" 'Tis the middle of the day."

He grabbed her from behind and pulled her up against him. "There are children about," she pointed out.

Alec nuzzled the side of her throat. "You want a proper kiss, don't you?"

"This isn't at all proper," she answered. Her breath caught in her throat then and a shiver raced across her shoulders. Alec was nibbling on her earlobe while he whispered in great detail all the erotic things he was going to do to her.

She went limp against him. Alec leaned back against a thick tree, bracing her between his thighs. He took his time undressing her, ignoring her feeble protests and when he'd completed that task, he pulled her up against his hardness. His hands cupped her breasts while his thumbs lazily stroked her nipples.

He knew he had her surrender when she let out a soft moan. "Now I'm going to show you how inferior you are to me," he whispered.

"You are?" she asked on a gasp. His hand had just moved between her thighs.

He grunted with pleasure when he felt her heat. She was already wet and hot for him. "I'm going to kiss every inch of your inferior body," he promised.

He turned her around finally. Their open mouths met in a ravenous kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbed her breasts against his plaid. Alec tore his mouth away, then discarded his own clothing in quick time. He turned her until she was leaning against the tree, facing him, and lowered his head to the valley between her breasts. His tongue drove her wild. His hands massaged her breasts, and then he finally moved to take one nipple into his mouth. The pressure was excruciatingly wonderful. She cried out in pleasure, clinging to his shoulders now for support. Alec gave her other breast the same blissful attention, then trailed hot kisses down her stomach.

He made her forget to breathe. He knelt down in front of her, cupped her smooth buttocks with his hands, and roughly pulled her up against his open mouth.

She wasn't capable of thinking. His tongue stroked the passion in her, pressing, in, out, again and again, until she was whimpering for release from the sweet torture. She was begging him not to stop when he stood up to face her. Jamie tried to capture his mouth for a long, hot kiss, but he pulled back. He suddenly grabbed hold of her hair, twisted it around his fist and jerked her forward.

"Don't ever try to leave me again."

He didn't give her time to answer. His open mouth claimed hers. His tongue thrust inside. She melted against him. He lifted her high, spreading her thighs in one powerful motion. She wrapped her legs around him. "Alec," she demanded in a near shout when he hesitated.

"Promise me." His voice grated against her ear.

The agony in his voice drove through her sexual haze. "I promise," she whispered.

He groaned his approval, then thrust inside her with one forceful surge. He whispered love words against her ear as he withdrew and then drove back into her.

Jamie clung to him, chanting her own love words, and when she knew she was about to find her release, she cried out his name.

Their surrender was absolute, their passion appeased. He stayed inside her a long while. Even after his breathing had slowed and his heart had quit hammering he still didn't move. He didn't want to lose the scent of their lovemaking, didn't want to quit holding her.

For the first time in his life, he was content. He under stood what that meant, yet instinctively rebelled against admitting the full truth. It was too soon, he told himself. Far too soon. It would weaken him, make him vulnerable… He wasn't ready.

Jamie felt Alec tense against her. He eased her back down to the ground, then turned away from her to gather their clothes. She caught only a glimpse of his dark expression. "Alec?" she whispered. "I didn't please you just now?"

He immediately responded to the worry in her voice. "You pleased me very much, wife." His voice was rough with emotion.

Jamie didn't ask him any more questions until they were both dressed. "Why are you frowning so? If I truly made you happy-"

"I'm frowning because you told me you were feeling inferior. I never, ever want you to think such ridiculous thoughts in future, wife. Where in God's name you ever came up with such an ignorant idea-"

"You called me inferior," she reminded him, thoroughly puzzled now.

He had the audacity to look surprised. Jamie's eyes widened in reaction. "You called me insignificant, too. Don't you remember, Alec?"

He shrugged. He went to collect their mounts, but he was smiling now instead of scowling. His gentle wife had sounded so incensed.

"You can't even keep track of your own opinions?"

"Not opinions," he called over his shoulder. "Insults, love."

"You admit insulting me then?" she shouted, chasing after him.

"Of course."

He let out a shout of laughter when her unladylike expletive filled the air.

She was more horrified by her shameful blasphemy than he was. She apologized profusely.

He laughed right in her face.

Jamie didn't know what to make of him now. She turned her back on her husband and walked over to Wildfire. Alec Kincaid was the most impossible man in the world, she decided. Didn't he realize how much she wanted to hear him say that he cared for her?

Jamie gained Wildfire's back and picked up the reins. She suddenly remembered Alec's hard demand that she never try to leave him again.

He did care. She whirled around to look at her husband, thinking to shout that very thought. His arrogant grin changed her mind. He didn't realize he cared, she guessed, and he'd probably just get angry with her if she dared instruct him in his true feelings.

Jamie let out a lusty laugh. He'd have to settle in first. Then he'd see the lightness in loving her.

She nudged Wildfire before he could question her further. Alec grabbed her reins, then shook his head.

She gave him a resigned look.

"Listen carefully, love. Up," he said, pointing behind him, "is Kincaid land.

Down is England. Got that?"

She bit her lower lip so she wouldn't smile. "I've got it," she finally agreed when he continued to stare at her.

He let out a long sigh, then pulled Wildfire along as he changed directions.

"No, you haven't, love," he muttered.

Jamie did smile then. Lord, she felt good. She didn't even care if Alec lost his temper with her in future. She certainly didn't mind his insults, guessing now it was his way of protecting his own feelings. No, she didn't mind his contrary ways at all.

The reason was simple to understand.

He'd just called her his love.

Alec was scowling when they returned to the stables. Jamie was smiling. Gavin stood next to the priest on the steps of the castle, watching the pair.

"She's giving him fits," Gavin remarked.

"I heard she threatened to put her dagger in one of the McPhersons," Father Murdock said.

"She did," Gavin answered. "She's courageous, bluffing the old laird and his men the way she did."

"Why do you think it was a bluff?"

"Well, of course, it was a bluff. She couldn't possibly know how to throw a dagger."

"You're very like your laird, Gavin, for you've taken on all his judgments. He's already drawn his own conclusions about Lady Jamie. I'd keep my mind a bit more open if I were you. If she says she could put her blade in someone, then I think I'd believe she was capable. She'd have to be protecting someone else, though.

Aye, she's much more skilled than you and Alec credit her. Mark my words, boy."

"Alec complains she's too gentle," Gavin countered.

"She's strong, too," Father Murdock answered. "She isn't going to settle in as peacefully as Alec believes, either. The sparks are just beginning to fly."