“Aye then.” That’s all he managed to get out before she bolted, in need of a flat out sprint. She might be racing toward nothing but she needed to get her stress out and the energy affiliated with it.
What she didn’t expect was Graham keeping up. She probably shouldn’t be all that shocked though based on the cut body she sensed beneath his clothing. Barely winded, his eyes met hers with appreciation when they reached the front door. It seemed he was impressed by her running skills and speed.
“Jessie’s not out there,” Christina announced as they entered. “She’s not anywhere here.”
Rona, Blair, and Jim were standing in the kitchen.
“What makes ye say that?” Blair frowned as she looked from Graham to Christina. “Did something happen?”
“No.” Christina shook her head, yanked off her hoodie and deflected with a bit more bite than she intended. “Seeing how you’re all just standing there doing nothing, I’d say you already figured that out though. Because you sure as shit haven’t found my friend, have you?”
Sorry for swearing Granny, she thought to herself and sighed.
In truth, she was just feeling cranky and needed to backtrack from her statement. One that hinted at her special gifts. Though in all honesty, she should probably be sharing them by now.
She shook out her hair, and scowled heavily before she turned toward the fire and muttered, “What I wouldn’t do for some moonshine the way Granny used to make it.”
“You made some, remember?” Jim handed her a small flask. “At your place in Maine.”
“That’s right.” She nodded thanks, took a small swig then turned an eye to the fire as she absently handed the flask to Graham. “We should keep that going.”
“Is it really so important right now?” Rona asked as Christina put a few more pieces of wood on the low flames.
“Storm’s coming which means we’ll probably lose power soon,” she provided. “So yeah, it’s important.”
It felt like a connection to Jessie. A way to keep her here though she somehow knew it was too late for that.
“We found something.” Jim came alongside, eying her with that look he got. The one that said he knew she was way off her game right now. “A note beneath her tea cup.”
“A note?” She frowned and took the tiny scrap of paper he handed her.
“Well, a picture actually.”
Christina kept frowning as she eyed it. “It looks like a dragon on fire...”
“Aye,” Graham murmured, studying it with the same frown before he looked at her. “Ye dinnae know what this means, do ye, lass?”
“You know I don’t,” she whispered. Ensnared by his eyes, strange words just kept falling out of her mouth. “You know me better than anyone.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Jim said, his words cutting through their odd conversation. One Graham seemed just as confused by as he frowned and tore his eyes away.
“Death comes to those who fly,” Rona whispered, her words barely audible from the kitchen. “Death comes to Scotland.”
Blair looked from them to Rona, her hand on the hilt of the dagger at her waist. “Nay, it doesnae. We need to get back to the past.” Her eyes met Jim’s. “And ye need to stay here and keep an eye out for Jessie lest she returns.”
“Not on your life.” His eyes went to Christina’s. “If you go back, I go back.”
Done with the endless cat and mouse games he and Blair played together, she shook her head. “Now’s not the time, you two.”
She stared at the fire, drawn by it more than usual.
They needed to find Jessie.
She was alive somewhere, and it had to do with this fire.
“What makes ye say that?” Graham asked.
“Say what?” she managed, tearing her eyes from the flames to look at him. “About Blair and Jim?”
His eyes held hers for a moment before he nodded. “Aye, about Blair and Jim.”
Why did she get the feeling he wasn’t talking about them at all but what she had just thought in regards to Jessie?
“Either way, Grant got us all here,” Blair said. “So I think we’re stuck here until he comes for us.” Her eyes went to Christina’s ring. “Unless mayhap that can shift us through time.” Her brows whipped together. “I never noticed a ring on Jessie’s finger. Did ye?”
“No,” Christina murmured, her gaze returning to the fire. “But that doesn’t mean she didn’t have one.”
“I’m sort of surprised, all things considered, that none of us noticed or better yet asked her about a ring from the start.” Jim frowned and shook his head as he glanced from Blair to Christina. “Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”
“Aye,” Blair murmured as Christina only nodded in response.
The more she thought about the last few days, not mentioning such an important ring seemed the least bizarre of it all. How often did Jessie really leave that chair? Christina swore she had used the bathroom but maybe not. And had she ever changed once? Showered? Her frown deepened as she thought about the endless beef stew she had been cooking because Jessie had requested it. While she assumed Jessie had only picked at her food, now she wondered.
Had she ever eaten anything at all?
“Something’s wrong,” she whispered and shook her head as her eyes went to Graham.
“Aye, lass, but we’ll figure it out.”
She took unexpected comfort in his eyes as his hand slipped into hers. In how confident he seemed.
“Jessie will be all right,” he assured.
As their eyes held, something seemed to shift. At first, she thought it was just the lighting then realized it was far more when Graham suddenly yanked her against him.
“This is our chance to make a good first impression, lass,” he whispered in her ear before it felt like the floor dropped out from under them. Her ears popped and colors swirled around her. Yet rather than feeling afraid she was caught by the sensation of being against him. The strength of his body. The pure power she hadn’t felt until this moment.
What was that?
