She set her suitcase outside. “Why do you always wear a kilt? Don’t you own any jeans? They’d certainly be warmer in this climate.”
“Aye, I do. But I wear them to work every day, ye see. When I head fer me ancestral home, I put on me kilt and sporran. I’m out of the city full of people who dress in a more modern way. Here, in the Highlands, I can be a true Scot. Me legs dinna take long to get used to the cold air, fer this is how I was raised. Sturdy. Rugged. Robust.”
“Humble.” She stood on tiptoes and pecked a kiss on his cheek.
His kilt tented a wee bit.
Once they’d eaten and brushed their teeth with paste and snow, they gathered their things and made for the creek. Earlier he’d put the compass in his sporran. He didna want them heading in the wrong direction.
Gunner opened the shield between him and Bear so his other half could detect danger. A foggy mist kissed the rippling stream adding a gossamer splendor to the snowy Highlands. It also partially obscured Gunner’s vision of what lay on the other bank and beyond. He checked his compass to make sure they were headed North by Northeast.
Except for water cascading over the stony stream, their boots and wheeled luggage crunching in the snow, and cheerful birdsong, the area was mostly silent. From time-to-time, an animal scurried through fallen leaves or up trees.
They held hands which was nice. He so often missed the human touch during all the hours he spent pouring over his facts and figures. Studying the heavens as he compared different wave-length patterns through several powerful telescopes in the conservatory consumed his mind. Especially the two new black holes light years away. Having her sweet body nestled against him for the last two nights was probably why he’d gotten his first solid sleep in months.
“It’s so quiet here. No road noise or people yelling Although I have to admit I’d enjoy this walk more if it were warmer.”
Gunner brought her hand to his lips for a kiss. “Are ye saying me company isna heart-warming enough?” Hers certainly was. They’d talked about their common interests. After their kissing session last night, he had a hard time keeping his hands off her today. She didna seem to mind.
A bear’s huffing from far away caught Gunner’s attention. So did its menacing stench. If hate had an odor, this creature was filled with it. Gunner stopped and searched the area.
His other half telepathically communicated, Caution. Bad bear across the water on a hill.
“Why did we stop?” Star gazed up at him.
Pulling her toward him, he whispered in her ear, “Another bear is watching us. Try to be quiet while I locate it.”
Bear on the hill is a demented shifter. Wants to attack us and take Star. Must protect our mate. Dinna wait. Shift!
“Do sense danger? Your eyes are glowing!”
He sighted the bear. Its human commanded it to strike and the bear roared its cruel intent. Gunner grabbed Star’s arm. “Listen, I have to shift. Now.” Her mouth opened as if to speak. “Shhh. Dinna talk.” He kicked off his boots and reached back over his shoulders with one hand to yank off both his sweater and turtleneck. “Bear has a feral beast he has to destroy. Nae matter what ye see, dinna scream or run.” He removed his kilt and handed it to her. “Stay here. Ye belong to us. We will protect ye.”
Before she could respond, he took a deep breath and allowed the shifting process to begin. The last thing that registered were Star’s words, “Return to me.”
Bear’s paw gently touched her cheek and he clicked his tongue in an almost affectionate sound before taking off through the creek toward his opponent. Water splashed as four powerful legs pushed through it.
Star ducked behind three large boulders nature or flooding had piled in a triangular shape. Between the two on the bottom and the jagged one resting on top was a good-sized opening for her to peer through.
Once he climbed the creek’s bank, Bear charged up the side of the mountain. His roar echoed off the trees and rocks of the terrain. Fear trembled through Star. Bear’s menacing roar was like nothing she’d ever heard as he no doubt announced his lethal intent to attack. He and the other bear, who was a lighter shade of brown, growled as they circled one another. Grunting. Huffing. Striking.
The whole mountainside had gone still. Even the birds were quiet. The clamor of both bears panting and growling rolled down the ragged hill to her, increasing the terror flowing through her veins, beating in her heart.
Star trembled with terror. If Gunner’s bear was hurt or worse, what would happen to the man she enjoyed spending time with? What would happen to her? She didn’t know squat about surviving in the Highlands.
