Highlander's Heart (Clan Matheson #2)

“Pardon?”


“My shifter kind can scent when our mate is at her most fertile and then again when she has conceived.” He shuffled down, rubbed one cheek over her flat belly and breathed deep. With a rumbling growl, he scented the air then grinned. “Mmm, you smell incredible. Like wild cherries and something else. I’m picking up a new aroma, one which can only signify one thing.”

She pushed up, shoved him onto his back and straddled his hips as she sat on top of him. Jiggling up and down, she giggled. “Tell me exactly what that new aroma signifies.”

“That you’re carrying my child.” He edged up onto his elbows and licked the beading tips of her breasts swaying so close to his mouth. “My brother and parents and my entire clan are going to be ecstatic when they hear the news.”

“My father too will be over the moon.” Never had she ever expected to be gifted with such a fiercely loving and loyal mate, and now a babe all of her own. With her thoughts open to his, she shared all the wonderful new emotions rolling through her and he sent his love and happiness flowing right back.

“I believe this news deserves a celebration like no other.” His devious grin spoke of exactly what kind of celebration, one she heartily desired too. “Benefit number five will be required this very minute, my love. Your body will be all mine for the taking.”

“As you wish. I freely give you all of me.” She rubbed against his cock rising eagerly against her entrance. “Let us celebrate this new adventure we’re about to embark on.”

“An adventure I can’t wait to undertake.” He cupped the back of her head and drew her mouth to his. Kissing her, so intimately and so passionately, he made her tremble until she was an achy, hungry mess.

“Never let go of me.” She guided his shaft to her entrance and sank down on him. At the heart of her, he now belonged and nowhere else.

“You are my wife, my lover, the other half of my soul.” With one powerful stroke, he thrust deep, their souls completely entwined as they soared to the heavens.

Ahead of her, she had a lifetime of loving her mate, and between his future time and hers here, she most certainly would. No one would ever separate them again.

Their two hearts now beat as one, and their love for each other, rose to the very heavens themselves.

Sweet love. It would be theirs forever.



Author’s Note


Clan Matheson descends from a twelfth century man called Gilleoin, a man who was believed to have been from the ancient Royal House of Lorne. The name Matheson has been attributed to the Gaelic words Mic Mhathghamhuim which means “Son of the Bear,” and the clan chief’s arms carry two bears as supporters. In the twelfth century, clan Matheson settled around the area of Loch Alsh, Loch Carron, and Kintail, and gave their allegiance to clan MacDonald whose chiefs were the Lords of the Isles. Clan Matheson became a large and powerful clan with a force of around two-thousand men, although by the middle of the sixteenth century they’d diminished greatly in size and influence due to the blood feuds raging across the isles at that time. This warring left them to possess less than a third of the original Matheson property on Loch Alsh.

I’ve made mention in this story of Dunscaith Castle, the stronghold of clan MacDonald on the Isle of Skye. Dunscaith Castle was first known as “Dun Sgathaich” and has strong ties to the heroes and heroines of Celtic legend. The castle itself is named after the legendary Scottish warrior woman Sgathaich, a great teacher of the martial arts, and arts of combat. Dunscaith Castle sits at the mouth of Loch Eishort and dates back to the early 1300s, although a castle or fortification of some type has in fact occupied this site from a far earlier date. For the purposes of this story, I’ve kept that earlier dated stronghold’s name as Dunscaith Castle to better describe the location’s setting for clan MacDonald in this era of the 1200s I’ve written within.

The first series I wrote about this clan titled The Matheson Brothers, showcases the initial time of Gilleoin and features a large and wonderful cast of characters, and if you haven’t read the three stories in that series, then I highly recommend you do.

This series titled Clan Matheson, is a spinoff series from The Matheson Brothers, which has allowed me to delve deeper into this clan and bring you stories that show both the blood feuds that raged at that time, and the alliances made between the clans.

It’s time for the whispers to reignite. Clan Matheson are the “Son of the Bear.”

This story is woven with as much accuracy to the period and locations as possible, although any mistakes made are mine alone.

This book forms part of the Clan Matheson series, a spinoff from The Matheson Brothers series, and each story within it is stand-alone.

Please feel free to search for any of my other works. I simply adore strong heroines, and have a ton of fun matching them with their honorable alpha heroes.



Joanne Wadsworth