Rock Hard Lumberjack: A Lumberjack And A City Girl Romance

by Rye Hart

  Bhradain chuckled. "Eva, ye are the witch, I ken it," he spoke huskily. "But I do not want to break the curse at this moment, for if I do, I will no longer have the strength needed to defeat my enemies."

  Eva pondered his words for a moment. "But how do you break it? I mean, just in case we need to."

  Bhradain moved closer to her from where he stood by the weapons chest. Once he stood before her, he reached out to gently caress her cheek. "When you are ready, you will know."

  "Here we going with the cryptic statements," she said with exasperation. "So you are not going to tell me?" she asked just to clarify.

  "In time," he laughed seductively.

  Eva rolled her eyes at his elusive response. She was a bit tired of hearing only cryptic half-answers. "Well, since you aren't going to talk to me about your curse, how about you tell me what you plan is to defeat whatever force of evil we need to defeat?"

  Bhradain gave her quizzical look.

  Eva sighed; sometimes it was difficult communicating with a highland laird. "I mean," she started to clarify, "you are pulling out all the weapons and have a look in your eye that suggests you are out for blood. Are you going to tell me what that is all about?"

  Bhradain laughed as understanding dawned on him. "I plan to take back my castle from the scheming druids," he said purposefully.

  "And how are you going to do that?" Eva pressed.

  "By storming the keep and slaying my enemies," he said with confidence.

  "And how do I play into all of this?" Eva asked, but she was starting to see the direction his plan was going.

  "Ye will stay here until all is safe, I will not risk losing ye again," he stated.

  "Absolutely not!" Eva burst. She wasn't much of a fighter, but she wasn't going to wait around in this dank cave while he went out alone and conquered.

  Bhradain looked taken aback by Eva's defiance. "And how will ye yield a broadsword?" he asked with a glimmer in his eye.

  It infuriated Eva that he was enjoying this. "Doesn't matter, I can sneak inside and spy or something,” she offered. She wasn't one to think up logistics first, all she knew was she wasn't staying behind. "I'll think of a plan when we get there," she added.

  Bhradain chuckled. "I see there is nae arguing with ye," he said.

  Chapter Eight

  "So," Eva began, "when do we get to storm the castle?" She was quite excited by the idea of taking charge, breaking through the castle doors, and dealing justice to the two druids. However, she wasn't so sure that Bhradain shared her same level of enthusiasm in regards to her participation. She bounced excitedly from foot to foot on the soft ground. They stood outside in a small wooden clearing, quite a ways away from the castle itself.

  "I," he made sure to emphasize the singular usage, "will sneak into the castle. When it is safe and only," he gave her a pointed look at the mention of the word only, "when I give ye the all clear, may ye join me," he said.

  Eva rolled her eyes at the difficult highlander. "I don't think it is fair that you get to have all the fun," she argued.

  "There is nae fun in war," he clarified. He furrowed his handsome brow and regarded Eva with a serious expression. "Promise me ye will nae attempt to engage in any fighting," he stressed.

  She could tell that he wasn't just telling her because he was a highland laird and used to getting his way, but because he did not want her to get hurt. She remembered the words he had said to her, "I do not want to lose you." Because of this, she decided to throw him a bit of a bone. "I will think about it," she said with a non-committal shrug.

  Bhradain continued to hold a suspicious expression, but seemed to accept her answer for the moment. He quickly changed the subject. "I do not want to strike until it is dark, so we will need to wait until then."

  "Are you worried we might get caught?" she asked nervously while glancing around the clearing in the woods. Just because they were not in direct site of the castle, didn't mean that the druids weren't lurking around.

  "Nae," he laughed. "My curse comes with certain qualities that allow me to detect any encroaching foe," he said with a mysterious gleam in his hooded brown eyes.

  "Oh, right," Eva laughed nervously. She kept forgetting that at any moment, he might turn into a savage beast. At least she already knew he wouldn't hurt her, but she wouldn't know what to do if he left her alone in the forest. She thought of the wolves that had chased them that first night they met. "What about the wolves? Will they still keep their distance?"

  "Aye, they only followed us because they can sense the beast within me. They see me as Alpha, but they ken to stay away now," he smiled.

  Eva looked into the darkening sky as the sun began to set, and shivered from the encroaching cold

  "I will make ye a fire while we wait," Bhradain said.

  Eva liked how Bhradain looked out for her. Here he was, struggling to overcome a curse and scheming druids, and he took the time to be concerned that she was cold. The thought made her smile. "Thank you," she said wholeheartedly.

  When the fire was crackling, Eva cozied up right next to it. As soon as the sun had set, darkness consumed the forest. Eva was glad that there was a fire to provide light.

  "Will you join me?" she patted the spot next to her.

  Bhradain moved in beside Eva. They sat like that for some time, staring into the flickering flames, both painfully aware of the distance between them and the heated tension that burned hotter than any fire.

  "Bhradain," Eva whispered.