Bear’s attack happened swiftly. Star gasped with dread and shock. He was so ferocious; she had to swallow the bile that rose in her throat. Bear was larger and took advantage of his size. The scene was gory and she covered her eyes. Allowed her heartbeat’s hammering in her ears to drown out the animals’ growls and howls of pain.
And it went on for what seemed like forever.
This horrible experience couldn’t be real. She lowered her hands, her frantic gaze zipped from the bears fighting to the creek to the snow-covered trees. A sob escaped as she slid down to the ground and pressed her face to her raised knees.
She needed something to occupy herself if only for a couple minutes. A huge crying jag was on the verge of exploding and this was neither the place nor the time to have one. On her knees, she reached for Gunner’s discarded things, putting them in a pile and peeking through the opening in the rocks between every item she grabbed.
Then she placed his boots and heavy stockings beside the pile of garments and studied the odd thing he wore at his waist. He’d told her it was a sporran, used to carry a man’s essentials. Just what did a Scot consider essential?
Since said Scot was fighting for his life, she had no business prying. Still…Moonie had always accused her of inheriting the nosy gene of the two. And maybe her sister was right. There might be a weapon in there she could use. A revolver. A knife. A can of mace. Did men carry mace? She opened the flap of the leather pouch and rummage through his things. Her fingers closed around a knife’s handle. The blade was four or five inches long. Would it be any defense against a bear?
The silence snagged her attention first. She spun on her heels and gazed toward the fight scene. The stench of copper filtered down the hill. Parts of a bear lay here and there; her heart thundered to a stop. Which beast was it? Water splashed near her. She slowly and fearfully peered at what made the sounds. A bear was in the creek, washing off blood. Was it her sweet bear or the mean one?
She crept to the edge of the large boulders to watch. Gunner had told her never to try running from a bear. There was only one way to find out which animal was in the creek. “Do you like opera?”
The bear stood and covered his ears before he roared. Blood flooded from his neck and shoulder. Her bear was injured. “Oh no, you’ve been hurt. Stay there! I’ll take care of you.” He tilted his head to the side as if trying to understand her words.
Star opened her suitcase and rummaged through in search of something to staunch the flow of blood. Would he allow her to treat him or would she end up in worse condition than he? She grabbed one of the thin blankets from Gunner’s knapsack and hurried to the edge of the creek with an armful of pajamas. She could always sleep naked. Her bear needed taken care of.
“Come out of the water and lie down.”
He shuffled toward her, a fish in each paw that he dropped at her feet. God, he was an adorable bear.
“Here’s the deal. I’m not trying to hurt you. I only want to help you heal. If you take a swipe at me or bite me, I’ll beat your hairy ass.” She shook the knife at him. “I’ll also cut off your tail, balls and all!” Bear’s eyes opened wide. “Understood?” His ears laid flat and he made more clicking sounds with his tongue that she hoped meant yes.
After what seemed like hours, Bear lay under the blanket eating the raw fish she fed him. She’d wrapped pajama bottoms around
the huge bites in his neck. The gash in his shoulder she’d stuffed with the old t-shirts she slept in and tied in place with three beautiful scarves knotted together so they’d be long enough to go around his chest. The only thing she had for his cut knee was a rolled up pair of panties held in place by a lacy bra looped around his leg.
She kept patting his wet, furry head. “You’re a good bear. The best. I know you’re in pain and you never snarled at me once. Gunner’s very lucky to have you. Although I have no clue how this shifting business works. Is he hurting now, too? Can he hear me?”
Bear looked at her with black puppy dog eyes full of affection.
“Sleep, my bear.”
Star walked to the trio of large rocks and surveyed the area before she sat and covered herself with the remaining blanket. Her eyelids grew heavy. If she was to explain this trip to her sister, Moonie would never believe it. No one would. She wasn’t so sure she did.
Warm lips covered hers and her eyes popped open to stare into a pair of dark brown ones with gold striations. She cupped Gunner’s face and returned the kiss. He was alive and reasonably okay—and naked. All he wore was her blue lace bra over his knee and a hard-on.
