Hellion

Two

Bathed in moonlight, Dougal touched the cheek of his wife with just his fingertips. His eyes were filled with sorrow, as he waited for the answer that only she could give.

"I love ye Dougal."

"But?"

"Nay. There is no but. I love ye. I always 'ave and always will."

"Hellion, my Hellion. I cannae promise ye that it will be different. I will promise ye to try and ta try me verrah best. I dun want ta lose ye again. My auld heart cannae take it. I need ye with me more than I need ta eat. More than I need ta breathe."

Turning, she knelt between his legs. With a tilt of her head, she kissed his lips. His arms wrapped around her slender waist and pulled her tight to his body. Holding on just like that, savoring the closeness. Savoring the knowledge that she was still his.

Her breath was warm against his ear. "What about more than ye need whiskey?"

"Now, now, now, my Hellion, dun take things too far." He held her that much tighter when he heard her laugh. "More than whiskey and wine, my Hellion. I need ye so that I can simply be."

Dougal pulled the shift off of her. He was taken aback for a moment. The scars made by Randall had faded into nothingness. At most they were simply scratches of silver against her pale skin. He reached for her and stopped. His hand was shaking a mere inch from her flesh.

"By God Alexandria, ye are beautiful. I fear touching ye."

She was helping him from his own clothing and paused. "Why?"

"I should nay be permitted to sully someone so beautiful." The words were just a whisper.

She took his trembling hand and drew it upwards to her lips. Turning it over, she kissed the rough palm. She guided his hand from her lips to her cheek, laying against the warmth of a strong hand. She traced his fingertips down her throat and took it lower. Finally, she laid his hand against her chest. Just letting him feel the beating of her heart.

"Do ye feel that? Do ya feel my heart? I gave ye my heart many years ago. You cannae sully such a gift. My heart and soul are yours. They always have been and always will be."

"But Alexan-...."

She stopped him with a kiss. "Shh. We 'ave hated each other. We have fought each other. We have laughed and been happy. We have brought each other to tears. Still, through all of that, we have always loved each other."

Pulling her to him once again, Dougal snaked an arm around her waist and cradled the back of her head. With his face buried against her neck, he trembled against her. All the emotions that were kept bottled up burst through him at once.

Holding him close, Alexandria stroked the back of his neck with tears spilling. For the first time in a long time, they weren't tears brought on through hurt. The tears were because she knew that she made the right decision to return home. Home was not a time or place; it was with her husband and son.

On the soft grass, with nothing between them, they made love. Fingers trailed across skin, memorizing each other anew. Lips brushed warm flesh and words of love were whispered for the soul to hear. They felt no need to rush. Alex trailed kisses from the base of Dougal's throat up to his ear.

"I love you." She whispered. "I love ye and only ye. Jest as it always has been."

Looking into her eyes, Dougal smiled. "I love ye my Hellion." The words were heartfelt but the tenderness in his gaze spoke far more.

They basked in the shared love and when, finally, neither could wait any longer their bodies joined as their hearts and souls already had. Raising up, she met his body with her own. Wrapping around each other and holding on only as lovers were able, they let the night air heal old wounds.