Page 82 of A Fierce Archer

Ewan shook his head. “No. Upon my father becoming ill, my brothers threw her out. However, my father had suspected they would and had a house built for her. He paid for servants and left a large amount for her to live well.”

To Catriona, it sounded like the man had been deeply in love with Ewan’s wife. He’d preferred her to his own wife and son. It was a horrible thing.

“What about yer mother?”

“Honestly, she has fared the best of all of us. I do believe she and Father came to the point of barely tolerating one another long before this all began. They kept different chambers on opposite sides of the keep and rarely spoke to one another.”

“Still, it had to be humiliating,” Catriona said. “I would not have stood for it.”

Ewan’s lips twitched. “Is that so?”

She lifted an eyebrow, meeting his gaze. “If I ever hear of ye consorting with another woman and it is proved to me, I will leave.”

“I am glad that ye made that clear. I will not issue the same warning to ye.”

Was he trying to confuse her? “Why?”

There was a combination of warmth and heat in his eyes. “Because I have no doubts about ye. I know in my heart ye would never be unfaithful.”

Catriona could not stop herself from dropping the cup in her hand and throwing herself into her husband’s arms. Wrapping her arms around him, she inhaled deeply, loving the scent of him, the feel of his solid body against hers.

“I love ye, Ewan, and I stand by my vows to ye. I will never, ever be untrue to ye.”

When his mouth took hers, she let out a sigh of relief. Then she whispered into his ear, “Take me to yer bed, my laird.”

The crash of his own cup to the floor was followed by his scooping her up and stalking to the bed. Catriona giggled when he dropped her on the bed unceremoniously so that he could undress.

She sat up, her legs draped over the side of the bed, and stripped away her own clothing, too anxious to be joined with him to attempt at any kind of modesty.

From his wide shoulders to his well-formed chest, Catriona allowed her gaze to take in every inch of him. His stomach rippled when she looked at it. Then just below a patch of brown hair, his erect manhood made her inhale sharply.

“I want to be gentle,” he said, closing the short distance and lowering above her. “But I am not sure I can be.” His mouth closed over hers before Catriona could say anything.

The kiss was hot, impassioned to the point it took all her breath. Catriona gripped his shoulders and tried to pull him over her, but he resisted.

He lifted her legs. “Wrap them around me,” he instructed.

Catriona watched through a daze as Ewan took himself in hand. The sight fanned the flames of heat that had pooled between her legs and she wanted nothing more than for him to plunge fully in.

His gaze met hers and then with one solid thrust, Ewan filled her completely.

“Oh,” Catriona gasped out. “Oh.”

Thankfully, he began moving, pulling out and then pushing back in a steady rhythm. It was what they needed. A proclamation of their bodies joining in a fashion that left absolutely no doubt about the depth of their feelings for one another.

Once again, Catriona reached for him, but Ewan had other plans for their lovemaking. He shook his head, a wicked smile to his lips. And then, to her utter dismay, he pulled out.

“Move up onto the bed,” he said, helping her settle. Then he climbed onto the bed and studied her for a moment.

His gaze fell on her wet sex and Catriona shifted, too full of want to be patient. “What are ye doing?”

“I want to take ye fully, deeper. Here, put yer legs over my shoulders.”

Despite not being sure what exactly would happen, she did as he instructed when he leaned forward and scooped her bottom off the bedding.

When her legs were over his shoulders, he moved over her effectively bending her practically in half.

When he drove into her, he was indeed deep. Catriona cried out at the satisfaction that ensued.