“Business? Ye jest. Ye doona’ know him.” She slipped from the bed, and hurried from the room.
Before she reached the stairs, Jake grabbed her hand, and pulled her to face him. He settled her captured hand in the center of his chest.
Skye laughed, and glanced down at her palm, flat over his heart. “Yer heart beats fast, like when ye made love to me, the first time. Do ye remember?”
“Of course I do, which is why I might have to kill your Alec.”
Skye’s laughter ceased, and her eyes opened wide. She wrenched her hand away, then backed up several steps.
“Ye shall not touch the lad. He is mine,” she hissed. A commotion in the great room made them both turn. The time had come to fight for what he wanted, or what he needed. He needed the woman standing before him. He had saved her life by distracting the sorcerer.
Could he keep her safe from those who feared her powers? Was it wise to want to share his secrets with her and her family? Could he keep her from falling in love with Alec?
Should I?
“I am not the man you deserve, but I want you. You are mine,” he said, followed by a growl. Smoke poured from his nostrils, and fangs slid from his gums. The urge to burn the entire world to cinders filled him, until warm fingers slid along his lips.
Skye wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on her toes, and kissed him. Her breasts pressed against his wildly beating heart, making his head spin.
Forcing his fangs to retreat, he checked his hands before circling his arms around her. No sense ravishing her with talons. Another dragon had injured her the day she fell back into his life. He would never hurt her. Ever.
“Aye, I be yers forever, my dragon.”
“You know?”
“I have always considered that yer heritage ran in that direction.” Her small hand slid down his chest. When her fingers reached his plaid, she rubbed his hardened length. “Why do ye feel threatened?”
When a growl erupted from deep inside his chest, she moved her hand away, and replaced it with a wiggle of her slender hips.
“I don’t understand. The mysterious Alec will be here any minute. It’s him you love. Him you keep talking about. Him you saved the day the sorcerer stole you away, and—”
“Aye. ‘Tis true. I love Alec with all my heart. He is dearer to me than my brother.”
Her smile, and the faraway look in her eyes, were strangely beautiful, but Jake was confused. Love for Alec was written all over her face, yet she gyrated against him as if…
“I am not here for your pleasure, woman,” Jake said, and tried to push her aside.
She held fast.
“I love you. You love Alec. End of story.”
“Nay, ‘tis the beginning, my love.” Skye grabbed his hand, and tugged him down the stairs while he willed his erection away. Several voices rang out.
My love? What exactly did those words mean, to her?
“Do ye no’ see?” Skye waved her hand toward the door where the voices rose in laughter.
Childish laughter?
A young boy, no more than five, raced from the great room, his dark red hair tied back in a tiny leather thong. His plaid was dirty and twisted over one shoulder, and he’d lost a shoe.
The foggy image of a child—their child—rose, stealing his breath. What would Skye’s child look like? Would he have black hair and blue eyes? Or, would those eyes resemble the cool Scottish ocean with a touch of the green, like the moors.
Skye’s eyes reminded him of the Highlands he’d come to love. He hardly thought of New England any more.
“Nephew!” Skye threw her arms around the child at the same time he launched himself at her. She nearly fell backward, but Jake steadied her. And her charming burden.
She kissed the boy’s chubby cheeks, which caused more laughter. His giggles were contagious. Jake’s mouth twisted into a smile, then plummeted into a frown when Kirk entered the hall.
“Blacksmith,” Kirk muttered, followed with a growl. Kirk joined his sister and the mysterious boy.
Jake nodded at the warrior. He’d tried to listen to castle gossip for any word about a dragon, but no one shared anything, as if the sighting of a fire breathing winged creature was an everyday occurrence.
“Hey, where is this famous Alec? I need a word with him, about your sister.”
Kirk and Skye glared at Jake, then broke into loud laughter. Jake was missing something. He glanced at the doorway, expecting Alec to stride in, with his love for Skye igniting the situation.
“He is here, Jake.”
He turned back to the woman who had come to mean everything to him. How could he let it happen? How could he lose his heart and his soul to one person? What would he do, now?
