake, your breakfast will be waiting downstairs.

Your loving wife

Wearing a shirt, loose trousers, and an unabashed grin, he entered the hall. His men sat assembled about the long table.

Logan cleared his throat. “Good morning.”

All heads swiveled to face him. They regarded him in silence for a moment. And then, to a one, they rose to their feet and broke out in spontaneous applause.

“Huzzah.”

“At last!”

“Take a bow, then.”

Logan waved off the teasing, but he couldn’t bring himself to put a stop to the merriment. He knew this was a landmark of sorts for them, too.

Lannair was truly home now. For all of them. That was something to celebrate.

He looked around the High Hall with a new perspective, noting any crack in the plaster that needed patching, any bit of paneling that had dulled with time. The men were well on the way to completing their own cottages. Starting today, Logan could turn his attention to making this castle a home.