He placed a tender kiss on her neck, making her sigh in pleasure. The prolonged anticipation to see what he’d do next was almost unbearable. Her pulse quickened in response to the feel of his lips. Had it been so long since she’d had her needs sated?
“Is that your way of apologizing for the accident?”
“Aye, you’re beautiful, Quinn.”
Quinn licked her dry lips. His words sent a tingle of need coursing through her body. She craved more, silently wondering how far he’d let things go.
“I almost died twice in your country,” she teased, hoping he’d take the hint.
His hands moved to her hips, and he pulled her flush against his body, wrapping her in a seductive warmth. His heated breath traveled up the column of her neck as he placed kisses against her skin.
She knew the Highlander had a brain, and from the feel of him, he had a lot more notable attributes she would like to explore before saying goodbye to his motherland.
Quinn dropped the clothes back into her bag. She didn’t need them…yet.
“I can kiss all your wounds.”
Her momma would have been appalled at the dirty thoughts coursing through her mind. Her sisters would want a play-by-play. Quinn reached between their bodies and ran her hand over his jean-covered crotch. “This would be easier if you had on your skirt.”
“Next time,” he whispered before spinning her in his arms and crushing his lips against hers. He tasted of chocolate chip cookies. She smiled against his lips.
“You stole a cookie,” she whispered. Her voice came out husky and wanting as his lips traveled down the other side of her neck while one hand moved to unhook her bra.
“I plan to steal a lot more than your cookies,” he said as the bra slid to the floor. His gaze landed on the cuts on her chest from the car incident, and it was as if someone flipped a switch. His touch gentled, and his brows dipped.
Gone was the brazen Highlander who looked ready to ravish her. Her cheeks heated as she watched him slowly pull away. The cuts on her chest vaporized her chances of joining the foreign affair touchdown club. Surely they had something similar to the mile-high club but for tourists who were looking to score.
“I’m sorry.” He dropped his hold and took a step back, putting more space between them and breaking whatever hold he’d had over her. “I donae know what came over me.” He met her gaze. “When I’m near you, I cannae help myself.”
“Why would you want to?” She had two choices. One to let him walk out the door and let her libido die down to a simmer or the second…to finish stripping and get the extra points.
The decision was ripped away when he turned and stormed out the door, leaving her trying to calm her racing heart.
“Nice…my first play was a fumble.” Quinn was left hot and bothered. She couldn’t deny she wanted him and wouldn’t turn him away. Two more minutes and Collin would have gotten more than a simple thank-you for delivering her cookies. It wasn’t as though he would have been a one-night stand. More like several nights, had she gotten her way. Sleeping with him would have been a more pleasant way to pass the time than trying to unravel a curse she didn’t believe in. She needed to get to the bottom of things and quick. It was time she had her chat with Gwinnie, and she knew just where to find her.
After dressing, she wound her way through the castle, ignoring the look of hatred from the blonde Barbie as she passed. She’d started up the small staircase, taking two steps at a time, but by the time she reached the top, she was gasping for air and clutching her side. Her desire to talk to the ghost slowly dwindled with each step. The door to the tower stood open. Gwinnie herself stood in the middle of the room as Quinn entered. The apparition pointed toward the painting leaning up against the wall. A satin-dressed version of Quinn stared back at herself. A shiver skirted down her spine as she gazed upon it, inspecting each paint stroke. A ruby comb poked out of the unruly red hair. The woman in the painting had Quinn’s mother’s eyes and her father’s cheekbones. The lady in the picture could have been Quinn’s twin.
Quinn shook her head. This was impossible. She didn’t believe in curses. “Your gypsy was a medium. She must have actually seen me coming.”
“Aye,” the ghost answered. “She did, and you must leave.”
“Why?” Quinn asked, yanking the sheets off the other paintings that Collin had told her about to get an overall picture of what the medium had seen.
“They must never know how the emerald disappeared. Some mysteries are never meant to be solved.”