She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, not fazed or frightened in the least that she was very likely traveling back in time. Instead, she felt calm in a way she hadn’t in a long time. Soothed in a way that was somehow exciting. Not thinking clearly, or maybe thinking clearer than she had in a while, she wrapped her hands in his hair and pulled his lips down to hers.
What she discovered when she did was more than she bargained for.
He tasted even better than he looked and smelled, and that said a whole lot. Both groaned as they didn’t take it slow but rushed right into it, their tongues tangling. Sweet Heaven above, the man knew how to use his mouth. Not to mention his hands as he caressed her ass with one hand and used the other to trail his fingers up her spine until he cupped the back of her neck. Gone, caught in a blistering storm of sensations, Christina had no awareness outside of him. Outside of his heat and the material of his shirt as she twisted her fingers in it.
“It seems to be a common thing, aye?” came a distant, amused brogue. “Your friends kissing my cousins when traveling through time?”
“Like I said,” Graham whispered between kisses. “This is our chance to make a good first impression. Show them we’re together.”
“You got it,” she whispered back and kept on kissing him. Why not? He was great at it, and she wasn’t quite ready to face a scary new reality.
Yet when a woman cleared her throat, something about it made Christina finally pull away. Well, not away but at least no longer kissing as her eyes landed on an attractive older woman with short red hair. Her brows were raised as she assessed Christina. Not in an amused or curious way but more of a who-the-hell-are-you way.
Fondness lit the woman's eyes as they went to Graham and she nodded hello. “Son.” Then her less-than-impressed gaze returned to Christina, all warmth gone. “And you are?”
While tempted to say she likely already knew the answer, Granny h
ad raised her with better manners than that. So she pulled away, closed the distance and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Christina.” She glanced sideways at Milly and whispered out of the corner of her mouth, “So glad to see you, sweetie!” before her eyes shot back to Graham’s mother. “It’s very nice to meet you, ma’am.”
The woman frowned, her eyes going from Graham to Christina before they went to Milly and Adlin. “Seriously? This is my son’s one true love?”
“Och, Ma,” Graham grumbled before an older but just as handsome man stepped forward and took Christina’s hand. “Hello, Christina. Welcome to MacLomain Castle. I’m Niall MacLomain.” He pulled Graham’s mother against his side, the affection obvious in his gaze as he looked at her. “And this is my wife, Nicole.”
Christina plastered a warm smile on her face and greeted them both. What was Nicole’s deal? Why so hostile? But then she knew there had been a divide in the family for a while. Since Graham’s cousin, Fraser had died. Rona had pretty much abandoned her parents to spend all her time at Hamilton Castle with Conall. And Graham? Well, she was beginning to suspect Fraser’s death had affected all of his cousins one way or another because Graham clearly wasn’t around enough either.
Nicole nodded but offered no real greeting before her eyes floated to Rona who seemed to be the only one to have traveled back in time with them. What happened to Blair and Jim?
“It’s been a long time, Daughter.” Pain flickered in Nicole’s eyes. “We’ve missed you.”
“Aye, Ma.” Rona nodded as she closed the distance and wrapped her arms around Nicole. “And for that I’m sorry.”
Clearly stunned, Nicole’s arms remained limp until she finally returned the hug. Meanwhile, his eyes moist, Niall wrapped his arms around both his wife and daughter. It seemed Christina had arrived in the midst of a family reunion.
“So what do ye think, lass?” Graham whispered in Christina’s ear. “Are ye not impressed by the castle?”
“Impressed by what?” she began before she suddenly snapped out of the bubble Graham had somehow sucked her into and finally took in her surroundings. The mind-blowing enormity of everything.
“Well, I’ll be,” she whispered, staring at the gorgeous castle not two hundred yards out and the loch beyond. Then she just kept looking and looking. From the moats to the drawbridges and portcullises to the people. Oh, but the people.
“Just look at ‘em,” she whispered, wide-eyed as she took in their medieval attire. “I knew...I was told...you and your cousins were dressed like this...but to see everyone like this just...”
When she trailed off, Milly grinned. “Pretty amazing, huh?”
“Mil,” she managed, incredibly happy to see her friend again even though she couldn’t tear her eyes away from everything around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay, honey.”
“Back at ya,” Milly murmured before she gave her a big hug. Christina finally managed to screw her head on straight and hugged her back. “Hey there.”
After they pulled apart, Milly introduced her to Adlin.
“Always a pleasure to meet another Broun lass.” His eyes twinkled as he smiled at her. “Welcome to medieval Scotland.”
“Thanks,” she replied. “Nice to meet you as well, Adlin.”
“How are you, sweetie?” Milly searched Christina’s eyes. “This is an awful lot. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she managed, somehow able to play her part regardless of how wowed she was. “Despite my new guy’s mom hating me on sight.”
“Your new...” Milly's eyes widened as it clicked. “Oh...you mean...Graham?”
“Who else would I mean?” She frowned. “Did you not just see that kiss?”
