Embrace the Highland Warrior

by Anita Clenney

  He looked like she’d slapped him. “Baby?” His gaze dropped to her stomach. He sat on the edge of the bathtub. “You’re pregnant?”

  What had she done? God, what had she done?

  He rubbed his hands through his hair, shook his head, and she waited for the questions. They weren’t what she expected.

  “It doesn’t matter, Shay. Even if it’s Jamie’s, it’s still part of you.” He held his hand over his heart, his beautiful, strong fingers trembling only slightly. “I love you. I can love it too.”

  Shay stared at Cody, her eyes filling with tears again. “I’m not pregnant, but I was, nine years ago.”

  Chapter 11

  “Nine…” Cody’s expression went through several levels of shock. “A baby,” he whispered. “We made a baby? You and me?”

  “Yes.”

  Raw emotion swept over his face. “But where is it?”

  “Something went wrong. It was born too early.”

  “Why didn’t you tell—that’s what was in the letters?”

  “I didn’t mention the baby, I just said I needed you to come.”

  “And you thought I didn’t care?” His voice strangled with hurt. “I would have done anything for you.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have known, but after everything that happened, after I wouldn’t talk to you, I figured you were mad at me, or that you’d just moved on. I should have kept calling.”

  “A baby? We made a baby.” Cody rubbed his hands over his face, his eyes lost.

  Shay could still see the stark walls of the emergency room and the blood running down her legs, pooling on the white floor, so much blood for something so tiny and frail. The nurses rushing her to the delivery room as her uterus contracted, expelling the life it held before it could take its first breath. “I was five months pregnant. Five months and twenty-two days. No one knew, not even Renee, until I went to the hospital.” Shay’s voice dropped to a whisper and then cracked. “It was a boy. He’s buried in Lake Placid, in a small graveyard close to where I lived. That’s where I was the day you came to the apartment. I was burying him. Renee was sick and couldn’t come.” Shay had named him Alexander. She would tell Cody that later.

  “You buried him alone? Oh God, Shay.” He dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled her close, his head pressed to her hair. A tear fell on her forehead and rolled down her cheek. They sat in the bathroom, her on the toilet, him kneeling before her, not speaking, just touching, grieving for a life they created and lost. She had carried her secret for so long it stripped her bare to finally share her grief, to acknowledge her son, Cody’s son, after having to hide him from everyone. Hiding his existence had been almost as hard as carrying him inside her, feeling the little kicks and hiccups, and then having to bury him in the cold ground.

  After the tears, she and Cody stood under the shower, holding each other as the water washed away the worst of their grief. As Cody wrapped her in a towel and dried her hair, they exchanged soft touches born of solace, not lust.

  “Did you see that?” Shay asked as they stepped out of the bathroom.

  “See what?” Cody asked.

  “Something moved past the window.”

  Cody tensed, listening. “There’s someone on the porch,” he whispered. He quietly pulled on his jeans, grabbed the gun and his dagger. He handed her the gun. “Take this. Lock the door after I leave, and hide under the bed.”

  “Hide?”

  “If anyone comes in, shoot for the heart.” He held the dagger and pushed a button. There was a click as the blade extended into a sword.

  Her pulse pounded. “Let me come with you,” she said, quickly dressing.

  “No. It’s too dangerous.”

  “What if someone’s out there, and this is exactly what he wants, for you to leave me alone?” She knew Cody was a skilled killer. At one time, that would have made her shiver. Now she found it comforting. She watched him struggle with his thoughts. “Please.” She’d rather face a dragon with Cody at her side than wait alone for shadows to attack.

  He sniffed the air. “No.” His voice sounded like steel. “Don’t leave this cabin. No matter what.” Cody walked to the door, came back, cupped her head, and kissed her. “Don’t leave,” he said again, and then he was gone. She locked the door behind him and watched from the window as he melted into the night. Where did he go? Her eyes scanned the dark, trying to make out his form. At first she thought the shadows were clouds drifting over the moon, then she saw the shape of them, like men, but they didn’t move like men. They glided. They were following Cody.