“I hate to break it to you, lady, but I plan to figure this out.” Quinn turned to find that Gwinnie vanished, replaced by the big, brooding, red-bearded Highlander.
“’Tis better if you leave the sins of the past where they lie to save your own life.”
Quinn tilted her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why is everyone trying so hard to get me to leave? Your warning is a little late, by the way. Someone has already tried to kill me twice, and I’m still kicking.” Quinn turned back to the paintings and slowly moved down each one until she stood in front of the one depicting someone handing over the stone to an unseen person. Both hands in the picture were those of men. “Help me solve this.”
The ghost shimmered to hover beside her, leaving the entire right side of her body ice cold. “You’d risk your life for the Menzie name?”
“I don’t know about that, but my momma didn’t raise me to run from my issues, and she did have the common sense to teach me right from wrong. There is something real and wrong going on here, which someone is willing to kill for, and I plan to find out exactly what it is.”
“You could die,” he grumbled as he studied her. Interest twinkled in his eyes, as if he was sizing her up for the challenge ahead.
“And Scotland could be overrun with pizza joints. Are you going to help me?”
His hardened gaze narrowed onto hers, so she mimicked his look. If he thought a simple disgruntled look would dissuade her, he’d never met her family.
“Find this book and you’ll find your answers, but donae say I dinnae warn you.” He swished over to the third painting of an old library. He gestured to one of the books in particular, making her step closer. The faded black, worn-out spine had symbols down the length instead of words.
“What does it mean?” she asked and turned to find Redbeard had vanished.
“What is it with you Scotts needing better manners?” Quinn yelled out just as Collin walked into the room.
“Who you yelling at, luv?” he asked, gazing around the empty room.
“Redbeard, your relative.”
“Ah.” He gave a slow nod. “You might have a point then. His mother ruled the castle with an iron fist. It’s said that the staff and nobles alike were afraid of her.”
“So, Redbeard’s mom was Gwinnie’s mother-in-law? Gwinnie and he were married?”
“Aye.”
“That explains a lot,” Quinn said, grabbing the sheets and recovering the pictures.
“Quinn.” Collin rested a gentle hand on her arm. “We should talk about what happened in your chamber.”
“Nothing to say. For a brief minute, you wanted me. I saw the need in your eyes, but it’s fine. My sexy American awesomeness scared you. It happens. It’s okay, really.” She smiled up at him, even though the wall around her heart had a new fissure. “I’m arm candy to ward off Blondie. There’s no need to pretend behind closed doors.”
“That’s no’ it.” Collin’s voice lowered to a deep timbre. “You’ve almost died twice since you’ve been here. I cannae seem to stop the attacks, but if I bed you, I’ll be even more distracted. Maybe ’tis best if Angus drives you over to the next town where there’s lodging, and maybe you’ll be safe. I cannae help but feel getting you away from the castle would redirect the attacks.”
Quinn rolled her eyes and patted his chest. She couldn’t help it. He was like a new toy that she’d been told not to play with. “First of all, you helped me up the cliff
; I’ll give you that, but I didn’t die the first time or the second. Ye of little faith. But if you want me gone, I’ll go.”
“This isnae about what I want. I’m trying to do the right thing.”
“So am I considering I’m stuck on your mothership and you have my face painted on canvas like your own personal Guinevere. I’m going to do the right thing and help you.” She patted his chest. “So it’s settled. I’m staying.” Quinn sidestepped him and sashayed out of the room with a little more sway in her steps, teasing and taunting him with her assets, which he’d denied himself the pleasure of getting to know better.
He followed as she jogged down the steps and made her way into the main entrance hall where she was halted by a parade of men carrying tables and chairs toward the ballroom. She’d forgotten all about the party.
“Come with me.” Collin caught up to her and took her hand, pulling Quinn toward the kitchen and out the back entrance where she’d tried to use her cellphone.