“I did,” Milly replied slowly, her eyes going from Graham who was speaking with his family back to Christina. “And while yes, it was pretty hot, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”
“Right.” She nodded, knowing exactly where Milly was going with this. “You’re talking about Linds and Conall kissing their way through time and...” She frowned. “Wait a sec, they ended up together so what do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” Milly began before she clamped her mouth shut, eyed Christina with uncertainty then shook her head. “No, I do know. This is weird, hon.” She gestured at Graham. “You and him.” She pursed her lips then cocked her head. “Or maybe not considering you guys ran into each other already in another dimension. What have I missed since then? Did much time go by in the future?”
“No.” Christina shook her head, seeing the perfect explanation hidden right in Milly’s very own words. “Like you said, we ran into each other.” She made a flustered motion with her hand and released a breathy sigh. “That’s all it took. We had this instant unavoidable connection. From there, things just took off.” She eyed him up and down with appreciation. “I mean, just look at him, Mil. Damn fine, am I wrong?”
He really was, wasn’t he? Something about seeing him here in his element only seemed to amplify his already drool-worthy good looks. Her mind went back to the feel of that long, hard body against hers. More so, the steely and more than ample bulge between his legs.
“Of course Graham’s handsome,” Milly said, cutting into her thoughts. “All the MacLomain men are.”
“I’m sure,” Christina murmured, pretending to still admire him though, in truth, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
“There’s another single guy around with MacLomain blood too,” Milly commented. “In case you’re interested.”
“Why would I be?” she said absently, her eyes still on Graham.
“Because he might be meant for you.”
“Meant for me?” She held up her ring finger, her eyes still on Graham as she shook her head. She was about say something about her gem glowing a certain color. Instead, the words caught in her throat as a strong hand locked around her wrist and a deep voice said, “Aye, meant for you, lass.”
The next thing she knew she was whipped against yet another hard body and another set of lips altogether came down on hers.
Chapter Four
Cowal, Scotland
1312
GRAHAM DIDN’T THINK but acted as he tore Bryce away from Christina. Aye, it made sense that he did such, but he wasn’t doing it to put on a show.
He was truly infuriated.
Bryce, it seemed, was just as angry. When his cousin chanted, and fire came roaring at him, Graham chanted right back and doused not only the fire but Bryce and mistakenly, Christina, in dank moat water.
“Enough,” his mother bit out as she stepped in front of him and glared up. “You’re first-in-command of this castle, Son. Act like it.”
“Bloody well straight,” Bryce sputtered, dripping wet as he glared at Graham.
Nicole spun and narrowed her eyes at Bryce. “And the last time I checked, you were a damn chieftain so shape up, Laird MacLeod.”
Bryce hung his head and sighed. “Aye, Auntie.”
Ma’s eyes whipped back to him, and she gestured loosely before she spat, “Come with me, Graham. We need to talk.”
When Adlin went to speak up, she shook her head sharply.
That, as usual, silenced his cousin.
It always amazed him how everyone fell beneath his mother’s wrath lately. His aunts said it was a combination of her being heartbroken over the loss of Fraser, then Rona being gone all the time, as well as Graham. Then there was mention of something called menopause. That, it seemed, was the true root of her power because his father and uncles always backed away and vanished when that plight came upon her.
He and his mother didn’t go far and certainly not far enough away from Christina before Ma spun on him with her hands planted on her hips and her eyes a little wild. “What the hell are you doing?” She poked him in the chest. “And where the hell have you been?” Before he could respond, her eyes welled, and she threw her arms around him, mumbling, “I was so damned worried about you. You have no idea.” She sniffled. “I worry every time you run off.�
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Again, he tried to respond but had no chance to before she pulled back, wiped away tears that barely had a chance to fall and crossed her arms over her chest. Eyes narrowed, she shook her head. “Tell me what’s going on because I can already tell I don’t like any of it.” Her eyes shot to Christina then back to him. “And I’m not sure I like her either.”
Not sure was more than he dared hope given his mother’s current state. He imagined Christina managed to get that much approval because she was from the twenty-first century.
He knew he had to tell his mother what he would tell everyone else, but he was having trouble finding the words. Though he’d been keeping secrets more often than not lately, he had never lied straight to her face. Maybe he could manipulate his words to say things in such a way that he wasn’t really lying.
She tapped her foot when he didn’t respond right away. “Well?”
“I love her, Ma,” he announced, shocked when the words rolled off his tongue. That he was truly capable of lying to his mother for the greater good. “She’s the one meant for me. My one true love.”
“Really?” Her frown wavered a little, as though a smile might be lurking somewhere beneath. “Are you serious?”
“I am.” He nodded. “She’s the one.”
“Oh,” his mother said softly, tears welling again as she eyed him. “That’s sort of big, Son.”
“I know,” he said just as softly.
“She’s southern,” she commented.
“So?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, not quite meeting his eyes. “I guess I’d hoped you might find a nice New England girl like myself.”
He just couldn’t help himself knowing full well his mother was not as sweet as she pretended. “Really, Ma? You were from Boston’s South End, and I’ve heard the tales of yer youth.”
“Watch your tongue, Graham.” Yet there was a flicker of humor in her eyes. “So you truly feel that Broun, MacLomain connection with her? That deep love?” She eyed him, clearly not all that convinced. “The sort of love your father and I share?”
Promised to a Highland Laird Page 4