Highland Faith

by Hill, Madelyn

  Graeme crawled over the bed to her, gently pushing her to her back as he did so. He settled his body above hers. His blue eyes pierced hers with desire and longing. Her breath quickened. She touched his chest, tangled her fingers in the dark hair, then pressed her hand flat over his heart. Thump, thump, thump. Surely hers matched the quick pounding of his.

  “Faith?” he said as he eased between her legs. “Do you want me to stop?”

  His gaze implored her to say no with desire shining bright. His eyes narrowed, tiny lines fanning from the corners as if he were in pain as he held himself back.

  Searching deep within her soul, she contemplated saying yes, but her body thrummed with such desire and need, she had to shake her head.

  He lifted his brow as if questioning her answer. In response, she cupped his face and lifted up to kiss him.

  Encouraged, Graeme growled as he kissed her back. She pulled him forward, farther on top of her. He was hot and powerful. His manhood nestled at her core, filling her with urges she’d never felt before—but loved.

  He smoothed his hands along her shoulders, down her arms. He tangled his fingers with hers and lifted her arms above her head. She pushed against him, her womanhood filled with need.

  “Patience, darling.”

  Instead of heeding his advice, she pulled her hand from his and cupped his face. She stared into his eyes, need overwhelmed her at the fiery desire shining in his gaze. She kissed him, long and hard, then drew back and to witness the swift change of his eyes from icy blue to dark clouds.

  Graeme rested his forehead against her as a sigh slipped from his mouth. “I’ll not be able to hold back if you keep tempting me.”

  “Then dinnae hold back.”

  He chuckled and kissed her. He shifted down and laid sweet kisses along her shoulder, between her breasts. Sheer torture. She arched toward him, needed to feel him, have him within her. The urgent need filled her, so she slipped her hands along his sides and over his hips. She gripped his buttocks, squeezed, and smiled when he growled.

  “Darling,” Graeme whispered. The soft words swept over her skin.

  Her hips began to shift, move against him in an instinctual, primal rhythm.

  “Darling.” He settled on her breasts where he feasted and suckled.

  She nearly bucked off the bed. “Graeme.”

  Slowly, oh, so slowly he entered her. She hissed as pleasure overtook her. “Aye, you . . . it feels so good.”

  When he fully filled her, she shifted, trying to accommodate the size him.

  She cringed. “Stop.” She placed her palms on his chest and pushed. The awkwardness and tightness frightened her. Their actions weren’t a surprise, but the pain was.

  “’Twill take a moment,” he promised as he looked at her. His blue eyes nearly glowed and beads of sweat glistened along his brow. “Tell me, darling. Tell me what you want.”

  With all certainty, she said, “I want you.”

  With his desire urging her, she started to rock her hips, pulling him in deeper.

  Graeme groaned. “You are making me lose my senses.”

  She laughed and their rhythm increased. Sweat trickled along Graeme’s brow. She felt it slick his back. Two bodies became one, dedicated to wringing pleasure from each move, thrust, kiss. Sweet, sweet kisses mixed with stark need, need driving them to be as close together as possible.

  Flesh slid against flesh; she called out and Graeme swallowed her yell as he slanted his mouth over hers.

  “Shh, darling. Wouldn’t want the other men to hear,” he whispered as he eased out of her.

  “Nay,” she protested.

  With a finger gently on her lips, Graeme kissed down her neck and through the valley between her breasts. She wiggled when he continued over her stomach and tickled close to her navel.

  The need for him to be in her drove her to grip his shoulders and pull him up.

  A cocky smile curled his lips. “Want something, darling?

  She chuckled. Graeme nuzzled her neck, prompting her to giggle. His laughter filled the air as he rolled across the bed, pulling her on top of him as he did so.

  She widened her eyes and watched as he smoothed his hands over her legs and up her sides; he cupped her breasts, holding their weight. All the while, his gaze never left hers. Heavy-lidded desire flamed within his brilliant blues.

