Lost in the Highlands, Volume Two Read online

  CHAPTER SIX

  BLOWING ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA

  The Cottage Property- Present Day

  Living in the Highlands had taught Gavin a thing or two about sneaking up on someone. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how one looked at it, the same did not hold true for his lass. She made more noise than Callum and Muir trying the like while they were well into their cups and that was saying something.

  “Lass, what are ye about?” Water lapped against his waist as he stood up. Pushing his long hair back from his face with one hand, he twisted the length until all the water released from the silky tendrils.

  “Huh?” I slowly pulled my eyes away from his glistening naked body and lifted them to his face.

  The corners of his lips lifted. “Lass,” he repeated. “What are ye about?”

  “Oh, right,” I said, finally coming back to my senses. “How did you know I was here?” Kicking off my flip-flops, I sat down and slid my feet into the water.

  “The better question to ask yerself is how could I not know ye were here. Ye make enough noise ta wake the dead.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be loud.” I kicked water in his direction.

  “I know.” He waded closer, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Did ye come to join me for a swim?”

  “No,” I lied. “I was just picking some flowers and decided to come and um….” I searched my mind for something else to say… “coming to see what you were up to,” I added lamely.

  “Hmm,” he mused.

  I could tell he didn’t really believe me but thankfully, he didn’t call me out on my obvious lie.

  “The water is nice.” He stopped walking and reached out for her legs. “Are ye sure ye don’t want to take a little dip?”

  “Noo!” I tried to pull my feet back out of water, but wasn’t fast enough.

  Gavin pulled her forward until her legs spread wide and her thighs were on either side of his hips. “Now,” he asked, his voice low, almost a whisper as he leaned forward, “do ye want ta tell me why ye were spying on me?”

  “I wasn’t spying,” I argued, even though the look on his face told me quite clearly that he knew I was full of it.

  He tightened his grip and pulled her a little closer.

  “Gavin…” I pressed my hands against his chest. It felt cool under my fingers. “I’m not getting in the water.”

  “Who said anything about ye getting in the water?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “If that isn’t what you are intending, then why do you have hold of my legs?”

  “I was just trying ta be helpful.” His brow quirked up. “The embankment tis slippery and ye might accidentally fall in.”

  As his cold wet hands slid up my thighs, I shivered. “What are you doing?”

  Gavin ignored her question. “Did I mention how beautiful ye look this morning?”

  “No. You …um…didn’t.” A flush of heat crested my cheeks.

  “Och…” He trailed a wet finger up her arm. “I seem to have been remiss in my duties, then, aye.”

  “Um, yeah, I guess.”

  “Did ye sleep well?” He pushed her hair over her shoulder.

  “Yeah, uh…what are you doing?” Beads of water slid down between my breasts.

  “I am helping ye cool down a bit.” His lips lifted into a lazy grin.

  Cool down?

  Was he nuts?

  I was burning up and I could barely catch a breath. He was so damn hot. And he is mine, I thought, or I did until that stupid voice of mine cut in adding its two cents, ruining it with, “for now.”

  “Ye, like this?” He slid his fingers under the eyelet lace.

  What was there not to like? “Yes.”

  “I see that ye do.” He pulled her closer so she was flush against his erection.

  “Gavin…” I could tell what he was about by the look on his face. “We can’t do this…here.”

  He leaned back, his brows creasing. “Why ever not?”

  “Someone might see us,” I whispered.

  “Lass,” he sighed. “There is no one about but the small animals and birds. I do no think they would mind terribly if we had a bit o’ sport with each other, aye?”

  I would have agreed but I had the strangest feeling we were being watched. Warily I looked over my shoulder, just in case, but I couldn’t see anyone. “Well…” I turned back around and his face was only inches away from mine.

  “Just a wee morning kiss.”

  “Just a kiss?”

  “Aye,” he said. “Just a wee one.”

  “Well, if you only want a kiss, I guess that is okay.”

  Gavin leaned forward, pressed his lips against the bare flesh at the front of her neck, and then continued downward until his lips were resting on the swell of her breasts. Using his teeth, he untied the ribbon in the front holding the eyelet lace together.

  “Gavin…” I squirmed away from him. “I thought you said you only wanted a kiss?”

  “Aye,” he agreed. “I am getting ta that.”

  Well hell. I didn’t realize he was going to do that. Gasping, I reflexively tightened my legs around his waist.

  “That’s more like it…” Gavin dipped his head down and put his mouth right on her breast.

  All my protests and inhibitions flew right out the window as his hot breath blew onto my hardened nipple through the lacy material of my bra. “Gavin,” I half cried/moaned, arching back. The feel of the cold water combined with his hot breath sent shivers racing against my skin.

  Gavin lifted the bottom of her tank top and slid it upward and over her head, tossing it on the embankment. Hooking his fingers in the straps of her bra, he pulled each side down and kissed the delicate skin as he uncovered each breast. “That’s better,” he said, removing the bra completely. “Do ye still want me ta stop?” he asked gruffly.

  I looked down. His erection jutted upward between my thighs. “No.” I tightened my hold.