  ***

  Cody gripped his sword and stepped lightly on the forest floor, ears tuned for any sound that didn’t belong. He sniffed, eyes searching the shadows. Something was there; he could feel it. A soft laugh whispered through the trees. He whirled. A man materialized a few yards away, watching him with red eyes. He smiled, and sharp teeth flashed in the dark. Fangs. A vampire! What was it doing here? Before Cody could lift his sword, the man rushed at him like a streak, moving so fast Cody couldn’t track it.

  He learned in the battle at Druan’s castle that the only sure way to kill a vampire was beheading or a direct stab through the heart. Talismans didn’t work on them. He swung his sword as the thing zoomed past, but he missed. Whirling, it came back. Just as it slammed Cody to the ground, it went solid again, with fangs an inch long. He rolled to his feet, grabbed his fallen sword, and braced for the next attack. This time when it struck, he was ready. As he fell, he thrust his sword upward, into its heart. The creature turned to dust in mid-air, particles settling all around him.

  Hisses filled the air as more creatures emerged from the trees. They stood out of sword’s reach, their fangs bared. Cody searched out where each one stood, identifying the leader, who stood a little apart from the others, his stance cockier, more sure. When the next one attacked, Cody jumped aside and drove his sword into the leader’s heart. The others hissed and looked at each other. They hadn’t expected him to take the offensive when he was so outnumbered, but he was used to fighting against the odds.

  They came at him like bullets, nothing but a blur, until they slowed. He swung left and drove his sword into what he hoped was the thing’s heart, and dust rained down, covering his sword. Two of them hit him at once, flinging him in the air like a rag doll. His bones felt like they shattered, but he clung to his sword. They came at him again, and he rolled painfully to his feet, his blade catching another one in the neck. The swing wasn’t strong enough. The vampire screeched and kept going. If he could just see the bloody things. Cody ducked as another one attacked and then swung harder, finishing off the one he missed. He was tiring, but he had to kill them all before they discovered Shay.

  Two were left, but they kept attacking so close together that he couldn’t strike them both. He waited for the first to attack. Using the side of a tree to spring clear, he flipped through the air, leveling his blade at what he thought was its neck. It disappeared, leaving only one.

  “Come on, you bastard.”

  The vampire stood fifty feet away in human form. He turned his head, looking at the path leading to the cabin, and Cody followed his gaze. Shay stood there, her face pale, eyes wide with shock.

  “We’ve found you at last,” the vampire said.

  Cody’s blood felt like shards of ice.

  “We?” Shay asked, her voice strong. “You’re the only one left.”

  The vampire grinned. “Too bad I can’t have a taste of you. The feisty ones are always better. I’ll have to settle for him.” Its fangs lengthened. “No one cares about him.”

  Shay’s face darkened; her back straightened; her shoulders squared. “I care about him.”

  The vampire turned and streaked toward Cody. Shay ran after the vampire, moving just as fast. She tackled it, and they both rolled into the trees, a mix of swirling colors. Cody stood rooted in place, his mouth hanging open. What the hell?

  The vampire looked as stunned as Cody. It attac
ked again, catching Cody off guard, slamming his head against a tree. As he struggled to remain conscious, he registered several things at once. The vampire, who had retreated, now rushing at him again, and Shay, farther away, scooping up a stick and running after the vampire. No, what she did was faster than running. She streaked after the vampire, driving the stick into the blurred shadow. It turned solid, its fangs elongated, red eyes wide with shock. The vampire disintegrated, but Shay kept coming, moving too fast to stop. She hit the ground and rolled. Her stick drove deep into the earth, vibrating, inches from Cody’s face, then everything went black.

  ***

  “Cody! Wake up!” Shay shook his shoulder. Oh my God. Vampires! Nobody said anything about vampires! What about the demons? “Cody, you have to wake up!” Was he dead?

  She heard a twig snap behind her. Her blood froze. She turned. “You.” She was so shocked she didn’t start fighting until the handkerchief covered her mouth and nose. By then, it was too late.