  Tipping her head back, a throaty groan ease from her lips. Graeme lifted up, shifted her so that she rode his shaft. Nipped at her mouth, her jaw, back to her mouth. She opened to him, welcoming him, her heart careening into unfamiliar territory.

  Stop, her mind warned, he’s your enemy. But ’twas too late. Too late indeed.

  She gripped his face, held tight, and kissed him as if it were her last day on earth. She continued to ride him, trembling with all of the emotions shifting through her body and mind.

  It built, this pressure in her womb, with every thrust. Bigger and bigger, her desire fueled the tingles along her body with the burgeoning pleasure. Suddenly, light splintered before her eyes, shattering her with such pleasure, she called out.

  “Darling,” Graeme said as he covered her mouth with his. As he buried his manhood within her, he tipped his head back and growled his release.

  They collapsed upon the bed, breathing heavy, hearts racing. She snuggled up to him.

  He kissed her brow. “Sleep, darling.”

  She nodded, watching his chest rise and fall.

  The ramifications of what just happened struck her. She gazed at the man next to her. When he’d captured her, she thought him loathsome. However, now that she’d spent time with the Blue Boy’s captain and crew, she’d softened toward them. More than softened, if she were honest.

  She thought about her actions. She smoothed her hand over Graeme’s tatau, slowly tracing the black lines as they swirled into his skin. He sighed and wrapped his arm around her, all the while remaining asleep.

  How strange, sleeping with a man. Not the other part—making love part, but the act of sleeping next to someone and that someone was a man. The heat of him, the intimacy of their naked bodies flush against each other, and the idea of being so open and vulnerable brought her surprising comfort.

  She glanced at his face and grinned. He opened his eyes. Those eyes watched her, blazing blue with flecks of white and silver. His brow rose and he smiled. Her stomach quivered as Graeme leaned toward her. When her heart flipped, she realized what happened to her.

  Dear God, she loved him.

  Chapter 11

  “You’ve made a drastic mistake.”

  “Nay, Amit. I’ve made no mistake. That woman,” he said as he pointed to his chamber, “is strong and worthy. She is mayhap the strongest woman I’ve ever met.” The stark vulnerability in her gaze as he’d told her the ransom wouldn’t be paid nearly broke his heart. He’d almost told her it didn’t matter; she’d be returned to her clan regardless. But something stopped him, and at the time he’d thought ’twas his desire to ease the pain written across her face. However, it was thoughts of his father who’d stopped him. Handing the castle key back to his father and the redemption that would follow stopped him cold. “She deserves better.”

  Better than him taking her innocence. Better than him still planning how to gain the ransom from her vexing family.

  His mate’s eyes widened before he sagely shook his head. “You love her.”

  He grunted in disgust. “Dinnae be a fool. She’s my captive.”

  Amit grabbed his arm. “Your mouth says one thing. Your eyes say another.” His mate left him and headed belowdecks. The man liked the hold, felt it gave him safety as opposed to the openness of the deck. No matter how many times he reassured Amit the English would never find him, his mate preferred the solitude and protection of the hold.

 
He wiped the back of his neck. Nay, he didn’t love Faith. She was the means to his family’s salvation. He had to save his family and couldn’t be distracted by a woman. His father would berate him and tell him he’d never changed. But he knew the truth of it. He’d changed, his family would come first, he’d never put a woman or his body’s desire before his father and clan.

  Lady Faith had invited him into her bed. Her bold actions and words—aye, her bold actions had stripped him of any defense against her womanly curves, honey-colored tresses, and those green eyes begging for his touch. He’d asked her if she wanted him to stop, and she’d told him no.

  And the way she kissed him, explored his body, had stripped him of all logic and told of his desire for her and hers for him.

  A glorious creature, one wrought of strength, well-hewn from her love of the wood and the physical activity involved with hunting. He liked that about her, when in the past he tended to like fleshier woman with ample bosom and arse. As he smoothed his hands over her body, he learned her soft and lithe places. The roundness of her shoulders, the strength of her arms and those legs. Och, her legs were long, lean, and tight with muscles.

