Page 95 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

“You realize this changes the terms of the agreement I made with your laird regarding the offer of men to aid in your takeover of the McCurdys? You’ll be on your own.”

“Aye. My laird supports my decision,” Bryce said. “It would have been good to have your added support, but we’ll move forward without it.” Bryce sounded confident, but Dorie worried what would happen when Bryce came home with a wife instead of an army to conquer their enemy. “Our clan has gone decades without access to the sea, but I can’t go another day without my wife,” Bryce added.

Dorie’s heart soared at his words. Whatever they faced when they got home, they would face together. She entered the room with a smile for both the men she cared for deeply.

Her father nodded as she joined them. He hugged her and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear like a doting father. His gaze shot to Bryce and he sighed. “I put her in your care. Don’t make me regret it.”

The men shook hands. “I’ll make sure you don’t. The rest of my life will be spent making her happy and comforting her in those times in life when happiness is not possible.”

The man nodded. “I’m glad you finally realized what you were missing.”

With more teary goodbyes on the lane by the waiting carriage, Bryce tied his horse behind the vehicle and helped her inside. While Dorie wasn’t exactly looking forward to a long ride in the carriage, she did want to be alone with Bryce.

He only waited until they could no longer see the manor house before he leaned over to kiss her. When she kissed him back, he took advantage and kept kissing her.

A sound of interest escaped her throat and his lips pulled up in a smile against hers. Surely he wasn’t planning on…in the carriage?

“It’s a long ride home and I need to make up for lost time,” he said, making his intentions clear.

Her blood rushed with excitement, and she moaned when he touched her breast.

“I love the sounds you make. It makes me want to keep giving you reasons to make them.”

“I canna help it,” she said, then gasped when his teeth nipped the sensitive skin where her neck met her shoulder.

He’d already unbuttoned her dress enough to pull it down and expose her breasts to his mouth. She would never tire of this man. Her husband in every way.

…

“Do you still plan to take over the McCurdys?” Dorie asked when they were almost home. It had been a long trip, but Bryce hadn’t minded since he’d taken up much of the time satisfying his wife in all the ways allowed in the small space of the carriage.

“It will depend on whether Liam is able to get the Stewarts to agree to join us. The Campbells have already promised their support. And the Fletchers.”

“But even with the Stewarts, it would have been easier if you’d had my father’s men as well.”

He wouldn’t lie to her, but he shrugged it off. “We will find a way. I wouldn’t have wanted to go off to war with your father’s men at my back if it meant I had no one to come home to when it was over.”

“Perhaps if you’d asked—”

“Nay. He made it clear to me that I’d breached the agreement when he didn’t receive the signed annulment and I showed up at his home instead. I can’t say that I understand why he wouldn’t change his mind. He has every reason to hate the McCurdys as much as we do. But his offer was made with conditions I couldn’t live with, so we’ll manage somehow. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

Unfortunately, telling someone not to worry and them doing that were two very different things. Bryce knew his wife worried that she had ruined their chances for earning surrender from the McCurdys. But he also knew that Lach and Cam would have done the same thing in his situation. Because when it came to having Dorie in his life, he’d rather fight all the McCurdys single-handed than live without her.

There wasn’t any other choice to be made.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Bryce had never been so happy to see the battlements of Dunardry as he was when they crested the final ridge and the castle came into sight. The last of the day’s sun lit up the stone in welcome.

Everyone was outside waiting for them when the carriage drove into the bailey. Bryce hopped down and helped Dorie out. She’d no sooner stepped down than a large, gray mass set upon her. Whining and wiggling in excitement, Rascal welcomed her with drool and muddy paws.

“Get down, beast.” Bryce brushed mud off as the dog ran in circles, clearly happy to have her home. Bryce didn’t blame him. He’d barely set her to rights when Kenna and Mari nearly toppled her in excited embraces.

Bryce moved away from the squealing to speak to his cousins.

“I see you have your wife back,” Lach said with a smug smile.

“Aye. You were right. I surely hope this is what you were blathering on about when you told me you supported whatever decision I made, for the viscount is not going to send his men.”