“Caitlin…” he said, but he didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence, for she lifted herself up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. The gesture was overwhelming and fire blazed within him as his hands slipped around her waist. Her nightgown was so thin that it was barely there at all. She whimpered a little as his hands closed around her waist and his fingers dug into her flesh. She was soft and warm and heavenly. His eyes fluttered shut as he surrendered to the kiss, not wanting it to end.
But it had to end.
Caitlin leaned back, but she had a warm smile on her face. Her eyes sparkled with delight and Rhys was astounded that he could make someone this happy.
“Thank you for coming tae seem me Rhys, but ye haed better gae. We wouldnae want ye tae be discovered. I’ll see ye at the wedding,” she said, and then squealed with delight as she ushered him away. Rhys nodded and swallowed the words that he had been so close to uttering. Perhaps it was for the best. Perhaps he should just let events play out as they were supposed to happen and see who was left standing at the end. He might be able to influence events subtly, to help the McClearey clan fight back and protect a few people, help them flee in the chaos. And he would at least get to give Caitlin the wedding she wanted. It would be a small consolation for her home being taken, and she might never be able to forgive him afterward. But he hoped that one day she might be able to understand and that there would be enough love in her heart left over to continue the life they were starting together.
In his heart, he knew that it wasn’t going to work out as he hoped, however. He returned to his chambers and sank into his bed, excited that his wedding day was fast approaching, but also anxious because not long after that, everything was going to fall into chaos. There was only one hope left: that he might convince his father that this path was wrong. That was the only way he could see to escape this fate and protect the new family he had made, and to be sure of keeping Caitlin’s love.
11
Caitlin awoke bright and early, excited that her wedding day had approached. She was bright-eyed and there was no sense of fatigue inside her at all. She threw off the bedclothes and jumped out, ready to eat breakfast and wash, before she got ready for the ceremony in the afternoon. The midnight visit from Rhys had filled her heart with delight. He had a warrior’s heart, but he was also tender and romantic too. He wasn’t like what she thought a Frasier was at all, and she longed to be with him more to peel back the layers of his soul. Every kiss was more passionate than the last and she was eager to be with him properly on their wedding night. Her heart beat frantically with nerves, but the instincts and natural urges of her body were giving her more things to be excited about.
Her chambers were busy all morning as people came in with gifts and well-wishes. Caitlin barely had a chance to think straight as the blur of people came rushing by, but she was grateful to them all, and it made her heart swell to hear how people were going to miss her when she left. Her brothers came in as well, looking excited. Pip was curious about all the flowers on display and her dress that she was waiting to put on. Mark was rather stoic, and Dominic was somewhere in between.
“I heard about ye wee fight with Rhys,” Caitlin teased. Mark’s cheeks went red and he looked away.
“It’s fine Mark, ye dinnae hae tae be ashamed. He’s almost ten years older than ye. It would have been a miracle if he had won, but please dinnae start any trouble taeday. Ye are gaeing tae hae tae get used tae the idea that he is nae ye enemy. None of them are any longer. Ye dinnae hae tae worry about gaeing intae battle. Ye can be whatever ye want tae be!” Caitlin said excitedly.
“I dinnae trust them,” Mark said, pouting. Caitlin tilted her head and walked up to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and looked him earnestly in the eyes.
“I know this is hard for ye because of all the stories ye hae been told. It was difficult for me at first tae, but ye must understand that things hae tae change in life. If ye get tae know them ye will see they are nae really that different from us. It’s gaeing tae be fine, and everyone is gaeing tae be happy. I know that Rhys is never gaeing tae hurt me,” Caitlin said.
“He’s just sad because he’s gaeing tae miss ye, nae that he’ll admit it,” Dominic said. Mark shot a glare at his younger
