"Kiera, the first time we saw love between a husband and wife was with the Camerons at Inverlochy Castle, then with Laird and Lady Fraser. A light shone when their eyes met, and they shared sweet smiles."

"My father was like that with my mother," she murmured. She remembered them sitting by the fire of an evening, each working on some task, comfortable in each other's presence.

"Both Cameron and Fraser are hard warriors, experienced men who rule well." Duff scratched the back of his head. "They've also been with their lady wives for longer than we've been alive. It made me think 'twould take until the babe ye carry was grown afore I'd know the same."

She looked up when he fell silent.

"Kiera, we dinna have that kind of love with ye," he murmured.

An arrow of pain pierced her heart. She flinched.

"Nay, but we will!"

Duff strode forward and knelt before her. She stared at the wet drops falling in her lap. He took her hands in his, first tossing her stocking aside.

"I love ye, Kiera MacKenzie. I even love that look ye had in yer eye as ye judged the weight of yer boot afore heaving it at my twin."

Her lip curled up, thinking of his look of shock.

"And I ken that ye would have hit him if ye wished."

"My mother said a wife is allowed to throw things at her laird husband, but not hit him." She sniffed back her tears and straightened her spine. "I have good aim."

"Aye, ye do." Malcolm cleared his throat from the frog that had caught in it. "Laird MacKenzie told me of yer mother doing the same. 'Twas after something hit the closed door of yer chamber right where my head would have been, the first time we met."

She pinned his rough chuckle with her glare.

"And what of you, Laird Kinrowan? Does Duff speak only for himself? For I kenned I loved him afore he left my sheiling. Afore I was forced to accept his twin as my husband!"

Malcolm flinched.

"We kenned naught of yer father's plan," replied Malcolm. "I was watching in the hall the night ye returned from yer sheiling. I looked for the woman I was told ye were. Bitter, scowling, angry at the world, and wearing ugly clothes that suited yer mood." His face eased. "I saw a smiling beauty in a green dress walk with Colin and cursed his luck in finding such a stunning, tall, bride. But I put it aside and decided I would treat my own wife as if she were beautiful, inside and out. That mayhaps in time she would believe it herself."

He was right in that she'd not believed herself beautiful. Not in her heart, nor in her skin. She was a different person here at Kinrowan. It had started when she first met Duff. He'd not known who she was, or her past.

"When I heard ye'd been taken I felt like I'd died," continued Malcolm, his voice hoa.r.s.e. "The world stopped, and my eyes went dark. I put my fear aside and acted the laird, doing what was needed for the clan."

He shut his eyes, hands in tight fists at his sides.

"All night as I paced, or lost at chess with Fergus, I cursed myself for not seein' what ye mean to me. I was giving all to Kinrowan, accepting yer gift of yerself as if it was my right. All that changed when ye were stolen from us. We were so busy getting Kinrowan ready for the winter. I thought we'd find time in the long nights of cold and dark to ken each other. Being laird of such a place was everything to me. I thought ye'd be there, waiting until I'd have time for ye."

She could see the pain he'd been in. She'd lain awake that night as well, not only thinking of how she and Camden would escape, but how upset Duff and Malcolm would be. Not just at the insult Ross gave them by stealing her, but for her as their wife. Surely he would not be so upset unless he cared deeply?

Malcolm's brilliant blue eyes caught her. "By the morn I knew I lied to myself, Kiera. I'd kenned, in here"-he tapped his heart-"that love is dangerous, so pushed it away, using Kinrowan as an excuse."

He finally moved, coming to one knee at her side.

"I would have gone on that ship with Ross. To save ye, and our babe, I would easily give Kinrowan to Duff to rule. It is just a place filled with people. Ye are my love."

"Brother, Kiera was stolen from all of us, not just ye," said Duff. "I feel the same. I wished to go in place of the laird to save ye." He hit Malcolm in the rib with his elbow, hard. "My fool of a brother wouldna let me, and since he's ten minutes older and the laird, I had to obey."

"We love ye Kiera," said Malcolm. "Though sometimes ye are stubborn and make us crazy-"

"And wild with l.u.s.t," interrupted Duff. "'Dinna forget that."

"-we wish ye to be in our lives forever. Will ye accept us?"

She had them on their knees, begging her to accept them. It was more than she'd thought possible. A lump formed in her throat.

"You love me, for true? The way I mean it, forever?"

"Aye, Kiera, I love ye with all my heart, my soul, and my body," said Malcolm.

"Especially yer body," leered Duff playfully.

It was what she wanted, but something felt off. It was good to see, once, how they cared for her. But these men were warriors. She wanted their strength and power, as well as their love.

"I believe you."

Duff grinned while Malcolm exhaled, shuddering. He stood, strong and confident. Duff kissed her cheek as he got up. She struggled out of her chair and slipped to her knees.

"What are ye-"

"'Tis my turn. I love you both. The night we met in my bedchamber," she said to Malcolm, "you said I must prove myself worthy by kneeling at your feet."

"Aye, but I'd barely met ye. I said it for yer father as well as for myself."

"I wish to kneel, to prove that I will be a good wife to you."

"Not a perfect wife?"

She sighed, making a face. "Nay. Just the best I can be, for you, and for Duff. I repeat my vow to obey, to serve, and to submit to you, my laird husband. And this time I mean it."

His eyes almost glowed. He nodded regally.

"And to love you with all my heart," she added.

"All yer heart?" asked Duff, c.o.c.king his head at her.

"Aye. I can give you both all my heart, with much left for our bairns as well," she replied. "The nature of love is that the more you give it to others, the more you have. Camden also needs our love."

Malcolm lifted her off her knees, carefully avoiding her sore ankle. He set her on the bed, laying her on her back.

