Highland Song

by Young, Christine

  "It happened a long time ago. I was headstrong and careless. Actually I was quite stupid. I didn't think I could ever be hurt. My brothers had always protected me, and I was on MacPherson land. But you know all that."

  She paused, her fingers weaving themselves tightly together until her knuckles showed white.

  "I would say you haven't changed much," he smiled through the tension and heavy air. "You're still stubborn and hasty with your decisions. I would never call you stupid though. Perhaps willful."

  "There was a time, I didn't have a reason to live," she whispered. “I wanted to curl into a tiny ball and die.”

  "No reason to live?" he asked, seemingly startled by what she'd said. “Enough.”

  "Please, just hear me out." She rested a hand on his shoulder, imploring him with her eyes.

  She didn't speak for a long time while she waited for his answer. The air was charged with energy and tension.

  "Very well." He lay back on the bedroll, his fingers laced behind his head as if he didn’t care what she said.

  Mercuric seconds passed while she struggled to find the best way to tell her story.

  "I don't want sympathy. And you have to promise not to tell anyone," she began hesitantly.

  "I don't make promises," he said, turning towards her before letting his gaze drift skyward once more.

  "Please." She didn't want to have to beg for this small favor. But she never wanted her brothers to find out what Bertram did that day on MacPherson land.

  "No," he said reluctantly showing the first real sign of impatience. He sat up and touched her beneath the chin. "There is always a reason to live, little fox. And no, I cannot make a promise I might have to break."

  She turned away then looked back. It didn't really matter if he promised or not. She had to tell him before something happened he might regret.

  "The day was beautiful, a brilliant sun shone down and the weather had been so dreary. I had been confined behind the castle walls for far too long," she said, growing a little braver.

  "So you had to leave?"

  She nodded. "I didn't go alone."

  "You took one of your brother's men?"

  "I took my maid. She didn't want to come with me. She told me it was too dangerous, but Bertram's men had not been seen in several weeks. I convinced her to go along because I wanted my freedom. I had been cooped up behind the castles walls for far too long."

  "I see," he said. “You did not believe their might be bandits lurking in the woods? Or an enemy of your brother.”

  "I did not. As I said I was stupid. But I pray that you will understand and will not look at me with hatred or disgust in your eyes. I could not bear that."

  "You robbed some poor soul blind?" he queried, a grin on his face. "Ah, little fox, I should have guessed. Those nimble little fingers of yours could not be stilled even though you had everything your heart could have wished for."

  "This is not funny. I do not take what I’m about to tell you lightly. And I would never rob anyone," she protested vehemently.

  "But you did rob me. And at the tavern, you and your cronies robbed Jericho's men. Not something he took lightly, as we found out."

  "I only robbed you of your papers, forged papers. You set a trap," she inhaled a ragged breath. "And so did Bertram."

  "What about Jericho's mercenaries? They were robbed of their coin."

  Frustrated she clasped her hands in her laps and shot him a defiant look. "Coin they had stolen. Anyway, I do not want to argue with you. Bertram knew I would grow tired of the confines of the castle, and so he waited near by, sending his men home to give the illusion of safety."

  "I thought you had been falsely accused. Your actions gave me reason to believe the bounty on your head was not a lie," he returned to the circumstances where they first met.

  "You don't have to defend yourself and what you did. I knew what the risks were. I’ve always known."

  He grinned.

  "My maid grew tired and stopped. I kept riding. It was so beautiful and green. There was no rain in sight. I dismounted--"

  Lainie tried to swallow the lump in her throat and the tears welling up.

  "Bertram attacked me, pushing me down, ripping off my clothes. I tried to fight him. Slade,” she swallowed hard then forced the words, “he-he--“ raped me.

  "Sweet Jesu--" Slade broke off, standing up quickly. He was no longer relaxed but coiled and ready to spring. His hands were balled in tight fists. "Why didn't you tell me?" He sat down again as if trying for some semblance of calm.

  After searching her face for a few tense moments, he pulled her into his arms, cradling her on his lap as if he held a small child. Tears ran down her cheeks. She could not stop the sobs that had not come when it happened.

  Slade rocked her, his arms around her, shielding her from all the sins of the world. If only life were that simple.

  "Hush, little darling. Don’t cry. I understand now." Tenderly, he kissed her tears away, wishing he'd not been such a horrible fool. He'd heard part of the story and never once thought Bertram had raped her. He had thought only the worst about Lainie. He cursed himself and for his callous actions toward her when all she'd done was protect herself.

  "I won't ever hurt you," he told her, realizing the rape explained so many of her actions that were at odds with each other.

  "I know," she said. "But you must hate me."

  "Why would I hate you?" he asked pulling away from her so he could look at her face. "The only part that was your fault was defying your brother's orders. You should have listened to them."