  ***

  Have his eyes always been this sexy, Shay wondered as his head lowered. His body, warm and hard, with all those muscles pressed against her definitely wasn’t the one she remembered skinny-dipping with. Something was different about him inside, not just the body. An edge. His lips touched hers, hesitantly, as if he weren’t sure what he would find. A small sound of surprise, and pleasure, escaped. He tasted good. He lifted his mouth just a fraction. She expected him to apologize, move away, laugh to ease the awkwardness—something. Instead, he kissed her again, this time opening his mouth, letting his tongue tease her lips. She had imagined this in her dreams, but in her dreams, it hadn’t felt this good.

  Cody shifted, settling one thigh between hers. He stroked her hair and face, whispering her name as they kissed. He smelled good, like mountains. His lips grew bolder, his tongue slipping curiously into her mouth until she was on fire. The rational side of her brain told her to run, but her hands gripped his T-shirt and moved underneath to feel the bare skin of his back, beginning to dampen with sweat.

  Breathing hard, the two started shedding clothes. He stared as her body was exposed, and she got her first good look at his tattoos. He pushed his jeans and underwear down, and she forgot everything else.

  Shay gasped as he nudged her legs apart and lowered his body to hers. His eyes, clouded with passion, locked on hers as he joined their bodies together. Shay felt a sharp pain and bit her lip to keep from crying out. Cody went still for a moment and murmured, “I’m sorry.” The need to move was stronger than the sting. She pushed toward him, and he pushed back, pressing deeper. He stopped again, resting his forehead on hers. She wrapped her ankles around his legs and her arms around his waist to hold him tighter, and he groaned. It was the most beautiful thing she ever experienced, in spite of the discomfort. The confusion of the past year vanished. Joined with Cody, she felt complete.

  He kissed her again, and Shay clung to him, her nails biting into his damp skin. Pressure started building inside her, gathering, searching for a way out. She felt like she was flying, her body tingling, and then she fell. She grabbed the feeling, holding tight as she plummeted. Cody tensed. The sensations washing over her in waves didn’t drown out the soft “I love you” that brushed her ear as Cody’s body pulsed inside hers.

  “Shay? Where are you? I found the cat.”

  Nina!

  Shay couldn’t breathe.

  Cody raised his head and looked at her in stunned silence, his body still throbbing inside hers. The passion that had clouded his eyes only moments before was replaced with confusion. “What have I done?” he whispered.

  Shay opened her mouth but couldn’t speak.

  He pulled out and sat back on his heels, staring down at his body. “Condom… I didn’t think about a condom,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. He scrambled to his feet, pulling up his underwear and jeans, not bothering to zip them, while Shay reached for her panties.

  “You’re bleeding.” Stooping, he grabbed his shirt from the hay and wiped away the blood. He helped her slip into her panties and jeans and pulled her to her feet.

  “Shay? Are you there?” Nina called again.

  “You’d better answer her,” he whispered.

  “Be right there,” Shay called out hoarsely.

  She pulled her bra down as Cody slipped her shirt over her head. She finished dressing and felt a touch on her shoulder. “Shay? Are you all right?” His face held a mixture of shame and tenderness.

  “I don’t know.” She was torn, one part still lying on the floor beneath him, feeling passion and love like she’d never known, the other part filled with humiliation. He was her best friend. He’d been like a brother to her. Everyone would find out. Their lives would be ruined.

  She had to get down before Nina suspected something. Shay blinked back tears as Cody knelt and slipped shoes onto her feet. He stood, hand clasping the shirt smeared with her blood, his eyes searching her face.

  He squeezed her arm, but quickly let go. “Go on, before she comes looking for you. Wait.” He brushed a tear from her cheek. His hand lingered for a second and then dropped away. “I’ll come by later tonight, then we can talk.”

  Shay moved to the ladder, her body numb. When she reached the bottom, she glanced up and saw him standing motionless, his jeans still unzipped, the blood-stained shirt in his hands, bewilderment and passion on his face.

  The sound of a door closing pulled her from the dream. Shay opened her eyes, but her head throbbed. She started to touch it, but couldn’t move. Her hands were tied to the headboard, and she was naked. What had he done while she was unconscious?

