My Hunted Highlander

by Badger, Nancy Lee

  “Why…”

  She froze at the look he gave her. Hadn’t she learned anything from loving this man?

  Love? When? How?

  Before she could say anything, he settled on top of her, on the soft bed. The toweling was gone, and the heat of his flesh surprised her, but it was a joy-filled shock. He twined his hand in the damp hair at the nape of her neck, loosened the knot, then spread it reverently on the pillow. Her hips rose, as if asking for more.

  He peppered kisses on her breasts, then his tongue laved one nipple, until it hardened into a tiny bud. His lips suddenly disappeared, until he centered all his attention on the other breast.

  Blair relaxed into the pillow, and let her limbs go boneless. She closed her eyes, and her thighs fell open. He smiled against her flesh, then his head slid lower. His tongue tickled her belly button, then kissed the curls between her legs.

  Tangling her fingers in his hair, she attempted to pull him up her body, but he buried his face in her womanly folds. When his tongue thrust in, then out, then flicked over her trembling knot of hidden flesh, a strangled cry filled the room.

  Was that me?

  “Come for me, love.”

  “No. I want you inside me.”

  “Obstinate, stubborn, inflexible, argumentative little…”

  “Niall! Please!”

  Instead of heeding her request, he plunged his finger inside her. She whimpered, craving more, and he finally complied, but not exactly in the way she wanted him to act. A second finger joined the first, and his mouth settled back on the pearl of her desire.

  When she groaned, and a second tentative please slipped from her mouth, he crawled up her body. With any other man, she would simply enjoy the sensations of their fingers and lips, but Niall was different.

  No, I’m different.

  She wasn’t here, in this bed, simply to have sex and get her rocks off. Niall was more of a man than Raven, more than the men she’d dated, back in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This could be their last time together.

  When he finally slid inside her moist channel, her body gripped him. They were in his world, and she would enjoy the moment, before everything they had was driven apart. She sensed his obligations would lead him on another path from hers, after she found Keegan, and…

  The image of Keegan, alone and frightened, made her stiffen. Her overwrought brain had finally stopped spinning, Poor Niall filled her to the hilt, until he stopped moving, as if sensing she was lost in her thoughts, and on the verge of panic.

  “What ‘tis wrong? Is this no’ what ye demanded?”

  “Yes, I asked for this,” she said, catching her breath, “but I just remembered Keegan. He’s gone. How could I forget him, for even a minute? We need to find him!”

  When Blair shoved at his shoulders, he stayed rooted inside her. “Lass, calm yerself! We shall find him, but no’ today.”

  “What? Why not?”

  CHAPTER 29

  Niall’s words were harsh. Blair didn’t respond, so she wasn’t surprised when he repeated them.

  “Lass, calm yerself! We shall find him, but no’ today.”

  “But…why not?”

  “ ‘Tis a storm howling outside these walls. And…”

  Blair gazed up at Niall. He held himself above her, on his elbows, but the shadows couldn’t hide the strain on his features. “What’s wrong?”

  “Damnation, lass! I am buried deep inside ye, and so close to spilling, yet yer mind is elsewhere.”

  “There is nothing we can do for Keegan tonight?” she whispered, aware of his trembling limbs. Moving her hips beneath him, his massive length slid farther inside her. She sighed as he ignored her question, and feasted on her lips.

  Groaning, he pulled his face away. Desire filled his eyes, and she yearned to spout promises she would never ask of him. He paused, as if deciding what to tell her.

  “Nay, lass. Mackenzie has promised a legion of his warriors to search for the lad, come morning.”

  His lips trembled, and Blair took pity on him. His words eased her mind, and she tangled her fingers in his soft hair, kissing his shaved cheek. He was different, without the dark gold beard and eye patch, yet he was still the man with whom she was falling in love. When Niall growled, she wanted to laugh, because he’d taken her mind off her missing child for a few minutes. She ought to thank him for that.

  Before she could say anything else, he pulled nearly all the way out. When he thrust deep inside her again, her mind went blank. No thoughts of her missing child, no cursing the man responsible for their predicament, nothing but Niall loving her.

