Love Me Forever (38 page)

Brianna was pale and lifeless; not a move
and not a sound.

A tear fell and he did not care. She had
once told him that it was not a sign of weakness but strength to
cry for the one you loved, and he loved Brianna like no other.

He leaned over, needing to touch her one
more time, needing to feel her soft skin even if it would be cold
to the touch. He needed very much to touch her again. He reached
out and touched her face, and to his shock she stirred.

He was so startled he jumped back and with
wide eyes watched as her eyes fluttered open slowly. He fell to his
knees beside the bed, draping his arm over her arm that protected
their child.

“Oh, Lord, Brianna, can you ever forgive
me?”

It took a moment for her mind to clear and
to recall recent events. She smiled when she thought of their
daughter. She could not understand why Royce was upset. He had come
to their rescue. She did not have to worry now, he had saved them
and all would be well. So why was he upset?

At that moment the babe turned fussy and
began to squirm and cry.

Royce was once again shocked senseless. He
simply removed his arm and stared at the squirming little bundle
that opened her mouth and let it be known that she wanted
nourishment and she wanted it now.

Brianna smiled and laid a tender hand on
Royce’s arm. “Your daughter Breda makes her wants known.”

“Daughter?” he asked, a smile spreading as
he gazed at the squalling little girl. “She is beautiful like her
mother.”

Relief suddenly ran over him, and he reached
out to pull Brianna and his daughter into his arms. “Never again
will I see either of you in harm’s way.”

Brianna gave Royce a slight shove so that
she could settle the babe at her breast to feed.

“Let me help you,” Royce said, standing and
holding out his hands, not knowing what to do but wanting to take
care of them both.

“Sit,” she said with a gentle laugh.

“You need help.”

“Right now I need you beside me.” She patted
the bed.

He sat and stared at the feeding babe and
again felt the need to apologize. “I am so sorry that it took me so
long to find you.”

“You came just in time. As soon as I rested
I was going to attempt an escape to the woods, and there I intended
to wait until you found us. I had no doubt you would find us.”

He shook his head, not believing what he
heard. “You birthed a babe and planned to escape shortly
afterward?”

“I had hoped to escape before the birth, but
your daughter insisted on arriving early and upset my plans, so new
plans were necessary.”

“You remained strong through this all.”

She reached for his hand. “I remained strong
because of our love, and I knew our love would bring you to me as
swiftly as possible. I waited patiently and prepared patiently. I
love you, Royce Campbell, and I always will. And I thank you with
all my heart for giving me such a lovely little girl.”

She wiped at the single tear that fell from
his eye. “That tear means more to me than any words, for now I know
the depth of your love for me.”

He leaned down and kissed her gently. “I
love you, Brianna, and I am so very grateful for your strength and
courage, for you saved our daughter’s life.”

She laughed. “I am reluctant to tell you the
names I called her at the time I was birthing her.”

Royce grew concerned. “You had a difficult
birth?”

She shook her head. “It was long and
tiresome, and I swore several times that I would have no more
children.”

“If that is what you wish.” He was anxious
to please her and ease any worries.

“Nay, it is not. I wish for many brothers
and sisters for our little one.”

Royce grinned. “That is a relief.”

They both laughed and the joyous sound
echoed through the cottage.

The door creaked open slowly, and Ian peeked
in.

Royce waved him in. “I forgot you waited
outside.”

“I was worried—” Ian stopped when he saw the
tiny babe at Brianna’s breast. He hurried over.

“A daughter,” Royce announced proudly. “I
have a daughter.”

There were handshakes, hugs, and kisses, and
Royce was soon cleaning up the cottage while Ian went off with a
few men to hunt for the evening meal. He then tended to Brianna,
and when she was fresh from her washing, he settled her and his
daughter to rest on clean sheets and blankets.

The two females napped, and Royce sat
watching them. It gave him pleasure knowing they were safe and he
was here with them.

Ian shared the evening meal with them, and
when it was done, Royce stepped outside with him for a moment.

“Does she know of Arran?” Ian asked.

“Nay, I have not told her yet.”

“She has not asked?”

“Nay, she has not.”

Ian placed a hand on his shoulder. “Tell her
and be done with it.”

Royce nodded and entered the cottage. His
daughter was sound asleep tucked in her mother’s arm, and Brianna
looked about ready to fall asleep.

“Come join us,” she offered. “It will feel
good to sleep in your arms again.”

He shed his clothes and joined her beneath
the covers, wrapping his arm over both of them.

