The Handfasting

  Chapter One 

“I canna leave
tomorrow.  I need one more day,” Gavin said firmly as he raked his hand through
his shoulder length blonde hair and squared his broad shoulders in preparation
for a battle with his sire.

“Time is a luxury
that we nae longer have.  We leave in the morning,” Laird Mackinnon said
curtly.  “I’ll have nae argument from ye on this, Gavin. 
We
leave at
first light.”

Gavin bowed his
head in frustration and garnered his thoughts.  He fought mightily to control
his raging temper.

He would not beg. 
He began quietly and his voice gathered intensity as he spoke.  “Father, there
is no much that I have asked of ye.  I’ve been a humble, obedient son,
sometimes a bit obstinate, but I’ve borne my duty tae the clan well.  I’ve
dedicated my life tae the clan as ye’ve taught me.  I’ve learned the art of war
as ye’ve instructed me.  I’ve done all that ye’ve asked of me, father, and I’ve
worked hard tae make ye proud,” Gavin said solemnly, his piercing green eyes
locking intensely with his father’s.

“I’m prepared tae
follow ye tae battle, tae lay down my life fighting for Prince Charlie,” Gavin
vowed, his voice shaking with genuine commitment to the clan’s cause.  “But I
need ye tae grant me this.  Give me one more day,” he said with conviction.

Laird Mackinnon
exhaled loudly and raised his hand to his temple in an effort to relieve the
throbbing in his head.  He shouldered the burden of leading his clan to war and
it was a burden that he did not take lightly.  He knew that war, even one in
which the clan was victorious, would no doubt end in loss of life.  Would his
son be one of the clansmen whose life would be cut short?  Would his own
bloodline be snuffed out by the atrocities of war?

Mackinnon’s
defenses weakened when his eyes studied his son, standing strong and proud
before him.  Gavin had grown into a fine man.  He was a skillful warrior and he
had made the Laird proud.  Being the youngest of Mackinnon’s three sons, the
Laird harbored a special place in his heart for his reckless, mischievous youngest
child.  Mackinnon’s defenses were cracking.   

“Blast!” he
cursed, shaking his head as he relented to his son.  “Ye’ll ride like the
devil’s at yer heels tae catch up tae us in a fortnight?” he said, watching the
corner of Gavin’s mouth curl into the faintest hint of a smile.

“Aye, Da.  I’ll
ride like hell tae meet ye at Kyleakin before ye depart for the mainland,”
Gavin said solemnly.  “Thank ye, Da,” he said, smiling softly now and clapping
his father gently on the back.  “Ye have no idea of how much this means tae
me.”

..ooOoo..

Gavin rapped on
the door of the small cottage and waited impatiently.  Time was a luxury that
he now had very little of.  Feelings of anticipation were building in his
stomach, twisting into an unpleasant knot.  Gavin was not a man who was
accustomed to feelings of nervousness, but when it came to Emma, everything was
different.  Loving Emma had changed his outlook on the world.  Emma was the
sunlight in his life, and try as he might, Gavin could not reconcile how he was
going to leave her.

The door cracked
open and his heart soared when he saw her.  Emma’s eyes were alight with
surprise when she saw him and the most radiant smile spread across her
beautiful face when her blue eyes locked with his.

“Gavin!” she
beamed as she launched herself at him and threw her arms around his neck.  Her
less than formal greeting was a welcome indicator that her mother was not at
home.

“Hi love,” he
whispered as he nuzzled her neck and inhaled her sweet, feminine scent.  She
smelled of heather and summer sunshine.  “I’ll take it that my lass missed me?”
he chuckled softly as he pried Emma away from him so that he could kiss her
properly.

His lips found
hers and lightly they grazed over the soft skin of her full lips.  Emma smiled
against his mouth and he playfully bit her lower lip, growling deep within his
throat as he teased her.  Lord how she affected him.

“Kiss me,” she
warned playfully as she knotted her hands in his unbound hair and pulled him
close.

Obliging her,
Gavin claimed her lips fully.  The kiss began tenderly and quickly progressed
into a passionate, all consuming assault on Emma’s mouth.  His tongue traced
the line of her lower lip and when she opened for him, he swept into her mouth
and stroked his tongue against her sweet, wet heat.