  Her senses went on overload, and her attention did not stray from the swollen, sensitive flesh where they had joined their bodies. Perspiration made their skin slick, and the scent of musk and sex filled her nose. He thrust harder, deeper, and perfect, until Blair’s body betrayed her. Tingles in every fingertip fought against sensations throbbing between her thighs. Lowering her hands, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, not wanting to ever let him go. Niall was no stranger, nor her prisoner. He was a Highlander, whose kisses made her think of summer sunshine, and tangled sheets. His large, thick erection made her sob. All her senses sprang to life. The pounding of the bed against the stone wall, the smell of the single tallow candle he’d lit at some point, the whimpers coming from her own mouth, all faded.

  “Harder,” she demanded. Niall thrust faster, and deeper, then lowered his head, and sucked a nipple, nibbling and kissing it, until the sensations drove her hips up to meet each thrust.

  With a sudden gasp, her world broke apart. Behind her closed eyelids, bright lights sparkled and flashes of white-hot heat sped across her skin.

  A heartbeat later, Niall stiffened, then groaned. As she floated back into the thick ticking of the mattress, she felt his heart thudding against her breasts.

  When she could formulate a sentence, she gazed up at his shadowy face. “Are you sure there is nothing we can do tonight?”

  “Aye, we must wait a little longer, then we shall find Keegan.”

  Her head fell back into her pillow. With Niall relaxing beside her, she prayed they could rest until suppertime.

  ***

  Watching Blair sleep was an odd sensation. Though taller than most women of his acquaintance, she was small and delicate beside his brawn. Her slow breaths wheezed from the perfect bow of her lips. When he made love to Highland lasses and tavern wenches, he left their bedchambers within minutes of finding his release. He had always made sure the women reached their peaks before him, and numerous times, but he wrestled with the guilt. Those couplings made him feel empty. Seeking pleasure for pleasure’s sake had grown old.

  Destiny had reached out and brought him to his knees. The woman beside him slept soundly, with her face relaxed, though a bit pale. She worried about her son, but their vigorous lovemaking had forced her to rest.

  My brother. The lad had spoken a spell, and an accidental dousing with magical potions sent him Lord-knows-where. Blair was a wonderful mother, and had returned to ancient Scotland to find her boy, when she wanted nothing more than to resume her life, in the future.

  “A lie. She wanted Keegan more.” Once reunited with the lad, would she seek out a witch to help them return to the future? Could Niall allow her to return to her home?

  Resting quietly beside Blair, he drifted into another world, through dreams. In one dream, Dorcas floated on a beam of moonlight, while she traveled back in time with them. The old crone’s spell had tossed them through time, but he had landed alone. Recalling how his heart lodged in his throat at Blair’s disappearance, he groaned. A sudden movement shocked Niall awake.

  “Keegan? Where is my son?” Blair murmured.

  Niall stroked her perspiring forehead, until she slept soundly. His fingers traveled lower, and cupped her breast. Blair turned onto her side, away from him, but he scooted closer until his chest cradled her back and buttocks. Wedged behind her warm body, his erection sprang to life. She smel
led like Heaven, and was deliciously warm. He wished to wake her and rekindle their passion, but she needed to rest.

  “Again?” Blair whispered.

  He chuckled. “Lass,‘tis late in the day. Come suppertime, we shall be busy. Are my needs a bother?”

  “I’m tired. Do what you want.”

  Shoving the bedclothes aside, he rolled her to her stomach. Kneeling behind her, he raised her hips high enough to slip his stiffening arousal inside her silken folds. She was wet from his previous release, and hot as the spring sun. As her womanly fragrance filled him, he kept his thrusts slow, with barely the tip of his cock slipping in, then out.

  Moans, and other tiny sounds, echoed through the cold bedchamber. Her muscles clamped around him, and her hips wiggled, indicating she was awake. He stroked his fingers down her spine, and settled both hands on her round buttocks. Squeezing gently, she rewarded him with a loud whimper, arching her back.

  “Yes, more! Please!”

  She was so responsive, that his body quickened like a bee to a flower. In the dark, he could not see her red hair tossed over one shoulder, but he knew it was lovely, nor could he distinguish where her flesh ended and his began. He knew every inch of her intimate parts, especially how sweet she tasted. He prayed they would have time to share such intimacies again. Until then, he thrust inside her, making love to her, until she cried out.