“You need better cell service,” she announced out of the blue.
“I need a lot of things,” he countered with a glance over his shoulder as he continued pulling her toward a little house on the property.
“Who lives there?” she asked, slipping her fingers free.
“Garth, the caretaker, but that’s no’ where we’re going.”
A seven-foot, big, burly man stepped out of the worn shack with an ax in his grip. Harness, the white-haired dog, was by his side. A long, dark beard hung down the man’s flannel shirt, and his dark gaze watched them. He reminded her of a cross between a lumberjack and a serial killer, and by the way he was looking at them, she guessed the latter. Quinn stumbled, and Collin caught her arm before she fell flat on her face.
She followed Collin and climbed the little Mt. Everest, wondering where on earth he was taking her. They crossed the bridge and entered the clearing where she’d seen him the first time on horseback. Her nose twitched in anticipation of nature surrounding her.
“I’m not going into the forest.” She stopped and propped a hand on her hip. Suffering from hayfever was not on her agenda for the night.
He let out a resigned sigh before sweeping her up into his arms. She could have protested if she’d wanted, but she didn’t bother. It wasn’t every day she was pressed up against a hard, manly chest. If nothing else, she’d remember the feeling and use it as material for her dreams.
“I’d never take you into the forest.”
Collin headed to the end of the clearing, where a small house, identical to the caretaker’s, sat. He lowered Quinn to her feet, letting her soft body slide down his length. His hard-on pressed against the apex of her thighs as he opened the door and ushered her inside.
She expected cobwebs, dust, and worse, but the small cabin was as clean as the room she was staying in. The furnishings were humble and made of solid wood, the cooking items antique. She loved every part of the small little house down to the beautiful blue quilt folded at the foot of the bed.
Quinn picked up the soft quilt. The silky material surprised her. “Who’s place is this?”
“This belonged to Gwinnie’s ancestors. Her father was the castle steward, and she fell in love with the laird. It’s been updated some through the years.”
Quinn couldn’t imagine the ghost in the north tower wearing anything other than the jewels and satin that she’d seen her wearing.
She dropped the quilt and smoothed the lines. “Why did you bring me here?”
He closed the distance between them and cupped her cheek, resting his forehead against hers. “You’re stubborn.”
“And?” If there was a punch line, she was missing it.
“Beautiful.” He placed a tender kiss to her lips.
“And?” She was still confused, but she enjoyed the lip action, and he didn’t appear to be moving.
“You're outspoken, a pain in my ass, and American.”
Her lips twisted into a smile. The big Highlander was actually getting to know her. “You’ve giving me whiplash. One minute, you look like you want to devour me, and the next minute, you’re acting like I’m the one with the measles. So what’s it going to be this time, big guy?”
“I brought you here so we wouldnae be disturbed.”
She chuckled, making his brows dip. “Is this like your love shack? Do you bring all of the girls here and sweet talk them?”
“I’ve never brought another here.”
“Why did you walk out of my room?” Quinn couldn’t help herself from asking in an effort to figure out what made him tick, and it didn’t hurt that teasing the Highlander was just too easy.
“I was trying to be a gentleman.”
“I’m not a lady.” Her grin grew as she lifted her shirt over her head and dropped it on the floor. “And I’m not afraid to take what I want.”
She reached behind her back and unhooked her bra, letting it slide off her shoulders and down to the floor. She gestured to the scratches and cuts on her chest. “This happened. I survived, and it hasn’t swayed me from wanting you. Can you deal with this?”
“Aye.” Collin’s voice grew husky as he lifted her into his arms. A girly yelp escaped her lips before she could rein it back.
He laid Quinn on the bed, and her heart beat frantically as heat pooled between her thighs. She was embarrassingly wet and wanting, but nothing was going to stop her this time.