  The way she curled her legs around him, pulling him against her made his cock stand just thinking about it.

  He whipped his fingers through his hair. Dear God, he waxed poetic about a woman, when he’d pledged not to allow a woman to interfere with his goals.

  He strode to the ship’s bulwark, gripped it as he stared at the shore. They were quite a distance away, but he didn’t doubt the Lairds MacAlister watched, gauged his mood, and tried to determine if they could breach the ship.

  More guards were needed and he cursed the size of his crew. The men were trustworthy and worked hard, and would no doubt defend the Blue Boy until the end. But against a clan? ’Twould be tricky and they’d have to have a solid plan.

  Bollocks.

  He sensed her presence before she spoke; her heady fragrance floated along the sea air. With a solid resolve to ignore his attraction to her, he turned.

  “Graeme,” she said with a smile that truly rivaled the brightness of the sun sparkling along the waves.

  Do not fall for her tender gaze, the curl of her full lips, and the way her britches hugged her lean legs and rounded hips.

  “M’lady,” he said with a nod.

  She moved toward him with an outstretched hand. “Graeme?” she said with a furrowed brow, “what is wrong?”

  Shoulders squared, he met her gaze straight on. “Nothing, m’lady. Did you have need of me?”

  She canted her head to the side. Her green eyes darkened with a tinge of hurt. “Nay. I’ll just practice with my bow and arrows.”

  With a brisk nod, he dismissed her and headed toward his cabin. There he would be able to think, not to dwell on Lady Faith’s glorious hair and beautiful face.

  She watched him as he paced toward his cabin and slammed the door. He felt her gaze as keenly as he had felt the breadth of her body beneath him as they’d made love. Yet, he pushed guilt aside and didn’t return to her.

  He sat at his desk, tapped upon its surface with his fingers. His gaze repeatedly sought the bed, still tousled as if they had just left it after a night of passion. Even the air held the scent of lovemaking.

  “Damn,” he spat and forced himself to stand before the window. Aye, a better idea, with a view to appease any sailor. An endless wave of blue with caps of frothy white. So vast, he could sail for days, perhaps even months without hitting land.

  And he planned on doing just that after he saved the clan’s land. After he made his father proud.

  The image of a vixen with golden curls and a saucy tilt to her head appeared before him riding the waves as if she were a siren destined to draw him deep into the sea, her gaze taunting, beguiling, and sensual.

  He shook his head and grabbed a bottle of brandy. He drank straight from the vessel, willing to drown his troubles in the smooth spirit. Swig after swig, he drank until the bottle held no more.

  He stumbled to the bed, inhaled, and smiled.

  Lady Faith’s scent was everywhere, the pillow, sheets—his skin.

  He slipped into oblivion as the brandy worked its way through his body.

  One last thought flitted through his mind—Lady Faith beneath him with her hair spread around her and a sensual smile playing on her lips.

  ~ ~ ~

  She grabbed an arrow from her quiver and nocked it. She drew and aimed, then denocked it. She paced, moving about the deck using the same moves that guided her practices in the past. She dragged her fingers through her hair and stared at her bow.

  Too many thoughts raced through her mind—thoughts of her sister, the clan, and Captain Ross.

  ’Twas humiliating being rejected by your clan and the man with whom you’d just spent a passionate night. Drained of all energy, she sighed and tried to redraw. She desperately searched her mind to understand why her sister and Aidan refused to pay the ransom and rescue her from—from a man, well she didn’t quite know how to refer to him after . . . after the night they’d shared.

  And now, especially after the night they’d shared, why did he turn so cold? The way Graeme had looked at her was . . . was horrid. And he had dismissed her as if she were naught to him. Damn, she acted like a fool.

  Draw and aim. Move about. Aim.

  “Och,” she yelled. The bow and arrow slipped from her grasp and clattered against the deck.