He scanned the room. “Where?”
Skye cuddled the child beneath her neck, her arm supporting him against her uninjured hip. The boy turned toward Jake with a big smile, then swung back and slobbered like a happy puppy all over Skye’s cheek.
“Alec is my darlin’ nephew, and Kirk’s heir.”
Shocked into silence, Jake instead pondered his assumptions. Of course, Skye loved Alec. Aunts adore their nephews. He had assumed Alec was another man after her body and heart?
Why wasn’t Skye married? He knew Scotland had more rigid rules for unwed females. She wasn’t a virgin, either. Why hadn’t he insisted on finding out everything about the mysterious Alec, or her life over the last five years?
Ye could have asked, Highlander, the mysterious voice whispered.
“Don’t call me that.”
“No one said anything, blacksmith, but I assume ye still doona’ take yerself for a Highlander,” Kirk said.
With his hands planted on his hips, he decided his jealousy, and reluctance to call a spade a spade, had tripped him up again. Alec wasn’t the threat. He was.
“I am glad to meet you, Alec. Might I claim a moment with Auntie Skye?”
The cherub giggled again, then nearly jumped into his father’s arms. Kirk twirled him up high, which only made the boy laugh harder, then carried him into the great room. Jake followed on Skye’s heels.
Kirk’s son?
“This is Haven’s boy?” How could he forget about his dear friend? Five years had passed, and it was on his list to catch up with her and Iona. Ross Mackenzie had told him Iona also had a child, a daughter, but were visiting friends in the village.
“Aye, Jake. Do ye not see my lovely Haven in his eyes?” Kirk asked.
Jake gazed into the squirming kid’s eyes.
“Agreed,” he said, at the pale green orbs sparkling back, “but he’s got your hair color.”
Kirk grinned, then ran a hand through his dark red locks. Alec giggled, then shrieked. The high pitch tone, one only a young child can reach, made Kirk set the boy down. Footsteps echoed down the stairs and through the hall. When Haven strode into the room, Alec ran to his mother and grabbed her dress in his meaty little fingers.
Jealousy swam over Jake. “I hope we have one of those, Skye.”
Everyone in the room halted.
A heartbeat later, Kirk slammed him against the great room’s stone wall.
What did I say?
“Are ye claiming my sister? Are ye asking for her hand? That be the only way I will allow her bairns to be born to one such as ye.”
Jake blinked, and his head spun due to the forearm pressed against his throat. He tried to clear his mind, horrified to realize he’d spoken out loud, but thankful for an excuse to fulfill a wish.
“Skye,” he choked out, “will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Kirk, you lunkhead, let him go,” Haven said. Juggling her son on one hip, she grabbed her husband’s arm. “He just asked Skye to marry him. Quit it!”
With a growl toward Jake, then toward his wife, Kirk stepped away. His hand went to the hilt of the lethal looking dirk at his side. “Skye? What say ye?”
“I will not take a man who ye have bullied into marrying me. Not again.”
Her arms crossed her chest, lifting her breasts in a provocative manner, which was not lost on Jake.
Jake’s body reacted, and he lowered his clasped hands over his groin, but not before Skye noticed.
She winked at him, and he smiled.
Jake walked closer, and looked down at her. “Skye, I meant it. I’ll even stay in this God forsaken time…I mean land, if it means loving you forever.”
“ ‘Tis a good plan, because ye should dare to love in the time ye have.”
When Skye walked into his open arms, and kissed his cheek, he wrapped her in his embrace. Cheers and congratulations echoed through the room.
Something nagged him about her earlier statement, when she yelled at her brother. Jake pushed her away from his chest, and looked down at her face. “What do you mean, marry again?”
CHAPTER 30
Colorful flags atop tall, wooden poles, fluttered in the brisk breeze. The sun was low on the horizon. The days grew shorter and the threat of winter hovered like a specter. Skye Gunn Falconer Jamison wrapped her arms in her heavy cloak, and breathed in the scent of sheep, meat pies, and roasting venison. Huge fire pits, lit by her new husband in secrecy, comforted gossiping mothers, and frolicking children. Their menfolk talked and drank around the ale kegs.