  “Harder!”

  “If yer awake, help me, love.” In answer, her inner muscles squeezed his cock, making him thrust deeper. The slap of damp skin against hot flesh grew louder, disturbed suddenly by a pounding on the door.

  “Bloody Hell!”

  “You’d better answer the door, Niall. They sound mad,” Blair said, breathlessly.

  Grumbling, he pulled out of Blair, and hopped off the bed. “They be lucky my weapons were confiscated at the gate.”

  Blair gathered the blanket up, covering her nakedness. “Wait! Put on some clothes before you--”

  Ignoring Blair, and mad as Hell, Niall pulled back the bolt, and wrenched open the door. The woman standing in the hall took one look at his face, gazed lower, and fainted.

  ***

  “Bloody Hell indeed! Why did ye send the wench to my bedchamber? Could ye no’ wait for a decent time to welcome me back?” Niall glared at Gavin, whose mouth was twisted in anger.

  Niall and Blair had dressed in the clean clothes Jenny had been carrying to their rooms, before she had fainted, and dropped them. Niall had requested leather trews and a clean shirt. Blair was happy to slip into a borrowed dress. They were both tall women, and the simple golden-brown day dress covered Blair down to her ankles. She requested her ankle boots, as she hated the light-weight doeskin slippers women of this time usually wore, and still wished she hadn’t lost her warm cloak. Standing beside the huge fireplace in the great room, listening to the two brothers argue, she quickly grew warm as toast.

  “How was I to know my brother was engaged in bed sport? Jenny volunteered to welcome ye and yer woman to the great hall, where supper is being served. ‘Twas no’ my idea. I wished to grab ye and shake ye, until ye told me where the Hell ye been hiding, all these weeks!” Gavin’s shouts brought the entire castle’s inhabitants to the hall.

  Thinking back on Jenny’s kindness, Blair had inquired about her to a servant girl, who said she was recuperating in her bedchamber. The others in the castle’s great room returned their enquiring eyes to the servants, who carried platters filled with food. The aroma of roasted meat and vegetables made her mouth water. Gavin approached, and bowed to her.

  “Jenny is resting?” she asked.

  Gavin nodded, but his worried expression meant he was most likely inconsolable.

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Blair said, setting her hand on Gavin’s forearm.

  Gavin’s gaze turned deadly, then he obviously thought better of it. “She has a little bump on her head.”

  “Brother, I be truly sorry my nakedness affected her thusly, however--”

  Gavin’s face moved inches from Niall’s. “Jenny might be carrying my bairn!”

  “Congratulations, brother. I am sure my niece or nephew will be fine. Do ye plan to marry the lass?”

  Gavin’s face was red as a beet.

  “Arguing with ye ‘tis usually fun, but I see our relationship had suffered during my accidental disappearance. All I can do is beg yer forgiveness.”

  Blair shoved at their chests, separating them. “We need to find Keegan.”

  Gavin shoulders drooped, as he glared at Blair, then turned his sneer on Niall. “Who be Keegan? Another companion ye met during yer adventure? Ye gather friends and women, yet could no’ send me a missive to tell me ye were alive?”

  ***

  Gavin did not understand, and Niall could not explain. Blair’s face had paled the moment he mentioned her son’s name. “Young Keegan is Blair’s adopted child…and our brother.”

  Gasps echoed in the great room.

  Niall ignored them, cupped Blair’s elbow and led her to the table.

  Blair shrugged out of his grasp. “Keegan is out there, somewhere. We have to find him, now!”

  “Nay, lass,” Mackenzie said, then added, “the storm rages on.”

  Niall led Blair to a bench on the dais, while the laird sat in a large wooden chair. Food and drink appeared. “Eat, love. Keegan needs ye strong and well.”

  “I’m not very hungry,” Blair said, rubbing her stomach. Her face was pale.

  “Ye must keep up yer strength, love. Try the venison.” Pleased when she nibbled on a small slab of roasted venison, then sipped from a tankard of mulled cider, Niall relaxed. A fire roared in the great room’s huge fireplace, as the winter wind howled outside.