  Amit glared at her.

  “I could have released the arrow,” she said. Her heart hammered against her chest. The man didn’t know how close he had come to being felled.

  A wry grin tipped up his mouth. “You are skilled.”

  Her brow rose. “Aye.”

  The thin man shrugged. “Then you wouldn’t have hit what you do not want to hit.”

  He bent over and picked up her bow and arrow. “M’lady,” he said and handed them to her. He turned to walk away.

  “Please stay,” she said before her courage fled. “I have some questions.”

  He pivoted and nodded. “Questions?”

  She smiled. “Aye, about a great beastie called an elephant.”

  The man actually grinned at her. “Ahh. You’ve been talking to our Bram.”

  She laughed. “He seems to be quite smitten with the animal.”

  Amit raised his dark eyes to heaven. “And the monkeys.”

  She linked her arm with his and they strode. A cool breeze shifted over the ship’s bulwark and tousled her hair. “There is something wonderful about the sea air, isn’t there, Amit?”

  His expression shifted quickly to one of worry, then he nodded and offered a tight smile.

  She worried her lip. “Have I offended you?”

  With a quick pat on her arm, he said, “Nay, m’lady. I’m surprised you seem at peace when our captain has stolen you from your family.”

  How to answer him without sounding like a lovesick cow? Och, ’twas her complaining about her sister mooning over Aidan that had prompted her hunting trip, which landed her right into Captain Ross’ web. She waved at Amit as if his statement bothered her not. But in truth, it did. Why had she allowed herself to become so comfortable on the Blue Boy when she’d been kidnapped, literally thrown over a brute’s shoulder, and stranded on a ship? And she loathed ships. Had loathed, loathed, loathed the sea.

  “M’lady?”

  She refocused on Amit.

  “Such a fierce scowl on your fair face.”

  “Tell me how you came upon this ship,” she said in order to shift the subject from her thoughts.

  He tipped his head to the side and then nodded. “As Captain Ross neared London, I was in a small boat floating without oars or any idea of how I could make it ashore.” Tight lines bracketed his mo
uth. “When Blue Boy nearly crushed my boat, the captain sent down a line and here I am.”

  She contemplated the man’s words. “He rescued you as well?” Captain Ross seemed to draw those in need and welcome them into his crew and family.

  “Aye.”

  Faith furrowed her brow. “Why were you adrift?”

  He gave a humorless chuckle. “A long story, m’lady. Mayhap another time.” He strode from her and headed down into the hull.

  She wanted to learn more about him, but even more about his discussions with Aidan and Hope. And try to build some trust. Surely he had more information than what Graeme had shared. In her heart she decided there had to be more. She and her sisters had depended on each other since their mother’s death—they were all each other had left. Even with the support of the clan, they’d accepted their father’s pledge and that bore the responsibility to come to each other’s aid when needed.

  Turning toward the hull, she went to go after him, eager to ask her questions.

  The image of Amit’s soulful eyes stopped her. The poor man appeared filled with regret and sadness.

  And while she was curious beyond measure, she would respect Amit’s privacy. Yet, it still struck her how the captain brought these seemingly homeless, clanless men aboard his ship. A family of sorts, as she’d thought before. A group of men who had no one else and found kinship with Graeme.

  She glanced at his cabin, her heart a bit battered from his attitude toward her, but just as it was battered, her heart filled with excitement and love for this man. She needed her sister. Hope would help her see what her true feelings were. Hadn’t her sister married Aidan MacKerry even though he’d lied and tried to steal the lairdship from her?

  Someone tapped her shoulder. She turned and smile. “Aye, Wee Will?”

  He pointed to the starboard side of the ship. Dolphins crested the surface of the water and flipped into the air. What a magnificent sight to see. She gripped Wee Will’s arm and he glanced down at her with a broad grin on his face. When he nodded, she knew he realized her thanks and excitement for the dance of the dolphins. They were common creatures, but they never ceased to amaze her.