  She tugged at the ropes, panic starting to build. They were too tight. Her chest hurt, her arm was on fire, and the gag was choking her. She tried to slow her breathing. She looked around the room. Where was she? A cabin. Not the one where she and Cody had stayed. Cody. Vampires. Had more come? Was he alive?

  She heard a plank squeak and lightly closed her eyes, pretending she was asleep. Through the seam of her lashes, she saw Mr. Ellis enter the tiny bedroom wearing the neatly pressed dark slacks he usually wore. He was smiling at her, his face polite, cordial. He held a red rose in one hand, a scalpel in the other.

  ***

  An owl’s hoot woke Cody. He sat up, head spinning, covered in dust. He was in the woods, a stick buried in the earth beside him. The vampires! Shay. He jumped up, searching the trees. What the hell had she done? He’d never seen anything move so fast. Except vampires. Were there more? A sweet scent lingered in his nose, different from the vampire scent. He checked his watch. One a.m. He’d been out for an hour. Where was she? His talisman was warm against his chest. His battle marks tingled. She was in danger. He knew it in his heart. He had to find her.

  Tracks covered the ground where he’d fought the vampires. Shay’s footprints were there too, and another set, off to the side. Larger, a boot, square-toed, probably size eleven. Someone had followed her. She said the intruder in Scotland wore square-toed boots. Cody found his gun lying on the ground where Shay had dropped it before running after the vampire. He followed the sweet scent and saw the square-toed footprints leading away from the fight. The impression was deeper there. The man who followed Shay had gained more than a hundred pounds, or he was carrying something. Behind the tree where Cody had fallen, he found a white handkerchief. He picked it up and sniffed. Chloroform.

  ***

  It took all Shay’s willpower not to move or cry out. She let her eyes shut. She heard him move closer, heard something drop onto the table near her head. His hand brushed over her breast, and panic bubbled inside her. Keep your head. Panic will get you killed. Calm. Calm. Maybe he would think she was unconscious. An unconscious victim wouldn’t be as much fun. She blanked her mind, focusing only on her heartbeat, hard and fast, like a drum. When it slowed, she let her mind go, let the smells of the cabin and Mr. Ellis’s breath fade, released the brush of his hand on her body and the memory of the shiny scalpel in his hand. The lake shimmered b
efore her. It was smooth. Tranquil. No wind today. She dug deeper into her mind. A boy and a girl stood on the shore, looking out across the water. They were skipping stones.

  “Mine went farther than yours,” Shay said, planting her hands on her hips.

  “Did not.” Cody grinned at her, tossing a flat, smooth rock into the air and catching it with the other hand.

  “Did too.” Shay chose another one and flicked her wrist, skipping it across the lake, sending out a wave with each plink. “There. Six skips. Top that.”

  He grinned again and tossed his rock. It made eight skips before the water swallowed it. He laughed and stuck out his tongue. Because he’d already turned thirteen, he thought he was better at everything.

  “I quit.” Shay flung the rest of her rocks at him, harder than she meant. She had been emotional lately. Nina said it had to do with becoming a woman. Puberty, she said. Shay didn’t want anything to do with puberty. She didn’t want to bleed and grow boobs. She wanted to ride her bike and play in the woods with Cody.

  He covered his mouth, and when he removed his hand, blood trickled down his lips.

  “I’m sorry, Cody. I didn’t mean to hit you.”

  He wiped the blood on his shirt—his mom would clobber him for that—and the anger left his eyes. He brushed a tear from her cheek and gave her a bloody smile, revealing a chipped bottom tooth and split lip. “Aye. I know you didn’t, pip-squeak.” He dumped the rest of the rocks from his pocket and ran his knuckles over her head. “Come on, let’s get home and clean it up before Mom and Nina get back. Maybe they won’t notice it.”

  The other voice crept back in, and something sharp pricked her chest. It was all she could do not to scream. “Sleep now, my pretty,” Ellis said above her lips, his breath reeking of onions and evil. “But not too long. I’ve waited too long for this game to begin.”

  She waited until the door closed and his steps faded, and then she waited a few seconds more. She opened one eye, then the other, letting out her breath in a soft sob. He wouldn’t believe she was sleeping for much longer, and then he would come back and kill her. The cut on her chest was proof of that.