She kicked off her tennis shoes onto the floor in anticipation and had reached for the button on her jeans before he placed his hand over hers and took over. He kissed her stomach as his fingers made quick work of the fastening. The sound of her zipper lowering filled the quietness of the room. Her quickened breath was loud in her ears. He eased the jeans down her legs. His lips followed the path, kissing her everywhere but where she wanted most.
She lay naked as he stood tall in front of her, taking his time to undress for her visual excitement. His blue eyes darkened and hooded as he licked his lips, never taking his eyes from her body. He crawled up and settled between her thighs. Now, this is what I’m talking about.
Quinn raked her nails slowly over his tan back and held his gaze. The rapid rise and fall of his chest matched hers as he reached between them and grabbed his shaft, running the stiff length between her wet folds. No words mattered in that minute, no curse, no emerald. It was just him and her, both mindless with pleasure, as he slid deep inside and took her over the edge, straight into amazing bliss.
Chapter 11
Collin woke to moonlight streaming in through the small window. The satin quilt covered them from the waist down. Quinn lay asleep in his arms. A few scratches covered the creamy contours of her back. Collin basked in her beauty, knowing that even though their time was limited, he still wouldn’t have changed what happened. He could no longer deny the sparks, even if it meant sticking by her side the remainder of her stay. No other harm would come to her. He wouldn’t let it.
“Get out of your head,” she mumbled, and he glanced down at her face to find her looking up at him. A lazy smile covered her lips before she kissed his chest. “Don’t overthink it, stud. It was sex, not a declaration of love.”
“Isnae that supposed to be my line?” He pressed a kiss to her lips as her stomach growled.
“I don’t suppose you thought ahead to bring my cookies?”
Collin rolled on top of her, pressing his body into hers for one last kiss before getting out of the bed. He picked up her clothes and tossed them to her before pulling on his own clothes. “I figured we’d save them for dessert in the room.” He winked as he fastened his pants. “Right now, I’m going to make us a midnight snack.”
Her eyes widened and she held her hand to her chest. “You cook? That kind of ruins your manly image.”
He chuckled. “Even us manly types need to eat, right?”
“I suppose. But do you cook in your skirt?” she asked, getting off the bed and shimmying into her panties and bra.
“Only on special occasions.” Quinn
finished getting dressed and Collin linked his fingers through hers and led her out into the moonlight.
He warmed up leftovers and fed her properly before taking her cookies to his room and Quinn to his bed. Exhausted, with a full belly and feeling sated, she slept in his arms until the early morning hours.
****
Collin left Quinn sound asleep in his room as he jogged down the stairs and into the kitchen. He grabbed a piece of bacon, crunching into the crispy goodness, then winked at Mavis, making her smile.
“Someone is in a good mood. I donae suppose it has anything to do with a certain American.”
“She’s great, isnae she?”
“Aye, I like her very much. But, Collin Menzie, I love you like a son, and you should remember that she’ll be leaving soon.”
Her words deflated his sails. She meant well and true, Collin did know Quinn would be leaving soon, but she was here now, and that was all that mattered.
“Someone pushed her over the cliff yesterday.”
Mavis paused mid-stir and shot her gaze to Collins. “Who?”
He shrugged. That was the million-dollar question. “Someone disnae want her here.”
“There’s only one someone I can think of,” Mavis said and resumed stirring. “Margarete. Which reminds me, she was looking for you last night.” Mavis pointed her spoon in his direction. “You should be wary of that one. She’s like a vulture, she is.”
“Speaking of Margarete, she dinnae attack me when I came downstairs. Where is she hiding?”
“Ah…you two must be talking about Margarete,” Angus said, walking into the room. He grabbed a biscuit and kissed Mavis on the cheek. “I passed her this morning on her way out. She said she had a meeting in town but that she’d be back by the party. She also said she gave the workers the weekend off so they wouldnae be in the way.”
“The party.” Damn, he’d forgotten about that. “I need to call the boutique. Quinn’s going to need a dress.”
“And whose colors will she be wearin’?” Mavis asked.
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