Laird of Desire – Extended Epilogue
Three weeks later
“It is with pleasure, I ask ye all tae assist me in welcoming the happy couple, Elliot Faulkner, and his wife, Fiadh.”
Fiadh a new name at last. It gave her as much joy as Elliot did, as he took her hand and led her into the great hall. No longer did she have Ossian’s surname attached to her. It was a new beginning, where she would be free of him.
Together, she and Elliot stepped through the double doors and into Clan Chattan’s great hall. At the far end of the room, Laird Noah and Lady Scarlet stood on a platform behind the top table. Scarlet had her son in her arms as Noah clapped warmly, leading the applause after his announcement.
All around the room were the rest of their friends. She saw Ian and Aila by the pipers that had gathered and knew well enough that they would soon be leading the dancing. Murdoch and Eloise were at a table, sharing a drink, and Avery and Callie stood near the top table, with Callie clapping over her head in her eagerness as Avery held their daughter in his arms.
It was a beautiful sight, with so many people applauding them that Fiadh stepped back in surprise. Elliot’s hand grasped hers tighter as he laughed.
“Nae expecting this?”
“There are so many people,” she whispered as he led her further into the room. The applause faded as Noah led a toast to them. Multiple goblets were raised into the air, chinked together, before their bearers downed the mead and ale within. “It is quite different tae me last…” She trialed off, not wanting to talk about him now.
“Tae yer last wedding,” Elliot finished the words for her. “I kenned it must be. Ye never need think about him again now, Fiadh. We may have been uncertain before, but we now ken, without a doubt.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her near. “He can never bother ye again.”
“Thank God,” Fiadh said warmly, just before her sisters descended on her.
“Fiadh!” Callie cried. “Come, come, let us share a drink.”
“Fiadh, ye looked so beautiful at the ceremony,” Aila gushed. “Ye reminded me of Maither. Ye look so like her.”
Fiadh was swept away by them. Taken to a nearby table, she drank mead, though she struggled to concentrate on their conversation. She kept glancing back at Elliot, who had also been taken away by friends. Murdoch and Aaden stood either side of him, laughing about something as they drank, and Fiadh longed to be a part of the conversation.
Ever since they had returned to the Chattan castle, their secret nights together had to come to an end. Aila and Callie kept far too close an eye on Fiadh for them to manage being together. The one night that Elliot had attempted to come to her chamber, he was caught by one of the guards and accused of lurking in the castle in the middle of the night. Elliot had reluctantly gone back to his chamber and had to make his apologies to Fiadh in the morning.
Now, there will be nothing tae stop us.
Fiadh looking longingly once more at Elliot across the room, seeing him laugh with his friends. He had been more himself again since they had returned to the Chattan clan. His father’s health was improving by the day, and that news seemed to bring him greater levity and comfort. He was back to the Elliot she had first fallen for, the man who jested and joked, the man who looked for the lightness in life, but now Fiadh knew the whole Elliot, how he could be when life truly turned dark, and she loved all of him.
“She isnae listening to us,” Callie said eventually and bumped Fiadh with her elbow. “We shall have tae let her return tae her husband.”
“She’s distracted, and with good reason,” Aila chuckled. “I remember when ye and I found one another again. I dinnae recall getting much of yer attention the night ye married Avery.”
“I wasnae this bad!” Callie complained and thrust a finger at Fiadh.
“Ye were,” Aila insisted, folding her arms. “In fact, I think ye were worse.”
“Wasnae.”
“Ye were.”
“When did we retreat intae being children?” Fiadh asked with a laugh. “I’m sorry if I’m distracted, Callie. Put it down tae being truly happy at last.” Once more, she looked away. This time, she caught Elliot looking back at her. Subtly, he was jerking her head. He seemed to be motioning to the door, asking her to meet by it.
“I am delighted tae see ye so happy.” Callie stood on her toes to reach up and kiss Fiadh on the cheek. “Go on, off ye go then, and be deliriously happy. Judging from the way yer new husband is looking at ye, I’m certain ye will be tonight.”
“Callie!” Aila blushed a deep red and swiped her hand.
“Enjoy yer evening, and forgive me if I go tae enjoy mine too.” Fiadh said with finality, laughing, putting an end to the matter.
Aila giggled as Callie waved her off.
“If ye’re sore in the morning, I have a tonic that will help.”
“Shh, Callie,” Aila urged her as Fiadh walked away, eager to meet Elliot by the door.
She saw across the room that he too had extricated himself from his friends. They each circled the room, heading to the door. The moment he reached her, he took her hand. With no words, he pulled her through the doorway where they hurried to the stairs.