  A knowing smile lifted the corners of his lips. “I thought ye would come ta yer senses.” Gavin lowered his lips to hers at the same time he thrust deeply inside her body, grunting in satisfaction. “Are ye all right?”

  “Yes.” I nodded enthusiastically. Hell, I was better than all right—I was on fire.

  “Good.” His mouth found hers again, and he lost himself in the moment. His breath was coming hot and fast now as the horrible memories churning deep inside abated with each mind numbing thrust. Tightening his hold, he jerked her legs higher for better penetration and buried himself even deeper.

  “Oh God, Gavin, yes!” I raked my nails across his flesh, making him flinch as he continued his relentless assault.

  Again, and again, he filled her completely. She held on, kissing and sucking, ravaging his neck with her teeth, then soothing the reddened skin with her tongue.

  There was no reprieve from my animalistic response to Gavin. When I was with him, I had no control over my body. I attacked him like a starving animal deprived of food and water for far too long.

  Gavin was no stranger to this kind of mating. The animalistic part of him took over and he met her attack with his own. His mouth captured hers, silencing her cries of ecstasy as he pumped harder, faster; pushing them both to the release they both were fighting for.

  Too soon, my body tightened and then released, as my mind-numbing orgasm shook me to my core.

  Jerkily thrusting forward one last time, Gavin let out a hiss of pleasure as his seed jetted deep within her womb.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  BLOWING ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA

  The Cottage Property- Present Day

  Sun dappled down through the trees, flickering each time the heavy limbs creaked, shifting in the wind. The sound brought me slowly back to my senses as well as the cool air drifting over my naked body. Sitting up, I pushed my hair away from my face and was surprised to find we were both on solid ground, on top of his plaid. I didn’t remember how we got on top of it but was glad because it gave my bare bottom some defe
nse against the prickly pine needles underneath.

  Trying to stay quiet so as not to wake Gavin, I grabbed my clothes off the embankment and pulled them back on as quickly as I could.

  A frog ribbited and a crunch of a leaf made me jump. I turned around.

  For a split second, I could swear someone was standing in the copse of trees looking at us both, but as my eyes slowly focused, I realized it was only a tree.

  Gavin rolled onto his side.

  Reaching over, I gently moved a piece of his hair away from his face. He looked so peaceful while he slept. His long lashes cast shadows across his cheekbones, and his full lips, slightly parted—looked so damn sexy. I had all I could do not to lean forward and kiss him again.

  Gavin opened his eyes.

  Embarrassed, I jerked back.

  “Are ye trying ta have yer way with my person while I sleep, lass?” he asked groggily.

  “No!” I lied, my face turning scarlet.

  “Doesna look that way ta me.”

  “Well, I can’t help what it looks like to you. I wasn’t going to.”

  “Hmm,” he mused, propping his head up. “Would ye like ta have another go?” His eyes flashed mischievously.

  Yes! “I really should get back to work.”

  “What are ye working on this time? Another vase or one of those statues ye like to make of fairies and such?”

  “It’s another fairy.”

  “Is she weeping like the last one?”

  “No. She is holding a gazing ball.”

  “Does she look sad?”

  “No. She is not sad. She is contemplative.”

  “They all look sad ta me. Can’t ye make a happy fairy?”

  “Well, I tried. They just come out that way.”

  “I wonder why that is?” He pondered that for a moment. “Are ye sad?”

  “No.” I should have said… not any longer, but didn’t. “It’s art. I can’t control how they look.”

  “That seems odd. If ye create it, can’t ye control it?”

  “It doesn’t work that way. Besides, the people who buy my art like the way my fairies look.”

  “They must be sad people then, aye?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know. Art is interpretive.”

  “What do ye mean?”

  “People see what they want. You know, like the saying goes, ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’ or something like that.”

  “That sounds like rubbish ta me. I think they must be sad.”

  “Maybe they are.”

  “One would think they would want something cheerful ta look at.”

  “Misery loves company,” I muttered.

  “Och, misery is mostly self-inflicted. If it is happiness ye seek, ye need ta realize it is not something ye can find, it’s actually a choice ye have ta make.”

  It always amazed me the insightfulness Gavin had even though he wasn’t from this time. “Is that what you do?”

  “Aye. Most days. Sometimes though, it’s harder than others, but I do endeavor ta try ta be happy. Don’t ye?” He gave her an expectant look.

  “Most days,” I agreed even though I had no idea where this conversation was coming from. Was he trying to tell me something?

  As if in answer to my unasked question, he grabbed my hand and looked deeply into my eyes.

  “I have ta tell ye something, lass…”

  Oh, crap!

  My throat constricted and my mouth went dry. That is the same thing he told me on the mountain. “What?”

  “I need ta go…” He cleared his throat. “I need ta go and find the gypsy.”

  My blood ran cold. “But we already tried.”

  “Aye, I know but that can no be the only place she might be.”

  “I don’t understand what the hurry is.”

  His expression became resolute. “I have ta find her, ta make amends.”

  “Make amends for…what?” I was freaking out.

  “Can ye help me or no?”

  “The Highland Games on Grandfather Mountain won’t be back until next July.”

