If Not For Love - A Highland Romance

Chapter 13

 Thirteen

For a moment I watch Molly where she stands on the front porch, pulling the coat tighter around her. She definitely does not dress like a highlander, her clothes suited more for the city. Wherever she has been living these past years, I don't think it has been Scotland. In fact, she dresses like someone from the states. Only her accent gives her true origin away.

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to apologize for what I did. I'm really ashamed f the way I have been. I'm so sorry for lying, and for tryin' ta make you believe there was something more between Tavish and me. There is no excuse, and I dinna expect you to forgive me or even pretend to, but I just needed ta tell you."

I really don't know what to think, or what to make of her apology. It is definitely the last thing I expected. I have always tried to be a good person and not hold things against others, but that doesn't mean I forget. I would be a fool to do that. But I do try to take in the lessons learned and move on.

Still, I don't trust Molly.

I have a good life, full of love and laughter, and a husband that I adore. I have been very blessed. The least I can do is give her another chance. Withholding forgiveness is not my right.

"I accept your apology," I finally say. The tears that immediately fill her green eyes soften me a little.

"Thank you," she says with a smile, wiping her face. "I appreciate your kindness and I won't bother you again." As she walks to her car, she turns and calls, "You have a good day."

"You too."

Closing the door, I stand by the window and watch her drive away. A second later, Tavish's arms come around me.

"Are ye all right, love?"

"Truthfully, I don't know."

"It may be wrong of me, but I dinna trust her."

"I hate to admit it, but I feel the same."

* * *

Later in the night, I lay in the dark, wrapped in the haven of Tavish's arms, both of us boneless and sated from making love. I don't think there have ever been two bodies so perfectly made of one another. Our mutual desire is always there, burning beneath the surface, and the wanting never stops. The combination of his heated kisses, his caressing hands and his body wrapped around mine make me incoherent to the world around me and I can't even think. Sometimes all he has to do is look at me with those intent blue eyes and I melt. I am thankful every day to be his wife, to have him as my husband. He is mine. We belong to each other.

He is mine!

Sighing, my thoughts drift wayward and my mind roams to Molly's unexpected visit and apology. Tavish said he still doesn't trust her, convinced that she must be up to something, and I agree with him. I forgave her, yes, but I plan to be on my guard.

All my life I have had to fight my way through this world. My sisters have always been aggressive when it come to getting what they want, and as a child I had to fight for my share of everything. I even had to fight for my mother's love. In school had to fight to not be overlooked. In the writing world I've had to fight to make my voice heard. Yes, I am used to fighting my way through life.

And I will fight for my husband with everything I have. No one will come between us.

"What are ye thinking about, my own?" His arms are draped about me, his hands caressing, his lips against my brow.

"About how much I love you, how happy you've made me, and how glad I am that you are mine."

"I am yours. I love you more than me own life. You and no one else. And I'll love ye til my dying breath and beyond. I'll never stop." He moves back a little and presses a hand to my face, his fingers traveling over my cheeks and lips as his eyes find mine in the moonlight filling the room. "Your touch is life ta me. I wish I could lose myself in ye, hold you close to my heart and never part from ye or be without your hands on me in some way. I long ta worship yer mouth with mine every moment of the day, to crush you to me and become a part of ye. Sometimes I fear I will burn up with need for ye. It never stops."

Tears filling my eyes, I press my trembling lips to his. To be loved so deeply and completely is more than I could ever ask for. "You are everything ta me," I whisper against his mouth as embers of the inferno that is our love rekindle.

Hungrily, he again takes me to the place that is ours alone, a place where powerful passion resides, making me forget, if only for a while, the threat that a part of me knows is still out there waiting to intrude upon our world.