They cuddled and kissed and Brianna said,
‘Tell me, Royce, I need to know.”

He knew she spoke of Arran, and he told her
the truth. “I took his life.”

She sighed. “Then it is done and over.”

He did not wish her to feel guilt or sorrow
for a man who caused his own demise. Arran was where he deserved to
be, and he would trouble no one ever again.

“For him, aye, but for us it just begins.
Will you marry me, Brianna, and spend the rest of your days with
me?”

He smiled. “The choice is yours. It has
always been yours.”

Her smile bordered on a soft laugh. “You
have always given me choices, now I give you one. Aye, Royce, I
wish to marry you. Do you wish to marry me?”

He wrinkled his brow. “I need to think about
that.”

She poked him in the ribs.

He laughed. “Aye, I wish to marry you, and I
wish for you to love me forever.”

She kissed his lips softly. “Your wish is
granted.”

Eight weeks later

The celebration wore on well into the night,
but the bride and groom sneaked away without anyone noticing. Anne
eagerly took Breda for the night, allowing the newlywed couple the
entire evening alone.

It had been a joyous wedding. Breda snuggled
in her mother’s arms and watched her mother and father wed without
a cry or protest. The little girl actually smiled when her parents
were proclaimed husband and wife. The ceremony and celebration were
held at Royce’s keep with many of the clan Cameron attending. The
two clans got along well and shared happily in the merriment.

Royce was happy when he finally shut and
bolted the door to their bedchamber and with swift hands undressed
himself and with slower hands undressed his wife. He had missed the
intimacy between them and was eager to make love with her, but
first there was the touching.

He loved to touch her, to feel her soft
skin, to have her respond to his caresses, to hear her sighs and
moans, and to feel her surrender.

He expected all of it, and he got more, for
she was just as eager as he to touch, and the shared intimacy had
them both sighing, moaning, and surrendering.

Once, however, was not enough for them, and
they pleasured each other over and over before they both settled
exhausted in each other’s arms.

“I am still amazed by true love,” Brianna
said, rubbing her cold foot against his warm one.

He sounded as though he was making a wise
statement. “Love is allowing your wife to warm her feet on you even
when it chills you to the bone.”

She rubbed her chilled foot up his warm leg.
“See how truly amazing love is.”

He shivered. “I am trying to make sense of
it.”

She cuddled against him, and he wrapped a
firm arm around her. “Do you think love will ever make sense?”

“I think most worry over love too much. It
is wiser to simply love.”

“I think I understand that now. We cannot
force love or bend it to our rules. We cannot blame love for our
decisions or problems, and we cannot say love is blind. It is we
who are blind. And love is not just words; love is action. You
rescued me, you gave me choices, and you let me be me.”

“And you accepted me with all my scars.”

She giggled softly. “After I screamed.”

He nuzzled her neck. “Now I make you scream
for a different reason.”

“And I enjoy every scream.”

“As do I,” he said and continued to tease
her tender neck.

She in turn began to touch him.

His mouth found hers. “We will never stop
loving, you and I.”

“Never,” she promised. “I will love you
forever.”

Single Titles

San Francisco Surrender

Untamed Fire

Rebellious Bride

The Buccaneer

Tame My Wild Touch

Playing Cupid

Whispers on the Wind

Series Books

The Wedding Spell (Wyrrd witch series)

Magical Moments

Magical Memories

Remember the Magic

The Irish Devil

Irish Hope

Isle of Lies

Love Me Forever

Dark Warrior

Legendary Warrior

The Daring Twin

The Bewitching Twin

Taken By Storm

Highlander’s Bride

Return of the Rogue (Sinclare brothers’ series)

Under the Highlander’s Spell

The Angel & The Highlander

Highlander’s Forbidden Bride

Bound To A Warrior (Warrior King series)

Loved By A Warrior

Short Stories

based on characters in Donna’s books (available to
read on her website)

One Night of Love & the Hobgoblin – The Irish
Devil

Halloween Magic – The Wedding Spell

Christmas Love – Return of the Rogue

Donna Fletcher is a USA Today bestselling
romance author. Her books are sold worldwide. She started her
career selling short stories and winning reader contests. She soon
expanded her writing to her love of romance novels and sold her
first book SAN FRANCISCO SURRENDER the year she became president of
New Jersey Romance Writers.

Drop by
Donna’s website
where you can learn more about her, read her blog and enter
contests at www.donnafletcher.com.