Richard chuckled. "I have to admit it felt rather like olden times-raiders from the Lowlands sweeping south to steal cattle. Except, of course, that I paid for them." He considered, then his brows quirked. "Mind you, I'm not sure Mr. Scroggs won't decide we've stolen them anyway-we got them at a very good price."
Catriona lifted her heavy head, and her heavy lids, and stared at him. "Why was that?"
Richard grinned. "Devil's inimitable ways. His presence here was too good an opportunity to pass up-he's a master at negotiating. He doesn't precisely lean on people-not physically-but they do tend to give ground. Rather unexpectedly, to them."
Catriona humphed and lowered her head back onto the tangled covers. "We weren't expecting you for another day-you said four in your note."
"Ah, yes." Noting the increasing strength in her voice, Richard's interest in their adventure waned. "We expected to get back today-one day to ride to Hexham, two days to drive the cattle back, but"-he slid down the bed, then swung up and straddled her knees-"we thought if we said four days rather than three, you'd worry less." Sliding his palms along her thigh
s, he gripped her hips and gently flipped her onto her back. "Or," he said, sitting back on his ankles, his hot gaze roving her delectable nakedness, "at least, not yet have whipped yourselves into a righteous frenzy when we got back on the third day."
So sated she could not tense a single muscle, Catriona lay on her back and stared up at him. "You purposely told us four days, so we wouldn't be prepared to… to deal with you as you deserved-"
A swift grin cut off her words; he swooped down and kissed her. "We wanted to surprise you."
For more reasons than one, Catriona knew, but as he kissed her lingeringly again, and eased his long body down over hers, she couldn't summon enough temper to care. He lay on her as they kissed, then eased to one side, lying half over her, half beside her, one dark, hair-dusted thigh wedged between hers.
Propped on one elbow, he turned his head and splayed his hand over her belly. Gently, he stroked, gauged. "Have you told them yet?"
Her gaze on his face, Catriona shook her head. "I… wanted to wait a little-we haven't had time-"
"I haven't said anything, either." His hand resting heavy over where their child grew, secure within her womb, he turned his head and met her gaze. "I want to think about it-see how things settle-how it feels, if it… fits."
He looked back at his hand; Catriona studied his face, dark planes gilded by the firelight. Then she raised a hand and gently smoothed back the lock of hair that always fell over his forehead. He looked back at her, she smiled into his eyes. "It fits." Her heart swelling, she held his gaze. "You, me, our child, the manor, the vale-we all fit."
For one long instant, she was lost in the blue-the blue of summer skies over Merrick's high head. Then she smiled, mistily, and traced his cheek. "This is how it's meant to be."
Her gaze had dropped to his lips; half-lifting her head, she rose-he bent his head and their lips met, in a kiss so achingly tender, so honest, so vulnerable, there were tears in her eyes when it ended.
He looked down at her for a moment, then his lips kicked up at the ends. "Come show me." Drawing back, he sat on his haunches and pulled her up to her knees.
"Show you what?" Turning her head, she looked over her shoulder as he swung her about so her back was to him.
His eyes burned, his grin grew wicked as he drew her back, sliding her knees outside of his, drawing her bottom against his ridged abdomen. "Show me how things fit."
He needed little instruction on that point; hot and hard, he pressed into her. Her body flowered and opened for him, she gave a soft sigh as he slid fully home.
He settled her, her thighs over his, her bottom wedged against his hips. Impaled upon him, with his chest against her back and his steely arms around her, she was open and vulnerable; her breasts, her belly, the springy curls at its base, the soft inner surfaces of her thighs, already taut, were his to stroke and fondle, to caress as he willed.
And he willed.
Held almost upright, she couldn't rise much upon him, instead, buried deep within her, he rocked. Slowly, languorously.
Catriona bit her lip against a groan as his fingers tightened about her budded nipples and she felt him surge slowly within her.
Then he chuckled; fingers gripping her hips, he lifted her a little, then slowly thrust upward and filled her Catriona shivered.
"I was just thinking…" he murmured.
Flicking a glance over her shoulder, she saw him looking down as he lifted her slightly again.
"We can't risk telling anyone out news yet."
He filled her; Catriona dragged in a desperate breath. "Why not?"
"Because if Maman finds out, she might not leave." He drew her fully down and rolled his hips beneath her. He reached for her breasts. "And much as I love her, having Helena about for any appreciable time would try the patience of a saint."
He filled his palms and kneaded.