  "B-because I'm not--"

  "Your virtue lies in your soul and your heart, nowhere else. It was not your fault."

  She hiccupped and looked at him. He was smiling at her. "Lainie, I still want you more than ever. But I'm afraid I might hurt you. You've been through so much--too much. I don't want you to be afraid of me." He brushed a gentle kiss across her forehead. "Do you want to kiss me?"

  "I do," she whispered. "But more than that I want you to believe in me. I need for you to understand."

  Bloody hell, but he did believe in her. And he burned even hotter for her now that he knew why she'd held back. But he'd have to be ever so careful. He didn't want to hurt her. She'd been brutalized before. She was just as innocent as she had seemed.

  "Why didn't you tell your brothers?"

  "Because they would have killed Bertram. And doing so would not change what he did to me, but it would get them killed."

  He touched his lips to her cheeks, tasting the salt of her tears then her lips. The kiss was not meant to seduce, but knowing how innocent and fragile Lainie was sent him over the edge. His body tightened with need, an inferno flamed hot and intense.

  "Stop me anytime you want," he whispered to her. "Will you promise?"

  "Slade," Lainie said softly. "I won't ask you to stop. I want you. I want you more than I could ever understand. But I'm afraid."

  "Open your mouth," Slade said in a deep voice. "Kiss me the way I taught you. Let me see that you aren't afraid. I don't want you to ever fear me."

  Shadows danced on Lainie's face. Where the sun licked through the trees, light glistened on her lips.

  "More," he said, brushing his parted lips over hers.

  Lainie trembled and did as he asked.

  Slade's mouth closed over hers, and his tongue slid inside. He tasted salt tears and warmth, a loving woman who had been abused. He took her mouth as he meant to take her body, completely and so very gently, a seamless melding of flesh and liquid heat.

  When Slade pulled open the laces to her shirt, the whisper of air across Lainie’s flesh made goosebumps slip down her arms. An exhilarating warmth of passion flowed sweetly within.

  Until Slade stroked her breasts, Lainie hadn't realized how much they ached for his touch. He held her with a tender reverence that amazed her. His thumbs stroked and urged her nipples to hardened buds. She didn't realize she was no longer cradled in his lap and that he wa
s lying half over her until his fingers plucked the taut nipples and waves of heat ripped through her, making her arch more thoroughly into his body.

  "When we're through here, you won't remember anything but the pleasure," he murmured close to her ear. Then his mouth closed over hers again, sending another hot rush of pleasure through her.

  She tried to cry out at the primal sensuality he evoked with his body touching hers, but the only cries that the deep mating of mouths allowed were small noises from the back of her throat.

  He inhaled the passionate murmurs and without words demanded more, teasing and exploring her sensitive breasts. Long fingers stroked and shaped until she twisted wildly beneath him.

  "That's right, little darling. Let yourself go," he murmured. "Don't hold anything back."

  Slade shifted again, his body completely covering hers, giving her what she needed without realizing it. His hips pressed against hers, sinking into her until she moved her legs apart in an instinctive motion that was as old as time, her body yearning to match the aching softness between her thighs with the rigid proof of Slade's hunger.

  Her nails gouged into his flesh once more, but there was no protest coming from Slade. He groaned his response and dragged his hips over her in a hungry echo of her own desire. The liquid fire of her response ignited an inferno within him that was impossible to control.

  Beneath Slade, Lainie froze. He paused but heard no sound of protest. Relief filled him and he moved his hips against her, sending wildfire racing through his body in a burst of heat he could neither deny nor conceal.

  "Do you burn like I do?" he asked.

  She whimpered and nodded. "Aye."

  This time when he moved his hips against her, his tongue caressed her mouth in a possession that was total, claiming the woman beneath as his without him even realizing.

  Slade moved a hand between their bodies. The sound of his britches coming undone was lost in the hungry protests that came from Lainie when he lifted his weight from her hips.

  "It's all right, little fox. I won't hurt you. And I'm not going to leave you," Slade said thickly as he eased himself from the confinement of cloth. "Do you want me to stop?"

  Enticingly, Slade settled his weight back on her, not giving her all she wanted but enough to make her beg for more. She twisted against him, weeping for him. No matter how she moved, he managed to evade her.

  "Slade," she said raggedly. "Please."

  "Please what?" he asked when she said no more.

  As he spoke, he raked his teeth lightly over her throat, claiming her and challenging her to claim him in return.

  "I don't know," she whispered, stroking him and pulling him closer to her.

  She opened her eyes, and he saw the hunger and the wild burning passion. It seemed she needed something only he could give. And he reveled in that thought.

  Slade smiled darkly. He knew just what her eyes begged for. And he meant to give it to her, but in his own sweet time.

  What is it you want?" he asked again.

  Then he listened to the splintering of Lainie's voice as his teeth closed with more force on her smooth skin.