  “There are more games though, aye?”

  “I don’t know.” That was a lie of course. I was sure there were other games but I had hoped he wouldn’t ask about those.

  “Can ye find out or do I have ta find another way?”

  “I can see what I can find on the internet.”

  “Good.” He stood up. Lifting his plaid off the ground, he put it back on and then he turned towards her, his expression, once again, unreadable.

  Crap! Crap! Crap! “You want me to do it now?”

  He smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Nay lass, we have time.”

  “Then why are you looking at me like that?”

  “I’m hungry.”

  “Oh. Okay.” I should have felt relief but didn’t. As we walked back up to the cottage, my mind spun different variables of what to do. At least I had time on my side.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  BLOWING ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA

  The Cottage Property- Present Day

  Turns out, time wasn’t on my side at all. After we got back to the cottage, Gavin sat at the table while I reheated some pizza from last night’s dinner.

  The silence between us was deafening.

  The last thing I wanted to do was look for more games.

  The microwave dinged, and I jumped.

  Gavin frowned. “Lass, did ye drink too much coffee today?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Ye seem a mite jittery.”

  Jittery wasn’t even close to what I was feeling. “I guess I’m just tired,” I lied and sat the plate of pizza along with a glass of lemonade on the table for Gavin.

  As Gavin ate his fill, the conversation turned back to the Highland games.

  “Can ye look on that thing about the games?”

  I acted nonchalant and lifted the plates from the table. “Huh?” I walked over and set the plates in the sink. I knew immediately what ‘thing’ he was speaking of—my laptop.

  “Lass…”

  “Hold on, can’t hear,” I lied and blasted the water, rinsing off the plates. For once, I wished I had some more dishes in the sink, so I had a reason not to look up the damnable Highland Games. After a few minutes, I had to turn off the water for fear of running the well dry. Picking up the dishtowel, I wiped off my hands and finally turned back towards Gavin. “What did you say?”

  “I would like ye ta look up the Highland Games.”

  “Oh, that.” I tossed the towel back on the counter and walked towards the trashcan.

  “Are ye going ta look now?”

  I halted in mid step and my shoulders slumped in defeat. What was the point? “If you like.”

  “Good.” He stood up from the table and rubbed his belly. “That was a good meal.”

  “It was just leftover pizza.”

  “Aye, I know. But it tasted good.”

  “I’m glad you liked it.” I bent over and pulled my laptop out from the basket on the floor. “You want something else to drink before we start?” I set my laptop on the table and sat down.

  “Nay.” He shook his head and sat down again.

  I stood back up.

  “Where are ye going?”

  “I think I’ll have some tea.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now.”

  “Ye still have a drink.” He pointed to the glass of lemonade on the table.

  “I want something else,” I snapped, not meaning to. “Is that all right with you?” Even though it was just a question, I felt like he was pushing me to look up the damnable games. And if I found one, I was afraid he would want to leave. And if he left, was he going to take me or go alone? There were too many questions and not enough answers.

  His brows creased. “Aye, lass. It is all right with me.”

  After making a cup of tea and squeezing some lemon in, I half-heartedly made my way back to the table and sat down in front of my computer.


  Gavin’s frown returned. “Ye don’t have ta look so downtrodden, lass.”

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “Lass, we are jes looking. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “If we are only looking then why do we have to look today at all?”

  He let out an audible sigh and scrubbed his hands over his face. When he dropped his hands, the resolute expression was back and she knew she didn’t have a choice in the matter. “I need ta know.”

  “Fine,” I told him, but I wasn’t fine with it at all. Actually, I was feeling quite the opposite. Opening up my laptop, I keyed in: Highland Games. I had one hand under the table with my fingers crossed. I was hoping like hell there wouldn’t be any until next year.

  Gavin sat forward, leaning close, so he could see the results.

  Once I saw the results, I let out a deflated sigh. “There’s one in West Virginia in a week.”

  “Is that far from here?”

  “It’s about a six-hour drive, I think.”

  “Will ye be able ta take me in that metal beast o’ yers?”

  I knew he was talking about my car. He hated it. My heart picked up pace. If he wanted to get in my car, he must really want to go to the games. “I guess so.”

  He sat back and looked at her. “Don’t look so distressed, lass. I don’t know if she will even be there.”

  “If you don’t know, then why don’t we wait?”

  “Don’t ye understand?” he implored. “I have ta at least try.”

  “Okay, fine.” I sat back and slammed my laptop shut.

  “Och, lass. Why are ye so mad?”

  “Who said I was mad?”

  He looked at the laptop then back to my face, his brows creasing.

  “It slipped.”

  He gave her a look that said otherwise, but didn’t say anything more.

  ♦

  Gavin knew his lass wanted more from him…needed more, but the visions of his murdered men and the knowledge of what had really happened to Jillian had settled deep within and did not abate with time.

  Actually, these feelings of remorsefulness—they were growing worse the longer he stayed here. He kept seeing Jillian. He didn’t want to. He tried to forget, push her from his mind. He really did, especially at first. But he couldn’t and he wasn’t sure what ta make of it, but knew, he would need ta find the witch ta figure it out.