In a surge of relief, she planted kisses over his cheeks and neck. “I was so worried about you.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. God help her, she was caring more and more for this man of science, sensuality, and shifting. He smelled of musk and the mountains. And gamey. Probably from the other bear; hers could never smell this bad.
“Ye took good care of Bear, who loves ye by the way, and thus ye took care of me. We both thank ye, sweet one.”
“Do you always express your thanks in the nude?” She wrapped her hand around his erection and gave it a long, slow stroke. His eyes fluttered shut and his teeth gritted.
“Dinna mess with me. A male shifter carries twice the testosterone after a fight. I want to fook ye so bad right now.” He jerked his head toward a large oak tree. “I want to grab a condom from the box in me sporran and carry ye over to that tree. Strip the pants off ye and sink into yer warm depths.”
Both the tone of his voice and expression were fierce.
Heaven help her, he totally turned her on.
She stroked him again on a silent dare.
“Ye would push me like this? Even when ye ken how much I want ye? How rough I might be with ye? Me sweet Star, I might hurt ye or make ye feart of me.”
She wet her lips and stroked him again before getting on her knees. “It’s too cold to take my jeans off, but since you’re already naked—” She licked the drop of pre-cum that glistened on the slit of his head. She swirled her tongue around the bulbous tip of his cock while he muttered something and fisted his hands in her hair.
“I’m so glad you’re safe, Gunner. Let me show you how relieved I am.” When she opened her mouth wide to take him in, her jaws cracked. She slowly took in his length until the tip touched the back of her throat.
His hands released her hair and pressed on her back in a more gentle embrace. “Star. Me midnight Star. I will never allow anyone to hurt ye. Me God, the things ye make me feel.”
She hollowed her cheeks and sucked on him before slowly easing her way to his cock’s head again. Her tongue circled it several times. Then she took him fast and whole. His head reared back and he groaned. Now that she knew he liked that, she set her rhythm as he trembled and groaned.
“I’m close, midnight Star.”
“Give me all you’ve got.” She swirled her tongue around his head again before returning to her previous pattern. She gently scratched his balls while she worked his cock.
He tensed, shivered, and emptied himself into her on a hoarse shout. She took all he had because he had protected her and she was finding herself more and more attached to him.
Strong arms wrapped around her. “Tonight, we’ll be in a cabin. I’m going to love ye like no one ever has. By the time I’m done, ye won’t be able to remember that milksop’s name who hurt ye back in the States. The only man ye’ll ever want will be me.”
Chapter 7
Once Gunner was dressed, he doused her things she’d used to bandage Bear in the creek, beating them against the rocks to remove most of the blood. He wring them out and shoved them into a zippered compartment of his backpack. “Come on, luv. Let’s keep moving.”
He tucked Star against his side and strode onward, away from the awful odors. He didna want her to see the carnage. She shouldna have to witness the gore. As the sun journeyed on it’s afternoon descent, he began searching for a place for them to bed down. He didna want her sleeping in the freezing cold. Protecting her at all costs had become his main focus. For once he was allowing his heart to rule over his scientific mind—and it felt right.
His heart and soul and, aye, his mind had fallen in love with his midnight Star. He hadna a clue when it happened. There was only the strength of his emotions and the fear he couldna convince her ta stay in Scotland with him. They’d only met a few days ago, but the Universe had a way of bringing people together. That, and the magic of his homeland.
“Did ye notice I’m keeping yer sexy bra around me knee? Ye’ve branded me heart, so ye have.” He kissed her forehead. “What ye did to me earlier was a fantastic thing. Unexpected, ta be sure. But, och, so grand.”
“I was so relieved both you and Bear survived. I couldn’t watch all of the fight. The sounds were bad enough. Seeing you again made me very happy. I just wanted to show you how much. We’re growing close and I don’t know how wise that is. What happens when I leave for home.”
