Highland Wolf (24 page)

“Och, aye, and he was worth every white hair I grew in the last far too many hours of feeling utterly helpless.” James grinned when she laughed and then ever so lightly touched Quinton’s hair. “He has your thick black hair. Blue eyes?”

“For now, but I am hoping they will be green. Meggie called me Mama,” she whispered, feeling choked with tears for a moment.

“Finally, but ye were right. It was best to allow her to decide and choose her time. I but felt that ye had always been more of a mother to her than Mary e’er was or e’er would have been and wanted ye to have the honor of that name immediately.”

“It means more when it comes from her heart, and nay just because her beloved da told her to do it.”

“Aye, I felt that, too, when I heard her say it. I just always want what I want immediately and then I have to talk some sense into myself. I have ye to do that for me now.”

“Aye, ye do, but I understand wanting something immediately. I wanted ye immediately. The moment I kenned I was carrying your child I wanted him in my arms immediately. ’Tis a strong temptation to want what ye want right away.”

“Weel, I shallnae be tempted again. I have all I want now.”

She looked up at him and murmured her pleasure when he kissed her. “As do I. I have my big ruddy, green-eyed wolf.” He blushed a little just as he had the first time she had told him about her dream.

“I love ye, Annora-mine.”

“And I love ye. I loved ye when I first saw ye. I loved ye when ye saved me from Egan, especially when ye were ready to give all this up and take me to France just to keep me from the mon. And each day I love ye more. Ye have given me all I have e’er wanted.”

“I have?”

“Aye. Ye have given me a family. A big, loud, loving, laughing, arguing, tramp-mud-into-the-great-hall family. Ye, me, Meggie, and now Quinton and whate’er other children we are blessed with are the heart of that family, but the rest of them, blood kin or
nay, are a pure joy. Thank ye, husband.”

“Ah. Lass, I am the one who should be the most grateful. Ye gave me back my heart and took the darkness from my soul.”

She cuddled up against his side again, deeply moved by his words and the deep, unwavering love she could feel inside him, one that perfectly matched what rested in her heart “We are a perfect match, my wolf.”

That we are, lass. That we most certainly are.”