  "I can't…I don't…" she gasped.

  He caught her nipples in his fingers once more and tugged. Her breath came out in a hoarse sound as she arched into his body, sending more heat spiraling through him. The motion caused him to move more deeply between her legs, yet still not where he knew she wanted him. She arched up and into him in unknowing demand.

  "Open for me," he whispered. "Give yourself to me. Show me you're not afraid of me."

  He moved his hips just enough to brush against Lainie's moist heat. The touch drew a hoarse moan from him and a strangled cry from her. Her nails gouged deeper into his back. She shifted, still wanting more. He was patient. He wanted to give her time to adjust and time to accept him completely into her warmth.

  "Little fox, tell me you want me," he said thickly. "Let me know that you want me."

  Lainie shifted again, her hands running the length of his back.

  "Slade, I want you so much. I--" Her nails dug into him one more time. "I don't know what I want. Just d-don't stop."

  "I won't hurt you. Draw your knees up on either side of me. Let me give you only the sweetest pleasure."

  She did as Slade asked, opening her legs until he lay easily between her thighs. Gently so as not to frighten her this time, he began teasing her nipples, watching her as he teased the sensitive, rosy peaks, bringing her to a place she had never known before. He sucked each tender bud into his mouth until she writhed beneath him, begging him for more.

  "That's right little darling," Slade said when Lainie arched blindly into him. "Just like that. That's right. Show me how much you want me."

  Lainie moaned, her head moved as restlessly as her hips, seeking relief Slade knew was his to give her.

  "Slade I…" Lainie whispered. "What are you doing to me?"

  "Pleasuring you."

  Lainie gasped. "If this is pleasure, I cannot bear much more."

  He chuckled softly. The drawstring on her pants was no obstacle to Slade. Within seconds, his questing fingertips slipped over unprotected flesh, exploring the sweet hot folds that wept for him.

  Cautiously, he plucked the tender bud that swelled with desire. Lainie cried out sharply and liquid warmth melted over him.

  "One more time," Slade said, rubbing his thumb all around her, teasing her with what he was once again withholding.

  She made a strangled noise.

  "Show me your pleasure, let me feel you." He whispered. "Now."

  Then he touched her more intimately, and she gave him what he asked for. The murmured sound of her pleasure was another soft reward in his quest to give her satisfaction and sweet relief.

  "Let yourself free and soar in the clouds," Slade said in a low voice. "Open your eyes and let me watch your pleasure. Whatever you do don't shut me out."

  His fingertips moved, barely brushing her slick, hot skin, teasing her with something she didn't understand. Her fingers closed over his buttocks, pulling him closer to her.

  Lainie wept and writhed. Fire and raw desire ripped Slade savagely in two. Keeping himself in check was nearly impossible. Her nails raked up and then down his back, in a demand for satisfaction she couldn't help making.

  He felt the sharp edge of her nails and reveled in her wild response to his lovemaking. He grinned and laughed softly before he teased Lainie some more, circling the tender nub without touching it. Coming closer and closer then evading it all together. Her fingertips raked him again, and he laughed deep in his throat despite his own unanswered arousal.

  A fine sweat broke out over his body. Never had a woman wanted him so completely. Her entire body cried out her passion. The slightest brush of his fingers sent her response spilling over again. He loved it with primal intensity, bathing himself in her hungry desire, wanting to take her so much that his body shook with his hunger.

  "Yet no matter how hard she twisted and fought to make him touch the nub he had drawn from her softness, he eluded her.

  "Slade, please," Lainie said. “You’re torturing me.”

  "I want to be sure you want this as much as I do. I want you to beg me so there will be no confusion in the end. I want to erase all the bad memories so thoroughly you will only remember this joining and the pleasure."

  She made a tiny frustrated sound and arched again.

  "More," Lainie begged, shaking. “Is that what you want me to say?”

  Slade brushed against her swollen, sultry flesh while he chuckled softly.

  "Harder," she said raggedly.

  Her fist struck his back as she arched and writhed toward the unattainable flames that he held from her each time she was nearly at the pinnacle.

  "Please, Slade don't tease me. I know you are. Just finish this. Finish what you started. I want you."

  "What if I'm not teasing?"

  "Nay, you have to be. I cannot bear this much longer."

  Sl
ade caressed her once more, drawing his nails with exquisite care over the swollen bud. She gasped and honeyed fire overflowed.

  Teeth clenched against the hunger burning him, Slade inhaled a long breath, searching for self-control that was slipping away. The primal scent of Lainie's passion swept through him. It was like breathing fire.

  "Slade," she whimpered. "I--"

  Her words splintered as she arched against him.

  "Is this what you want?" he asked.

  Flesh that was both smooth and hard pressed sensually against her, parting her even as she melted over him.