  "Aye?" he replied huskily.

  "Why won't you tell me how to break your curse?" she asked quietly.

  Bhradain was silent for a long moment. "If I do so before ye are ready," he began, "I might lose ye forever." His voice broke on the last words as he moved his gaze away from the fire and onto Eva.

  Eva could feel heat creep back up into her cheeks. "You won't lose me," she said softly. She continued to stare intensely into the fire, afraid to look at his face and see the emotions that played across it.

  "There is a price one must pay in order to break a curse," he continued in his deep, husky burr. "It might be too high for ye to pay," he added darkly.

  Eva knew that Bhradain was trying to warn her, letting her know that she still had the option to get out.

  But Eva didn't want to get out. When she had been sent back home, it had pained her greatly to think that she would never be able to return, to see Bhradain again. Although they didn't know each other well, and her adventures in his world had been less than ideal, the connection she felt to him was stronger than anything she had ever felt before. She ached to know him, to comfort him, to make love to him. She understood that it would be a heavy price to help him lift the curse, but whatever it was, it was worth it to save the one man that had ignited a passion in her that had longed to be released.

  Eva knew what her answer was.

  "I know, but I am willing to pay it, no matter the price. When you are ready, I will be here," she said confidently.

  Bhradain shortened the distance between them with one confident stride; his eyes locked with Eva's, while he brought his lips hairsbreadth away from her own.

  Eva's heart began to beat fervently in her chest. Her own lips quivered ever so slightly; not out of fear, but from the aching anticipation of what Bhradain might do next.

  Bhraidain's eyes sparkled darkly. "Do ye know what ye are saying lass," he said in an intoxicatingly husky voice.

  "Of course!" she replied haughtily. "And you better give me a bloody good reason not to change my mind," she defiantly.

  A chilling rattle emanated from Bhradain's chest and sent chills down Eva's spine. His eyes darkened, his gaze became more intense as he studied Eva's own bright eyes.

  Bhradain opened his mouth to speak, paused, then let out a growl that should have scared Eva; instead, it excited her.

  "You don't scare me!" Eva said boldly.

  "Oh, lass, but I should," Bhraidain whispered before bringing his arms roughly around Eva's wai
st and pulling her into a punishing kiss.

  Eva's surprise quickly melted into lust as their kiss turned heated and rough. She gasped as their bodies came together in a passionate embrace. The fire that burned within her roared to life the moment that Bhradain's skin touched hers. She ached to be closer, feel his warmth pressed up against hers, and have him move inside of her. She pulled impatiently at his shirt.

  "Aye lass, ye have the right idea," he groaned as he helped her by pulling his tunic over his head and tossing aside.

  Eva reached for the belt that held his kilt in place, but Bhradain stopped. He took her hand and guided it under the thick fabric.

  Eva gasped with delight as her hand grasped his thick manhood. He was wearing nothing underneath; she giggled at the thought.

  "Now yer turn," Bhradain said seductively. He tugged at the hem of Eva's t-shirt and pulled it over her head with ease, but he balked when he saw her bra. "How do ye?"

  "Like this," Eva smiled as she guided his hands around her back to where the clasps were located. "You unhook it," she said breathlessly.

  Bhradain had her bra unhooked and tossed to the side in an instant, freeing Eva's large breasts.

  Bhradain didn't need much encouragement before he took the heavy mounds into his large palms. Eva sighed with pleasure as Bhradain squeezed her exposed breasts, taking the time to use his thumb to roughly brush the nipples.

  When Bhradain brought his mouth to take one of the soft buds in his mouth, Eva gasped with excitement. Bhradain gently tugged on the hard nipples with his sensual lips, while his tongue danced circles around the pert buds.

  Eva moaned and writhed under the Bhradain's erotic kisses. She peered down at him, reveling in the view of her dangerous highlander suckling her full breasts.

  Bhradain leaned in closer, sliding his hands around Eva's back and gently guiding her to the ground. "I need ye," he whispered roughly against her ear.

  "Same," she gasped as she could feel his hands roaming her exposed skin. Eva felt her center throb as the tension in her body began to build. Her skin felt hot and she ached to have his body fully pressed against hers.

  She felt Bhradain tugging at her jeans; she aided him by pulling off the last piece of clothing she was wearing. She now lay exposed, ready, and completely naked under the hard body of Laird Bhradain Drummond.

  "I want you inside of me," she whispered as she nipped at his neck.

  Bhradain growled in response. "In time," he added huskily. He began to kiss a trail down her torso, following the same path he had taken the other day when he had brought Eva to the point of ecstasy.

  Eva, running out of patience, growled back at him. "I need you, now!" she demanded as lust laced her voice.

  Bhradain's eyes flashed with desire and he allowed his body to respond for him. He brought his mouth hard against Eva's, their bodies exploding in a frenzied passion.