"I am beginning to learn that," he said. "And I will seek Camden out and tell him so." He stared down at her and raised a commanding eyebrow. "But first we need to check your injuries."

"My ankle-"

"My brother means we must strip ye naked, find every sc.r.a.pe and bruise, and kiss them better." Duff's voice had deepened to an eager growl.

"Oh."

Heat flashed over her body. Her nipples tightened into hard buds as her p.u.s.s.y swelled with eagerness. She smiled in welcome.

"Then what are you waiting for, husbands?"

She shrieked as a matched set of eager men reached for her.

Epilogue.

"'Twas bad enough that Kiera eloped, but my son and heir? Colin, laddie, what were ye thinkin'?" Laird MacKenzie held up his hand before Colin could answer. "Aye, I ken what ye were thinking. And 'twasn't done with the head above yer belt."

"John Grant put off our wedding one time too many, Father. Barbara is my wife in truth now."

MacKenzie glared at his heir but he was pleased. Colin looked good. Barbara must have convinced him to take off the d.a.m.n eye patch. Both eyes were open, staring him down, though he knew only one worked.

"Ye've taught me 'twas best to act first and ask permission later." Colin bowed formally. "May I have permission to steal my fiancee and make her my wife?"

"Since she fainted when she rose from her curtsy to me, methinks 'tis a little late," he replied drily.

Colin tilted his head in confusion. "Late for what?"

"Remember when Kiera came to Castle Leod from the sheiling?"

"Aye."

Colin waited, still confused. MacKenzie sighed. It was the lad's first time so he'd explain it to him.

"Did the wee la.s.sie nay tell ye she's carryin' yer babe?" Colin gaped, his eyes wide. "By the look on yer face, the answer would be nay. Silean, Kiera, and Barbara will have babes within a few months of each other." He snorted a laugh. "A babe of my own and two grandbabes, all at once."

Colin glared. "We willna live at Castle Leod. Barbara and Silean would not share well."

"Ye are right on that!" He shuddered at the thought.

"Father, you told me Barbara was a quiet, modest la.s.s. You lied."

He grinned at yet another of his plans working out so well.

"Aye, laddie, I did. Ye thought an empty-headed la.s.sie was what ye wanted, but one like Silean would bore ye. 'Tis why ye and Kiera get along well. Barbara is also a la.s.s with spirit. She'll suit ye, aye, and keep ye fightin' and makin' up."

"Barbara and I will be staying here at Redcastle with Roderick."

MacKenzie went to the sideboard for a dram of whiskey from the cask he'd brought. He raised an eyebrow in a silent question. He filled a second gla.s.s at the answering nod. He picked up both in his hands and walked to his youngest son.

"Redcastle has always been yers, Colin. Roddy was holding it for ye." He held out a gla.s.s. "As my heir ye are the laird of all MacKenzie land. When I die at ninety in a battle ye'll be the eleventh Lord of Kintail. Best get a few whelps under your belt afore that."

He toasted Colin and both drank. It burned like acid all the way down, hit his belly like a brand, and almost bounced up again. He inhaled cool air, hissing between his teeth..

"Jesu! That has a bite!"

Both of Colin's eyes streamed. He wiped them, coughing and choking. "Aye, 'twill be better in twenty years or more. Did ye grab the wrong cask when ye ran out the door, Father?"

He shuddered. "Mayhaps 'twould be best to keep that one for pouring on wounds."

"Or serving to fathers who visit with a garrison of troops armed to the teeth?"

"Ye ken why I brought the men, aye?"

"Ye wished to catch Ross of Balnagowan," said Colin.

"Aye, but 'twas too late for that." He scowled. "Wish I'd seen Malcolm MacDougal snapping those whips. Ross will have matching holes on his cheeks 'til he molders in his grave. King James isna pleased. Ross may soon end up as his guest, locked in a lonely tower."

"It canna be too soon for me," replied Colin with a growl. "He kidnapped my wee sister and kept her in a cave overnight!"

"Aye, and the d.a.m.ned cheater outfits his reivers in coats of mail!" MacKenzie looked at the whiskey, wondering if he dared another dram.

"Do ye wish me to find ye a whiskey ye can drink without turning the last of yer hair white?"

He ruefully brushed his hand over his head. Marrying a young woman made him think more about his appearance. Silean said she was quite happy marring him rather than remaining at her father's home as a useless widow. They got along well enough, and now that he'd got rid of that harpy aunt of hers, they'd do even better. Her stomach better be settled by the time he made it back to Castle Leod as he intended to have his bed slamming against the wall again.

"Whiskey, Father?"

He jerked his lewd thoughts back to the room. "Aye, and thank ye." He watched curiously as Colin opened a hidden panel. "Are ye hiding it from yer men, or yer wife?"

"Mayhaps a bit of both, admitted Colin as he poured. "Barbara's been known to take a dram of whiskey."

"And does it make her frisky?"

Colin grinned as they toasted each other. "Aye. Mayhaps that's why she's carrying my babe already."

This whiskey went down far easier. He exhaled, nodding his approval. A touch of spirits could make a woman relax. Neither of them had thought Silean would get with child. Then she'd drunk half his dram of whiskey, dropped to her knees, and took him in her mouth. It made him feel like he was a lad of sixteen, and he'd performed as such. He was sure she'd give him another son. She later, blushing, told him Lady Alana Sinclair, wife to Cormac and James MacDougal, had suggested it.

"I wrote a letter to King James about the MacDougals," said MacKenzie after Colin refilled the gla.s.ses. "One about their laird."

"Aye, why?" Colin tilted his head, narrowing his eyes.

MacKenzie pretended innocence. "I said what good men they were and how Somerled has done much to make up for his father."

"And?" demanded Colin.

"And I may have suggested Laird MacDougal be rewarded with a wee wife."