The Campbell Trilogy Read online

  “But …”

  “But what, Caitrina?” he said harshly, finally looking at her. “Is this not what you wanted?”

  The stricken look on her face hit him square in the chest. He took a deep, ragged breath and forced himself to look away. I need to get the hell out of here. It hurt too damn much. Hurt to know how much he loved her, but that it wasn’t enough. She was grateful now, but he didn’t want her gratitude. He wanted her love and trust—her heart and soul. He wanted her to believe in him. He’d never cared what anyone thought … only her. He turned to leave.

  “Please, don’t go.” His heart jerked when she pressed her tiny hand on the sleeve of his doublet. “It’s not what I want.”

  “Maybe not now,” he said roughly. “But what about the next time we disagree or my duty requires something of which you do not approve? What then, Caitrina?” He couldn’t bite back his anger. Her lack of faith and quick dismissal of his love were not easily forgiven, but it was her response that had truly shaken him. “Will you send me away again?”

  “God, I’m sorry, Jamie. I should never have given you an ultimatum like that. I was wrong to try to bargain with your feelings for me. I know that. But I was so scared at the thought of losing my brother … I didn’t know what else to do. Can you not understand that?”

  Aye, he supposed he could. Hell, he admired her passion, her openness, the unconditional loyalty and love she felt for her family. He just wanted it for himself. Nor did it lessen the sting of the moment when she’d cast him and his love aside.

  He heard a sound and looked down. Damn. Not the tears. He could take just about anything but the tears. His hand itched to wipe them away, his arms to give her comfort, but he forced them to his side.

  “What if it were your sister?” she said softly. “Would you have been so understanding if the situations had been reversed?”

  His gaze shot to hers. His mouth clenched; he might be willing to concede her point, but not all of it. “No, I wouldn’t have,” he admitted. “But I wouldn’t have asked you to choose.”

  “Didn’t you? It felt like you were asking me to choose between my brother and you. Maybe if you’d told me of your plans, but I had to find out from the servants what you intended.”

  He grimaced. She was right. He was used to making decisions on his own. “I’m sorry for that. Perhaps I should have explained more. But why are you always ready to believe the worst of me?”

  “Years of practice. I realized it would be difficult marrying a Campbell, but when I realized I loved you, I thought that would be enough. It isn’t. Old tensions are not just going to die because I want them to, it will take work.”

  Her insight surprised him. He couldn’t expect her to cast aside her prejudices just because she loved him. “What are you saying?”

  He could see her hands stiffen at her side. “I want to know everything about you, Jamie. And if that means getting to know your cousin, I’m willing to try.”

  Jamie stilled, completely shocked. “You’d do that for me?”

  She nodded. “I do have faith in you. It wasn’t until your cousin tried to trick me that I knew how much. But it was always there.”

  He felt a crack, hearing the vulnerability in her voice and wanting desperately to believe her.

  “I made a mistake,” she continued. “And I’m sure I’ll make more. But you hold those around you to a very high standard.” He tensed, knowing she was referring to his brother. “I need to know that you’ll be able to forgive me.”

  He felt the stirrings of a smile. “Are you saying that I can be rigid and uncompromising?”

  Her mouth twitched. “Maybe a little.” They shared a moment of understanding before her expression shifted again to one of earnestness. “I love you, Jamie. You brought happiness and love back in my life when I never thought to feel that way again. I was wrong to think I could ever make you choose between your loyalty and duty to your clan and to me when they are the same. I’ll never do so again. Knowing that I have your love is enough.” Her voice lowered to a shaky whisper. “If I still have it.”

  She lifted her face to his. “Do I still have it, Jamie? Please, tell me it’s not too late for us.”

  Her mouth trembled, and his resistance shattered. His thumb wiped the dampness from her cheeks as he looked deep into her eyes. He’d hardened himself to a future without her, but he was relieved not to have to face it. “Aye. You have it, lass. You’ve always had it.”

  A smile broke through the tears. “Then that is all that matters. You have my love and loyalty forever. I vow to never doubt you again.”

  Jamie arched a brow. “Never?”

  She bit her lip. “Well, hardly ever. And not about anything important.”

  He laughed and pulled her into his arms. It was good enough.

  Caitrina lay in bed, luxuriating in the warmth and security of her husband’s embrace. She nestled her naked backside against him, wiggling closer when he lightly squeezed the breast that he held cupped in his hand.

  “You’re an insatiable wench,” he murmured against her ear, and the warmth of his breath at her ear sent shivers of desire down her spine that she would have thought impossible after their vigorous lovemaking of just moments ago. “I need my rest.”

  The hardening against her buttocks belied his words. She circled her hips against him. “Liar.” He groaned, sliding his hands down her belly to between her legs, cupping her in his deft hand. “I’ve been thinking,” she said, pressing her hips against his hand.

  “So I gather.”

  “Not about that, you wretch.” She tapped him playfully on the arm but admitted to a certain curiosity about their current position.

  His mouth trailed hot kisses down her neck and nape that made her body soften all over again with the tingly rush of pleasure. He kissed her harder as he pinched her nipple lightly between his fingers. “About what?”

  Her eyes opened. “You’re trying to distract me.”

  “Hmm.” He kissed her shoulder again. “Is it working?”

  God, yes. She could feel the round head nudging between her legs from behind as his finger dipped inside her. Her head fell back against his shoulder as his deft stroking brought her to the very brink of yet another torrential storm of pleasure.

  Heat poured through her veins, heavy and slow, as he brought her hips back so that her back arched gently to position himself at her opening. She teased him mercilessly, rubbing him with the dampness of her own body but not taking him in. The sensation was incredible, his erection so big and thick between her thighs. She could tell from the harshness of his breathing that her teasing was driving him wild.

  Finally he grabbed her hips and gently pushed inside her, stretching her, filling her. She moaned at the sensation. God, what wickedness. His hands were on her breasts and between her legs, caressing her as he drew in and out with long, slow strokes—letting her feel every inch of him. The pleasure that gripped her was indescribable.

  He pressed her back tightly against his body and thrust up high inside her, holding still. She gasped at the incredible sensation as her body tingled around him, as the tremble of release built. Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it any longer, he slid a little deeper, holding her tight against him until she came apart in a slow, intense shattering that seemed to go on forever. He thrust high inside her again, bringing her hips against him hard in rapid succession as he cried out his own release.

  Well after the last shudder had faded, she remembered what she’d been about to say before he’d so effectively distracted her. “You let him escape, didn’t you?”

  He went still behind her for a second, but it was confirmation enough. “Why do you say that?”

  “You would never allow a prisoner to slip away.”

  “Your confidence in my skills is flattering, but I assure you I’m not infallible.”

  She snorted. “Tell me the truth.”

  He shrugged.

  “But why? Did you have second thoughts