  Eva desperately pushed back Bhradain's thick kilt and grasped his erect manhood, while Bhradain brought his hands firmly under Eva's voluptuous bottom, bringing her even closer to him. In response, Eva wrapped her legs around Bhradain's waist and positioned his cock at just the right spot.

  "Fuck me Bhradain," Eva demanded.

  Bhradain responded by pushing inside of her.

  Eva gasped as Bhradain's thick member filled her and she shivered as he began to take the lead on their erotic, rhythmic dance. She brought her hips up to meet his with each thrust, while her lips continued to explore his mouth.

  Eva ran her hands up Bhradain's neck to tangle her in his thick hair. She indulged herself in the sensation of running her fingers through the wild tendrils, while their bodies continued to build toward carnal release.

  Slowly, Eva felt herself begin to come close to the edge; her body began to tighten around him, while her mind became consumed only by the thought of pleasure.

  When the moment came, she panted as her body shivered with the strength of her own release. Her cries of ecstasy became mixed with Bhradain’s as he joined her in climax.

  As they came down from their passion, Eva couldn't help but enjoy the sensation of his body, as it remained connected to hers.

  Eva couldn't explain it, but she knew that there was something special about the highlander in her arms.

  Chapter Nine

  Eva awoke cold and alone. The fire had gone out some time ago and, she quickly realized as she looked around her frantically, Bhradain was gone.

  "Damn it,” she fumed. He had deliberately left her alone to take back the castle on his own. She couldn't believe that he would make love to her one moment, and then abandon her in the middle of the woods without so much as a warning the next.

  Eva could barely contain her pent up anger. Frustrated, she grabbed a baseball sized rock near her foot and tossed it petulantly into the smoldering embers of the fire. The impact of the stone disrupted the small pile of burnt wood and sent bits of ash into the air.

  Why should I wait around here?

  She thought they settled the matter. Obviously he had just been placating her.

  Well when he gets back, there is no way I'm going to be sitting on my derriere, waiting for him. Eva knew she deserved to be involved in the take-down of the scheming druids, since it was her life they had threatened on more than one occasion. With that final thought, Eva had made up her mind.

  She quickly got dressed, as she still was naked from their passionate encounter. Even though she was angry at Bhradain for leaving her behind, her body still had an intense physical reaction to the thought of him. She blushed as she remembered the way he touched her, the moment their bodies had been joined together, and the ecstasy of their shared climax.

  Oh Eva, she thought, whatever are you going to do about him? She knew she was in too deep; the enigmatic and infuriating highlander had already begun to get under her skin. She knew in her heart that she was meant to be here with him, whatever that meant. And although she was angry at him at the moment, she knew that the intense pull between them would make it difficult for her to stay so for long.

  She reached to the spot where Bhradain left a small sword for her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted the silvery weapon in the grass at her feet. At least he left me something to defend myself with, she thought begrudgingly.

  She looked up into the sky and noticed the sun begin to peak over the horizon; she had slept most of the night away.

  She quickly picked herself up and proceeded to go in the opposite direction of the rising sun. She knew that they had set up camp at a safe distance from the keep, but they also were close enough as to not waste too much time trying to walk there.

  Eva thought that it wouldn't take long to find the keep, but as she continued to walk through the woods, she started to feel less sure that she was going in the right direction. She tried to use the sun as a guide, but as time wore on and it continued to rise higher in the sky, Eva’s heart sank and she realized that she was horribly lost.

  This is Laird Drummond's fault, she thought with annoyance. If he hadn't left me in the middle of the woods...

  Her thoughts trailed off as she heard a strange noise. She stopped walking and paused, holding her breath while she listened.

  She heard nothing but the sound of birds chirping and small animals running along the forest floor.

  "I told ye she would be here," echoed a chillingly familiar voice behind her.

  Eva's heart began to beat fiercely in her chest as she realized the druids had found her.

  Eva whipped around holding the sword that Bhradain had given her shakily in front of her.

  She saw nothing.

  "Shall we take her to see m’lady?" asked the female druid.

  Eva spun around desperately; the voice now sounded like it was coming from the opposite direction. Once again, Eva's eyes fell on nothing but empty trees.

  "Where are you?" Eva called out. She tried her best to steady her nerves, but she was having a difficulty. The druids had already tried to kill her once,
she was sure they had come back to finish the job.

  "We are here to bring ye to the lady," the chanting voices of both druids echoed in unison.

  Eva still couldn't see them, but knew they must be close.

  "What if I refuse to come with you?" she asked. Eva didn't want to go anywhere with them, knowing they intended to do her harm.

  The druids' voices grew incoherent as they consulted with each other in hushed tones. Eva strained to make out what they were saying, but was unable to decipher a word.

  "We will nae harm ye," the male druid's voice suddenly broke through.

  Eva suddenly felt as though she was losing control of her senses – almost as though there was something controlling her logic and physical movement. It was like an out of body experience she never before felt.

  "Ok," Eva said warily. "I will come with you," she surrendered.