Emma’s knees
threatened to give out and her body sagged against Gavin’s chest.  His arms
were there to support her and she clung to him, yielding to the pleasures that
his kiss brought to her senses.  Her breathing came heavily now and the blood
in her veins pulsed with desire for Gavin. 

He broke the kiss
and rested his forehead against hers.  He looked down into her blue eyes with
such love that it pained her. 

Oh, how I love
you, Gavin Mackinnon.

Gavin tenderly
kissed her lips now, holding her soft gaze as he gently skimmed his lips over
hers.  He trailed his fingers over her jaw-line and then placed a soft kiss on
her lips before pulling away slightly.

“Lord, I’ve missed
ye, woman,” he confessed, his lips curling into the lop-sided smile that Emma
adored.

“I didn’t expect
to see you today,” she whispered, threading her fingers through his hair and
interlacing them behind his neck.  “What a nice surprise,” she said softly as
she hugged him again.

“I thought I’d
come and whisk ye away,” he said huskily as he swept her off of her feet and
into his arms.

Emma squealed in
response and kicked her feet in mock protest.

Gavin silenced her
protest with another kiss.

“Where are we
going?” she asked, intrigued.  Gavin was usually required to drill with the Mackinnon
men during the day and it was a rare treat for him to have an afternoon to
himself.

“Wouldn’t ye like
tae ken?” he joked, nipping at Emma’s ear.  “I promise ye that it will be worth
yer time milady,” he whispered into her ear.

“And if I say no?”
she teased.

“Then I’ll kidnap
ye,” he said firmly.  “I’ll toss ye over my shoulder and carry ye away.”

“You wouldn’t
dare!” Emma fumed.

“Aye.  Ye ken that
I would.  But ye also ken that I willna have tae,” he smiled deliciously,
knowing how his touch affected Emma.

Lord how she
affected him.  She was such a slight thing, so small and fragile.  And yet she
was so head-strong and willful.  Emma was a contradiction for sure.  She was
also the love of his life.  Emma came to the Isle of Skye from England when her mother, Lady Abernathy, wed Gavin’s uncle Albert.  Gavin had loved Emma
from the moment that he first laid eyes on her.  The only problem was that so
did every other hot-blooded Mackinnon man. 

Emma was a rare
beauty with her honey blonde hair and vibrant blue eyes.  She had a body that
would make a priest repent for lustful thoughts, but more than her physical
charms, it had been Emma’s lively personality that had truly made her
irresistible to Gavin.  Emma was intelligent and strong-willed, downright fiery
when provoked.  Gavin loved that about her.  Emma was his match in every way
and Gavin counted his blessings that he had been the man lucky enough to
ensnare her affections. 

Emma had been the
object of many a man’s desires.  She held a reputation for having a viper’s
tongue when provoked, a fact that secretly delighted Gavin.  He loved that she
was not a milk-toast lass.  She was a fiery and headstrong lass and he loved
her just the way that she was.  Emma Abernathy was made for him.  He had just
hoped to have more time with her.

Gavin mounted his
horse with Emma still in his arms and he settled her firmly atop his lap. 
Feeling her supple thighs atop his own aroused him and he gritted his teeth as
he fought his bodily response to the lass.  This was how it always was with
Emma.  Her slightest smile caused his pulse to race.  The way that she held her
graceful neck when she spoke made goose bumps break out on his skin.   Her
infectious laugh made his heart sing with joy.  Every move that Emma made aroused
and intrigued him.

He kicked his
stallion into motion and kidnapped his lovely lass for the remainder of the
early spring afternoon.

..ooOoo..

“I have tae go
away,” he said, green eyes studying Emma’s blue ones intensely as they sat
wrapped up in each other on his plaid.  A knot settled in Gavin’s throat as the
words escaped his lips.

Emma swallowed hard. 
Her world came crashing down around her as the implication of Gavin’s words
settled in.

“Prince Charlie?”
she asked, her voice trembling.

“Aye.  I’m so
sorry, Emma.”

“When?” she asked,
tears welling in her eyes.

“The rest of the
clan leaves at first light in the morning, but I’ve asked for another day,”
Gavin said softly, his heart wrenching as he watched the pain play openly
across Emma’s face.  “Doona cry, lass.  It breaks my heart tae see ye so.”