The women enjoyed their hard-earned rest, now that the cooking was finished. They had piled loaves of crusty bannock, and trenchers overflowing with steamed root vegetables on wood tables. Everyone, it seemed, who had attended her wedding yesterday, had stayed for the impromptu Highland festival.
She sighed, remembering that Kirk was the only one frowning during the ceremony. A set of familiar footsteps grew closer.
“That is not how I expect my wife to sound, especially not after the night we shared.” Jake wrapped his strong arms around her, and pulled her back into his chest. His breathing soothed her, and his body heat drove away the chill.
“Why do ye feel so warm?”
“I guess my new identity came with a few perks. You smell wonderful, my wife, like fresh cut grass, and wildflowers.”
She laughed, and he growled.
“I doona’ mean disrespect for yer words, husband.” Why did husband sound perfectly correct? He was her destiny, not dying at the sorcerer’s hands. “I simply meant there be only dry grass and dead flowers. Winter is nearly upon us.”
“I still smell your particular fragrance. The Hell with winter! I’ll keep you warm forever, though an urge keeps distracting me.”
She thought of coming cold winter nights, when snow would blanket the Highlands, and they would lie sprawled across her bed. She hoped he would stay long enough to see the snow.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Mrs. Jamison. I want to fly.”
She smiled at the image. “Jake, if we lived in my late husband’s castle, ye could fly out over the North Sea at any time.”
“First things first. You promised to tell me about…him.”
“Now? ‘Tis our wedding celebration.”
“We were married yesterday. Last night, we made love—”
“More than once, ye brute.”
Jake chuckled deep in his throat, a sound that soothed her. She wiggled in his embrace, and he pulled his cloak around them.
“And, today is the time to discuss important matters. Such as, your husband.”
“Lethan Falconer is dead. We shall live our lives in peace.”
“Rumor has it that the sorcerer killed him. How can you forget that?”
“Things are not always as they seem, Highlander.” Dorcas Swann materialized beside them, a puff of smoke swirling skyward from her ancient pipe.
“ ‘Tis too cold for ye, ye old witch,” Skye said, trying to jest, but finding thoughts of Lethan hard to set aside.
“Andreas admitted he had sent his minions to capture and torture yer man,” Dorcas said, puffing furiously, “but his death was unintended. He wanted bait for his trap. ‘Tis why he boldy kidnapped ye from the castle grounds. Weakened, from keeping the guards at bay, ‘tis why he did not come to ye in yer cell.”
“Praise the mother, he did not.”
“I’ll second that. So, he claims Falconer’s death was an accident?” Jake asked.
“Aye.” Dorcas gazed out over the festival grounds, and smiled broadly. Her grin was so childlike, it took Skye a heartbeat to realize she was no longer the old woman she had changed back into, before the wedding.
“I wondered if we would ever see ye looking so spry, again. Why did ye change back?”
“At the wedding? Too many questions left unanswered. What would I tell the others? I will live in this form, but only in secret. I also need to keep Andreas occupied and away from those he harmed.” Dorcas gazed into her eyes, and Skye saw the tears threatening to fall.
“Dorcas, ‘tis fine.”
“It sure as Hell isn’t.” Jake shouted, “He tried to rape the woman I love. How are we supposed to forget that?”
Dorcas glared at Jake. “Andreas is…happy. He has no plans to seek vengeance on anyone.”
“Can we please leave this argument for another time? Unless ye be leaving right away?” Skye asked Dorcas.
“Aye, I feel I must. Several people need to return home, and I will be seeing some off, and assisting others.”
“Lady Jamison. Lady Jamison!”
All heads turned toward the voice. The young stable boy whom Bull had rescued, and Jake had fed, slid to a stop at their feet. He now lived off the kitchens, and would return to his duties when the new barn was completed. Skye stared down at him, until her new name registered.
“Aye, lad? What is it?” Skye asked. The boy’s chest heaved, and she waited for him to inhale enough air to speak.