“We will be missed,” Fiadh pointed out, halfway up the stairs. Elliot halted and turned back to look at her, with a mischievous smile on his lips.
“Dae ye wish tae return?”
“Dinnae tease me now.” She raced past him on the stairs and dragged him behind her.
She was dazed as they headed to his chamber, stumbling into the room in their eagerness to kiss each other. She couldn’t see any candles, but she didn’t care to take the time to light them either. There was fire in the room, and that was enough to offer a little light, enough to see Elliot as she pulled back from their kiss and started tugging at his clothes.
“Dinnae stop,” she pleaded, pulling his shirt over his head after dropping his doublet to the floor.
“I have nay intention tae.” He chuckled warmly. “Ye and I have nay reason tae part from one another again. Nay reason tae hide, Fiadh. Nae now.” He kissed her once more, his hands reaching up to the laces at the back of her gown. He undid them with one swift tug, in danger of snapping them, though she would have hardly cared if he had torn the entire gown just to get to her. The heat was consuming her from the inside. All she could think of was Elliot and wanting him again, needing him.
They backed up in the direction of the bed, though she pulled so much on his trews on the way that they became tangled around his ankles, in danger of toppling the pair of them over. He laughed, pulling back from her, and tearing the gown clean off her. When she was in nothing but her chemise and corset, he turned her around, pulling on the corset next.
“Damn thing,” he muttered in her ear. “It keeps me away from ye.”
She laughed softly, loving these moments. Even when they were caught up in their passion, in their need for one another, he could still make her laugh. Throwing the corset away, he took her chemise and lowered it down her shoulders, then he moved her toward the bed, his hands on her hips, with her back still to him. When she dropped her hands down onto the bed, his hands caressed her bare rear and her back.
“God, Fiadh,” he whispered, bending over her back. He kissed every part of her that he could reach, and Fiadh writhed with her palms on the bed, just wanting more of his touch. His lips trailed a path down her spine, across one of her butt cheeks, her hips, the tops of her legs, then up her back once more and to her neck. As he raised himself up, she felt his foot nudging one of hers to the side, spreading her legs.
“Elliot… please.” She was in danger of begging him.
“How could I refuse ye anything?” he whispered, as his length touched her entrance.
When he entered her, she felt her head lurch back, a sudden moan escaping her lips. It was always the same with him. He gave her the thrill, the pleasure, that she should have always known.
He wasn’t gentle tonight, but full of need, rocking their bodies together, and she adored it. It satisfied all the longing she had felt these last weeks when they were unable to see each other at night. She rocked back into him, meeting his hips with her own, their rhythm so quick that they were soon sweating in the heat of the fire. She could feel it beading down her spine, though strangely, she didn’t mind. It was part of the moment, part of the heat that was between them.
When his hands gripped her hips hard, she felt her edge nearing. He created such pleasure within her, so deep inside of her, she couldn’t hold back anymore. Her head fell down onto the bed between the palms of her hands as the pleasure washed over her in waves. Her toes curled against the floor as the thrill spread through every part of her.
His movements grew faster. As the final moments of her pleasure washed over her, she felt him still, thrusting into her one more time. That familiar warmth spread through their connection, and she lifted her head, looking back at him over her shoulder to see him with his mouth open. One of his hands was on her back, holding onto her tight, and the other was gripping to the bed post, keeping himself standing.
“Nay need tae be apart again,” he whispered, bending down and kissing along her back.
She smiled, longing to tell him how much these moments meant to her. It wasn’t just about the passion and excitement, though she loved all of that, but also how safe she felt. In this room, with Elliot, she knew, he would keep her safe, he would never hurt her, and it was where she should have always been.
As he pulled out from her, she rolled over on the bed and reached for him, pulling him down over her and meeting his lips with her own.
“I love ye,” she whispered, between their kisses, knowing that really, this was the only thing she needed to say.
“I love ye too, Fiadh.”
The End.
If you haven’t already, please leave your review on Amazon
What a thrilling ending for this beautiful couple! The power of true love wins! Well done, Shona!
Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear! It means the world! ❤️
I always look forward to your books on my Kindle.
I am so happy to read your comment Andrea! Even happier that you enjoy my books that much! Happy Holidays! ❤️
Oh what an awesome book I loved Fiadh and Elliot’s love story there was lots of mystery adventures of a sort and some down right cruelty from Ossian and Imogen so glad they got their justice in the end and Fiadh and Elliot got there happiness
Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear Gari! It means the world! ❤️