But Kenneth was shaking his head mournfully. “It just willnae be the same—”
“We never snuggled, I swear,” Brodie declared, his tone become a bit frantic.
“What about the Hogmanay we spent in—”
As Brodie bellowed, “Nae snuggling!” Fen and Leanna burst into laughter.
They eventually subsided, and even Brodie was smiling when Kenneth offered his hand. “MacBain has volunteered to stay at Oliphant Castle until the King’s reply reaches ye. We’re no’ worried about his response to ye punishing Gordon’s perfidy, but what to do about the messages the man held.”
Brodie nodded, as if aware of the circumstances, then grasped his friend’s forearm. “Thank ye, milord.”
“Nay.” Kenneth shook his head, a soft smile on his lips. “Thank ye, my friend. For everything. I regret I cannae give ye the retirement ye deserve, after a lifetime of service, but I am pleased ye’ve found it anyway.”
Grinning, Fen’s arm tightened around Brodie’s waist. “And the people of Oliphant Castle will benefit from his retirement as well. Assuming he can learn there’s nae such thing as too much butter or garlic.”
When Brodie rolled his eyes, Fen had to chuckle. She couldn’t help it; she was just so happy.
A month ago, this man couldn’t walk. He was a hollow shell, angry and bitter and stoic. Now? Well, he was slightly less stoic, which was reason to celebrate in itself, but he also had a purpose once more.
As Leanna pulled Kenneth to the dance floor, Brodie wrapped his arms around Fen’s waist and tugged her back until she was resting against his chest. She went willingly, knowing his strength would support them both.
“I love ye, wife,” he murmured in her ear. “Have I told ye yet today?”
“Ye told me when I woke up in yer arms and then again at the chapel.” Fen placed her hands atop his, where they crossed over her midsection. “But I wouldnae mind hearing it a few more times,” she teased.
“I suppose ‘tis fair. Ye’ve told me seven times already today.”
She twisted her head in an attempt to see if he was joking. “Ye counted?”
“Aye,” he said solemnly. “Each one is precious to me.”
She took a deep breath and turned her attention back to the dancers, although she wasn’t really seeing them. “Brodie, there’s something I must tell ye.”
Humming, he nuzzled at her hair. “Does it have to do with yer mad father declaring whoever presents him with a grandson gets to be laird?”
She stiffened. “Ye remember me telling ye that?”
“Aye, ‘tis no’ something a man forgets afore he asks a lass to be his wife.”
She blew out a slow breath. “Ye dinnae want to be laird, do ye?”
“Nay.” He dropped a quick kiss to her nose. “And I ken ye well enough to ken ye dinnae want to be a laird’s wife. Ye want to cook. As do I.”
“Da is…” She shook her head. “’Tis a silly idea.”
“We’ll just have to ensure ye dinnae conceive afore yer sisters. Let them worry about such things.”
As always, when the subject of lovemaking came up, Fen’s pulse began to beat a familiar tattoo against her core. “That can— Ye ken how to?”
He made the sound she was coming to recognize as his chuckle and leaned down to kiss her again. This time he lingered, and Fen sighed against his lips.
Humming, he trailed kisses down her jaw. “The dancing has begun, lady wife.”
She loved that he was so certain of his own worth, he didn’t mind she had been born a lady. “Do ye—” She gasped when he caught her earlobe between his teeth. “Do ye want to dance? With me?”
“I dinnae dance,” he growled, reminiscent of the very first conversation they had, here in the great hall, at Leanna’s wedding celebration. “No’ upright at least.”
When he flexed his hips forward, she almost whimpered in need as his hard length pressed into her belly.