“Me heart will break.” She cast her blue eyes on him and he stopped. “Ye must ken I feel deeply fer ye. Bear has chosen ye as our mate and while I wasna in favor of it at the time, I treasure ye now.” He wrapped his arms around her and covered her lips with his. He sucked her upper lip, drawing it into his mouth for a nip, To his delight, she did the same to his. Slowly, the kiss grew in potency. Tongues touched and he hardened. She rubbed against his erection and he thought he’d lose his mind. Kissing her was like the thunder before the lightning. It vibrated through him. Alerted him for the flash that could soon come.
Bloody hell, he needed to get her in a bed and make long slow love to her.
“Let’s keep moving so we can find housing before nightfall. I want ye warm tonight. Look at the sky.” He pointed toward the clouds. “More snow is coming. We need a roof of some kind over our heads.”
“We don’t seem to be getting any closer to civilization. I’ve always read the Highlands are huge. Now I believe it.” There was desperation in her voice and he hated hearing it.
“I’ll take care of ye. Have nae fear.” He studied the layout of the area they were passing through. They were walking on a path, pounded to hardness by many feet over time. Whoever used this foot trail must live nearby. He paid close attention to noises hoping for the squealing play of children or sounds of men working, chopping wood, maybe.
If they could find an outcropping of large rocks, he could tie their parachutes around them to create thin, fragile walls. Rocks on one side and silk on the others. He could build a fire near where they’d sleep for some heat. They had their space blankets to wrap around them. Aye, survival could be had, but it would be hard on her.
Four men stood across the path ahead and Gunner halted. “Who the bloody hell are they?” he whispered.
The strange males waved. “Halò. Ceud mile fàite.”
Gunner smiled and repeated the greeting. For Star’s benefit, he interpreted. “They said, ‘Hello. A hundred thousand welcomes.’”
“Wow, that’s a little over the top for a greeting.” Star increased her hold on his hand.
The strange men’s smiles grew. “Mὀran taing.”
http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/thanks/thanksvm_ga-sc.mp3 “They’re saying ‘many thanks.’ I just doona ken why.” They seemed friendly enough.
The shortest man, his face marred with bear claw scars and one eye gone, approached. He exte
nded his hand. “So yer the shifter who destroyed the scourge of Dunn Mountain? Our white owl, the cailleach-oidhche, told us ye were nearby. Claimed the Master Shifter had come.” He pumped Gunner’s hand in greeting, took one look at the bra wrapped around Gunner’s knee, and the corners of his mouth twitched. “We welcome ye both with hearty and grateful warmth.”
“Thank ye.” Gunner replayed the man’s words in his mind. After the bear’s attack, he wasna so sure he was ready to trust anyone, although the man’s words rang true.
“All who have lived under the nameless one’s insane wrath owe ye a debt of gratitude. We have not uttered the evil one’s name fer years. ՚Tis how much we hated and feared him. Me name is Alastair Dunn.”
“Dunn? We may have common ancestors, then. I’m Gunner McDunn. From northeast of Wick, along Loch Saoesa.”
Alastair yelled over his shoulder, “Och, he’s one of us. Aye, the one we’ve been waiting fer, just as the cailleach-oidhche told us. The McDunn from Loch Saoesa.” The scarred man looked at Gunner again. “We live on the opposite side of this mount known as Dunn Mountain. “He jerked a thumb over his shoulder to indicate the wooded ridge.
“All of us look out fer each other and what children remain. Sounds of the fight reached us. Bloody hell, they were chilling. We all grouped together, hoping and praying the unmentionable one would be killed. That ye had finally come. The cailleach-oidhche assured us ye had.”
Star elbowed Gunner. “Why have they been waiting on you? What have you done? And what’s this colleague something?”
“It’s a white owl. A sacred animal to the bears that guides them. Looks like we have more company.” Groups of men and women appeared from the thicket. Some held hands. All smiled. Why were they so glad to see him?
A woman in a black dress, evidently blind, was led to Gunner. “This be Ora,” Alastair commented. Her white hair was knotted on top of her head with a withered sprig of sage stuck in it. Her eyes were covered with a milky film and she leaned toward Gunner. Her lips moved in silent incantation while trembling hands trailed down his face.
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