“The laird bids ye join him at the castle. ‘Tis time to leave, says he.”
Skye gazed out over the festivities, wishing she had time to sample fresh baked shortbread. A sweet tooth was as distracting as her husband’s kisses.
Not quite.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Jake whispered in her ear. He cupped her elbow, bowed to Dorcas, and headed toward the castle.
“I shall catch up with ye, after I change back. I doona’ want more questions.” Dorcas winked and sauntered off toward the forest.
She followed alongside her new husband, unsure what the future held. If Jake wanted to return to the future, would she follow? They had not talked about it during the weeks leading up to their wedding. Last night, their attention was…elsewhere.
Heat burned across her cheeks, and her palm dampened inside Jake’s grip. He glanced at her, and his black brow arched. Was he aware how much she wanted him? Or, was his mind on her brother’s message. If Kirk, Haven, and Alec were returning to Keldurunach, Jake would want to wish them safe journey. Who knows how long it would be until he saw his dear friend again, especially if he returned to the future.
Cameron had left to join his wife and daughter in the village. Maybe Jake would stay long enough to wait for another chance to speak with his friend, and her husband.
Jake was a different man around Alec. He smiled wide, knelt to the boy’s height when they spoke, and helped him practice swordplay.
Jake tugged her wrist, and she hastened to catch up. Day dreams would not replace Jake, if he ever left her to return to his world, but she feared she could never follow him there. Her people needed her. She, and her new husband, were now responsible for Castle Barrowmann and the village that surrounded it. Winter stores had dwindled because the sorcerer’s men had eaten nearly everything.
Those horrid men are gone, Praise the Mother.
She had tried to explain the situation concerning her property to Jake during their wedding feast, but he distracted her by nibbling on her neck. When she tried to discuss it while he removed her wedding clothes, his nimble fingers made her heart beat like a drum. She found herself flat on her back on the bed, a hot and hard body above her, then in her, before she could open her mouth.
When she did manage to open her mou
th, Jake filled her with his tongue; tasting her, devouring her, until her toes curled, and she broke into tiny, jagged pieces.
Finally coming up for air, she ignored the chance to talk, because he was hard and hot and growling, eager to make love to her again.
“Jake, we need to talk.”
“As soon as I say good-bye to Haven. I’m sure Kirk is anxious to get as far away from me as he can.”
“Doona’ talk so. He simply has people he is responsible for, in Keldurunach. ‘Tis a similar subject, on which we must confer.”
“Later.” He dropped her hand, grabbing Haven in a hug. He twirled her off her feet, to the delight of young Alec. Kirk growled, and stepped toward them, but Skye took his arm, and pulled him aside.
“Leave them be, dear brother. ‘Tis only a friend wishing another friend a good journey.”
“Maybe, but he best keep away or I shall—”
Skye punched him in the upper arm.
“Why did ye strike me?”
“Jake is my husband, and I willna’ hear threats made against him.”
“Even when the truth? I know he forced ye under his thumb and—”
Skye flicked her wrist.
From flat on his back, Kirk shook his head, and looked up at her. “How did I get down here?”
“At times, ye talk before ye think.” Skye waited until he regained his footing. Off to the side, Jake smirked. Haven’s eyes had widened, but she did not interfere. Skye had no intention of damaging her own brother, but their heated argument needed to conclude to her satisfaction.
“Jake is my husband, because I wish him to be my husband. He is a good man, and saved my life. Be happy for me.”
“He is not…like us,” he said, glancing to where Jake held an arm around Haven.
Skye saw the concern for his wife’s safety in Kirk’s eyes. He knew Jake was a descendant of dragons, as did Marcus and Fia. Keeping Jake’s abilities a secret seemed prudent. Witchery was somewhat accepted, but dragons? Never.
“Are ye concerned for my safety, as well? Skye tapped her doeskin slipper on the step. Kirk’s cheeks reddened.
“For ye? Ye be the strongest woman I know…after my Haven.” Kirk smiled, pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and walked to where Haven, Jake, and Alec waited.
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