  “This is different than any deer meat I’ve ever tasted, but it reminds me of home.”

  Her words, barely above a whisper, made him lean closer. “How so, lass?”

  Gavin leaned in, and added, “My Jenny helps in the kitchen, and she shared what she has learned. She said that the castle smells the best in its kitchen.”

  Niall chuckled. “And what did she share with ye?”

  “They start with chopped onions, sautéed in freshly churned butter, then the cook adds bay leaves, garlic, and what she said looks like paprika, whatever that might be.”

  “Do I taste bacon?” Blair asked.

  “Yes, and tiny mushrooms,” Gavin added.

  “I’m used to venison meatballs.”

  “Meat…balls?” Niall glanced at his lap, and shivered.

  “I was thinking about home…” Blair’s voice trailed off.

  When Gavin turned to answer a question the Mackenzie laird had asked, Niall leaned closer to Blair. “Ye barely speak of yer home,”

  “I used to visit my cousin Nancy, in New Jersey. She made the best venison meatballs, mixing them with ground beef or turkey. Cooked in a tomato-based barbecue sauce, they were tender and delicious after hours in an electric crock pot…” Her voice tapered off.

  “Ye will tell me, someday, about turkey, barbecue and crock pots, aye?”

  When she nodded, he turned his attention to Gavin, sitting on the other side of him.

  “Niall,” Gavin said, “Ye claim her bairn is our brother?”

  “Aye, he be ours. Our sire is no’ an honorable man. Keegan is a child of a rape, and ‘twas fortunate she found him, and took him in.”

  Gavin turned to Blair. “We will help find him. We shall find him, I swear.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We will search high and low, love. Eat. Ye will need yer strength.” Once she did as she was told, Niall broke off a hunk of crusty bannock, and dunked it in the meat drippings. The aroma of onions and boiled carrots made his mouth water. After swallowing, he passed Blair a tankard of warm mulled cider. “Drink, love. ‘Twill warm ye.”

  “All I need to make me warm, is you,” she whispered, as her eyes roamed down his chest to his lap.

  Niall gasped.

  His brother laugh
ed, and added, “I heard yer woman’s comment.”

  Niall felt his ears redden.

  Gavin turned back to Blair at the same time a serving wench placed a tankard of ale on the scarred wooden table in front of him. He swallowed several gulps, then grew serious. “I heard the tale of how my brother appeared in town, then muscled his way into the castle’s bailey, but how did ye get here?”

  “A long story, but I followed Cinnie,” Blair said, then sipped her cider.

  The sudden silence in the great hall startled Niall. “Did the lass say something amusing?”

  Mackenzie, sitting in the Chieftain’s chair, coughed. “Cinnie has claimed dealings with Angus Sinclair. She stabbed a friend. We captured her, but she escaped from my dungeon.”

  Blair set her tankard down. “She acted a bit haughty, but when I said I was searching for my child, she led me here.”

  “Where did ye find her?” Niall asked.

  “In the orchard. She was gathering apples. I ate one.”

  Mackenzie jumped to his feet, and several others cried out. “She poisoned Dorcas Swann with tainted apples!”

  “What?” Blair placed her hand on her stomach, and gazed at Niall. Terror filled her face.

  Niall jumped to his feet, glaring at the Mackenzie laird. “Would she poison a perfect stranger? She has never met Blair. No one here has.”

  “She didn’t give me the apple. She dropped her basket, and I helped her gather them up. I kept one.” Blair’s face looked pinched, and pale. “I don’t feel so good.”

  “Bloody Hell!” Niall gathered her up in his arms, and strode from the great room.

  Blair clasped her hands around his neck. “Where are you taking me?”

  “A bedchamber, then I shall fetch a healer.”

  “Wait, brother!”

  Niall paused at the base of the stairs. Gavin slowed, concern written on his face, as well. “Jenny saved Dorcas from poisoned fruit. I will explain what has happened, and will send her to yer chamber.”

  Niall nodded.

  “Thanks, sir,” Blair whispered.

  “Please, call me Gavin and I am sorry we…argued in front of ye. I love my brother, but I love Jenny more.”