“I can’t help it!”
Emma exclaimed, her defenses melting as the tears spilled forth down her
cheeks.  She was trying her hardest to be stoic, but the thought of Gavin
leaving so soon was more than she could bear.

Gavin took her
face in his hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs.  Emma closed her
eyes and drank in the feeling of his warm hands against her skin.

“What if you don’t
make it back?” she asked, almost afraid to speak the words aloud.

“Then ye’ll move
on.  Ye’ll find someone else,” he said.  The very thought of Emma finding
someone else made his blood boil.  It enraged him to think of another man
touching Emma, kissing her as he was meant to do.  Emma was meant to be his.

Emma shook her
head fiercely from side to side.  “No,” she said.  “No!”

“It is what ye
must do, sweetheart.  Believe me, I’ll fight like hell tae get back tae ye, but
if I canna, well then, ye must move on with yer life!”

Emma shook her
head defiantly.  “I could not live if you don’t come back to me, Gavin.  I love
you so much,” she said, her eyes misty with tears.  “I need you to come back.”

She leaned forward
on her knees and captured Gavin’s face in her hands.  His stubble tickled her
fingers and she brought his mouth to hers.  Her lips were demanding, urgent in
their need for him.  She kissed him with all of the love in her heart, bearing
her soul for him to see.  Emma could simply not fathom living in a world in
which Gavin Mackinnon was not in.

“You will come
back to me,” she vowed, willing both of them to believe her statement as truth.

“Aye.  I will,”
Gavin said sternly, brushing her golden hair back from her face.  “I love ye
so, Emma,” he whispered, lowering his forehead to rest on hers.

“I love you too,”
she whispered in return.

“I’d planned tae
ask ye tae marry me, tae be my wife,” he confessed, his green eyes looking
hopefully into hers.

The love that Emma
saw in his eyes overwhelmed her.

His wife.

“Then why didn’t
you?” she asked boldly, her eyebrows scrunching together in dismay.

“I think that I’m
asking ye right now,” he said, his lips curling into her favorite lop-sided,
sexy smile.

“Really?” Emma
asked, barely able to contain her smile.

“Aye.  Nothing
would make me happier,” he said honestly as he reached up and caressed her
face.  She was so beautiful and his heart ached as he watched her react to his
impromptu proposal.  He should have asked her sooner so that they could have
had more time together.  If only he had known that he would be called to battle
so soon.

Gavin’s pulse
raced as he waited for Emma’s response.

“Yes!” Emma
whispered, her smile now broadening.

Gavin reached
behind her neck and guided her lips to his.  He kissed her with all of his pent
up love, his longing and his desire.  Kissing Emma enflamed his senses and
aroused him to the point of combustion.  She tasted so sweet, so feminine and
the way that she yielded herself to him caused his cock to throb painfully in
his pants.  Oh how he wanted her.

He broke the kiss
and calmed his ragged breathing before continuing.

“Ye’ve just made
me the happiest man on Earth,” he said, smiling now as he looked at the
beautiful lass before him.  Emma’s lips were ruddy from his kisses.  This was
when she was the most beautiful to him.  She was beautiful because she belonged
to him. 

“I’d planned tae
do this proper, tae ask for yer mother’s blessing and all.  I wanted tae wait
until banns were called and wed ye in kirk, all proper and the like,” he said,
the smile suddenly slipping from his face.  He had wanted to make this perfect for
Emma.  She deserved perfect and his heart broke because he could no longer give
her the wedding that she deserved.

“I just want you,”
she said softly, looking deeply into his eyes. 

“I thought that we
might do a handfasting instead.  I ken that it’s no what ye had envisioned,
it’s no what I had either.  But I’m afraid that it’s all we have time for,” he
said, his heart thundering in his chest as he anticipated her response.

“I just want you,
Gavin,” she said, color flushing her face as she considered what they were
about to embark upon.  This beautiful man was to be her husband.  Possibly
tonight.

“The handfasting would
last for a year and a day and then ye would be free.  If I doona return, ye
would be free tae marry another,” he said, swallowing hard as the impact of his
words struck home.

“Don’t talk like
that, Gavin,” Emma said, looking away as she felt the tears welling in her eyes
again.  She fought to hold them back, struggling to work past the knot that had
lodged in her throat.